Page 12 - AfrElec Week 50 2021

AfrElec RENEWABLES AfrElec

Rio Tinto launches construction of

Madagascar mine renewable project

MADAGASCAR RIO Tinto QIT Madagascar Minerals (QMM) enabling operations to reach carbon neutrality
has begun construction of a solar and wind by 2023, the Anglo-Australian miner said in a
energy project to supply its ilmenite mine in the press release.
coastal town of Fort Dauphin. About 18,000 solar panels and four wind
The renewable energy project, which will turbines will be installed as part of the project,
comprise 8 MW of solar and 12 MW of wind which will also include an 8.25-MW lithium-ion
capacity – due to come online in 2022 and 2023 battery energy storage system.
respectively – is being built by independent It will also enable QMM to reduce its CO2
power producer (IPP) CrossBoundary Energy emissions by about 26,000 tonnes per year and
under a 20-year power purchase agreement its heavy fuel oil purchases by up to 8,500 tpy.
(PPA). QMM will also replace with clean energy
The project will meet all of QMM’s electricity most of the electricity it now supplies to Fort
needs during peak periods and will provide up Dauphin and its population of 80,000.™
to 60% of its yearly electricity consumption. It is
vital to QMM’s sustainable mine concept and to

Tunisia’s renewable energy to contribute

22% to overall production by 2025 – ANME

TUNISIA RENEWABLE energy production in Tunisia is implementation of several projects, including the
expected to contribute 22% to total energy out- main ProSol project, which is currently linked to
put by 2025 and 30% by 2030, up from nearly 4% the electricity network, and has so far provided
currently, according to the head of the National 150 MW and is working to connect 700,000 fam-
Agency for Energy Management (ANME). ilies to solar energy facilities. Another 30 MW of
Nafaa Baccari. solar energy will be produced from this project
Nearly 80% of the projects scheduled in the by 2025.
field of energy production from renewable ener- Another 500 MW in low voltage power
gies will be carried out by the private sector, Bac- capacity will also be implemented within the
cari added. ANME has opened a special office to framework of the system of concessions.
monitor the progress of such projects. Baccari explained that the government has
The ambitious renewable energy pro- launched new projects in 2021 which will be fully
duction programme will be driven by the operational by 2025. ™

P12 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 50 16•December•2021