Page 15 - AfrElec Week 41 2022
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AfrElec RENEWABLES AfrElec
Gold Field completes 50MW
Khanyisa solar plant at South
Deep mine in Gauteng
SOUTH AFRICA SOUTH African gold producer Gold Fields has tariffs by 32% next April, writes Reuters. Eskom
completed construction of a 50MW solar power regularly implements load-shedding (rolling
plant at its South Deep mine near Johannesburg power cuts) as it struggles to meet demand.
in Gauteng province. According to the JSE-listed The ZAR715mn ($39.65mn) will enhance
miner, the Khanyisa solar plant will supply 24% the sustainability of South Deep and contrib-
of its electricity. ute to Gold Fields’ long-term commitment to
Gold Fields is also exploring wind power as Net Zero, says the press release. It is expected to
companies across the country seek to curb their save the mine ZAR123mn a year and reduce its
reliance on state power utility Eskom, Reuters annual carbon emissions by 110,000 tonnes.
reported on October 13. The Khanyisa solar plant can generate 50MW
The South Deep mine is one of the largest or 103GWh/year, about a quarter of the mine’s
gold mines in South Africa and in the world. annual power usage. In time, the plant’s capacity
The mine has estimated reserves of 81.4mn oz will increase to 60MW, the company said.
of gold. Currently, South Deep’s life-of-mine According to Martin Preece, Gold Fields’
(LoM) is in excess of 80 years, which means that executive vice president for South Africa, the
the mine will be a critical asset for Gold Fields for mine has contacted Eskom about selling surplus
decades to come. power back into the grid.
Mining companies in South Africa face a “We want to be a part of the solution and will
constant struggle to deliver on emissions reduc- continue to drive energy efficiency initiatives;
tion targets as the electricity they source from the replace grid power with renewables such as
national grid is 80% coal-generated. Electricity solar, and wind; and replace our diesel fleet with
accounts for 93% of South Deep’s carbon emis- battery electric vehicles over time,” Preece stated.
sions and 10% of its annual costs, Gold Fields South Deep is currently in the process of
said in a media release. finalising the commissioning and optimising
Investing in renewables will help miners cut of the plant. The solar plant is expected to hit its
emissions and save money on power, as South generation capacity of 50MW within the next six
African power utility Eskom seeks to hike power weeks, Preece said as cited by Reuters.
Week 41 13•October•2022 www. NEWSBASE .com P15
