Name of the Project
Elikhulu solar photovoltaic (PV) power project.

Location
Mpumalanga, South Africa.

Project Owner/s
Gold miner Pan African Resources.

Project Description
The 10 MW solar PV plant will use bifacial module technology to maximise its yield and will be built on previously disturbed land owned by Evander Mines. The plant will provide an estimated 30% of the Elikhulu Tailings Retreatment Plant’s power requirement during daylight hours and is expected to materially reduce electricity costs at this operation.

The project will prevent the emission of more than 26 000 t of carbon dioxide in the first year of operation.

The gold miner is also assessing the merits of expanding the Evander Mines’ solar PV plant in future to provide a clean energy feed for its Egoli project, and of building a similar solar PV plant at the group’s Barberton Mines.

Potential Job Creation
During construction, the services of ten local contractor companies were used, which provided 202 temporary local job opportunities.

In addition to using local contractors for cleaning and maintenance of the solar panels, the company is investigating the implementation of agriculture projects at the facility, which are expected to create sustainable local employment opportunities and maximise land use at the solar PV facility. 

Capital Expenditure
R150-million.

Planned Start/End Date
Site-establishment and construction started in the first quarter of calendar 2021. The solar plant started operating in May 2022.

Latest Developments
The 10 MW solar PV plant at Pan African’s Evander gold mine started supplying electricity to the group’s Elikhulu surface retreatment operations, as part of its hot commissioning process, on May 6.

Pan African CEO Cobus Loots has said that the company will continue with energy independence and decarbonisation initiatives at all its operations, with another 20 MW of solar capacity scheduled to be built in the next two years.

The plant at Evander comprises 26 640 solar modules over 20.1 ha.

The jobs and skills developed during the construction of the project will be retained for the 12 MW expansion phase that will supply power to the Evander mine’s underground operation.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Arup (bankable feasibility study); juwi South Africa (EPC); Green Yellow; DRA; Building Energy; Scatec Solar; Sturdee Energy; and Clean Energy Africa.

Contact Details for Project Information
Pan African Resources, Juanita Maijsen, tel + 27 11 243 2900 or email ExecPA@paf.co.za.