South African mining company Northam Platinum Holding Ltd has signed a power purchase agreement (PPA) for an 80-megawatt (MW) solar project aimed at supplying renewable energy to its Zondereinde mine. This marks the company's first significant venture into renewable energy.
The solar facility is projected to deliver approximately 220 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of energy annually, supporting mining and smelting operations independent of the local Eskom grid. Construction of the solar farm is underway, with plans for it to begin generating power in December 2025.
The PPA involves a consortium that includes the STANLIB Infrastructure Fund II, Royal Bafokeng Holdings Proprietary Limited, and Energy Group. Financing for the project is being provided by Nedbank Limited and The Standard Bank of South Africa Limited.
Located near Thabazimbi in Limpopo province, the Zondereinde mine focuses on platinum-group metals (PGMs). The project is expected to reduce the mine's carbon footprint by 22%.
Northam is focused on sustainably reducing the environmental impact of its operations through this solar project, which represents a significant milestone for the company. It aims to decrease carbon intensity by 60% from a 2019 baseline by 2030. In addition to the solar initiative, Northam is advancing other renewable energy projects, including wind and battery storage solutions.
