The mine energy crisis in Africa is becoming more apparent in the last few months with the impact of load shedding seriously affecting the operational abilities of mines.
In response to what they describe as “inconsistent and increasingly expensive” electricity supply from state utility Eskom, Sibanye announced last week that they are considering investing in solar as well as building their own coal-fired power station.
The investment in solar power would cost about 3 billion rand ($258 million) and generate 150 MW. The company’s overall demand is 500 MW.
“Ongoing delays at Eskom’s new capacity-build projects and a lack of critical maintenance at its existing stations has resulted in regular supply interruption, which is likely to continue for the foreseeable future,”
Eskom, which generates about 95 percent of electricity used by Africa’s second-biggest economy, is struggling to meet demand after it failed to adequately invest in generation in the 20 years following the country’s first democratic elections. The utility requires industrial users to cut consumption by as much as 20 percent when it’s running short of power.
The African mine energy crisis and the alternative strategies being considered will be a major focus of the Renewables and Mining Summit in Johannesburg on July 1-2. For details contact iria.heredia@energyandmines.com
(this article was sourced via Bloomberg)