A 2.5 MWp hybrid solar power plant is set to be built in Madagascar. This follows a signed contract between Canadian mining company NextSource Materials with CrossBoundary Energy’s (CBE) Madagascar subsidiary.
The power plant will be developed by CrossBoundary Energy’s (CBE) at the Molo graphite mine which is operated by Canadian company NextSource Materials. The hybrid system will include a 2.5 MW solar photovoltaic power plant, a 1 MWh battery power storage system and 3.3 MW diesel generators.
NextSource estimates that the equipment will ensure 100% availability of electricity to the mine once it is commissioned by April 2022. The 20-year supply agreement will reduce the total cost of electricity at the quarry, while also reducing its carbon dioxide emissions, according to Matthew Fredericks, CrossBoundary Energy’s mining manager.
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Sustainable development
The mining operation at Molo in Madagascar is in its first phase and is one of the largest graphite deposits in the world, according to Craig Scherba, NextSource’s chief executive officer. The TSX-listed company is committed to sustainable development through the adoption of renewable energy in its mining operations. Its ambitions match those of CrossBoundary, which has already invested $100 million in its solar leasing operations in 10 African countries.
Its clients include Dutch-British food giant Unilever, British brewer Diageo, Dutch company Heineken and British investor Actis. CBE is now providing 40 MW of solar and wind power as well as 20 MWh of battery energy storage capacity for African mines to facilities of these major groups in Africa.
A few weeks ago, the Nairobi, Kenya-based Company committed to building a 13 MW hybrid solar power plant with storage system at the Diogo mineral sands quarry in Senegal. The mine is operated by Grande Côte Operations (GCO), the subsidiary of French mining and metals group Eramet.