By Thembelani Moyo
Venice Mine has installed a solar power plant at its Kadoma mine to mitigate the negative effects of consistent power cuts.
The plant, installed by Equator Energy, will generate 0.5MW of electricity; however, the mine’s general manger, Johannes Hundermark, said they will continue to be on the national power grid.
“Equator Energy installed a solar diesel hybrid plant at Venice Mine in Kadoma. This plant has a capacity to generate 0.5MW. The solar plant will complement power supplied from the national electricity grid and back-up generators,” Hundermark said.
Venice Mine added that the solar plant will go a long way in easing the mine’s power challenges. The new investment, however, isn’t enough to satisfy the electricity needs for the Kadoma based gold mine.
“The solar system does not produce more power than the mine can consume. It will only supply at least 25% of the daily consumption.”
The mine looks forward to saving on overhead costs once the solar plant starts working. Equator Energy will charge Venice Mine lower kilowatt-hour rates compared to those being charged by ZESA, the power utility. Operating backup diesel generators has also been costly for the mine.
“The solar plant was installed on a pay-per-use contract. This means that we only pay for the kilowatt-hour that we actually consume from the solar plant.
“The maintenance is done by the supplier. There was zero up-front investment required from the mine.”
To encourage the use of solar power, government has scrapped duty on all imported solar equipment. Mines have also been urged to take advantage of this and install solar power plants.
“Gone are the days when government used to provide all solutions. We now call for citizens and corporate companies to take an active participation in all issues to do with the economy.
“We need more private initiatives to not only provide power for themselves and become self sustaining, but to also supply the rest of the nation with their surplus.
“I strongly believe that solar is the way to go. We are in an extraordinary situation. ‘Solarizing’ is therefore our short term solution,” said Fortune Chasi, Energy and Power Development Minister.
