Dual-listed Caledonia Mining Corporation’s solar plant at the Blanket gold mine, in Zimbabwe, started operating on November 14 and will soon supply about 27% of the mine’s average daily electricity demand.
The mine, however, still receives the bulk of its electricity from Zimbabwe’s State-owned power utility, Zesa.
Caledonia decided to install a 12.2 MW solar plant at the mine to mitigate the effects of severe power constraints and inconsistent supply in the country.
Prior to installation, during outages or low voltages, the company would supplement its electricity supplies with diesel generators to enable uninterrupted mining and capital operations, which comes with its own set of implications on the environment and cost-wise.
“With 21% of Blanket’s on-mine costs relating to energy use, this solar plant is an important project for Caledonia, as it will improve the quality and security of the mine’s electricity supply and provide environmental benefits.
“The solar power will displace more expensive power from the grid and from the diesel generators, and is expected to reduce Caledonia’s consolidated cost per ounce of gold produced by about $37,” CEO Mark Learmonth explains.