Provest Group has successfully completed the installation of a solar energy system at our Steelpoort plant. The plant produces all our cementitious products, supplying on average 300 000 bags of Premix and Shotcrete every month. These innovative cementitious products are a key pillar of operation for many of our clients, making it imperative for the plant to operate optimally, reliably and sustainably.

In recent years, the Steelpoort plant, like many others across South Africa, has faced ongoing challenges resulting from load shedding and unexpected power outages. The plant experienced 120 hours of power outages, equivalent to 15 production days, in 2023. In addition, the rising costs of electricity and having to rely on rented diesel generators as an alternative source of energy had extensive cost implications. 

“We are proud of our reputation for reliability and creating value for our clients,” said Martin Kubyane, Plant Manager at Provest Group. “Unreliable grid power was a challenge for our clients, too, impacting their operations as well as ours. We wanted to be part of the solution and ensuring that we could deliver the cementitious products they need on time was key to that.”

On top of Provest’s desire to live up its values and keep its promises to clients, environmental and sustainability impacts were another key reason to seek a renewable energy solution. “The cumulative effect of load shedding and power outages meant that Steelpoort had to use 2,120 litres of fossil fuels to power its generators, which further contributed to the emissions of the plant. Last year alone, the plant consumed 56.545 MWh of coal-powered electricity, resulting in approximately 52.02 tons of CO2 emissions,” Kubyane explains.

Steelpoort’s solar energy project was designed to improve power security at the plant to minimise the impact of production losses on clients, and significantly reduce the plant’s carbon footprint. The solar project, delivered by Rolling Snow Ball Holdings, consisted of the implementation of a 50kWh system for the plant operations and a separate 30kWh system for the office operations.

“The successful implementation of this solar project is set to offset the risk of loss of production due to unexpected power outages and ensure we can continue to serve our clients reliably. Furthermore, the move to solar energy will prevent an estimated 52.02 tonnes of carbon emissions annually, reflecting ProVest’s commitment to reducing its environmental impact,” says Kubyane.

Provest’s Shotcrete and Wetcrete, Premix and other important cementitious products are widely used in the mining industry. These pre-bagged blends of sand, aggregate, cement, fibres (optional) and other specially selected additives are used in tunnelling support, mining, support of walls, concrete rehabilitation and excavation support. Provest’s highly versatile Premix concrete is used in multiple situations were a high-quality concrete is required, such as traveling ways, box fronts and construction. 

Securing its production capability at Steelpoort through a sustainable energy solution demonstrates Provest’s commitment to Care, Professionalism, Reliability, and Innovation. By embracing solar energy, Provest is not only securing the future success of our business but also demonstrating our commitment to the environment and contributing to a sustainable future.