The first project, the Witberg Wind Energy Project near Matjiesfontein in the Western Cape, has a contracted capacity of 103 MW and will generate renewable energy and supply the South African operations through a rolling agreement with South Africa’s state-owned electricity company Eskom.
The project cost is expected to be R3.4 billion and will be fully funded by South Africa’s Independent Power Producer (IPP), which is developing the project, and its lender Red Rocket, with Sibanye-Stillwater committing to a 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA). Construction of the large-scale private wind farm follows Sibanye-Stillwater’s 89MW Castle wind project announced in May this year.
Construction of the Witberg wind farm will progress this month, with commercial operations scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2025.
The second project is a 150MWac multi-buyer solar PV project developed and financed by South African independent power producer SOLA Group. Sibanye-Stillwater will acquire 75MW of plant capacity under a 10-year power purchase agreement.
The platinum group metals, green metals and gold mining company told Mining Weekly in a release that the project would be the first to sell power on flexible terms to multiple buyers across the country.
The project is expected to cost R2.8 billion and SOLA Group is the majority shareholder. The project will produce renewable energy in the Free State and power Sibanye-Stillwater’s South African operations through a rotation agreement with Eskom. In particular, a significant portion of the project capacity has been set aside for flexible short-term power purchase agreements to enable other South African companies to access affordable and reliable renewable energy. Construction on the solar project will also begin this month, with commercial operations scheduled for the third quarter of 2025.
Together with the Castle wind project, these projects bring Sibanye-Stillwater’s total renewable energy project capacity under construction to 267 MW, meeting 45% of the company’s long-term renewable energy needs in South Africa, making Sibanye-Stillwater a market leader in participating in the country. Private energy procurement.
Collectively, these projects will reduce Scope 2 emissions by 15% from 2026, or approximately 92,000 tonnes of CO2 per year, making a significant contribution to mitigating South Africa’s power crisis.
They will also contribute to the socio-economic development of local communities and meet the requirements of the South African Mining Charter.
Sibanye-Stillwater continues to balance its 600MW renewable energy project portfolio on its way to becoming carbon neutral.
“We continue to make significant progress towards our goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2040. Not only will these renewable energy projects contribute to the decarbonization of operations and help mitigate climate change, they will also make a significant contribution to sustaining the shared value of our South African business.” Help solve South Africa’s electricity crisis. We will continue to seek innovative energy solutions for our companies and partners that align with our strategy. ” said Sibanye-Stillwater CEO Neal Froneman.
