A solar moment for Richards Bay Minerals

Yesterday RBM and Voltalia commissioned the Bolobedu Solar Farm in South Africa.

The Bolobedu Solar Power Station is a 148 MW solar facility in the Limpopo Province of South Africa developed to supply renewable electricity to RBM under a 20-year power purchase agreement.

It will generate about 300 GWh of power annually. The project represents one of the largest corporate-dedicated renewable plants in South Africa and forms part of RBM’s move toward more reliable, lower-cost energy supply.

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions

Following the agreement signed in 2022, international renewable energy producer Voltalia and its local Black Empowerment (BEE) partners constructed the plant which, once fully operational, will reduce RBM’s annual baseline greenhouse gas emissions by at least 10%, which is approximately 237,000 tonnes per year. 

This is one of the largest solar plants in South Africa dedicated to meet the energy needs of a single company.

 The renewable power is supplied to RBM’s KwaZulu-Natal operations through a wheeling arrangement via the Eskom Transmission Network.

A defining moment for Richard Bay Minerals 

“Commissioning of the Bolobedu Solar Farm is a defining moment for RBM as we celebrate 50 years of operations in South Africa. This initiative is not just about energy security; it is about the long-term sustainability of the business.

“As we break ground on Zulti South, this initiative paves the way for a cleaner energy future, contributing to both the national power grid and our global decarbonisation targets,” says Werner Duvenhage, RBM Managing Director.

The Zulti South Project is a major new mining development approved in 2026 with an investment of about USD473 million.

The expansion will replace declining reserves at Zulti North and extend the life of RBM’s operations with more than 30 years.

Construction is expected to take about 30 months, with first production targeted for 2028, securing long-term supply of zircon, rutile and ilmenite.

Image: The Bolobedu Solar Power Station in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. Image credit: Richards Bay Minerals (RBM)

A solar moment for Richards Bay Minerals