Tharisa Minerals (LSE:THS) told investors it has received its first wheeled renewable energy supply from Etana Energy in September.
The mining, metals and innovation company said the initial delivery is expected to cover approximately 10% of the Tharisa Mine's current monthly electricity demand, describing it as a material step in its decarbonisation programme.
The power comes from an early tranche generated by a wind farm in Mpumalanga, ahead of the larger volumes due under the long-term power purchase agreement Tharisa signed with Etana Energy in July 2024. Under that agreement, Etana Energy is forecast to supply approximately 70% of Tharisa Minerals' current electricity demand, with wheeled solar supply due to start in the first quarter of calendar 2027 and further wheeled wind later that year.
Sourcing renewable electricity through the grid in this way, rather than directly, is intended to cut Tharisa's reliance on conventional grid power, lowering energy costs and reducing Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions, those from purchased electricity.
The company said the move supports its target of cutting carbon emissions by 30% by 2030.
The 70% coverage figure relates to the open-pit operation only, since the PPA was negotiated before Tharisa's underground project got under way at the Bushveld Complex mine.
That underground transition, which fired its first blast at the Apollo portal in March, is expected to roughly double the operation's electricity demand as mining moves below surface and shifts more of the energy requirement from diesel to electricity.
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"We are therefore preparing to procure additional renewable energy supply to support the complete mine's future requirements and maintain progress towards the Group's decarbonisation targets," said Cosmas Chiteme, Tharisa's group energy manager.
The underground transition project advanced 450 development metres in Tharisa's fourth quarter and remains on schedule to reach steady-state production at the Apollo shaft by the start of its 2029 financial year.
