JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Northam Platinum is looking to establish the Eland mine as South Africa’s first platinum group metals (PGMs) mine operating solely on renewable energy.

In addition, Eland is water positive, and the phasing out of external water sources before the end of the decade would turn it into a green mine, an upbeat Northam Platinum CEO Paul Dunne emphasised on Friday, 28 August when the Johannesburg Stock Exchange-listed PGMs and chrome mining company presented a stunning set of financial results and paid record dividends.

“We will continue to roll out our renewable-energy programme,” Dunne said during the presentation, at which he described the commissioning of the first 80 MW solar farm at the Zondereinde mine as a major milestone.

“Each year, this facility will produce 220 000 MWh of secure, behind-the-meter electrical energy, reducing annual carbon emissions by 240 000 t, and reducing Zondereinde’s energy costs by 15%."

In addition, progress had been made, he said, on five other projects under construction, including the Karreeebosch wind farm, the Thakadu solar farm, and the solar farm at the Eland PGM and chrome mine.

The Karreebosch wind farm is a 140 MW renewable-energy project and Thakadu PV plant is a 255 MW utility-scale solar project.

Northam will soon begin to install 360 MWh of industrial batteries across the operations, Dunne reported during the company’s results presentation covered by Mining Weekly.

Once all the projects were fully operational in financial year 2028, the company would be delivering more than 1 000 GWh of energy, and have reduced carbon intensity by 70% and shaved about R1-billion a year off its current electricity bill.

“The economic benefit of these initiatives ensures their true sustainability,” Dunne commented.

He said that batteries would allow Northam to extend the solar benefit into the peak tariff periods and thereby maximise savings.

Northam plans to install 250 MW of battery storage at Zondereinde, which would improve energy security and enable peak tariff arbitrage.

“It’s worth noting that peak tariff energy represents only 14% of energy use, but 44% of energy cost. Hence, the arbitrage opportunity,” he explained.

The build programme at Karreebosch has now erected 22 of the 25 towers, and remains on track for commissioning next year.

“This particular facility will deliver around 460 000 MWh onto the Eskom grid, and we'll elect, on a monthly basis, where to apportion this power between the operations. This will reduce carbon emissions by over half a million tons per annum, and group energy costs by a further 10%,” Dunne reported.

Displayed during the presentation were renewable-energy facilities that included Thakadu, which is scheduled to be commissioned in mid-2027 – “again, energy delivered to the grid, where we elect to apportion the energy through a wheeling agreement with Eskom on a monthly basis as we choose across the operations.

Pointing out the Eland solar and battery site, he said: “We've just started clearing for construction here, and this will initially be 20 MW, growing to 40 MW, producing initially 55 MWh of energy, and displacing 60 000 t of carbon per annum.

“At Eland, we have a truly unique opportunity to create the first PGM mine in South Africa operating solely on renewable energy. In addition, Eland is water positive, and we will phase out external water sources before the end of the decade, truly becoming a green mine.

“We are looking for more renewable opportunity. At this stage, we're only 70% abated on carbon, and there is more we can do but for the moment, that's the project work we do have,” Dunne added.

One of the main elements of Northam's Vision 2031 programme is to reduce its energy cost by a third.

Northam’s operating profit in financial year 2026 soared by a stunning 293%-plus. Sales revenue rocketed to a 64%-higher R54-billion at a 140%-higher operating margin.

Basic earnings per share were 824% higher, headline earnings nearly 700% higher, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) were up 239% at R16.6-billion and the Ebitda margin lifted by 107%.