South Africa’s (SA) mining firms are accelerating investment in renewable energy as they seek to diversify power sources, cut costs and meet decarbonisation targets, marking a shift after decades of reliance on state utility Eskom.
Anglo American and Sibanye Stillwater are among the firms reducing their dependence on a national grid dominated by ageing coal-fired power plants that has struggled in recent years to keep Africa’s most advanced economy running.
However, executives say Eskom-supplied baseload power would remain part of the energy equation for years to come even as renewable power usage grows.
SA currently generates more than 80% of its power from coal, with renewables accounting for only around 10%.
Anglo is one of the companies partnering with independent power producers to develop renewable projects.
–Reuters–
