Green Giraffe Advisory acted as exclusive financial advisor to Envusa Energy on the successful close of its first utility-scale, behind-the-meter solar PV project.
Located at Kumba Iron Ore’s Sishen Mine near Kathu in the Northern Cape, the 63 MW AC project turns previously disturbed mining land into productive, energy-generating infrastructure. All electricity generated will be sold directly to Sishen Mine through Envusa Energy’s trading company, strengthening the mine’s energy security and lowering its carbon footprint.
Built across roughly 100 hectares on a 20-storey-high rehabilitated waste rock dump, the project required clever engineering to address genuine geotechnical complexity, including adjustable PV structures and a mobile adjustable substation to manage ground settlement over time.
The benefits reach beyond the fence line, too. The Sishen Iron Ore Company-Community Development Trust holds a 10% interest, ensuring host communities share directly in the dividends, with value reinvested into jobs, education, healthcare, skills and sustainable livelihoods.
This close sets an important precedent, paving the way for future project-financed, utility-scale behind-the-meter battery storage to support South Africa’s grid needs.
