In December 2020, Syrah Resources Limited announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with global solar power company, Solar Century Africa Limited, to progress a solar and battery storage hybrid power system at the Balama Graphite Project in Mozambique.
The solar and battery storage system aims to reduce CO2 emissions and operating costs at Balama, which is the largest integrated natural graphite mine and processing plant globally as measured by annual flake concentrate production capacity.
Syrah Managing Director and CEO, Shaun Verner, said: “Progression of a large-scale solar and battery installation will reduce the operating cost base at Balama and further strengthen the ESG credentials of Balama’s natural graphite supply and the future supply from our vertically integrated battery anode material project in Vidalia, USA.”
Throughout last year, Solar Century and Syrah undertook technical design and pricing analysis for several solar and battery options at Balama, from which Syrah selected its preferred solution of 11.2 megawatt (MW) solar with an 8.5 MW battery, subject to final design.
The solar and battery installation will work in conjunction with the existing 15 MW diesel generation power plant at Balama, which was selected as a low-risk power generation option for the initial establishment of operations.
The MOU establishes the terms and conditions under which Syrah and Solarcentury will continue with the development of the design, funding, construction and operation of a solar and battery installation under a build, own, operate and transfer (BOOT) arrangement.