Rio Tinto partners with Voltalia for renewable solar power at Richards Bay Minerals
October 06 2022 - 1:43AM
Business Wire
Richard’s Bay Minerals (RBM) will be supplied with renewable
solar power through an agreement with international energy company
Voltalia and local Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) partners, for
its operation in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Under the agreement, Voltalia will begin construction of the
Bolobedu Solar PV renewable energy project in 2023, at a site in
the province of Limpopo. The power plant is scheduled to be
complete by 2024 and will deliver an annual generation capacity of
up to 300GWh. It will feed into the national power grid to supply
RBM’s smelting and processing facilities through a wheeling
agreement.
The renewable power supply is expected to cut RBM’s annual
greenhouse gas emissions by at least 10 per cent1, or 237kt CO2e
per year.
Rio Tinto Minerals Chief Executive Sinead Kaufman said: “The
agreement, which is a first step towards reducing RBM’s carbon
emissions, is a major milestone and one that is in line with Rio
Tinto’s decarbonisation strategy. As this solar energy project
progresses, we will continue exploring additional renewable
solutions that further reduce our emissions in South Africa and
make Richards Bay Minerals a contributor to our net zero
commitment.”
Voltalia CEO Sébastien Clerc said: "We are very pleased to
support RBM in its decarbonisation journey. The Bolobedu
photovoltaic power plant will be our biggest project in Africa,
after performing construction of a series of other solar plants for
us or for clients, in the continent (Zimbabwe, Burundi, Tanzania,
Kenya, Mauritania and Egypt). This project is the first of our
South African large solar-and-wind portfolio under development, in
areas with grid connection available, that will be ready to support
our clients to overpass the actual energy crisis with affordable,
clean and stable electricity."
Voltalia will work to ensure the Bolobedu Solar PV project
creates local employment opportunities for the surrounding
communities. A total workforce of more than 700 people is expected
during construction, with a workforce of around 50 people once the
plant becomes operational.
The project will also provide skills development opportunities
for members of the surrounding communities, and a bursary programme
for young local learners. In support of South Africa’s growing
renewable energy sector value chain, Voltalia will work to source
its goods and services locally.
The Bolobedu Solar PV power plant will be 51% black-owned
through BEE partners, with a minimum 10% stake going to black
women, while the host community will also have a participation.
1 Compared to 2018 baseline emissions.
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