On November 14th local time, the Samancor TFC Phase I Photovoltaic Project officially commenced construction. This project marks the first photovoltaic project developed and invested by a Chinese enterprise in South Africa. It represents not only a milestone in Samancor's commitment to green development and energy structure transformation, but also introduces Chinese elements of "green, low-carbon, and smart" technology to the local community.
Wu Peng, Chinese Ambassador to South Africa, and Phophi Ramathuba, Premier of Limpopo Province, jointly witnessed the groundbreaking ceremony. Pan Wenliang, Chairman of Sinosteel Overseas, Desmond McManus, CEO of Samancor, and Liu Dong, Senior Vice President of Procurement and Logistics at Samancor, attended the ceremony.
Sinosteel Group's African enterprises emphasize maintaining Africa's sound ecological environment by actively developing clean energy, promoting domestic clean technologies, improving resource utilization efficiency, and reducing energy consumption and pollution. Since 2020, the Chinese management team has continuously sought effective ways to develop and apply energy-saving technologies, and initiated several energy conservation and power generation projects to ensure corporate power supply. After multiple rounds of tendering and negotiations, Samancor Chrome finally selected CGN Energy International Holdings Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as CGN) as its partner.
In April 2023, Samancor Chrome signed a power purchase agreement with CGN for the TFC 100MW photovoltaic power plant project to jointly develop South Africa's first 100MW solar photovoltaic power generation project. The generated electricity will primarily supply the TFC smelting plant. Currently, this project represents the largest and fastest-implemented captive photovoltaic power plant project by Chinese enterprises in South Africa, and one of the largest private captive new energy projects with a PPA in South Africa. The construction period is two years, and once operational, the project is expected to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 176,000 tons annually.
Chinese Ambassador Wu Peng stated that the Samancor TFC photovoltaic project is the first photovoltaic project developed by Chinese enterprises in South Africa and a landmark project for cooperation between Chinese mining and power enterprises, representing an important attempt to address long-term development of mining projects. South Africa is rich in natural resources, while China's new energy industry leads globally in technology, capital, and talent. He expressed hope that more Chinese new energy enterprises would enter and invest in South Africa, helping the country's new energy industry achieve greater development.
Limpopo Province Premier Phophi Ramathuba stated that the Samancor TFC photovoltaic project provides clean, economical, and reliable energy for South Africa while creating employment opportunities for South African youth and significantly enhancing Limpopo Province's economic benefits. Through the "mining-power integration" model, the project demonstrates powerful examples for sustainable development in the industrial sector and provides new models for other industries to maintain productivity while reducing carbon emissions.
Desmond stated that Samancor is honored to write a new chapter in renewable energy with all parties. As a responsible mining enterprise, Samancor has always highly valued environmental protection and pollution prevention. The launch of this photovoltaic project not only supports the community's transition to a low-carbon economy, but also brings numerous benefits to local communities and economic development, creating more employment opportunities, improving residents' quality of life, and contributing to South Africa's energy structure optimization and environmental protection. The official commencement of the project demonstrates Samancor's determination to achieve its zero-harm goal with persistence and focus, echoing the Chinese saying "every beginning is challenging." In the future, Samancor will continue to uphold the concept of win-win cooperation, deepen collaboration with excellent Chinese enterprises, and contribute to building a greener, more sustainable development.
Sinosteel Group and CGN have jointly created a model project for state-owned enterprises "going global together," adopting an innovative "mining-power integration" model that achieves deep integration of mineral and power resources while continuously deepening industrial chain extension and upgrading. In the future, Sinosteel Group will further improve the circular resource utilization efficiency and green energy usage ratio of its African enterprises, and accelerate corporate energy structure transformation. Meanwhile, it will actively assist South Africa's industrialization and energy transition process, promote Chinese technology empowerment of local development, and make greater contributions to advancing the China-Africa community with a shared future!
Groundbreaking Ceremony of Samancor TFC Phase I Photovoltaic Project