Dual-listed gold producer Pan African Resources has engaged juwi South Africa for the construction of a 9.975MW solar photovoltaic plant on land owned by its Evander Mines. The plant will provide about 30% of the power requirement of the company’s Elikhulu tailings retreatment operation during daylight hours.
The Evander Mines solar photovoltaic plant will improve power reliability, save an expected 26,000 tons of CO2-e, and materially reduce electricity costs at the Elikhulu operation. It will utilize bi-facial module technology to maximize its yield. To be built at a total cost of ZAR140 million (US$ 9.45 million), the solar project will pay back its investment in less than five years.
“The Evander Mines solar photovoltaic plant is integral to the Group’s purpose of “Mining for a Future” and pursuing ESG initiatives that go beyond compliance,” said Cobus Loots, CEO, Pan African. “This plant will be one of the first of its kind in the South African mining space.”
juwi South Africa will commence project construction in the first quarter of 2021, with power generation expected in the third quarter of 2021. To date, it has built six utility-scale solar plants totaling 207 MW under the South African Government’s Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers Programme (REIPPP). It is a part of the Germany-headquartered juwi Group, one of the worlds leading renewable energy companies.
Read the Pan African announcement HERE.
Image Source: Pan African