Born from the integration of African Clean Energy Developments (ACED), a leading development and delivery platform, and EIMS Africa, one of the country’s largest clean energy asset managers, Anthem launches as one of South Africa’s largest independent renewable energy producers. It is a company that is formidable both in scale and track record, with unmatched expertise and ambition to help accelerate South Africa’s Just Energy Transition by adding to their already impressive wind, solar and hydro portfolio and selling power to Eskom, private offtakers, traders and aggregators.
Anthem has long been backed by African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM), a member of Old Mutual Alternative Investments, with a 25-year track record of investing in clean energy infrastructure, and a total of USD 3.2 billion in assets under management. Its IDEAS Fund, Anthem’s majority shareholder, has invested over R30 billion of equity in economic, social and renewable energy infrastructure projects, including Anthem’s extensive portfolio of projects.
Mahlako Energy Fund and Norfund are important strategic founding investors in Anthem and will subscribe for shares subject to customary approvals. Mahlako Energy Fund is managed by Mahlako a Phahla Financial Services, a subsidiary of Mahlako a Phahla Investments, a 100% black women-owned investment and advisory firm with a strong track record in energy, infrastructure and other strategic sectors. Norfund, owned and funded by the Norwegian Government, is the USD 3.8 billion Norwegian Investment Fund for developing countries with a mission to create jobs and improve lives by investing in businesses that drive sustainable development.
This financial strength enables Anthem to deliver large-scale, long-term impact across the renewable energy sector.
One of the largest renewable portfolios
Anthem’s portfolio is one of the most significant in the country:
- 17 projects in operation generating over 1.1GW.
- 4 projects under construction totalling 435MW.
- 3 projects in financial close totalling 1.2GW.
- 11GW of greenfield pipeline under development.
Altogether, this represents over 2.7GW of secured capacity – about 12–15% of the total renewable independent power producers (IPP) market in South Africa. Anthem is truly one of the most significant and remarkable renewable energy players on the continent.
Power with purpose
But Anthem’s mission extends beyond megawatts and customer service. Since 2014, its projects have offset 11.3 million tonnes of CO₂ and invested more than R600 million in socio-economic and enterprise development initiatives. These investments have supported nearly 1 200 small and medium-sized businesses and have created impact in the communities where Anthem operates.
“Our vision is simple,” says James Cumming, CEO of Anthem. “We exist to deliver clean, reliable energy that empowers potential – for people, for industries, and for nations. We are geared to serve South Africa and the region by selling power to governments and private offtakers. Anthem is all about ‘Power with Purpose’: We value being able to stand on our landscape and see the results of our collective work and to know the impact that it has for clients, communities and nations.”
“Ultimately, the purpose of our business is to improve the welfare of Africans” says Ryan Hammond, Chief Operating Officer at Anthem.
A passionate group of people
“We do everything with such heart and soul, and it comes down to our people,” says Fatiema Ahmed, Chief Human Capital Officer at Anthem.
With around 80 employees and more than 200 years of combined sector experience, Anthem is lean, agile and deeply experienced – well positioned to serve a growing customer base.
Anthem is led by an experienced management team, including Cumming, a UCT- and Oxford-educated energy leader with a track record of developing and delivering large-scale wind and solar projects, and COO Ryan Hammond, a seasoned renewables developer and asset manager with a depth of local and international experience in scaling renewables businesses.
Anthem’s stellar track record
Anthem’s pioneering milestones include the 67MW Umoya Wind Farm, South Africa’s first utility scale project under REIPPPP to reach financial close and commercial operation back in 2012 and 2014 respectively. Anthem then did the same in closing the first private projects in South Africa, most notably the 69MW Msenge Emoyeni Wind Farm with Sasol as offtaker, which reached commercial operations in October 2024 after being completed in under 18 months.
In terms of landmark projects, the Anthem team runs the Castle Wind Farm, currently the largest private-offtake wind farm in operation in South Africa, which was developed in partnership with Sibanye-Stillwater as offtaker. Another point of pride is that Anthem is South African grown and South African owned, with an average of 50% black ownership in Anthem’s operational projects and projects in construction.
Shaping South Africa’s future
Anthem’s creation comes at a critical juncture. By consolidating expertise, assets and ambition, Anthem is positioning itself as a trusted partner in South Africa’s energy transition – both for the government and private sector - delivering progress and prosperity through clean power.
Anthem is more than a new name. It’s a promise to power South Africa’s growth with purpose. DM