China-based PV module manufacturer Jiangsu Seraphim Solar System Co said it was in trial production of a new fully-automated 300MW Joint Venture (JV) solar module assembly plant in Eastern Cape, South Africa.

The 300MW module assembly plant in in East London IDZ, Eastern Cape was said to be a joint venture between Seraphim, ILB Helios Southern Africa and Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa, costing US$14 million.

"This isn't Seraphim's first overseas facility, but it signifies a critical milestone. Our South African initiative is symbolic of our commitment to global customers seeking reliable Tier-1 capacity to support their project pipeline," said Polaris Li, General Manager of Seraphim.

ILB Helios is a Spanish PV module manufacturer that has been active in the Southern African PV market since 2014, said to be supplying locally manufactured PV modules to the South African market.

"Our manufacturing operation in East London has added value and momentum to downstream installations in South Africa. And, we've been an active part of the South African PV industry since 2014," commented David Nunez Blundell, co-founder of Seraphim Southern Africa and executive at ILB Helios.