- A 5.4MW solar power plant is expected to be developed at the Rosh Pinah Mine.
- DBN is providing $70 million to finance the project
The Namibian state-owned development finance institution has just approved N$1.038 billion (nearly US$70 million) in funding for several projects in Namibia.
The Rosh Pinah project’s share of the funding will benefit Emerging Markets Energy Services Company (EMESCO), a renewable energy provider in Tshwane, South Africa. The company has committed to providing the Rosh Pinah zinc mine with a 5.4MWp solar photovoltaic plant. EMESCO has signed a 15-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with the mine operator, Rosh Pinah Zinc Corporation (RPZC), owned by Canadian mining company Trevali Mining Corporation.
According to the Tshwane, South Africa-based company, the solar plant is expected to meet 30% of the energy needs of the Rosh Pinah mine. In addition, the Development Bank of Namibia noted that the project would reduce RPZC’s greenhouse gas emissions by 6% per year at the company level. Also, CO2 emissions from utility-supplied electricity in the ǁKaras region will be reduced by 14,242 tons per year.