New solar plant in Limpopo, In a first step towards reducing its carbon emissions, Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) has entered into an agreement with an international energy company to construct a solar power plant that will provide the mining company with renewable energy.

New solar plant in Limpopo to supply Richards Bay Minerals with power by 2024

RBM is SA’s largest mineral sands producer and majority-owned by Rio Tinto (74%). Voltalia will begin construction of the Bolobedu Solar PV renewable energy project in 2023 at a site around 120km east of Polokwane, Limpopo. New solar plant in Limpopo, The project will be 51% black-owned through BEE partners. The plant is scheduled to be completed by 2024 and will deliver an annual generation capacity of up to 300GWh. It will feed into the national power grid to supply RBM’s smelting and processing facilities. RBM could cut its greenhouse gas emissions by at least 10% (237kt) per year by using the plant’s renewable energy supply. According to RBM managing director Werner Duvenhage, the plant – Voltalia’s largest project in Africa – will also benefit surrounding communities. Voltalia has undertaken to ensure the project creates local employment opportunities.

More than 700 workers is expected to be needed during construction and about 50 once the plant becomes operational. Voltalia will also work to source its goods and services locally. Anglo American and the French state-owned electricity utility Électricité de France (EDF) announced earlier this week that they are forming a partnership that will start to build 600MW of wind and solar projects by next year. New solar plant in Limpopo, The new venture, called Envusa Energy, will supply Anglo American with solar and wind energy generated on the company’s sites and transmitted via the national grid. Envusa Energy wants to generate 3GW to 5GW of renewable energy by 2030 – equal to 13% of Eskom’s capacity from coal-powered stations. Construction of the first phase is expected to start next year.

Souce: This news is oiginally published by news24

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