Exxaro, a mining and renewable energy solutions company, has entered a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Council of Geoscience, a national science council in South Africa, to collaborate on carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) initiatives.
CCUS is a technology that captures carbon dioxide (CO2) from industrial sources and either stores it underground or uses it for other purposes, such as enhanced oil recovery, biofuel production, or building materials. CCUS can help mitigate the effects of climate change by reducing the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere.
According to a report by Mining Review, the MOU expresses the intention of both parties to work together on CCUS projects that support South Africa’s national commitments to lower greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change impacts. The MOU also aims to maximize social impact and create opportunities for skills development and job creation in the CCUS sector.
Exxaro’s Chief of Sustainable Impact Officer, Mongezi Veti, said: “Our strategy also aims for an integrated, multi-stakeholder approach to positioning the business for a resilient and sustainable future. We cannot act alone to create the impact we are aiming for, hence strategic partnerships such as the one with the Council of Geoscience, are key to ensure that our carbon neutrality goal become a reality.”
The Council of Geoscience’s CEO, Mosa Mabuza, said: “This collaboration comes at the right time where we have made tremendous strides on the technical front in implementing this scientific intervention, the CCUS, and the geological characterisation has progressed exponentially to confirm the suitability of the targeted reservoir to the pilot carbon dioxide sequestration project.”
The CCUS project is a co-funded initiative by the South African Government and the World Bank and its partners and is intended to contribute significantly to the climate mitigation programme as well as energy security trajectory.
Exxaro’s environment and social response to climate change supports South Africa’s energy transition programmes. It balances this with its role as a critical supplier to South Africa’s coal-based electricity sector. The company’s natural capital impacts encompass air quality, climate change resilience, energy, water security, waste management, biodiversity, environmental liabilities, land management and rehabilitation.
Exxaro’s CEO, Dr Nombasa Tsengwa, added: “We aim to draw upon the Council of Geoscience’s knowledge and expertise to promote positive, solutions-driven approaches to climate change mitigation and adaptation and to highlight transformational climate action. We have a long way to go, but the first steps are the most valuable as they help us gain momentum in this journey towards reducing our climate impacts.”
The MOU is a sign of hope and progress for a greener and more sustainable future for South Africa and the world.
