JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Today, as I speak to you, our fourth wind turbine is probably on its way up, Seriti Resources Group CEO Mike Teke, who has also just opened a new coal mine down the road from the turbine in South Africa’s Mpumalanga coal province, told the Coal & Energy Transition Day on Wednesday, July 23, in answer to questions put to him by mining luminary Bernard Swanepoel, who chaired the well-attended event. (Also watch attached Creamer Media Video.)

Speaking immediately after Electricity and Energy Ministry special adviser Silas Zimu declared that quicker-to-rollout renewables were what would save South Africa as far as commercial, residential and agricultural energy needs were concerned, Teke put 20-years-plus on South Africa’s coal-dominant energy base rather than Zimu’s 15-years-plus estimate.

“We, as Seriti, made a conscious decision that part of our strategy is to not only be a coal business, but to rather be an energy business, which is why we invested in renewables through Seriti Green.

“A lot of people may criticise this as greenwashing. Whatever. I don't spend time on noises and politics. As a business, we’re saying that for this continent to be big and strong and to be able to compete globally, we need a strong energy base.

“So, let's start in our country, strengthen our energy mix. That’s why we've invested in Seriti Green and there are huge opportunities for us,” Teke told the event covered by Mining Weekly.

“I've been in mining for more than 20 years, and we saw an opportunity when Anglo American floated off its coal assets. Then South32 did the same and we agglomerated the two assets, which worked well, because we had assets supplying Eskom and the export market.

“Then our board decided that strategically, we need to be in energy, and we met a super competent person, Peter Venn, and we invested in Seriti Green and today, as I speak to you, probably wind turbine number four is coming up.

“Our strategy is clear. Firstly, we’ll make sure that we drive our commitment, our imperatives within the ESG environment, to ensure that we address issues related to environmental, social and governance. ESG is a matter that we take seriously. I don't get involved in those debates about whether climate change exists or not. Climate change is real.

“Secondly, we strive to make sure that our mines dedicated to Eskom, cost-plus mines or whatever contract we have, are super-efficient.

“Thirdly, when it comes to our export opportunities, we want to help Transnet to overcome its challenges. I would love to see South Africa exporting around 90-million tons of coal a year, but we're sitting at between 50-million and 60-million tons a year.

“Fourthly, acquisitive - we’re growing organically. Sixty-eight kilometres from the wind turbines we're building, is the Naudesbank coal mine that we’re building to replace some of the tonnages we might have lost in some of the mines that are becoming older.

“The building of the wind turbines and the new transmission lines are not going to replace employment for all employed at the mine, so as we build Seriti Green, we continue to invest in coal. We’re employing new coal employees and coal will still be here for the coming 20 years,” Teke emphasised.

G20 ENERGY SESSION

As reported by Mining Weekly in December, Mpumalanga has been selected to host the Group of 20 (G20) energy session in September next year, which Seriti Green expects will propel the province onto the global stage, setting the standard for future power supply with international standards and protocols.

G20 Ministers will convene in Mpumalanga from September 23 to 26 to discuss the energy mix, lower carbon-emitting technologies and other aspects of the just energy transition (JET).

“As someone deeply connected to Mpumalanga and its people, I have seen first-hand the need for a JET. This is not only about sustainable energy but creating a future that is inclusive and prosperous for communities,” Teke was quoted as saying at the time.

Seriti Green’s first utility-scale Ummbila Emoyeni Wind Farm in Mpumalanga is paving the way for 4 GW of planned renewable-energy capacity by 2027.

The wind-energy company has been ambitious in its journey of diversifying South Africa’s energy mix, having 23 renewable-energy projects in various stages of development.

The company is also positively impacting on the lives of employees and communities. The Ummbila Emoyeni site now employs 729 people, of which 58% come from local communities.

A key milestone was achieved with the delivery of the 500 MVA, 400/132/22 kV Vunumoya power transformer in November, which will form the backbone of the project’s main transmission station.

Once operational, the Ummbila Emoyeni Wind Farm is expected to offset 500 000 t/y of CO₂ emissions.

Moreover, through its Seriti Green Hub platform, which is a dedicated skills and employment portal, the company has registered more than 10 000 jobseekers.

Seriti is particularly focused on transitioning former mine staff into renewable-energy roles, providing opportunities for individuals to transfer their skills into new industries.

“We’re creating jobs, training the next generation of renewable-energy professionals and ensuring that our communities benefit directly from this transformation,” Venn reported at the time.