A conveyer belt at DRDGold’s Ergo Mine on the East Rand. DRDGold has a R10 billion capital infrastructure investment programme involving five projects aimed at lifting throughput from the company’s two operations, ERGO and Far West Gold Recoveries from around 2.15 million tons per month to 3 million tons per month.
In a transformative move to elevate its gold reclamation operations, DRDGOLD has executed a strategic investment programme over four years to optimise its asset portfolio and fortify its future in the gold mining sector.
At the heart of this initiative is the focus on ERGO, the company's flagship reclamation site, where significant infrastructure enhancements have been made to ensure sustainability and operational efficiency.
The initial phase of the plan led to the establishment of a 60MW solar plant alongside a 187MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at ERGO, which commenced construction in the 2022 financial year. By mid-2025, the project was commissioned.
According to a statement from the miner on Wednesday, an impressive 47% of ERGO's electricity needs are now met through renewable sources, securing energy independence for about 12 hours a day while significantly curtailing carbon emissions.
