10 Recently Announced Renewables in Mining Projects in Africa

There is a growing realization amongst African miners, regulators, governments and financiers that an energy shift is an inevitable result of growing domestic and international pressure to decarbonize mining, contain costs and improve energy security.

The last 12 months have witnessed a surge in the number of renewables for mines projects. We list a number of interesting projects here - many of which will be featured in the Energy and Mines Africa Virtual Summit, May 4-6, 2021

1. Mining Company: Gold Fields

Mine: South Deep, South Africa

Date announced: Feb 26, 2021 (NEERSA approval)

Renewable details: 40 MW Solar PV

Gold Fields Limited’s proposed 40 MW solar PV plant at its South Deep gold mining operation in Gauteng, South Africa finally received NERSA approval in late Feb 2021. Construction will begin “as soon as possible”

Gold Fields has been looking to set up the solar plant since 2017. The South Deep mining operation is highly energy-intensive 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 have surged 500% over the past 11 years, while the industry suffered frequent rotating power curtailments.

The solar plant will deliver around 20% of the South Deep mine’s electricity needs and help curb operational losses from frequent power outages.

“The solar power plant will increase the reliability and afford-ability of power supply to South Deep, ultimately enhancing the long-term sustainability of the mine,” Nick Holland, Chief Executive Officer, Gold Fields said in a statement.

2. Mining Company: Pan African Resources

Mine: Evander Mine, South Africa

Date announced: Dec 15, 2020

Renewable details: 9.975 MW

Solar PV Dual-listed gold producer Pan African Resources has engaged juwi South Africa for the construction of a 9.975MW solar photovoltaic plant on land owned by its Evander Mines. The plant will provide about 30% of the power requirement of the company’s Elikhulu tailings retreatment operation during daylight hours.

The Evander Mines solar photovoltaic plant will improve power reliability, save an expected 26,000 tons of CO2-e, and materially reduce electricity costs at the Elikhulu operation. It will utilize bi-facial module technology to maximize its yield. To be built at a total cost of ZAR140 million (US$ 9.45 million), the solar project will pay back its investment in less than five years.

“The Evander Mines solar photovoltaic plant is integral to the Group’s purpose of “Mining for a Future” and pursuing ESG initiatives that go beyond compliance,” said Cobus Loots, CEO, Pan African. “This plant will be one of the first of its kind in the South African mining space.”

juwi South Africa will commence project construction in the first quarter of 2021, with power generation expected in the third quarter of 2021.

3. Mining Company: Bushveld Energy/ Bushveld Minerals

Mine: Vametco Alloys Mine

Date announced: Dec 15, 2020

Renewable details: 3.5 MW Solar PV, BESS 1 MW/4 MWh

Bushveld Energy is a unit of Bushveld Minerals, a low-cost, vertically integrated primary vanadium producer that also owns the Vametco Alloys mine.

The proposed power plant will be the first commercial-scale hybrid project with Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries (VRFB) in the continent and the first ‘MW scale’ hybrid power plant for a mine in South Africa. It will boost the energy autonomy of the Vametco mine and reduce its CO2 emissions by more than 114,000 tons over 20 years. It will also showcase the role of vanadium as a long duration option in the global energy storage market.

The plant is an integrated power solution comprising a 3.5 MW solar photovoltaic plant and a battery energy storage system (BESS) that usesVRFBs of capacity 1 MW/ 4 MWh. The VRFB-BESS system will be supplied by Enerox Holdings Ltd.

Bushveld Energy has selected Abengoa for the construction of the power plant.

4. Mining Company: Robex Resources

Mine: Nampala Gold Mine, Mali

Date announced: Oct 27, 2020

Renewable details: 3.9 MW Solar PV, Storage 2.6 MWh R

obex Resources Inc. is a Canadian mining company operating in gold production and exploration in West Africa. The Company operates the Nampala mine in Mali, which reached the commercial production stage on January 1, 2017.

Robex Resources Inc has engaged Vivo Energy to supply solar energy at its Nampala gold mine in Mali.

The project comprises a 3.9 MWp photovoltaic power plant and a battery of capacity 2.6 MWh. These would be integrated with the existing thermal power plant using an energy management system.

The use of solar energy will reduce the cost of each KW currently consumed by the mine by $0.04. That will further cut the mine’s production costs, already among the lowest in the world.

“Our mining clients are always looking for ways to reduce their operational costs and improve their sustainability,” said Khadidiatou Fall, General Manager of Vivo Energy Mali. “With this hybrid solar/ fuel solution, we can help them achieve both goals.”

“This energy will enable us to reduce our carbon impact by approximately 60,000 tonnes over ten years, and provide us with a complementary source of energy to stabilize our electricity production,” added Benjamin Cohen, CEO of Robex.

5. Mining Company: Syrah resources

Mine: Balama Graphite Operation

Date announced: Dec 22, 2020

Renewable details: 11.2 MW Solar PV, Storage 8.5 MWh

Syrah Resources Limited announced a MoU with Solarcentury Africa Limited to develop a solar and battery storage hybrid power system to work in conjunction with the existing diesel generation power plant at Balama in Mozambique.

The solar and battery storage system aims to reduce CO2 emissions and operating costs at Balama.

Solarcentury and Syrah have undertaken technical design and pricing analysis through 2020 for several solar and battery options at Balama, from which Syrah has chosen its preferred solution of 11.2MW solar with an 8.5MW battery, subject to final design. The solar and battery installation will work in conjunction with the existing 15MW diesel generation power plant at Balama, which was chosen as a low risk power generation option for the initial establishment of operations at Balama.

The MOU establishes the terms and conditions under which Syrah and Solarcentury will continue with the development of the design, funding, construction and operation of a solar and battery installation under a build, own, operate and transfer arrangement.

6. Mining Company: Impala Platinum

Mine: Marula Platinum Mine

Date announced: October 20 2020

Renewable details: 10 MW Solar

Challenged with power security issues and the opportunity presented by the recent enabling regulation by the South African department of Minerals Resource and Energy allowing mines to look at alternative self-generation options, Impala Platinum issued an RFI for a proposed 10 MW solar power plant in October 2020.

In a recent Mining Weekly interview Implats COO Gerhard Potgieter said Implats was busy with a renewables study across all of its operations.

“We’ve already identified two areas for the generation of electricity. One is in Zimbabwe, where we would be able to put up a fairly large solar farm, and the other is at our Marula operations, where we are busy studying what the appropriate renewables site there would be. It’s something that takes time because of all the licensing, but we are busy preparing ourselves for more self-generation,”

7. Mining Company: De Beers

Mine: Various

Date announced: Q4 2020/ Q1 2021

Renewable details: Wind / Solar / Hydrogen

In various interviews and presentations, De Beers has announced plans for renewable energy as part of their aim for carbon neutrality by 2030. For an interview in Energy and Mines Magazine, De Beers Head of Carbon Neutrality Kirsten Hund explained:

“Renewable energy, and renewable electricity, is a crucial element in our strategy to reach carbon neutrality by 2030, which is built around Reduce energy intensity, Replace fossil fuels and Fossil Electricity, and Recover the remaining carbon emissions. We will replace the grid electricity through direct replacement of electricity, and the fossil fuels through battery systems, hydrogen fuel cells, green synthetic fuel production, etc all powered by or derived from renewable electricity.”

And with specific reference to solar in South Africa and Botswana and wind power in Namibia Kirsten Hund outlined the following:

“The opportunity exists to develop a portfolio of renewable energy plants across the region taking advantage of the ‘best of the best”. The differences in latitude will allow us to extend the duration of solar power. If we can overcome regulatory hurdles, these resources can be integrated by wheeling across the Southern African Power Pool to the mutual advantage of all the countries in the region.”

8. Mining Company: Giyani Metals

Mine: K.Hill Manganese Project

Date announced: Jan 18 2021

Renewable details: 14 - 60 MW

Toronto listed Giyani Metals Corp. announced the completion of a study for a solar plant for its K.Hill manganese project in Southern Botswana. Giyani is committed to building an environmentally sustainable operation and to have a positive impact for all of its stakeholders. The K.Hill site is surrounded by flat topography, which, coupled with the high amounts of annual sunshine, makes it highly attractive for solar power generation.

The study undertaken by Tetra Tech, reviewed three scenarios with increasing amounts of solar PV. Each scenario delivered cost savings to K.Hill, compared to using 100% grid power, but it was recommended Giyani commence with a 14 MW power plant with the view to upgrading to 48 MW or even 60 MW once regulatory approval is granted. This study is now in the feasibility stage

9. Mining Company: Centamin Plc

Mine: Sukari Gold Mine, Egypt

Renewable Energy Details: 30 MW Solar

Date announced: June 2020, Completion expected 2021

After a 2019 feasibility study, Centamin plc, a gold mining company listed in London and Toronto, has decided to implement a 30MW AC solar power installation at its principal asset, the Sukari Gold Mine in Egypt. The mine is currently powered by captive generators that burn up to 100 million liters of diesel.

The study indicated that a minimum of 36MW DC / 30MW AC peak power hybrid solar plant would be the optimal capacity for an initial staged integration to the processing plant. Sukari is located in Egypt’s Eastern Desert, which enjoys some of the highest levels of solar irradiance globally, annualizing over ten hours a day of sunshine. Nevertheless, battery storage of 7.5MW is needed to manage start-up and shut down surges.

The solar project, which is scoped over 85 hectares, would cost $37 million and meet about 25% of Sukari’s energy needs. Its capacity can be expanded in the future if so required.

Annually, it would save 18-20 million liters of fuel and reduce CO2 emissions by 48,000 – 53,000 tonnes. The project is expected to be completed by 2021 with payback in about three years.

10. Mining Company: Caledonia Mining Corporation

Mine: Blanket Gold Mine, Zimbabwe

Renewable Energy Details: 12 MW Solar PV

Date: October 2020

Gold producer Caledonia Mining Corporation Plc has contracted with international renewable energy provider Voltalia for the construction of a 12MW solar power plant at its primary asset, the Blanket Gold Mine in Zimbabwe.

On successful commissioning, expected in the last quarter of 2021, the solar plant will provide about 27% of the mine’s total electricity demand.

The solar plant is a strategic investment to safeguard from any further deterioration in the quality of grid power that could force Caledonia to resort to additional diesel-generated energy for its operations.