Ed's letter: Maiden voyage for our powering mines supplement

ESI Africa is on a powering mines journey, and we invite you along.

Over the past 28 years, ESI Africa has reported on the power and energy markets across the continent. We saw an increasing focus on water-energy nexus systems – and added that to our coverage.

Then came the maturation of renewable energy technologies – and we dove into understanding this crucible and how it will change the electricity supply industry (ESI); a strategy that positioned us to be first to market with news and insight.

Of late, our attention turned to sector coupling markets, which gave birth to our Powering Y series where Y includes agriculture, transportation, healthcare and the one you are now reading: Powering Mines.

Through our print and digital content, we will provide powering mines information to help guide your business decisions. Some of the questions we aim to answer are the obvious ones you will ask. For example, what systems have the capacity to power operations safely and sustainably? Or whether a hybrid solar micro-grid is sufficient to ‘green’ mining operations and your business.

Then there are topics we will raise that are more fuzzy, less likely to be of immediate concern. Such as how likely is it that a power project at your mining site could become a white elephant – even before the mine closes?

And more futuristic themes include R&D into component substitution as it pertains to the critical minerals needed for energy transition; and another is the use of hydrogen (of various colours) at your mining sites.

However, these themes are not in this first edition of our Powering Mines supplement. In Q3 of 2023, the editorial team brainstormed which themes we were to cover to start this journey; I am pleased with the result.

For the cover story, we contacted a lead arranger to talk about their experience in this unfolding market. What stands out for me is the importance of open communication during the process, which Standard Bank’s Rentia van Tonder puts high on the agenda to anticipate what its clients want and need.

On page 4, you will find brief notes on seven mining operations across Africa that have, are or intend to embark on a shiny new energy journey. These are prime examples (some of which will appear in our forthcoming annual African Power & Energy Elites 2024: Project & People) of how the industry is transforming. What we don’t cover in this edition are the challenges these projects experience to get to the point of financial close or commissioning – but that’s for the next edition.

While Africa currently accounts for around 15% of global mining expenditure, which remains low in relation to the continent’s resources, the demand for minerals for the energy transition will see mining operations expand exponentially in the near future. Will these operations address their energy needs by commissioning on-site clean, renewable power to coincide with commencing mining activities? By the look of these featured projects, it is likely we will see this transpire.