KRIEL– A major new project is taking shape in one of South Africa’s coal heartlands. Suiso, a local fertiliser supplier founded by Paul Erskine and three partners, is developing a R31,5-billion coal-to-fertiliser and methanol plant in Kriel. The project aims to create thousands of jobs, secure food supplies and support South Africa’s Just Energy Transition (JET).
The project arrives as Mpumalanga faces a major energy transition. Several ageing coal-fired power stations are scheduled to be decommissioned by 2030. Suiso plant is being pitched as a potential solution, aiming to create new opportunities for workers and communities through industrial transformation.
Gerhard Potgieter, Suiso’s engineering director, said: “Our mission is to create world-class fertilisers responsibly. This project is proof that Mpumalanga can reinvent its coal economy into a cleaner, more sustainable model without leaving communities behind.”
Green Kite Investments, a 100% black-women-owned company, holding a 51% majority stake in Suiso. The company is led by renowned business leaders Basetsana Kumalo and Lindiwe Leketi. Green Kite aims to ensure the project promotes inclusive growth, gender representation and transformation in an industry historically dominated by men.
Instead of using natural gas like conventional fertiliser plants, Suiso plans to use advanced coal-to-fertiliser technology, integrating emission control systems and energy-efficient processes to drastically reduce the environmental footprint.
The project is expected to create 4,000 construction jobs, 40% of those are reserved for local workers, injecting income into Kriel and surrounding towns, 1,000 permanent posts in roles in operations, engineering and support services, 1,500 worker transition – absorbing staff from Eskom’s Kriel plant as part of the JET strategy and 400 youth trained through a dedicated college to prepare the next generation for future-fit jobs.
“We were scared when we heard about the power station closing. Now, with this project, there’s hope again—jobs, training, and a future for our kids,” said Sipho Mkhize, a local activist.
Suiso is partnering with Sinopec Ningbo Engineering, a global industrial engineering firm, to apply intentional standards and advanced technology to the project. The plant is intended to serve as a model for green industrial development in South Africa.
The Suiso plan is being developed as a potential transition pathway for coal dependent communities, aiming to retain some economic value from coal while reducing emissions and diversifying Mpumalanga’s economy. The project aligns with the Presidential Climate Commission’s JET framework, which emphasises repurposing coal assets, retraining workers and developing low-carbon industries in coal regions.
As Eskom’s Kriel power station is set to close by 2030, the fertiliser plant is presented as a potential economic alternative. The project aims to absorb displaced workers, retrain them through the on-site Gerhard Potgieter Engineering Training College, supporting Mpumalanga’s development as a center for green industrial growth and food security.
The project is being implemented in phases:Bankable feasibility study finalised in February, Basic engineering design contract signed; full design ends late 2026, construction starts in 2026, where thousands of jobs will created and operations begin between 2029–2030, where full commissioning is aligned with the coal power phase-out schedule.
