Tronox Announces 200 MW Solar Power Project in South Africa

Tronox Holdings, an integrated manufacturer of titanium dioxide pigment, has announced that it has entered into a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with the independent power producer, SOLA Group, to provide 200 MW of solar power to mines and smelters of Tronox in South Africa. The news comes even as closer home in India, steel major ArcelorMittal has announced a $600 million,  975 MW renewable project to reduce its own carbon footprint.

The company anticipates the project should be fully implemented by the fourth quarter of 2023. The company says that this announcement is only one example of numerous projects and investments being pursued by Tronox to meet its publicly announced goal to align with a global warming scenario below 2° C and achieve net zero GHG emissions by 2050.

“Tronox’s renewable energy project with SOLA Group will reduce our global carbon emissions by approximately 13% compared to our 2019 baseline and has the full support of our Board of Directors and senior management,” said Melissa Zona, Senior Vice President, External Affairs and Chief Sustainability Officer, Tronox.

She adds, “This is yet another example of how Tronox is committed to being a leader when it comes to corporate sustainability and protection of the environment. In the past 18 months, we have taken a number of significant steps that demonstrate this leadership: restructuring our Board to designate a committee with specific responsibility for oversight of Environmental Social Governance (ESG); including annual carbon emission reduction targets in our executive compensation plan; publicly announcing a detailed roadmap for reducing emissions, including a target to reduce emissions by 15% by the fourth quarter of 2025; and, committing to being fully aligned to both TCFD and SASB reporting for 2021.”

“These types of projects are the fastest way to bring new generation capacity online and not only contribute to closing the electricity supply gap in our country, but also support the much needed transition to clean energy and modernization of our electricity grid,” said Chris Haw, Director and Founder at the Sola Group.

Tronox says that switching from coal-based to renewable power in South Africa is just one way the company is implementing innovative technologies and best practices at its operating sites to protect land, water, air and ecosystems and operate more sustainably.