Sibanye-Stillwater, a company with a significant shareholding in the local Mimosa Mining Company, has unveiled a 600 MW pipeline of solar and wind projects that will supply 30% of its South African electricity demand with low-cost renewable energy by 2027.
By Ryan Chigoche
The Johannesburg- and New York-listed miner, a major producer of platinum group metals (PGMs) and gold, has already made strides through the Castle Wind Farm in the Northern Cape, which entered commercial operation at the end of March. By June 30, Castle had generated 56 GWh of clean energy, avoided 57,000 t of CO₂e emissions, and saved the company R22 million in power costs.
Castle, the largest private-offtake wind farm currently in operation in South Africa, comprises 16 turbines, each capable of producing 6 MW. Located near De Aar, it supplies electricity to Sibanye-Stillwater’s operations through a wheeling agreement with Eskom. The consortium developing the project, led by Anthem and Reatile Renewables, has also committed 0.6% of revenue to local community programmes in education, health, and skills development.
The company’s renewable rollout includes three wind farms – Castle (89 MW), Witberg (103 MW), and Umsinde (140 MW) – along with the 75 MW Springbok solar PV project. Together, the four projects will contribute 407 MW by the end of 2026, cutting Sibanye-Stillwater’s annual emissions by an estimated 1.5 million tonnes of CO₂e.
Renewable energy is expected to cost 15%–30% less than Eskom tariffs, offering both environmental and financial benefits.
Outgoing CEO Neal Froneman, who steps down today after more than 12 years at the helm, said the renewable programme underscores the group’s commitment to sustainability:
“Through large-scale solar and wind projects and innovative energy solutions, we are actively reducing our energy costs, reducing our emissions, and strengthening energy security for the South African region.”
Richard Stewart, currently Chief Regional Officer for Southern Africa, succeeds Froneman as CEO.
Sibanye-Stillwater has grown beyond gold into PGMs, battery metals, tailings reprocessing, and recycling under Froneman’s leadership, positioning itself as both a global mining powerhouse and a contributor to climate change mitigation.
