JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Northam Platinum is looking to establish the Eland mine as South Africa’s first platinum group metals (PGMs) mine operating solely on renewable energy.
In addition, Eland is water positive, and the phasing out of external water sources before the end of the decade would turn it into a green mine, an upbeat Northam Platinum CEO Paul Dunne emphasised on Friday, 28 August when the Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed PGMs and chrome mining company presented a stunning set of financial results and paid record dividends.
“We will continue to roll out our renewable-energy programme,” Dunne said during the presentation, at which he described the commissioning of the first 80 MW solar farm at the Zondereinde mine as a major milestone.
“Each year, this facility will produce 220 000 MWh of secure, behind-the-meter electrical energy, reducing annual carbon emissions by 240 000 t, and reducing Zondereinde’s energy costs by 15%."
In addition, progress had been made, he said, on five other projects under construction, including the Karreeebosch wind farm, the Thakadu solar farm, and the solar farm at the Eland PGM and chrome mine.
