Royal Bafokeng Platinum studying a 30MW modular solar PV plant

South African platinum group metals (PGMs) mining company, Royal Bafokeng Platinum (RBPlat), is conducting a study that is looking at the economic feasibility of building a 30 MW modular solar photovoltaic (PV) energy plant at the BRPM mine. 

The company made the announcement on Tuesday during a presentation of its financial year end results. The platinum mining group indicated that the feasibility study into the solar PV energy plant will be concluded during the second quarter of 2022.

“We are in the process of updating our energy and water strategies. To identify more energy and water saving opportunities,” said RBPlat CEO, Steve Phiri . “We are also investigating green energy alternatives – and we are evaluating options for a modular solar photovoltaic plant” he added.

RBPlat’s ambitions to set-up its own renewable energy power generation capacity adds to a growing list of South African mining companies who have expressed plans to develop renewable energy energy plants or buy power directly from an IPP. 

South Africa’s state owned utility Eskom which supplies close to 95% of the nation’s power needs is currently struggling to ensure consistency of energy supply. This has resulted in the country experiencing rolling power blackouts known in South Africa as load-shedding.

Annual power increases by Eskom have also motivated miners to seek alternative sources of power in a bid to reduce their operating expenditure. The drastic drop in renewable energy technology prices is enticing to the energy intensive resource extraction sector. Renewables are also becoming attractive for miners as they enable them to improve their environmental credentials and reduce their carbon tax.

RBPlat says climate change impact is one of the company’s key focus areas. The platinum mining group is conducting climate change risk and vulnerability studies for their operations, and is working on various strategies to minimise their environmental impact.