Eramet’s GCO mine and SA’s JUWI Renewable Energies ink deal for large-scale off-grid solar and battery storage project in Senegal

• The €30 million (ZAR 600 million) solar and battery project will provide 20% of Eramet Grande Côte mine’s energy needs, cutting 25,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually and creating over 100 jobs during construction.
• JUWI South Africa’s off-grid hybrid solution advances sustainable mining in Africa and supports Senegal’s ambitious clean energy goals.

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA, 19 November 2024 –In a significant step towards sustainable mining in Africa, Eramet Grande Côte (gco.eramet.com/en/), a subsidiary of the French multinational mining and metals company Eramet, and South Africa’s JUWI Renewable Energies (www.juwi.co.za) have reached financial close on a €30 million (ZAR 600 million) off-grid solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery storage solution for the mine in Diogo, Senegal.

The 20 MWp solar and 11 MWh battery project will provide clean energy to meet 20% of the mine’s energy needs, reduce carbon emissions by 25,000 tonnes annually, and create over 100 jobs during its construction and maintenance phases. The off-grid hybrid installation, among the largest in Senegal, will reduce the mine’s reliance on heavy fuel oil, improve production stability, and align with Eramet’s global decarbonisation strategy. The investment supports the Eramet Group’s Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) roadmap, which aims for a 40% reduction in CO₂ emissions by 2035 and carbon neutrality by 2050.

In addition to driving sustainable mining, the project plays a crucial role in advancing Senegal’s clean energy transition, with the country aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by around 7% by 2025. By leveraging JUWI’s expertise in off-grid solar and storage solutions, alongside their engineering capabilities for complex ground conditions, and Eramet Grande Côte and Eramet’s commitment to sustainability, the project sets a new benchmark for innovation in the mining sector.

“Our investment in this solar power plant reflects Eramet Grande Côte’s and Eramet’s commitment to making the decarbonisation of our activities a top priority, in line with the global climate emergency, ” said Frederic Zanklan, CEO, Eramet Grande Côte.

“The clean energy produced by this plant will significantly enhance Eramet Grande Côte’s environmental performance. Our clients will benefit from products with increased environmental value. As the first mine in Senegal to be ISO 50 001 and 14 001 certified, Eramet Grande Côte is taking another important step in addressing the climate challenges we all face.”

“As part of our commitment to Africa’s energy transition, we’re thrilled to partner with Eramet Grande Côte on their first off-grid solar and storage project and to support Senegal’s ambitious carbon emissions goals,” said Richard Doyle, MD, JUWI Renewable Energies.

“Sustainable mining technologies are crucial in reducing the environmental impact of industrial operations, especially as many African mining operations rely on hydrocarbon fuels due to the continent’s limited grid infrastructure. By integrating renewable energy and storage into mining, we reduce carbon footprints, improve operational efficiency, and strengthen long-term energy resilience. We’re proud to use JUWI’s experience in delivering hybrid energy solutions across Africa to help advance sustainable mining and Africa’s clean energy transition.”

About the JUWI Group

JUWI South Africa is part of the international JUWI Group, one of the world’s leading renewable energy companies. It develops solar, wind and hybrid renewable energy solutions and provides engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) and operations and maintenance (O&M) services for solar PV and hybrid systems. The JUWI Group was established in 1996 in Germany and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Mannheim-based energy supplier, MVV Energie AG. JUWI has approximately 1300 employees worldwide, branches on all continents and is actively engaged in various renewable energy projects around the globe. The South African office opened in Cape Town in 2011. For more information, visit www.juwi.co.za

About Eramet Grande Côte

Eramet Grande Côte, the Senegalese subsidiary of the Eramet Group, is the world’s 4th largest producer of mineral sands, including ilmenite, leucoxene, zircon, and rutile. The subsidiary has invested nearly US$800 million in infrastructure, including a dredge with a floating Wet Concentrator Plant, a Mineral Separation processing plant, a 36 MW Heavy Fuel Oil power plant, the Diogo-Dakar railway line, and port facilities in Dakar. Production began in 2014. With over 2,000 employees, Eramet Grande Côte operates to the highest standards, being the first mining company in Senegal to receive ISO 14 001 and ISO 50 001 certification. It is also the first mine to return re-vegetated land to the State and is committed to the IRMA process. Read more: https://gco.eramet.com 

About Eramet

Eramet transforms the Earth’s mineral resources to provide sustainable and responsible solutions to industrial growth and the challenges of the energy transition. Eramet’s employees are dedicated to this goal through their civic-minded, contributive approach in every country where the Group operates. Manganese, nickel, mineralized sands, lithium, and cobalt: Eramet values and develops the metals essential for building a more sustainable world. As a trusted partner to its industrial customers, the Group helps make infrastructures and buildings more robust and durable, mobility more efficient, healthcare tools safer, and appliances more reliable. Fully committed to the era of metals, Eramet aims to become a benchmark in the responsible transformation of the Earth’s mineral resources, for the benefit of all. Read more: http://eramet.com

Media enquiries:

Salomé Bronkhorst, Email: salomebcomms@gmail.com, Phone/WhatsApp: +27793882114

Eramet Grande Côte
Awa Ly
awa.ly@eramet.com

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