Seriti Resources to build 155MW wind farm in Mpumalanga, South Africa

Seriti Green, a renewable energy subsidiary of Seriti Resources, will build a 155MW wind farm in Mpumalanga in South Africa, with R4 billion ($236 million) investment.

The Mpumalanga wind farm, which is the first phase of Seriti Green’s 900MW renewable energy project named Ummbila Emoyeni, is anticipated to convert more than 75% of the energy consumption from Seriti Resources’ current coal operations into renewable energy.

Situated between Bethal and Morgenzon in Mpumalanga, Ummbila Emoyeni is a hybrid power project with 750MW wind farms and 150MW solar photovoltaic facilities.

Seriti Green will supply the 155MW of power from the Mpumalanga wind farm to Seriti Resources’ coal mining operations through the national grid following a power purchase agreement (PPA) between the two companies.

Seriti Resources to build 155MW wind farm in Mpumalanga, South Africa. Photo courtesy of Seriti Resources.

The PPA aligns with Seriti Resources’ commitments, to use renewable wind and solar energy in its facilities, made in the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with energy company Eskom and mining company Exxaro.

Mike Teke — Seriti Resources CEO, commenting on the Mpumalanga wind farm, said: “The agreement is the first step in Seriti Resources’ journey towards carbon neutrality.

“More than that, the addition of 155 MW of renewable energy into the national grid in just two years will contribute to relieving Eskom’s energy constraints.”

Under the MoU with Eskom and Exxaro, Seriti Resources aims to reduce around half of its current carbon emissions, corresponding to approximately 350,000 tonnes per year.

Standard Bank and RMB will fund the 155MW wind farm in Mpumalanga, which will go online by 2025.

Seriti Green anticipates to develop 3GW of renewable energy capacity, both wind and solar, over the next ten years.

Seriti Resources is a broad-based, 91% black-owned and controlled coal mining company and its Seriti Coal operates three large-scale, opencast and underground thermal coal mines, namely the New Vaal, New Denmark, and Kriel collieries, which respectively supply Eskom’s Lethabo, Tutuka, and Kriel power stations.