Eramet Grande Côte, a subsidiary of French multinational mining company Eramet, and South Africa’s JUWI Renewable Energies have reached financial close on a €30 million off-grid solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery storage solution for the GCO mineral sands mine in Diogo, Senegal.
The 20 MWp solar and 11 MWh battery project will provide clean energy to meet 20% of the mine’s energy needs, reduce carbon emissions by 25,000 tonnes annually, and create over 100 jobs during its construction and maintenance phases, the companies said in a news release.
The off-grid hybrid installation, among the largest in Senegal, will reduce the mine’s reliance on heavy fuel oil, improve production stability, and align with Eramet’s global decarbonization strategy.
The investment supports the Eramet’s Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) roadmap, which aims for a 40% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2035 and carbon neutrality by 2050.
The project also plays a crucial role in advancing Senegal’s clean energy transition, with the country aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by around 7% by 2025.
“The clean energy produced by this plant will significantly enhance Eramet Grande Côte’s environmental performance,” Eramet Grande Côte CEO Frederic Zanklan said in a news release.
“As the first mine in Senegal to be ISO 50 001 and 14 001 certified, Eramet Grande Côte is taking another important step in addressing the climate challenges we all face.”
