Multinational mining and metals processing group Sibanye-Stillwater has reported that the Springbok solar PV project, in South Africa’s Free State province, has achieved commercial operation.

The Springbok solar PV project is a 150 MW alternating current – 195 MW in peak direct current – project developed and financed by the SOLA Group, a South African Independent power producer (IPP).

Sibanye-Stillwater is an anchor offtaker of the solar project and will procure 75 MW (50%) of the plant’s capacity for a ten-year period, with an option to extend the duration through a power purchase agreement (PPA) with the SOLA Group.

This project is the second renewable energy project supplying Sibanye-Stillwater's South African operations to achieve commercial operation this year. The first renewables project was the 89 MW Castle wind farm, in the Northern Cape.

Key benefits of the Springbok project include cost saving relative to prevailing State-owned Eskom utility rates and escalating at consumer price index (CPI), resulting in expected yearly cost saving for the company’s South African operations of more than R60-million for this project alone.

The company also notes that the expected yearly renewable energy supply is equivalent to about 4% of Sibanye-Stillwater’s energy requirements in South Africa.

Additionally, the project allows for an immediate reduction of 229 000 t/y of carbon dioxide equivalent– 3.6% of group Scope 1 and 2 emissions – and mitigation of future, indirect carbon tax liabilities.

“Achieving commercial operation of the Springbok solar project is another milestone in our journey to energy independence and decarbonisation.

“This is the second project to achieve commercial operation in our 407 MW portfolio of contracted renewable energy projects, contributing to our goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2040.

“We would like to thank our partners for effectively managing the construction and start-up, securing our offtake,” says Sibanye-Stillwater CEO Richard Stewart.