Key Points
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Implats increases clean energy use to 31 percent in FY2025.
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Solar projects and renewable deals cut costs and emissions.
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Platinum metals fuel demand in global clean energy solutions.
Mining group Implats is using more renewable energy to power its operations, with clean electricity now making up 31 percent of its total consumption in the 2025 financial year.
This marks a big step for the platinum producer, which has long faced pressure to cut emissions and reduce its dependence on coal-fired power.
In a report released this week, the company highlighted new solar projects in Zimbabwe and a major renewable supply deal in South Africa as key drivers of the change.
Solar farms and renewable deals cut emissions
Implats’ Zimbabwe unit, Zimplats, recently switched on the first 35 megawatts of a planned 185 MW solar farm, with approval already secured to add another 45 MW.
At the same time, Impala Refineries in South Africa signed a five-year agreement to get up to 90 percent of its power from wind and solar.
The company says these steps will cut greenhouse gas emissions by more than 850,000 tons and also save money in the long run. For an industry known for its heavy reliance on dirty energy, this is a significant shift.
Strong finances support green projects
Implats ended the year with R8.1 billion in cash and a liquidity buffer of R19.7 billion. Chairperson Thandi Orleyn described 2025 as a “year of resilience,” but said the new financial year has already started on a stronger note.
These figures show the company is in a position to fund new projects without risking stability. Many mining firms promise sustainability initiatives but struggle to pay for them. Implats appears better placed to follow through.
Platinum group metals fuel clean energy future
Implats’ business is not only about mining platinum and related metals. The company also invests in new technologies that use these metals in clean energy systems, such as hydrogen fuel cells, energy storage, and emissions reduction tools.
Platinum, for example, plays a role in making fertilisers cleaner, powering electric technologies, and even in medical devices like pacemakers and cancer drugs.
By promoting these applications, Implats is helping secure long-term demand for its metals in a world that is moving toward greener solutions.
The company still has a long way to go. With renewable power below one-third of its total use, it must ramp up efforts to meet its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.
But in regions like South Africa and Zimbabwe, where electricity supply is unreliable, building its own renewable power also strengthens its operations.
As a journalist following the mining sector, I see Implats’ approach as more than corporate branding. It reflects a survival strategy: mining companies that fail to adapt will lose investors, face tighter regulations, and struggle to stay competitive in a low-carbon future.
