LONDON, UK: Anglo American has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with EDF Renewables, a global chief in renewable energy, to work collectively towards developing a regional renewable energy ecosystem (“RREE”) in South Africa.
The ecosystem is anticipated to be designed to meet Anglo American’s operational electrical energy necessities in South Africa through the present of 100% renewable electrical energy by 2030, thereby additionally supporting the resilience of the native electrical energy present systems and the broader decarbonisation of energy within the country.
Anglo American has already secured 100% renewable electrical energy present for all its operations in South America, leading to 56% of our global grid present anticipated to be sourced from renewables by 2023. In South Africa, whereas there is an abundance of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, there is restricted renewables infrastructure to harness it. As Anglo American progresses towards its 2040 goal of carbon impartial operations, this partnership with EDF Renewables is designed to abate the largest single supply of its Scope 2 emissions, being its present grid present in South Africa. The RREE goals to support South Africa’s decarbonisation ambitions and the country’s Just Energy Transition, making a sustainable and inclusive future.
The RREE will draw on South Africa’s pure renewable energy potential to develop a community of on-site and off-site photo voltaic and wind farms, amongst different opportunities, offering 24/7 renewable energy to Anglo American’s operations. Anglo American anticipates that a variety of companions will present fairness financing for the RREE, along with the RREE attracting debt financing that’s typical for excessive high quality energy infrastructure projects.
The partnership is anticipated to bring a host of advantages to South Africa and the region, including:
· Implementing 3-5 GW of renewable electrical energy (solar and wind) and storage over the subsequent decade, thereby increasing total grid present resilience;
· supporting the decarbonisation initiatives of governments throughout Southern Africa; and
· stimulating the event of new financial sectors, native manufacturing and present chains.
Mark Cutifani, Chief Executive of Anglo American, said: “We are targeting carbon neutrality throughout our operations by 2040 and we’re making good progress. Today’s announcement is a additional main step towards addressing our on-site energy necessities – the largest supply of our operational emissions. Our partnership with EDF Renewables to address our Scope 2 footprint in South Africa enhances our FutureSmart Mining™ programme’s abatement of our Scope 1 emissions through low and zero emission technologies, collectively with our hydrogen haul truck system, and the event of South Africa’s Hydrogen Valley. Step by step, we’re altering the very nature of mining and the way our stakeholders expertise our enterprise – whereas supporting a Just Transition.”
Bruno Bensasson, EDF Group Senior Executive Vice President Renewable Energies and Chairman & CEO of EDF Renewables, added: “The EDF Group is delighted to take a step ahead with Anglo American towards this ambitious partnership. We are dedicated to supporting industrial gamers by offering a low carbon aggressive electrical energy that substitutes fossil energies and improves wider social and environmental issues. This project is additionally contributing to the nation energy’s ambition to furthering the event of decarbonised energy. It is in line with EDF Group’s CAP 2030 strategy, which goals to double its net renewable put in energy capability worldwide (hydropower included) from 28 GW in 2015 to 60 GW in 2030.”
Nolitha Fakude, Chair of Anglo American’s Management Board in South Africa, said: “South Africa is embarking on the subsequent phase of its financial development, with clean, dependable and affordable energy playing a critical role in delivering this potential – serving to to catalyse new industrial hubs and stimulate native financial activity. Anglo American is dedicated to supporting this Just Energy Transition, encouraging growth and development for our host communities and South Africa through such projects because the RREE – very a lot in tune with our Collaborative Regional Development approach. Aligned to our longstanding dedication to financial transformation and empowerment, we intend to include a native Black Economic Empowerment (BEE) partner into our regional renewable energy ecosystem and are exploring a vary of community partnership fashions that will allow our host communities to share within the ecosystem’s success.”
Tristan de Drouas, CEO at EDF Renewables (South Africa), said: “As a significant low-carbon energy participant in South Africa, we’re delighted to be partnering with Anglo American to develop a regional renewable energy ecosystem, constructing on from a primary project collectively in 2021. With our global expertise in energy infrastructure development, design and delivery, our grid optimisation technology, and our expertise within the region, we’re uniquely suited to partner with Anglo American to transform its environmental footprint, whereas meaningfully supporting the region’s decarbonisation efforts.”
www.edf-re.co.za