Anglo American and EDF plan 5GW 'renewables ecosystem' for South African mining

Mining giant Anglo American will work with French utility group EDF to deploy up to 5GW of green power capacity that can secure a 100% renewable power supply for its South African operations by 2030.

Anglo American said a network of wind, solar and storage plants will make up what it called a “regional renewable energy ecosystem (RREE)” that can deliver round-the-clock power to its operations.

The mining group and EDF Renewables will partner to build 3-5GW of capacity over the next decade, said a statement.

Anglo American, one of the world’s biggest mining groups, mines diamonds, platinum, iron ore and coal in South Africa, where the company said “there is an abundance of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar [but] there is limited renewables infrastructure to harness it”.

Anglo American said it expects “a number of partners will provide equity financing for the RREE, in addition to the RREE attracting debt financing that is typical for high quality energy infrastructure projects”.

The company said the green push in South Africa mirrors moves in South America where it already covers its operational needs with all-renewable power, part of a wider push to become carbon neutral by 2040.

Bruno Bensasson, CEO of EDF Renewables, said: “We are committed to supporting industrial players by providing a low carbon competitive electricity that substitutes fossil energies and improves wider social and environmental issues.

“This project is also contributing to the country energy’s ambition to furthering the development of decarbonised energy.”

Anglo American is among a clutch of global mining groups to emerge as major consumers from – and in some cases developers of – renewable energy projects.