Gold Fields Limited has been given the green light for the construction of a 40MW solar plant at the South Deep Mine near Westonaria, which will generate over 20% of the average electricity consumption of the mine. It will comprise 116 000 solar panels, cover an area of 118ha – which is roughly the size of 200 soccer fields – and will be on mine property.
The estimated capital investment for the plant is R660m including contingencies and escalation. This will be funded from the mine’s positive cash flows over the next two years. The use of self-generated, renewable energy will translate into savings of around R120m on the cost of electricity a year. South Deep is currently finalising procurement strategies and contractor criteria for the construction of the plant, which will begin during the second quarter of 2021. The plant is expected to be commissioned during the second quarter of 2022.
“We are the first South African mine to build and operate our own solar plant of this scale. This will ensure greater reliability of power supply, and reduce the cost of electricity, which currently makes up about 13 percent of the mine’s operating costs. Importantly, it will reduce our carbon footprint by around 100 000 tonnes of CO2 a year, not only enhancing the sustainability of South Deep but also contributing to Gold Fields’ long-term commitment to carbon neutrality,” commented Chris Griffith, Gold Fields CEO.
Gold Fields’ energy objectives are based on four pillars – energy must be reliable, available, cost-effective and clean – which promote a shift to self-generation using renewable energy sources. During 2020, Gold Fields successfully implemented solar and wind power plants, backed by battery storage, at two of its Australian mines, Agnew and Granny Smith, and committed to renewables at its other Australian mines, Gruyere and St Ives, as well as the Salares Norte project in Chile when it starts operations in 2023. All its other mines are also reviewing renewable energy options.
For details of Gold Fields’ renewable projects, as well as the Group’s disclosure of other climate change related information, see the recently released 2020 Climate Change Report on the company’s website at www.goldfields.com.
The report was produced in line with the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).
