(Ecofin Agency) – In Africa, JUWI has already undertaken several clean energy projects, particularly for the mining sector. We can cite two 10 MW solar power plants, respectively for the Fairview and Evander mines of Pan African Resources.
The South African renewable energy company JUWI announced on Tuesday November 19 that it had completed, with Eramet Grande Côte, the Senegalese subsidiary of the French company Eramet specializing in mineralized sands, financing of €30 million for a 20 MWp off-shore photovoltaic solar project. network with 11 MWh in battery storage, for the GCO mine in Senegal.
According to JUWI, this hybrid solar project will meet 20% of the mine’s energy needs, reducing carbon emissions by 25,000 tonnes per year while creating more than 100 jobs during the construction and maintenance phases.
« Sustainable mining technologies are essential to reducing the environmental impact of industrial operations, especially as many African mining operations rely on hydrocarbons due to the continent’s limited power grid infrastructure. By integrating renewable energy and storage into mining, we reduce the carbon footprint, improve operational efficiency and strengthen long-term energy resilience said Richard Doyle, CEO of JUWI.
In Africa, around 23 GW has been allocated to mining projects in 2022, mainly in the sub-Saharan zone according to the report Renewables for Mining in Africa by Bird & Bird. With supply via national electricity networks, the sector faces high costs and load shedding which slows down its activity and growth.
In this context, renewable energies, particularly decentralized ones, represent an interesting alternative. By offering affordable electricity, renewable projects ultimately make mining products more competitive. The reliability of supply ensures the continuity of mining activity and helps avoid losses linked to shutdowns. Finally, the use of clean energy in production processes opens new markets for African mining products, while demand for green products increases with climate commitments.
Abdullah Diop
Also read:
08/10/2024 – South Africa: agreement for an 80 MW power plant on a mining site
08/28/2024 – Load shedding in Zambia: copper producers turn to renewables
