Diversified miner Exxaro Resources and South African national science council the Council for Geoscience (CGS) have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to drive sustainability and decarbonisation efforts.

The MoU expresses an intention to collaborate on carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS) initiatives aimed at reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, thereby promoting climate change adaptation and maximising social impact in support of South Africa’s national commitments which are stated in the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).

“Our strategy also aims for an integrated, multistakeholder approach to positioning the business for a resilient and sustainable future. We cannot act alone to create the impact we are aiming for, hence strategic partnerships such as the one with the CGS are key to ensuring that our carbon neutrality goal becomes a reality,” says Exxaro chief sustainable impact officer Mongezi Veti.

“This collaboration comes at the right time where we have made tremendous strides on the technical front in implementing this scientific intervention, the CCUS, and the geological characterisation has progressed exponentially to confirm the suitability of the targeted reservoir to the pilot carbon dioxide sequestration project.

“The CCUS project is a co-funded initiative by the South African government and the World Bank and its partners and is intended to contribute significantly to the climate mitigation programme as well as energy security trajectory,” explains CGS CEO Mosa Mabuza.

Exxaro says its environmental and social response to climate change supports South Africa’s energy transition programmes.

The company adds that it balances this with its role as a critical supplier to South Africa’s coal-based electricity sector.

The business’s natural capital impacts encompass air quality, climate change resilience, energy, water security, waste management, biodiversity, environmental liabilities, land management and rehabilitation.

“We aim to draw upon the CGS’s knowledge and expertise to promote positive, solutions-driven approaches to climate change mitigation and adaptation and to highlight transformational climate action.

“We have a long way to go, but the first steps are the most valuable as they help us gain momentum in this journey towards reducing our climate impacts,” says Exxaro CEO Dr Nombasa Tsengwa.