Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), a JSE-listed platinum group metals (PGMs) miner, has chosen the Pele Green–EDF SA cooperation to develop Mogalakwena mine solar project a 100 MW solar photovoltaic (PV) facility in Limpopo.
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Pele Green Energy develops, owns, acquires, constructs, and runs renewable energy power plants. In contrast, EDF Renewables South Africa has global experience in renewable energy technologies such as wind, solar PV, and battery storage.
The Mogalakwena mine solar project will begin construction in the fourth quarter of 2022 and is scheduled to be finished by 2023.
Amplats objective is to achieve carbon neutrality throughout all of its businesses by 2040.
Amplats has committed to a 10% free carry equity stake in the consortium that will develop, own, and operate the facility for the rest of its life, with no requirement to pay equity money in return for the shares. According to a statement issued on October 6, this is intended to result in dividends that are directly traceable to the company’s host communities over time.
According to Amplats CEO Natascha Viljoen, the company’s selection of Pele Green–EDF SA cooperation provides more impetus toward the environmental targets outlined in its Sustainable Mining Plan. This is intended to increase the organization’s efficiency, resilience, and agility.
She is also enthusiastic about the prospect of harnessing abundant solar energy to generate green hydrogen at Mogalakwena. This is part of a larger initiative to convert mine transport vehicles to run on zero-emission hydrogen fuel cells.
PGMs, which are a critical component of proton-exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells and PEM hydrogen electrolyzers, are employed in these technologies for reasons other than reducing the company’s environmental impact. PGM demand may increase in the future as these technologies become more widely available.
The collaboration is excited to move on with this initiative in the green energy industry while also having a beneficial social impact.
