Tharisa plc, the Johannesburg and London-listed gold miner, has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with renewable energy producers Total Eren and Chariot for a 40 MWp solar project to be located at the company’s mine in the North West Province of South Africa.
This project will enable Tharisa to reduce the use of grid power, giving a boost to its plans to cut carbon emissions by 30% by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.
As per the MoU, Total Eren and Chariot will develop, finance, construct, own, operate and maintain the solar photovoltaic project for Tharisa. The deal is the forerunner to a long-term PPA for the supply of energy on a “take-or-pay” basis.
The project capacity of 40 MW envisaged in the MoU could increase as demand grows over the life of the mechanised mine which has a 20-year open-pit life and can extend its underground operations by at least an additional 40 years.
Tebogo Matsimela, Head of ESG at Tharisa, said the proposed solar power solution would reduce the carbon footprint of the company’s flagship mine.
Benoit Garrivier, Chariot Transitional Power CEO, said the project demonstrated the financial and sustainable benefits that the company could bring to the mining industry in Africa.
“Through our partnership with Chariot, we are keen to assist mining companies in Africa to reduce their carbon intensity and energy costs, via implementing renewable power solutions into their operations,” commented Fabienne Demol, Executive Vice-President & Global Head of Business Development of Total Eren.
Sources: Press Releases – Chariot and Tharisa
Image of MoU signing: CHARIOT/TOTAL EREN/THARISA