Emma Bleeker
Senior Associate | Johannesburg
Contact
T: +27 11 669 9573
Overview
Emma specialises in project development and project finance. She assists clients on complex corporate and commercial transactions, including drafting, advising on and negotiating the full suite of agreements applicable to the development and implementation of energy and infrastructure projects.
Prior to joining Bowmans in 2025, Emma spent five years at another top-tier South African law firm.
Experience
* Includes experience gained prior to joining Bowmans.
Emma has advised:
- Sasol South Africa Limited on the procurement of 69MW of renewable energy from Msenge Emoyeni (RF) Pty Ltd with a contract value of ZAR 380 million.*
- Sasol South Africa Limited on the PPA, corporate guarantees and Direct Agreements concluded in relation to the procurement (together with Air Liquide) of 260MW of renewable energy from TotalEnergies Mulilo.*
- Sasol South Africa Limited on the PPA, corporate guarantees and Direct Agreements concluded in relation to the procurement of (together with Air Liquide) 330 MW of renewable energy from Enel Green Power (the project will be one of the largest wind powered wheeling facilities in Africa).*
- Sasol South Africa Limited on the PPA, corporate guarantees and Direct Agreements concluded in relation to the procurement of (together with Air Liquide) 97.5MW of renewable energy from Mainstream Renewable Power.*
- Anglo Corporate Services South Africa in relation to its Carbon Neutral Strategy, renewable energy captive power procurement (including negotiating Wheeling Agreements with Eskom and municipalities) and advising on PPAs, as well as its joint venture with EDF Renewables.*
- Anglo American Platinum on the development of a captive power solar PV project at Mogalakwena Mine in South Africa. The scope included a regulatory due diligence and permitting report, advising on the appropriate contractual model and project structure, drafting the RFQ and the RFP for the appointment of EDF Renewables and Pele Green Energy as the sellers, the Power Purchase Agreement and other project documents.*
- Exxaro Coal in relation to its approximately 80MW embedded solar PV project at its Grootegeluk mine in Lephalale.*
- Neopak on its EPC and O&M agreements to be concluded for the installation, operations and maintenance of a solar PV system at the Neopak premises.*
- Twinsaver on a PPA to be concluded for the procurement of power to be generated by Mpumalanga Power Proprietary Limited from a solar photovoltaic electricity Facility with a Capacity of 24MWp.*
- Actis as local law support relating to its recently announced partnership with General Atlantic.*
- Acciona in relation to round 5,6 and 7 of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) and round 1 of the Energy Storage Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (ESIPPPP) at bid phase.*
- Globeleq in relation to ESIPPPP at bid phase. Globeleq’s 153 MW / 612 MWh Red Sands project in the Northern Cape has subsequently been awarded Preferred Bidder status and will be the largest standalone battery energy storage system in Africa.*
- RATP Dev in its preparation to submit a bid response to the Gautrain Management Agency (GMA) in respect of GMA’s request for proposals for a private sector party to operate, maintain, upgrade and modernise the Gautrain Rapid Rail Link System in terms of a public private partnership agreement.*
- Business Unity South Africa providing advice on recent regulatory change.*
- MTN on its EPC and O&M agreements to be concluded for the installation, operation and maintenance of a solar PV system and a battery storage system at the MTN campus.*
- Metito Utilities Limited on its response to a re-issued and amended request for proposals in relation to the Gaborone Wastewater Treatment and Reuse PPP in relation to the Glen Valley Wastewater Reclamation Project.*
- Numerous clients in relation to biomass projects.*
- On numerous regulatory opinions in relation to grid connection processes.*
- Ugandan National Oil Company in relation to the procurement of a private sector joint venture partner to develop and operate a refined products terminal in Kampala, Uganda.*
- Scatec Solar on the preparation and submission of three Solar PV plus Battery Storage project bids under the Government of South Africa’s Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (RMIPPPP).*
- Karpowership in relation to its three successful bids in the bidding phase of RMIPPPP.*
Awards
- Legal 500 ranked Emma as a Leading Associate for her work in Projects and Infrastructure in South Africa (2025-2026).
Qualifications
Education
- LLB (with distinction), University of Pretoria.
Professional Memberships
- Admitted Attorney and Notary Public, South Africa.
- Solicitor, England and Wales
- Golden Key International Honours Society.
INSIGHTS
Overview
Emma specialises in project development and project finance. She assists clients on complex corporate and commercial transactions, including drafting, advising on and negotiating the full suite of agreements applicable to the development and implementation of energy and infrastructure projects.
Prior to joining Bowmans in 2025, Emma spent five years at another top-tier South African law firm.
Experience
* Includes experience gained prior to joining Bowmans.
Emma has advised:
- Sasol South Africa Limited on the procurement of 69MW of renewable energy from Msenge Emoyeni (RF) Pty Ltd with a contract value of ZAR 380 million.*
- Sasol South Africa Limited on the PPA, corporate guarantees and Direct Agreements concluded in relation to the procurement (together with Air Liquide) of 260MW of renewable energy from TotalEnergies Mulilo.*
- Sasol South Africa Limited on the PPA, corporate guarantees and Direct Agreements concluded in relation to the procurement of (together with Air Liquide) 330 MW of renewable energy from Enel Green Power (the project will be one of the largest wind powered wheeling facilities in Africa).*
- Sasol South Africa Limited on the PPA, corporate guarantees and Direct Agreements concluded in relation to the procurement of (together with Air Liquide) 97.5MW of renewable energy from Mainstream Renewable Power.*
- Anglo Corporate Services South Africa in relation to its Carbon Neutral Strategy, renewable energy captive power procurement (including negotiating Wheeling Agreements with Eskom and municipalities) and advising on PPAs, as well as its joint venture with EDF Renewables.*
- Anglo American Platinum on the development of a captive power solar PV project at Mogalakwena Mine in South Africa. The scope included a regulatory due diligence and permitting report, advising on the appropriate contractual model and project structure, drafting the RFQ and the RFP for the appointment of EDF Renewables and Pele Green Energy as the sellers, the Power Purchase Agreement and other project documents.*
- Exxaro Coal in relation to its approximately 80MW embedded solar PV project at its Grootegeluk mine in Lephalale.*
- Neopak on its EPC and O&M agreements to be concluded for the installation, operations and maintenance of a solar PV system at the Neopak premises.*
- Twinsaver on a PPA to be concluded for the procurement of power to be generated by Mpumalanga Power Proprietary Limited from a solar photovoltaic electricity Facility with a Capacity of 24MWp.*
- Actis as local law support relating to its recently announced partnership with General Atlantic.*
- Acciona in relation to round 5,6 and 7 of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP) and round 1 of the Energy Storage Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (ESIPPPP) at bid phase.*
- Globeleq in relation to ESIPPPP at bid phase. Globeleq’s 153 MW / 612 MWh Red Sands project in the Northern Cape has subsequently been awarded Preferred Bidder status and will be the largest standalone battery energy storage system in Africa.*
- RATP Dev in its preparation to submit a bid response to the Gautrain Management Agency (GMA) in respect of GMA’s request for proposals for a private sector party to operate, maintain, upgrade and modernise the Gautrain Rapid Rail Link System in terms of a public private partnership agreement.*
- Business Unity South Africa providing advice on recent regulatory change.*
- MTN on its EPC and O&M agreements to be concluded for the installation, operation and maintenance of a solar PV system and a battery storage system at the MTN campus.*
- Metito Utilities Limited on its response to a re-issued and amended request for proposals in relation to the Gaborone Wastewater Treatment and Reuse PPP in relation to the Glen Valley Wastewater Reclamation Project.*
- Numerous clients in relation to biomass projects.*
- On numerous regulatory opinions in relation to grid connection processes.*
- Ugandan National Oil Company in relation to the procurement of a private sector joint venture partner to develop and operate a refined products terminal in Kampala, Uganda.*
- Scatec Solar on the preparation and submission of three Solar PV plus Battery Storage project bids under the Government of South Africa’s Risk Mitigation Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (RMIPPPP).*
- Karpowership in relation to its three successful bids in the bidding phase of RMIPPPP.*
Awards
- Legal 500 ranked Emma as a Leading Associate for her work in Projects and Infrastructure in South Africa (2025-2026).
Keep up to date on the latest news
Our specialist practitioners share their knowledge and insights into a range of legal issues through various public speaking engagements, publications and media interactions. Subscribe to our legal updates to keep abreast of new developments.