Staff Writer
Padenga Holdings (Padenga) says it is installing a 7-megawatt solar plant at its Eureka Mine as the diversified group reduces energy costs while improving its environmental impact.
The Victoria Falls Stock Exchange-listed firm is also planning to install a 5MW plant at its Pickstone Mine in Chegutu.
“At Eureka Mine, a pre-leach thickener and solar project will be undertaken in 2024 … The solar project is expected to reduce the cost of powering the mine whilst improving its environmental impact. Both projects are expected to come online by the end of 2024,” Padenga’s chairperson Thembinkosi Sibanda said in a statement accompanying financials.
Solarcentury Africa inked the partnership with Dallaglio to construct the solar power plant at the Eureka Gold Mine.
Once operational, the project is expected to save thousands of tonnes of carbon emissions over its lifespan, substantially cut energy costs for the mine, and enhance the reliability of its power supply.
Solarcentury Africa will oversee the project’s design, development, financing, construction, and operation phase, with financial closure anticipated early next year.
Eureka Gold Mine is one of the largest gold mines in operation in Zimbabwe. The open pit mine currently being exploited at Eureka has 10,3 million tonnes in ore reserves containing approximately 450,000 ounces of gold, at an average grade of 1.36g/t, delivered to the plant.
Meanwhile, Padenga said it concluded the installation of the phase 3 solar array at the northern crocodile farms to bring the solar plant operating capacity to a total of 1,2 megawatts.
renewables are the way to go.