Kumba accelerates mines with renewable energy partnership

The launch of the Koruson 2 (K2) renewable energy cluster in South Africa’s Eastern Cape highlights Kumba Iron Ore’s continued focus on sustainable mining and cleaner energy solutions through its collaboration with Envusa Energy

Envusa Energy, a joint venture between Anglo American and EDF power solutions, is advancing the delivery of dependable and competitively priced renewable energy for South Africa’s energy-intensive sectors. The K2 cluster adds 520 MW of combined wind and solar capacity to the grid and forms part of the company’s wider target to develop between 3 GW and 5 GW of renewable energy by 2030.

For Kumba, the partnership is already generating measurable environmental, operational and financial gains.

“Our partnership with Envusa Energy allows Kumba to decarbonise our operations while strengthening the resilience and competitiveness of our business. It is a practical demonstration of how renewable energy can support both mining and South Africa’s economic future,” said Mpumi Zikalala, CEO Kumba Iron Ore.

At the Kolomela Mine in the Northern Cape, renewable energy now supplies around 72% of the site’s electricity demand, significantly lowering dependence on carbon-intensive grid power. Alongside emissions reductions, the mine also achieved financial savings, with approximately R600,000 (approx.US$30,000) saved during March alone.

Through the Sishen Iron Ore Company Community Development Trust (SIOC CDT), local communities are able to share in the value generated by both mining and renewable energy developments. The Trust maintains equity ownership in Kumba and is also set to hold a 10% stake in the Sishen solar project, supporting long-term investments in healthcare, education, infrastructure and livelihood programmes.

The K2 cluster also showcases how cooperation between industry, communities and government can help tackle South Africa’s energy constraints. Using an innovative wheeling model that enables renewable electricity to move across the national grid, the project is expected to strengthen energy security while supporting faster decarbonisation across major industries.