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MARTIN PREECE EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT GOLD FIELDS SOUTH AFRICA
South Deep Solar Gets Go Ahead ADRIENNE BAKER DIRECTOR Energy and Mines
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old Fields has been looking to set up a solar plant at its South Deep mining operations since 2017. The South Deep mining operation is highly energyintensive and the company wants to reduce its carbon footprint as well as mitigate the power supply problems from the South African grid. According to a Gold Fields presentation in 2019, power tariffs had surged 500% over the past 11 years, while the industry suffered frequent rotating power curtailments. The Gold Fields solar proposal has been winding its way through South Africa’s licensing system for the past three years. The application has become a poster child for illustrating how challenging it is to get a generation license after navigating Nersa’s bureaucratic processes. In February 2021 Gold Fields
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ENERGY AND MINES MAGAZINE
