As it targets to meet 100% of its electricity requirements for its South African operations from renewable energy by 2030, British mining company Anglo American has entered a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with EDF Renewables to implement 3 GW to 5 GW of solar and wind energy capacity, with storage in the African country.
As part of EDF Renewables' job to create a regional renewable energy ecosystem (RREE) for the mining giant, the renewables developer will exploit the country's solar and wind energy sources by establishing a network of onsite and offsite solar and wind farms. These will supply the miner 24/7 renewable energy for its operations. It has already secured 100% renewable energy for all of its mining operations in Chile, Brazil and Peru (see Latin America PV Snippets: Colombia, Acciona, Anglo American).
Anglo American pointed out that in South Africa, while there is an abundance of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, there is limited renewables infrastructure to harness it.
"Our partnership with EDF Renewables to address our Scope 2 footprint in South Africa complements our FutureSmart Mining™ program's abatement of our Scope 1 emissions through low and zero emission technologies, including our hydrogen haul truck system, and the development of South Africa's Hydrogen Valley," added Anglo American's CEO Mark Cutifani.
Both the partners stressed that renewable energy development under this partnership will also support South Africa's decarbonization targets while supporting the miner's commitment to become carbon neutral across its operations by 2040. It will also stimulate development in other related industries, local production and supply chains.
For EDF Renewables, it will support the company's CAP 2030 strategy under which it targets to double its net renewable installed energy capacity globally from 28 GW in 2015 to 60 GW in 2030, including hydropower.
Earlier, EDF Renewables and Pele Green Energy were contracted by Anglo American for a 100 MW solar power plant for the latter's South African platinum mine in Limpopo (see Contract For Pele Green Energy & EDF Renewables).
The British company is hopeful of arranging equity financing from partners for the RREE, along with debt financing.