On March 1, 2025, a groundbreaking collaboration between China’s Longyuan Power Group and South Africa’s DLO Energy Resource Group reached a significant milestone with the graduation of 100 unemployed youth from a three-month solar panel maintenance training program in De Aar, Northern Cape.
This initiative, launched to tackle unemployment and bolster South Africa’s renewable energy sector, underscores the deepening ties between China and South Africa in addressing the country’s ongoing energy crisis.
Longyuan Power Group, a subsidiary of China Energy Investment Corporation and the world’s largest wind power operator, partnered with DLO Energy, a black female-owned independent power producer, to deliver this skills program. The training equipped participants with hands-on experience in solar panel cleaning and maintenance, offering a pathway to employment in South Africa’s growing green energy industry. The graduation ceremony, held at De Aar Town Hall, celebrated the participants’ achievements and highlighted the project’s broader impact.
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Linda Mabhena-Olagunju, CEO of DLO Energy Resource Group, praised the partnership’s success: “China Longyuan has been an exceptional partner in funding this project, placing their trust in us to develop a skills program that is truly relevant. This initiative bridges the skills gap and creates tangible opportunities for disadvantaged youth.” The program aligns with DLO’s mission to empower women and marginalized communities, reinforcing its role as a key player in South Africa’s energy transition.
The project is part of Longyuan’s substantial R5.18 billion investment in two Northern Cape wind farms, operational since 2017, with a combined capacity of 244.5 MW. These wind farms power approximately 300,000 households annually with 760 million kWh of clean electricity, reducing carbon emissions by over 619,900 tons.
This contribution is critical as South Africa grapples with a persistent energy crisis marked by load shedding, which has crippled economic growth and strained households.
De Aar Mayor Gladwell Lulamile Nkumbi lauded the initiative: “The partnership between DLO and Longyuan addresses some of our biggest challenges—unemployment and energy instability.
Their contributions to economic activity, even on a small scale, are significant and offer hope to our youth.”
Nkumbi emphasized the local economic boost from job creation and the promise of a more sustainable energy future.
This collaboration reflects a broader strengthening of China-South Africa relations, particularly in tackling the energy crisis. China has emerged as a major investor in Africa’s renewable energy sector, with Longyuan’s projects exemplifying its commitment to sustainable development. In 2023, Chinese Ambassador Chen Xiaodong noted China’s pledge to provide technical training and infrastructure support to South Africa, enhancing professional capacity amid the nation’s shift from coal dependency.
This aligns with the Belt and Road Initiative, fostering technical exchanges and green energy cooperation.
Longyuan’s Vice President Jing Ding reinforced this vision: “Our goal is to support South Africa’s energy transformation. By transferring skills and investing in renewables, we contribute to climate change reduction and economic growth.” With South Africa facing urgent calls for reliable power, such partnerships offer a strategic response, blending foreign investment with local empowerment to illuminate a path forward.
