Appian Capital Advisory LLP has acquired a majority stake in Emerging Markets Energy Services Company (Emesco)’s 5.4 MW photovoltaic installation near the Rosh Pinah Zinc Mine.
Emesco operates in renewable energy markets across sub-Saharan Africa, providing solar and wind solutions for utility-scale generation and solar, storage, hybrid, and microgrid solutions for commercial and industrial applications.
The Rosh Pinah Solar Park is an embedded generator for the Rosh Pinah Zinc Mine, providing a sustainable and cost-effective energy solution for the mine’s operations.
Under Namibia’s Modified Single Buyer (MSB) framework, Rosh Pinah Solar Park supplies 30% of the mine’s annual electricity demand, significantly reducing its reliance on conventional power sources and lowering its carbon footprint.
Rosh Pinah Mine will commission its RP2.0 expansion project towards the start of Q2 2025.
The 2.0 expansion project includes constructing new processing facilities, including adding a paste fill and water treatment plant, a dedicated portal, and a decline to extended deposits.
The project will increase mill throughput from 0.7 million tons to 1.3 million tons of ore per year, increasing zinc equivalent production to 170 million pounds per year.
Appian Capital Advisory acquired Trevali Mining Corporation’s 89.96% interest in the Rosh Pinah Zinc Mine in June 2023.
The acquisition of Emesco will triple the plant’s current capacity to 16.3 megawatts, supplying the mine with cleaner and more cost-effective energy and substantially boosting the country’s renewable energy sector.
Emesco managing director Rinus Strydom said the expanded solar plant will reduce Rosh Pinah’s electricity costs by 8% over the next 15 years while providing 30% of the required energy for the mine’s expansion.
“This investment by Appian is a pivotal step not only in expanding the Rosh Pinah Solar Park renewable energy plant but also expanding Namibia’s energy generation in general,” Strydom said.
According to Strydom, Emesco Energy will continue operating and overseeing the expansion of the solar plant and welcomed the investment as a crucial milestone for the country’s renewable energy landscape.
The increased capacity is also projected to cut the mine’s annual CO2 emissions by approximately 14,000 tons, marking a significant step toward greener industrial operations.
Appian Capital Advisory chief executive Michael Scherb said the company’s investment in the solar plant aligns with its broader clean energy strategy, including developing 20 solar plants in Brazil to support its mining portfolio in the Minas Gerais region.
“This is an important investment that will support Appian’s decarbonisation ambitions and provide tangible cost benefits to Rosh Pinah Zinc while offering attractive risk-adjusted returns to our investors,” Scherb said.
Scherb also said the government has prioritised increasing renewable energy capacity in recent years, aiming to reduce dependency on electricity imports and fossil fuel-based generation.
He added that investments like the Rosh Pinah expansion are crucial in Namibia’s transition to a more sustainable power sector to diversify and strengthen the energy mix.
