Richards Bay Minerals (Rio Tinto Group) and Voltalia ink a 148 megawatt solar corporate power purchase agreement in South Africa
06 Oktober 2022 - 7:30AM
Richards Bay Minerals (Rio Tinto Group) and Voltalia ink a 148
megawatt solar corporate power purchase agreement in South Africa
Voltalia (Euronext Paris, ISIN code:
FR0011995588), international player in renewable
energies,
announces that
it has
concluded a
CPPA1 with
Richards Bay Minerals (RBM),
international leader in mineral sands
extraction, subsidiary of Rio Tinto,
for the largest renewable
energy site dedicated
to a corporate client in
South Africa.
The power purchase contract was signed after a
process launched in 2021 by Richards Bay Minerals (RBM), South
Africa’s largest mineral sands producer and a subsidiary of
Anglo-Australian metals and mining group Rio Tinto. The 20-year
contract will supply around 300 gigawatthours of renewable energy
every year via a wheeling arrangement to RBM’s smelting and
processing facilities in KwaZulu-Natal.
With this CPPA, RBM will enjoy a more reliable
long-term access to power while reducing its annual greenhouse gas
emissions (scope 1 and 2) by at least 10%, or 237,000 tons per
year, the equivalent to removing more than 50,000 cars from the
road.
The electricity will be generated by Voltalia’s
Bolobedu site, a 148 megawatt solar plant to be built in the
Limpopo province in north-eastern South Africa. The power plant
will benefit from the region’s good solar conditions and grid
availability. It will generate green electricity for a volume
equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of more than 425
000 inhabitants. Voltalia will ensure the development, construction
and operation of the plant. It is expected to begin generating in
2024.
As part of its mission, Voltalia will work to
ensure the Bolobedu solar project has a positive impact on the
environment and on the surrounding communities by creating local
employment opportunities. A total workforce of more than 700 people
is expected during construction, with a workforce of around 50
people once the plant becomes operational. In support of South
Africa’s growing renewable energy sector value chain, Voltalia will
also work to source goods and services locally.
Rio Tinto Minerals Chief Executive Sinead
Kaufman said: "The agreement, which is a first step towards
reducing RBM’s carbon emissions, is a major milestone and one that
is in line with Rio Tinto’s decarbonization strategy. As this solar
energy project progresses, we will continue exploring additional
renewable solutions that further reduce of our emissions in South
Africa and make Richards Bay Minerals a contributor to our net zero
commitment".
Voltalia CEO Sébastien Clerc said: "We are very
pleased to support RBM as its decarbonises its industrial
activities in South Africa. The Bolobedu photovoltaic power plant
will be our biggest project in Africa, after performing
construction of a series of other solar plants for us or for
clients, in the continent (Zimbabwe, Burundi, Tanzania, Kenya,
Mauritania and Egypt). This project is the first of our South
African large solar-and-wind portfolio under development, in
areas with grid connection available, that will be ready to support
our clients to overpass the actual energy crisis with affordable,
clean and stable electricity".
Next on the agenda : Third quarter
revenues , on October 19, 2022 (after market close)
About Voltalia
(www.voltalia.com) |
Voltalia is an international player in the renewable energy sector.
The Group produces and sells electricity generated from wind,
solar, hydraulic, biomass and storage facilities that it owns and
operates. Voltalia has generating capacity in operation and under
construction of more than 2.4 GW and a portfolio of projects under
development representing total capacity of 13.6 GW. Voltalia is
also a service provider and supports its investor clients in
renewable energy projects during all phases, from design to
operation and maintenance. As a pioneer in the corporate market,
Voltalia provides a global offer to private companies, ranging from
the supply of green electricity and energy efficiency services to
the local production of their own electricity. The Group has more
than 1,450 employees and is present in 20 countries on 3 continents
and is able to act worldwide on behalf of its clients. Voltalia is
listed on the regulated market of Euronext Paris, compartment B
(FR0011995588 – VLTSA) and is part of the Enternext Tech 40 and CAC
Mid & Small indices. The Group is also included in the
Gaïa-Index, an index for socially responsible midcaps. |
Loan Duong, Head of Communications & Investor relationsEmail:
invest@voltalia.comT. +33 (0)1 81 70 37 00 |
ActifinPress Contact: Jennifer Julliajjullia@actifin.fr
. T. +33 (0)1 56 88 11 11 |
1 Corporate PPA : Corporate Power Purchase
Agreement. A Corporat PPA is a long-term contract that directly
connects the electricity consumer, a company, to the producer,
which builds a new renewable energy power plant to supply its
customer.
- Richards Bay Minerals (Rio Tinto Group) and Voltalia ink a 148
megawatt solar corporate power purchase agreement in South
Africa
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