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 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 the 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 Elikhulu solar plant has become the first embedded project over 1 MW to receive full grid code compliance from Eskom. 

This was announced by juwi Renewable Energies and South African midtier gold producer Pan African Resources, in December 2022.

To attain grid compliance, projects need to demonstrate compliance with the renewable power plant’s grid connection code.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Arup (bankable feasibility study); juwi South Africa (engineering, procurement and construction); 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.