Exxaro Resources Limited, a coal mining company headquartered in South Africa, wants to have solar energy powering its Grootegeluk Coal Mine in the country's Limpopo province. For this it has launched a request for information (RFI) round through its wholly owned subsidiary Cennergi Proprietary Limited, that will manage the procurement process.
According to the RFI, Exxaro wants 70 MW AC solar PV capacity to be built by the winning EPC company on turnkey basis, with broad scope of work including design, procurement, construction, operation and maintenance of the facility for 5 years.
Shortlisted applicants will move to the next round, namely request for proposal (RFP) when they will be expected to submit a binding price. The Lephalale Solar Photovoltaic Farm will be connected to the grid.
According to the RFI details published on the website of South African Photovoltaic Industry Association (SAPVIA), the last date to submit applications is October 19, 2021.
Cennergi was a 50:50 renewable energy joint venture between Exxaro and Khopoli Investments Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of India's Tata Power Company Ltd. In April 2020, Tata Power announced completing the sale of its entire stake in Cennergi to Exxaro.
As future prospects of coal power dwindle as clean energy transition becomes a priority for the world, companies like Exxaro are evaluating and adjusting their business plans around it. The South African coal miner recently said it will diversify its business interests 'building on renewable energy business and selective bulk minerals business in manganese, bauxite and copper' with an aim to avoid 'stranded assets' in the future.