Mining companies are geared and ready to generate their own power with at least 1.5GW that can be brought on stream within the next 36 months.This after ongoing blackouts have brought production to a complete standstill while rapidly escalating cost.According to the Minerals Council South Africa, electricity supply remains the biggest single risk to the South African economy and the mining sector.Having been given the go-ahead by Gwede Mantashe, minister of mineral resources and energy, to self-generate, power projects are set to start across the country.“There are several pilot projects in the pipeline already, including our large-scale solar PV project for the Mogalakwena platinum group metals (PGMs) mine, and our role in helping develop the 100MW Kathu Solar Park in the Northern Cape,” said Mark Cutifani, Anglo American chief executive. “Creating a supportive environment for projects such as these can immediately add power to the national grid, ease the burden on Eskom, and proactively help develop sustainable energy which industrial users that power the South African economy can rely on. We must act decisively to solve South Africa’s energy crisis to prevent any further loss of momentum for the country’s economy.”The mining sector has been vocal about the fact that it cannot w ithstand the impact of electricity insecurity for much longer. With Eskom having indicated it will need at least two more years of permanent stage 2 load-shedding to give it the space to fix certain power stations, including Medupi, the move to allow for mines to generate own power has come at just the right time.Impala Platinum alone reported a loss of R120 million as a result of the closure of its Rustenburg and Marula mines during various stages of load shedding over the past year.In December last year mines across South Africa came to a complete standstill when Eskom introduced stage 6 loadshedding.According to the Minerals Council, several mines have indicated they are ready to proceed with mainly photovoltaic solar projects to generate power. These include Sibanye Gold, Anglo American Platinum, Gold Fields, Exxaro, Orion, Vedanta and Harmony.
INSERT: There are several pilot projects in the pipeline already, including our large-scale solar PV project for the Mogalakwena platinum group metals mine.– Mark Cutifani