- Listed Australian mining house, Syrah Resources Limited, has approved a final investment decision for the installation of a 11.25MW solar PV and 8.5MW/MWh battery hybrid power system at its Balama Graphite Operation in Mozambique.
- EPC Solar Century Africa completed the design, detailed engineering and procurement of, and structured and arranged the funding for the solar battery hybrid system which will be integrated with Balama’s existing diesel power generation plant.
- Funding for the project is being provided by IPP, Cross Boundary Energy.
The Solar Battery System will be delivered under a build-own-operate-transfer (“BOOT”) arrangement, comprising a 10-year operating lease and an operating and maintenance contract with a Mozambique incorporated project company to be wholly owned by Cross Boundary Energy (CBE). This project company will construct, own and operate the Solar Battery System over the BOOT term.
Operations and ownership of the Solar Battery System will be transferred to Syrah at nil cost at the end of the 10-year BOOT term.
Solar century Africa will continue to work closely with Syrah and CBE during the construction, delivery and installation of the Solar Battery System and up to commercial operation. Syrah and Solarcentury Africa have obtained all required licenses to commence construction of the Solar Battery System. The Solar Battery System is scheduled to be commissioned and operating before the end of the March 2023 quarter.
Th Solar Battery System will supply approximately 35% of Balama’s site power requirements, yielding an approximately35% reduction in diesel consumed for power generation. During peak daylight times, the Solar Battery System will be able to supply up to 100% of Balama’s power requirements.
Balama is currently powered by a 15MW on-site diesel generation power plant, which is 100% Syrah owned and operated, originally selected as a low-risk power option for the Balama development. Grid electricity is not currently available for Balama’s power requirements due to the lack of proximate high voltage transmission infrastructure.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
