Syrah Resources Limited announce that it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Solar Century Africa Limited to progress a solar and battery storage hybrid power system to work in conjunction with the existing diesel generation power plant at Balama in Mozambique.
The solar and battery storage system aims to reduce CO2 emissions and operating costs at Balama.
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.”
Solarcentury and Syrah have undertaken technical design and pricing analysis through 2020 for several solar and battery options at Balama, from which Syrah has chosen its preferred solution of 11.2Mw solar with an 8.5Mw battery, subject to final design. The solar and battery installation will work in conjunction with the existing 15Mw diesel generation power plant at Balama, which was chosen as a low-risk power generation option for the initial establishment of operations at Balama.
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.