Johannesburg-listed miner and metals processor Sibanye-Stillwater has announced financial close on the 140MW Umsinde Emoyeni wind farm near Murraysburg, on the border between the Northern Cape and Western Cape provinces in South Africa.

Construction work will begin imminently, with commercial operation planned for the fourth quarter of 2026. The project will supply Sibanye-Stillwater’s South African operations via the national grid through a wheeling agreement with utility Eskom.

The project will be built, owned and operated by a consortium of African Clean Energy Developments (ACED) and Energy Infrastructure Management Services (EIMS Africa), which are African Infrastructure Investment Managers' (AIIM) renewable energy project development, delivery and asset management platforms. Reatile Renewables is also a shareholder in the consortium.

Sibanye-Stillwater has signed a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with the project consortium. It is the fourth renewable energy PPA inked by the firm, taking the combined total of green energy under construction for its exclusive use to 407MW.

The company says this will reduce its scope two emissions by 24% from 2027, while also securing 70% of its long-term energy requirements in South Africa. Sibanye-Stillwater is aiming to build a portfolio of 600MW of renewable energy projects in a bid to achieve carbon neutrality.

Sibanye-Stillwater CEO, Neal Froneman said, “Financial close of the Umsinde Emoyeni wind farm marks another critical step in our journey to carbon neutrality by 2040. The renewable energy secured through our four PPAs will enable a stepped reduction in our carbon footprint, aiming to contribute not only to mitigate the effects of climate change, but also enhancing the sustainability and shared value creation of our [South African] operations through favourable pricing relative to current supply. We continue to develop and execute energy solutions that contribute to the delivery of our strategy.”

The local Rand Merchant Bank was the sole mandated lead arranger for the project.

Sibanye-Stillwater concludes its fourth renewable energy power purchase agreement (PPA) in South Africa Financial close has been achieved on the Umsinde Emoyeni Wind Farm PPA. This 140MW wind energy project marks a significant stride towards our 2040 carbon neutrality goal.

In May 2023, financial close was achieved on the 89MW Castle wind farm near the town of De Aar in the Northern Cape province, which is being developed by the same consortium partners and will also supply Sibanye-Stillwater. The PPA for that project was signed for 15 years. Commercial operation is slated for early 2025.