JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Precious and green metals mining company Sibanye-Stillwater has concluded a flexible renewable energy power purchase agreement (PPA) with energy trader Etana Energy, involving the supply of 220 MW renewable electricity from a diversified portfolio of solar and wind generation projects for ten years.

The agreement takes the Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed Sibanye-Stillwater closer to its goal of attaining carbon neutrality by 2040.

Once operational from late 2027, the renewable electricity supplied by Etana is expected to reduce greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions at Sibanye-Stillwater’s South African gold and platinum group metals operations by an estimated 648 000 t/y of CO₂e.

The 600 GWh a year of renewable electricity, equivalent to 220 MW, will be supplied to Sibanye-Stillwater’s South African operations along South Africa’s national electricity transmission network from a diversified generation portfolio of solar and wind projects as part of a wheeling arrangement.

“Not only does this underscore our sustainability commitments but it is also expected to provide a lower-cost energy supply for our South African operations,” Sibanye-Stillwater CEO Dr Richard Stewart highlighted in a release to Mining Weekly.

From 407 MW at the end of 2025, the additional 220 MW of clean electricity supply increases Sibanye-Stillwater’s total renewable-energy capacity under development to 627 MW.

Relative to current Eskom utility rates, the PPA provides long-term electricity cost savings of 20% to 30% a year and delivers on Sibanye-Stillwater’s strategic target of securing 600 MW from renewable-energy sources.

The competitive tender process conducted secured the additional renewable energy on flexible commercial terms.

At a conversion factor of 1.08 t CO₂e per megawatt hour, the renewable-energy deal is expected to reduce GHG emissions by 648 000 t CO₂e a year.

Cumulatively, from 2028, Sibanye-Stillwater's renewable-energy portfolio is expected to generate 2.036 terawatt-hours of clean energy a year, translating annually into a 2.198-million-tonne CO₂e reduction in Scope 2 emissions.

Etana CEO Evan Rice pointed out that the offtake commitments of large power users are playing a critical role in underpinning the investment in new clean energy generation capacity in South Africa.

“To maximise this potential and the value creation for customers, it’s critical to build solutions around their specific business objectives and operational outlook and provide the contractual flexibility that mitigates the risk associated with long-term commitments.

“We look forward to delivering this energy and contributing to the competitiveness of Sibanye-Stillwater’s operations and their positive socioeconomic impact in South Africa,” said Rice.

This agreement represents the third long-term PPA concluded by Etana with large mining companies, following agreements previously signed in 2024 with Tharisa Minerals and Petra Diamonds for wheeled renewable electricity supply. Etana has signed customer PPAs with more than 20 electricity users.