AMN - NAMIBIA: B2Gold opens Otjikoto solar farm

B2Gold has officially opened a solar farm to power its Otjikoto Gold Project in Namibia, which the country’s Ministry of Mines and Energy says is a significant contribution for the nation’s attempts to find sustainable energy solutions.

The opening follows the Canadian-based company breaking ground at the $8.5 million, 7-megawatt photovoltaic solar power plant last year.

B2Gold said in a statement that the facility was one of the first fully-autonomous hybrid plants in the world, adding that it will allow it to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from the site's current 24-megawatt heavy fuel oil (HFO) power plant.

“This solar plant will deliver positive economic, environmental and social impacts that are likely to outlive the life of mine,” Mines Minister Tom Alweendo said.

"I am also informed that this solar plant will be one of the largest installations of its kind in Namibia.

"It will serve as a sustainable power solution as B2Gold works to improve economic returns, reduce impacts on the environment and could potentially be a funding source for community development," he said.

With a consistent demand of 12.5 MW 24 hours per day, the plant consumed 21.7 million litres of HFO during 2017, costing about $10.5 million.

The facility is also expected to improve B2Gold’s economic returns, reduce impacts on the environment and become a potential funding source for community development.

The company, which will reduce energy cost by 14% this year thanks to the solar plant, said it could use it as an income-generating asset after the mine runs out of ore.

Funds generated by this asset could be used to support ongoing corporate social responsibility activities in the region long after the mine’s shut down.

B2Gold gained access to the Otjikoto mine in Namibia, through its acquisition of Auryx Gold in 2011. It owns other four producing gold mines and has two projects in its pipeline - Kiaka in Burkina Faso, and Gramalote, a joint venture with AngloGold Ashanti in Colombia.

www.b2gold.com