BUSINESS interruption due to load-shedding has harmed many South African companies, hence the biggest mines in the country are looking at going all out on solar energy.
According to a recent Reuters report, the world’s biggest platinum miners are ramping up plans to build renewable energy plants to free them from power outages which have plagued South Africa for more than a decade, and to reduce their carbon footprint.
Sibanye Stillwater Ltd., the number-one platinum miner, Impala Platinum Holdings Ltd, and Anglo American Platinum Ltd all say they are planning on scaling up solar and wind farms for their own use to cut reliance on state-owned utility Eskom.
Some of the power supplier’s ageing coal-fired plants have failed to keep up with the neighbouring country’s electricity demand.
A future powered by wind, solar and other sustainable energy sources is expected to be the norm within the next 30 years and could also reduce energy bills.
