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Andrew van Niekerk

Sector Head, Director

Andrew van Niekerk is a Director in our Banking, Finance & Projects practice, and Head of our Projects & Energy  sector. Andrew provides specialist EPC / PPP / IPP related legal services in the infrastructure, energy, mining and resources, transport and real estate domains.  

Andrew has advised clients on projects in multiple jurisdictions including Botswana, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Jordan, Kenya, Kuala Lumpur, Lebanon, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mauritius, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Oman, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, Swaziland, Saudi Arabia, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

+27 (0)21 481 6491
andrew.vanniekerk@cdhlegal.comStellenbosch
Andrew van Niekerk

About Andrew

About Andrew

Andrew has inter alia been the head of construction, infrastructure and/or projects at three of the five "big five" South African law firms as well as the largest non-affiliated law firm in the Middle East.

Andrew spent five years in Dubai where, inter alia¸ where he was lead construction counsel in respect of mega realty and infrastructure projects comprising of: 

  • the Jumeira Gardens City Project with a project budget of $100 billion;
  • the Waterfront & Palm Jebel Ali projects with an overall project value of approximately $60 billion; and
  • World Islands, Palm Jumeirah and Jumeirah Golf Estate projects, with aggregate project values in excess of $150 billion.

Credentials

Credentials

Education

  • BA (Private Law) and LLB degrees, University of Cape Town.
  • Registered with the Legal Practice Council

Languages

Languages

  • English

About Andrew

Andrew has inter alia been the head of construction, infrastructure and/or projects at three of the five "big five" South African law firms as well as the largest non-affiliated law firm in the Middle East.

Andrew spent five years in Dubai where, inter alia¸ where he was lead construction counsel in respect of mega realty and infrastructure projects comprising of: 

  • the Jumeira Gardens City Project with a project budget of $100 billion;
  • the Waterfront & Palm Jebel Ali projects with an overall project value of approximately $60 billion; and
  • World Islands, Palm Jumeirah and Jumeirah Golf Estate projects, with aggregate project values in excess of $150 billion.

Credentials

Education

  • BA (Private Law) and LLB degrees, University of Cape Town.
  • Registered with the Legal Practice Council

Languages

  • English

Experience

Exxaro Resources Limited

Exxaro Resources Limited as sponsor counsel in respect of the Lephalale 68MW photovoltaic ("PV") project.

Arcelor Mittal

Arcelor Mittal as IPP counsel on respectively a (i) 117 MW PV and (ii) 83MW MW PV, IPP power project, being developed by Arcelor Mittal to sell energy to its smelter operations in Vanderbijlpark.

Lualaba Power SA

Lualaba Power SA as sponsor counsel on a 120MW hydro scheme in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Vutomi Energy (Pty) Ltd

Vutomi Energy (Pty) Ltd as IPP counsel in respect of a 1,000MW gas IPP power project.

Newcastle Energy (Pty) Ltd

Newcastle Energy (Pty) Ltd in respect of a 100MW gas engine power IPP project.

Vutomi Energy (Pty) Ltd

Vutomi Energy (Pty) Ltd in respect of a hybrid renewable power IPP project.

Cahora Bassa Hydroelectric PPP

Hidroeléctrica de Cahora Bassa as legal counsel for the Cahora Bassa Hydroelectric PPP Scheme refurbishment projects.

Zimborders Limited

Zimborders Limited as concessionaire and sponsor counsel in respect of the Beitbridge Border Post Modernization PPP Project in Zimbabwe. This deal was selected as one of the best deals of 2020 by the Global Trade Review and is the first border post PPP project to achieve financial close in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Zambezi River Authority

The Zambezi River Authority in respect of the 2,400MW Batoka Gorge Hydro-Electric Scheme in Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Vestas A/S as OEM counsel

Vestas A/S as OEM counsel for wind turbine generators on several renewable power projects bid of the RMIPPPP.

News

Eskom clarifies the issue of “curtailment” for IPPs
Corporate & Commercial Law

Eskom clarifies the issue of “curtailment” for IPPs

In January 2024 Eskom published the much-anticipated addendum to the Generation Connection Capacity Assessment (GCCA) (Addendum). The Addendum was first mooted in the GCCA 2025 published...

All articles by Andrew
Private power generation

Private power generation

During the Midterm Budget Speech, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana touched on the need for private power generation to alleviate power cuts. Andrew van Niekerk, Director in our Corporate...

All podcasts by Andrew

Market recognition

  • Chambers Global 2024 ranked him in Band 3 for construction.
  • Chambers Global 2022–2023 ranked Andrew in Band 2 for construction.
  • Chambers Global 2013–2021 ranked him as a leading lawyer for construction. The Legal 500 EMEA 2013–2023 recommended him as a leading individual for construction. In addition the Legal 500 EMEA 2023 recommended him for projects & infrastructure.
  • The Legal 500 EMEA 2013–2024 recommended him as a leading individual for construction.
  • The Legal 500 EMEA 2023 - 2024 recommended him for projects & infrastructure.
  • IFLR1000 2021–2024 ranked Andrew as highly regarded in banking, energy and infrastructure, project development, transport, mining and project finance.
  • Construction & Real Estate Expert Guide 2019 rated him as an expert in his field.
  • Beitbridge deal, which has now won 3 awards as follows (i) one of the best deals of year by the Global Trade Review (2020), (ii) Transportation & Infrastructure Team of the Year at the African Legal Awards (2021) and (iii) Project Finance deal of the year at the IFLR Africa Awards (2021)
  • HCB hydro deal, which won Environmental and Renewable Team of the Year at the African Legal Awards (2021).

Market recognition

  • Chambers Global 2024 ranked him in Band 3 for construction.
  • Chambers Global 2022–2023 ranked Andrew in Band 2 for construction.
  • Chambers Global 2013–2021 ranked him as a leading lawyer for construction. The Legal 500 EMEA 2013–2023 recommended him as a leading individual for construction. In addition the Legal 500 EMEA 2023 recommended him for projects & infrastructure.
  • The Legal 500 EMEA 2013–2024 recommended him as a leading individual for construction.
  • The Legal 500 EMEA 2023 - 2024 recommended him for projects & infrastructure.
  • IFLR1000 2021–2024 ranked Andrew as highly regarded in banking, energy and infrastructure, project development, transport, mining and project finance.
  • Construction & Real Estate Expert Guide 2019 rated him as an expert in his field.
  • Beitbridge deal, which has now won 3 awards as follows (i) one of the best deals of year by the Global Trade Review (2020), (ii) Transportation & Infrastructure Team of the Year at the African Legal Awards (2021) and (iii) Project Finance deal of the year at the IFLR Africa Awards (2021)
  • HCB hydro deal, which won Environmental and Renewable Team of the Year at the African Legal Awards (2021).

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