South32's Hillside aluminium smelter reaches power agreement with Eskom
2026-05-11 15:18:33 [Print]
Eskom and South32, a mining and minerals company, have announced a new renewable electricity solution for the 30-year-old Hillside Aluminium Smelter in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN).
The two parties stated they are "advancing discussions" on a new long-term power arrangement for the smelter, which is expected to begin in 2031, pending compliance with all regulatory requirements.
To support this goal, South32 and Eskom have formed a joint working group to explore ways to integrate competitively priced renewable energy into the national grid, supported by affordable firming capacity within the current regulatory framework.
"We have made a solid start. It is important that we maintain this momentum as we work toward a viable, low-carbon energy solution for Hillside from 2031, when the current electricity contract comes to an end."
South32's Hillside Aluminium plant is the largest aluminium smelter in the Southern Hemisphere, with an annual production capacity of 720 kilotonnes of aluminium.
As South Africa's single largest electricity user, the smelter consumes approximately 10.3 TWh per year, accounting for about 5% of Eskom's total annual electricity sales.
The two parties stated they are "advancing discussions" on a new long-term power arrangement for the smelter, which is expected to begin in 2031, pending compliance with all regulatory requirements.
To support this goal, South32 and Eskom have formed a joint working group to explore ways to integrate competitively priced renewable energy into the national grid, supported by affordable firming capacity within the current regulatory framework.
"We have made a solid start. It is important that we maintain this momentum as we work toward a viable, low-carbon energy solution for Hillside from 2031, when the current electricity contract comes to an end."
South32's Hillside Aluminium plant is the largest aluminium smelter in the Southern Hemisphere, with an annual production capacity of 720 kilotonnes of aluminium.
As South Africa's single largest electricity user, the smelter consumes approximately 10.3 TWh per year, accounting for about 5% of Eskom's total annual electricity sales.
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