Canadian miner eyes solar-powered uranium project in Niger

GoviEx, a Canadian mineral resources company, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with energy developer Windiga Energy to jointly evaluate the feasibility of powering the company’s flagship Madaouela project in Niger, using hybrid solar power solutions.

Windiga is a Canadian energy developer focused on building, owning and operating renewable energy facilities and off-grid smart power systems in different parts of Africa.

According to GoviEx, initial discussions and collaboration between the two companies will target energy solutions with the intent to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 20,000 tons per annum and provide sustainable, renewable power at approximately 25% lower cost than traditional coal-fired options.

Coal-fired power costs are currently forecast at approximately 4% of total life of mine operating costs.

Under the MoU, GoviEx will have an opportunity to negotiate a power purchase agreement for the priority supply of electricity for an initial term of 21 years, extendible at the request of GoviEx.

The mining giant also plans to provide electricity to the surrounding local community through a hybrid power plant, combining photovoltaic solar panels and diesel generators with total installed capacity of at least 20 MW.

The benefits of renewable, lower-cost energy are obvious, and we look forward to updating our stakeholders on the results of these studies, GoviEx’s chairman, Govind Friedland, commented in a statement.