Tharisa PLC, a Cyprus based mining company has joined forces with French renewable power producer, Total Eren and Africa-focused transitional energy company, Chariot Ltd., to develop, operate, and maintain a solar photovoltaic project to provide electricity for the Tharisa mine, located in South Africa’s North West Province.
The mining group signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the proposed 40 MWp solar project, which is a precursor to the signing of a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) for the electricity supply on a take-or-pay basis. The project is the first to be announced by Chariot and Total Eren, in which TotalEnergies has a major stake.
In November 2021, both the companies signed a three-year deal to jointly develop wind and solar power projects for the mining customers in Africa, with an option for another two-year extension. The signing of MoU for the solar PV plant forms a part of this three-year deal.
Fabienne Demol, Executive Vice-President & Global Head of Business Development of Total Eren, said this partnership with Chariot, Total Eren will assist mining companies in Africa helping them to reduce their carbon footprint and energy costs, through the implementation of renewable power solutions into mining operations.
“We are eager to bring our global expertise in the solar generation to Tharisa mine and we look forward to delivering further renewable projects for our mining customers in Africa and worldwide,” Demol commented.
Benoit Garrivier, Chariot Transitional Power CEO, believes that this partnership is a great outcome for the Transitional Power division of Chariot and will definitely provide financial and sustainable benefits to mining companies operating in the African region.
“The Tharisa team are very forward-looking and understand that the addition of a solar PV project at their mine in South Africa will bring significant benefits to the business. Together with Total Eren, we are excited to start working on the financing and development of the project and we will update the market further on this and other opportunities that we are progressing in due course,” Garrivier said.Last year, Tharisa PLC committed to lowering by 30% its CO2 emissions by 2030 and becoming net carbon neutral by 2050. According to the mining company, the produced electricity will be enough to cover the current power needs of Tharisa mine, while power demand at the mining site is expected to increase over time.
 for the proposed 40 MWp solar project, which is a precursor to the signing of a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) for the electricity supply on a take-or-pay basis. The project is the first to be announced by Chariot and Total Eren, in which TotalEnergies has a major stake. ){kind=link}