Renewable energy firm Envusa Energy has reached financial close on a 63MWac solar PV project at Kumba Iron Ore’s Sishen Mine in South Africa’s Northern Cape province.
The project, developed by the joint venture between mining group Anglo American and French utility EDF Power Solutions, will be built on approximately 100 hectares of previously disturbed mining land at the Sishen Mine near Kathu.
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Envusa said the project will be “South Africa’s first embedded utility-scale solar installation to be developed on a rehabilitated mine waste rock dump within the boundary of an active mine”.
The solar plant will export 63MW directly into Sishen Mine’s electricity system and is expected to generate 143,633MWh annually. All electricity produced will be sold to the mine through Envusa Energy’s energy trading business.
Envusa said the project incorporates adjustable PV structures and a mobile adjustable substation to manage potential ground settlement and support long-term operation on the rehabilitated mining site. Additionally, the Sishen Iron Ore Company-Community Development Trust holds a 10% equity interest in the solar project.
Envusa was established by Anglo American and EDF Power Solutions in late 2022 to develop, finance, own, operate and trade renewable energy projects serving Anglo American’s South African operations.
South Africa continues to lead Africa’s solar market. According to the Global Solar Council’s ‘Africa Market Outlook for Solar PV: 2026-2029’ report, the country has around 6.3GW of installed solar PV capacity after adding approximately 1.6GW of new operational capacity in 2025, accounting for around one-third of all new solar installations across the continent.
Additionally, the report states that South Africa has set a target of 20GW of operational solar PV capacity by 2030, and this year has already seen a number of project advancements in the country.
Earlier this month, the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) approved generation licences for four utility-scale solar PV projects under Bid Window 7.3 of the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Procurement Programme (REIPPPP), clearing more than 1GW of new solar capacity for development.
