B2Gold has launched a 10 MW solar power project in partnership with Sustainable Power Solutions (SPS), marking Namibia’s first wheeling initiative under the Modified Single Buyer framework.
The new facility, built on Maxwell Farm north of Otjiwarongo, will supply renewable energy directly to the Otjikoto gold mine through NamPower’s grid.
At the official launch on Thursday, B2Gold Namibia Country Manager John Roos emphasised the strategic importance of renewables for the mine’s future.
“And so we don’t manage the gold price, we manage our costs. And that’s why we need to focus on renewables to get our cost curve down even more,” he said.
This year, Otjikoto expects to produce between 185,000 and 200,000 ounces of gold, which is expected to deliver revenues in excess of US$310 million (approximately N$5.8 billion).
“So again going to be a record year for Namibia, boasting gold revenues in excess of $310 million. That’s huge for Namibia. So let’s recognise the importance of the mining industry in Namibia,” Roos told guests.
The project, valued at about N$200 million, is designed to generate 26,360 MWh per year.
Construction has been completed, with the solar plant already synchronised to the national grid.
Under the wheeling arrangement, SPS injects electricity at Maxwell Farm, while B2Gold draws down an equivalent amount at Otjikoto, offsetting its demand with clean energy.
For B2Gold, the move is part of its target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 30 per cent by 2030 compared to 2021 levels.
Otjikoto currently consumes about 14 to 15 MW of electricity continuously, making it a significant cost centre.
By sourcing a portion of this from solar, the mine expects to reduce both costs and exposure to volatile fuel prices.
SPS, headquartered in South Africa with a growing presence in Namibia, is a renewable energy developer specialising in utility-scale and industrial solar projects. With more than 65 MW of installations across southern Africa, it has become a key player in Namibia’s transition to private power generation.
For the Otjikoto project, SPS partnered with Fortitude Property Group and the Oelofse family, who provided land at Maxwell Farm.
The project is also a milestone for Namibia’s energy sector. Under the Single Buyer model, NamPower traditionally controlled all electricity purchases and sales.
But with the introduction of the Modified Single Buyer (MSB) framework, private producers can now wheel power through the grid to large customers.
The MSB enables consumers to source up to 30 per cent of their demand from independent producers, thereby opening the door for mines like Otjikoto to secure renewable energy directly.
Roos used the launch to reflect on B2Gold’s journey to renewables.
When Otjikoto poured its first gold in December 2014, the mine was powered entirely by heavy fuel oil (HFO) generators, consuming 20 to 24 million litres a year.
“That’s massive. Now, you can also consider the environmental impact and associated costs.
“We asked ourselves, what can we do? How do we begin this transition to gradually ease ourselves off HFO and eventually be 100 per cent green,” he said.
In 2018, B2Gold commissioned a 7 MW solar plant on site for N$115 million.
“To be quite honest, I probably put out about 35 feasibility studies. Nothing worked because the gold price was trading at $1,000 per ounce at the time. But we were persistent as Namibians, and eventually our corporate office said, Well, let’s just do it. We’re not going to do it for cost savings. It’s the right thing to do,” Roos recalled.
That first plant proved successful, setting the stage for the new wheeling project with SPS.
After extensive feasibility studies and regulatory approvals with NamPower, the Otjikoto mine became the first in Namibia to integrate off-site renewable generation into its energy mix.
Roos also stressed the company’s commitment to environmental stewardship beyond energy.
“So many Namibians think gold mining companies come into the country, dig a big black hole, take the minerals, take the money out of the country, and they leave. The words they actually use are they say ‘and then they pack up and go,’ which is not true,” he said.
He pointed to the rehabilitation work that had already been completed at Otjikoto.
“These are some of the rehabilitation slopes on the mine. You can see oryx wandering there. This was a pile of rock a couple of years ago; it is now fully rehabilitated. When you happen to drive up here in a couple of years, you’re going to see a beautiful mountain with lots of trees on the ground that came out of the earth, and we extracted the gold.”
He added that by the end of 2025, B2Gold’s rehabilitation obligations at Otjikoto will be fully funded, ensuring no future financial burdens when the mine eventually closes.
The Maxwell solar plant is expected to offset around 26,360 tonnes of CO₂ annually, reinforcing B2Gold’s status as a leader in mining decarbonisation.
The project demonstrates how private investment and policy reform can accelerate the adoption of renewable energy.
From diesel-powered beginnings to solar-driven growth, the Otjikoto story now mirrors a broader shift in Namibia’s mining industry: cutting costs, lowering emissions, and leaving behind more than just gold.
