Try our mobile app

Envusa Energy completes project finance for 520MW of wind and solar projects in South Africa

Published: 2024-02-29 10:32:26 ET
<<<  go to JSE:AGL company page
Anglo American plc (the “Company”)
Registered office: 17 Charterhouse Street, London EC1N 6RA
Registered number: 3564138 (incorporated in England and Wales)
Legal Entity Identifier: 549300S9XF92D1X8ME43
ISIN: GBOOB1XZS820
JSE Share Code: AGL
NSX Share Code: ANM

29 February 2024

Envusa Energy completes project finance for 520MW of wind and solar projects in South Africa

Anglo American announces that its jointly owned renewable energy venture with EDF Renewables,
Envusa Energy, has completed the project financing for its first three wind and solar projects in South
Africa. The terms and structure of this non-recourse project financing are typical of high-quality
renewable energy infrastructure assets. These three renewable energy projects, known as the Koruson 2
cluster of projects and located on the border of the Northern and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa,
will have a total capacity of 520MW of wind and solar electricity generation.

Themba Mkhwanazi, Anglo American’s Regional Director for Africa and Australia, said: “The successful
project financing of these initial projects marks our first major step towards addressing Anglo American’s
largest remaining source of Scope 2 emissions – our electricity supply in Southern Africa. As we make
progress towards our 2040 carbon neutral operations commitment, we also see the opportunity to
enhance energy reliability and grid resilience in South Africa. We expect that energy availability to help
catalyse extensive socio-economic activity, playing a critical role in unlocking South Africa’s economic
development and growth prospects.”

The projects – the Umsobomvu Wind project (140MW), the Hartebeesthoek Wind project (140MW), and
the Mooi Plaats Solar project (240MW) – form part of Envusa Energy’s mature pipeline of wind and solar
projects in South Africa. The renewable energy ecosystem that Envusa Energy plans to develop is
expected to supply a mix of renewable energy, generated both on Anglo American's sites in the Southern
African region, and from other sites from which renewable energy will be transmitted via the national
grid.

The Koruson 2 wind and solar projects benefit from outstanding yield resources, coupled with a robust
Eskom grid connection. This configuration promises considerable electricity cost savings compared to
existing tariffs. Anglo American’s three businesses in South Africa (Anglo American Platinum, Kumba Iron
Ore, and De Beers), have committed to 20-year offtake agreements with Envusa Energy. These
agreements will see Anglo American Platinum receiving 461MW of supply, Kolomela mine 11MW, and
Venetia mine 48MW. All projects are to reach commercial operation during 2026. This inaugural phase
of contracts is expected to abate approximately 2.2 million tonnes per year of carbon dioxide.

Nolitha Fakude, Chair of Anglo American's Management Board in South Africa and Chair of Envusa
Energy, said: "We are delighted with the progress we are making in setting up Envusa Energy for long-
term success as a major renewables powerhouse in South Africa. Achieving financial closure for these
three high-quality renewable energy projects marks a crucial milestone in support of Anglo American's
global decarbonisation journey and bolsters South Africa's pursuit of a resilient and clean energy future.

“We believe that the energy transition offers a unique opportunity to generate substantial new economic
opportunities as part of South Africa's journey towards an inclusive, sustainable, and low-carbon
economy."
Anglo American plc
17 Charterhouse Street, London, EC1N 6RA, United Kingdom
Registered office as above. Incorporated in England and Wales under the Companies Act 1985.
Registered Number: 3564138 Legal Entity Identifier: 549300S9XF92D1X8ME43
Tristan de Drouas, CEO at EDF Renewables in South Africa, said: “Collaborating with Anglo American to
apply our extensive global expertise in renewable energy infrastructure development, design, and
delivery, has been immensely rewarding. With Envusa Energy being developed as a jointly owned venture
with Anglo American, we have solidified our long-term commitment to South Africa’s transition to clean
energy.

“The financial close of this initial cluster of projects is the first step towards Envusa Energy’s ambition to
roll out 3 to 5 GW of wind, solar and storage projects by 2030.

“These collective initiatives align seamlessly with EDF Group's CAP 2030 strategy. This strategy is
ambitiously focused on doubling our net renewable installed energy capacity globally (including
hydropower) from 28 GW in 2015 to 60 GW by 2030.”

In line with both companies' commitment to supporting a just energy transition, Envusa Energy is
exploring a range of black economic empowerment (BEE) and community partnership models that will
enable businesses and host communities to share in the benefits created by the development of the
renewable energy ecosystem, along its value chain. The first of these empowerment initiatives includes
the incorporation of a 20% equity investment by Pele Green Energy (Pty) Ltd (an established South African
independent power producer) into each of the three project companies delivering the development of
the Koruson 2 assets, alongside the establishment of a community trust to manage the financial interests
of local communities in the Koruson 2 assets.

Envusa Energy is also in the process of implementing the incorporation of a BEE partner at the business
level to further demonstrate our commitment to supporting black economic empowerment. The
development of the renewable energy ecosystem presents an opportunity to help build a more
collaborative and inclusive economy that places people and the principle of shared prosperity at the heart
of development.



For further information, please contact:

 Media                                                      Investors

 Anglo American

 UK                                                         UK
 James Wyatt-Tilby                                          Paul Galloway
 james.wyatt-tilby@angloamerican.com                        paul.galloway@angloamerican.com
 Tel: +44 (0)20 7968 8759                                   Tel: +44 (0)20 7968 8718

 Marcelo Esquivel                                           Emma Waterworth
 marcelo.esquivel@angloamerican.com                         Emma.waterworth@angloamerican.com
 Tel: +44 (0)20 7968 8891                                   Tel: +44 (0) 20 7968 8574

 Rebecca Meeson–Frizelle                                    Juliet Newth
 rebecca.meeson-frizelle@angloamerican.com                  juliet.newth@angloamerican.com
 Tel: + 44 (0)20 7968 1374                                  Tel: +44 (0)20 7968 8830

 South Africa                                               Michelle Jarman
 Nevashnee Naicker                                          michelle.jarman@angloamerican.com
 nevashnee.naicker@angloamerican.com                        Tel: +44 (0)20 7968 1494
 Tel: +27 (0)11 638 3189

 Sibusiso Tshabalala
 sibusiso.tshabalala@angloamerican.com
 Tel: +27 (0)11 638 2175

 Nompumelelo Kunene
 nompumelelo.kunene@angloamerican.com
 Tel: +27 (0)66 484 5522


 EDF
 South Africa :
 Sue Parker-Smith
 Sue.parker-smith@edf-re.co.za
 Tel : +27 (0) 82 551 1101

 France :
 Eugénie Gai
 Eugenie.gai@edf-re.fr
 Tel: +33 0(6) 10 89 41 24


The Company has a primary listing on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange and secondary
listings on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, the Botswana Stock Exchange, the Namibia Stock Exchange
and the SIX Swiss Exchange.

Sponsor
RAND MERCHANT BANK (A division of FirstRand Bank Limited)

Notes to editors:
Anglo American is a leading global mining company and our products are the essential ingredients in
almost every aspect of modern life. Our portfolio of world-class competitive operations, with a broad
range of future development options, provides many of the future-enabling metals and minerals for a
cleaner, greener, more sustainable world and that meet the fast growing every day demands of billions
of consumers. With our people at the heart of our business, we use innovative practices and the latest
technologies to discover new resources and to mine, process, move and market our products to our
customers – safely and sustainably.

As a responsible producer of copper, nickel, platinum group metals, diamonds (through De Beers), and
premium quality iron ore and steelmaking coal – with crop nutrients in development – we are committed
to being carbon neutral across our operations by 2040. More broadly, our Sustainable Mining Plan
commits us to a series of stretching goals to ensure we work towards a healthy environment, creating
thriving communities and building trust as a corporate leader. We work together with our business
partners and diverse stakeholders to unlock enduring value from precious natural resources for the
benefit of the communities and countries in which we operate, for society as a whole, and for our
shareholders. Anglo American is re-imagining mining to improve people’s lives.
www.angloamerican.com
In this document, references to “Anglo American”, the “Anglo American Group”, the “Group”, “we”, “us”, and “our”
are to refer to either Anglo American plc and its subsidiaries and/or those who work for them generally, or where it
is not necessary to refer to a particular entity, entities or persons. The use of those generic terms herein is for
convenience only, and is in no way indicative of how the Anglo American Group or any entity within it is structured,
managed or controlled. Anglo American subsidiaries, and their management, are responsible for their own day-to-
day operations, including but not limited to securing and maintaining all relevant licences and permits, operational
adaptation and implementation of Group policies, management, training and any applicable local grievance
mechanisms. Anglo American produces group-wide policies and procedures to ensure best uniform practices and
standardisation across the Anglo American Group but is not responsible for the day to day implementation of such
policies. Such policies and procedures constitute prescribed minimum standards only. Group operating subsidiaries
are responsible for adapting those policies and procedures to reflect local conditions where appropriate, and for
implementation, oversight and monitoring within their specific businesses.

Disclaimer
This document is for information purposes only and does not constitute, nor is to be construed as, an offer to sell or
the recommendation, solicitation, inducement or offer to buy, subscribe for or sell shares in Anglo American or any
other securities by Anglo American or any other party. Further, it should not be treated as giving investment, legal,
accounting, regulatory, taxation or other advice and has no regard to the specific investment or other objectives,
financial situation or particular needs of any recipient.

Forward-looking statements and third party information
This document includes forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts included
in this document, including, without limitation, those regarding Anglo American’s financial position, business,
acquisition and divestment strategy, dividend policy, plans and objectives of management for future operations,
prospects and projects (including development plans and objectives relating to Anglo American’s products,
production forecasts and Ore Reserve and Mineral Resource positions) and sustainability performance related
(including environmental, social and governance) goals, ambitions, targets, visions, milestones and aspirations, are
forward-looking statements. By their nature, such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks,
uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Anglo American
or industry results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements.

Such forward-looking statements are based on numerous assumptions regarding Anglo American’s present and
future business strategies and the environment in which Anglo American will operate in the future. Important factors
that could cause Anglo American’s actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those in the
forward-looking statements include, among others, levels of actual production during any period, levels of global
demand and commodity market prices, unanticipated downturns in business relationships with customers or their
purchases from Anglo American, mineral resource exploration and project development capabilities and delivery,
recovery rates and other operational capabilities, safety, health or environmental incidents, the effects of global
pandemics and outbreaks of infectious diseases, the impact of attacks from third parties on our information systems,
natural catastrophes or adverse geological conditions, climate change and extreme weather events, the outcome of
litigation or regulatory proceedings, the availability of mining and processing equipment, the ability to obtain key
inputs in a timely manner, the ability to produce and transport products profitably, the availability of necessary
infrastructure (including transportation) services, the development, efficacy and adoption of new or competing
technology, challenges in realising resource estimates or discovering new economic mineralisation, the impact of
foreign currency exchange rates on market prices and operating costs, the availability of sufficient credit, liquidity
and counterparty risks, the effects of inflation, terrorism, war, conflict, political or civil unrest, uncertainty, tensions
and disputes and economic and financial conditions around the world, evolving societal and stakeholder
requirements and expectations, shortages of skilled employees, unexpected difficulties relating to acquisitions or
divestitures, competitive pressures and the actions of competitors, activities by courts, regulators and governmental
authorities such as in relation to permitting or forcing closure of mines and ceasing of operations or maintenance of
Anglo American’s assets and changes in taxation or safety, health, environmental or other types of regulation in the
countries where Anglo American operates, conflicts over land and resource ownership rights and such other risk
factors identified in Anglo American’s most recent Annual Report. Forward-looking statements should, therefore, be
construed in light of such risk factors and undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements. These
forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this document. Anglo American expressly disclaims any
obligation or undertaking (except as required by applicable law, the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers, the UK
Listing Rules, the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority, the Listings Requirements of
the securities exchange of the JSE Limited in South Africa, the SIX Swiss Exchange, the Botswana Stock Exchange and
the Namibian Stock Exchange and any other applicable regulations) to release publicly any updates or revisions to
any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect any change in Anglo American’s expectations with regard
thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

Nothing in this document should be interpreted to mean that future earnings per share of Anglo American will
necessarily match or exceed its historical published earnings per share. Certain statistical and other information
included in this document is sourced from third party sources (including, but not limited to, externally conducted
studies and trials). As such it has not been independently verified and presents the views of those third parties, but
may not necessarily correspond to the views held by Anglo American and Anglo American expressly disclaims any
responsibility for, or liability in respect of, such information.

©Anglo American Services (UK) Ltd 2024.                      TM   and    TM   are trademarks of Anglo American
Services (UK) Ltd.



Legal Entity Identifier: 549300S9XF92D1X8ME43


EDF Renewables is an international energy company which develops, builds and operates renewable
power generation plants. As a major player in the energy transition worldwide, EDF Renewables deploys,
within EDF, competitive, responsible and value-creating projects. In every country, our teams show their
commitment to local stakeholders every day, adding their expertise and capacity for innovation to the
fight against climate change.

At the end of 2022, EDF Renewables operates a net installed wind and solar capacity of 11.4 GW (18.5
GW gross) worldwide. Mainly present in Europe and North America, EDF Renewables is pursuing its
development by taking a position in promising emerging markets such as: Brazil, China, India, South Africa
and in the Middle East. Historically active in onshore wind and photovoltaics, the Company is now
strongly positioned on offshore wind and floating wind as well as in new technologies such as energy
storage, floating solar and agrivoltaism.
For more information: https://edf-renouvelables.com/en/

In South Africa, EDF Renewables is a leading independent power producer, with an installed capacity of
142MW and 1200MW under construction.
For more information: www.edf-re.co.za