Contract For Pele Green Energy & EDF Renewables

• A platinum mine in South Africa's Limpopo is to be powered by 100 MW solar power plant
• Anglo American Platinum has contracted Pele Green Energy and EDF Renewables South Africa to build the facility
• Project is scheduled to start commercial operations by the end of 2023
• The mining company said it also wants to explore green hydrogen production at Mogalakwena by using solar energy

Anglo American Platinum, part of British Anglo American plc Group, has chosen a consortium of Pele Green Energy & EDF Renewables South Africa to install a 100 MW solar power plant at its platinum mine in South Africa.

The Mogalakwena platinum mine of Anglo American Platinum is located in the municipality of Limpopo province. The selected consortium plans to start construction onsite in Q4/2022 with commercial operations expected to start by the end of 2023.

While the facility will be built, owned and operated by the consortium, Anglo American Platinum has invested 10% free carry equity ownership into the partnership, which means it doesn't have to contribute equity capital for the shares. The miner explained, "This is designed to result in dividends attributable directly to our host communities over time."

The purpose of the project is not only to adhere to the company's aim to achieve carbon neutrality across its operations by 2040, but also to become self-sufficient in its energy generation capacity for the mine.

At the same time, the platinum miner wants to use solar energy to explore green hydrogen production here. "We are particularly excited about the prospect of using plentiful solar energy to produce green hydrogen at Mogalakwena, as part of a broader project to convert our mine haul trucks to run on zero emission hydrogen fuel cells," said Anglo American Platinum CEO Natascha Viljoen. "Not only will this reduce our environmental footprint, but these technologies rely on platinum group metals (PGMs), which are an essential component in proton-exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells and PEM hydrogen electrolyzers. In turn, this could stimulate additional future demand for PGMs as both technologies roll-out."

In April 2021, the mining group said it has secured 100% renewable energy for all its iron ore, nickel and copper operations in Brazil, Chile and Peru (see Latin America PV Snippets: Colombia, Acciona, Anglo American).

Another South African platinum miner Implats Group was seeking bidders for a 10 MW solar power plant at its Marula platinum mine in the country, in October 2020 (see 10 MW Solar PV For South African Platinum Mine).