Ivanhoe, SolarAfrica Ink 48GWh Deal

Key Figures & Findings: Canadian miner Ivanhoe Mines has secured a 10-year power purchase agreement with Enpower Trading for 48.3 GWh of solar electricity annually to power its Platreef mine in Limpopo, South Africa. The electricity will be sourced from SolarAfrica’s 1 GW SunCentral project in De Aar, one of South Africa’s largest private solar undertakings. Ivanplats, Ivanhoe’s South African subsidiary, will be the direct off-taker. The deal is part of Ivanhoe’s broader push to decarbonize operations while scaling up Platreef, which is slated to become a top-tier producer of platinum-group metals and base metals, with phase one production targeted for Q4 2025.

Statistics & Insights: The agreement will supply 48.3 GWh annually to Platreef via wheeling, reducing Ivanhoe’s reliance on South Africa’s strained grid. The first 114 MW phase of the SunCentral solar farm—comprising three identical stages—is already financed and under development, with delivery expected before full-scale mining ramps up.

Future Implications: If executed as planned, this solar supply could anchor Ivanhoe’s future energy strategy and unlock significant ESG-linked investment potential by 2026. It may also catalyse similar wheeling models in South Africa’s mining sector, where power reliability and emissions targets are increasingly central to long-term value creation.

Source: Renewables Now