Tharisa, an integrated resource group dual-listed on the Johannesburg and London stock exchanges, announced that its operating subsidiary, Tharisa Minerals, received its first wheeled renewable energy from Etana Energy, marking an operational milestone in its drive to cut power costs and emissions at its South African platinum group metals and chrome mine. The initial supply, delivered in September 2026, is expected to cover about 10% of the mine’s current monthly electricity demand.

A smaller power bill ahead

The delivery represents an early tranche of wind-generated electricity from Mpumalanga, ahead of larger volumes expected under a long-term power purchase agreement signed in July 2024. Tharisa is targeting a 30% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030, with renewable electricity procurement forming part of its broader decarbonization strategy.

Wheeled electricity allows power generated by renewable energy projects to be delivered to customers through the national grid. For Tharisa Minerals, the arrangement provides a route to reduce reliance on conventional grid electricity while lowering Scope 2 emissions, which arise indirectly from purchased electricity consumed in its operations.

70% of power demand

Under the agreement, Etana Energy is expected to supply approximately 70% of Tharisa Minerals’ current electricity demand from its wider generation portfolio. Solar power deliveries are scheduled to begin in the first quarter of calendar 2027, followed by additional wind-generated electricity later that year.

The projected supply coverage applies to Tharisa’s open-pit operation and was negotiated before the underground project began. As the company expands mining below the surface, electricity requirements are expected to rise sharply, creating a new challenge for its energy procurement plans and emissions-reduction commitments.

Underground expansion changes the equation

Tharisa expects its underground project to double the operation’s electricity demand as mining activities shift below ground, moving a substantial portion of energy consumption from diesel to electricity. That transition will increase the need for additional power, making renewable energy procurement an important consideration as the mine develops.

Cosmas Chiteme, Tharisa’s group energy manager, said the company was preparing to secure additional renewable electricity to meet the mine’s future requirements. The existing agreement was designed around the open-pit operation, meaning further procurement will be needed to support the expanded mine while maintaining progress toward its emissions targets.

PGM and chrome production

Tharisa plc, incorporated in Cyprus and listed in Johannesburg and London, produces platinum group metals (PGMs) and chrome concentrates from its mine on South Africa’s Bushveld Complex. Its integrated operations include exploration, mining, processing, beneficiation, marketing and logistics, with downstream facilities supporting chrome recovery and metal production.

The company’s energy strategy also intersects with its expansion plans. Its Karo Platinum Project on Zimbabwe’s Great Dyke is under development, with Tharisa having raised nearly $300 million for the project. Phase one is designed to produce about 226,000 ounces of PGMs annually at full capacity, more than doubling the group’s PGM output.

Karo adds growth ambitions

Tharisa expects the first ore from Karo to reach the mill by the end of 2027. The company has secured an initial five-year PGM concentrate offtake agreement with Valterra Platinum, providing a route to market as the project advances toward production.

Etana Energy supplies electricity from renewable energy projects to businesses in South Africa through the national grid. Its offering includes low-carbon electricity, pricing arrangements designed to compete with conventional utility supply and options for longer-term price certainty, giving industrial customers another way to manage energy costs and emissions.