Voltalia secures long-term PPA with Rio Tinto for 148 MW Bolobedu solar plant in South Africa

Voltalia, a French renewable energy developer, finalized a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) with Rio Tinto to supply 148 MW of solar power from its Bolobedu solar plant in South Africa’s Limpopo province. The energy output of approximately 300 GWh annually will be transmitted via Eskom’s grid under a "wheeling" arrangement, allowing Rio Tinto’s subsidiary Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) to access the power without building dedicated transmission lines. The project, commissioned in April 2026, directly supports RBM’s mineral extraction and refining operations for zircon and rutile, critical materials for ceramics and metallurgy. Voltalia structured the deal to secure Rio Tinto’s energy supply amid plans to expand mining activities, including the adjacent Zulti South project that will significantly increase energy demand. The financing for Bolobedu was uniquely supported by two women investors, marking the first large-scale renewable energy project in Africa financed exclusively by women.

Counterparts (3)

Offtaker

Rio Tinto

company

Rio Tinto is a leading global mining group that focuses on finding, mining, and processing the Earth's mineral resources. While primarily a mining company, its operations and investments touch upon infrastructure development, particularly in regions where it operates mines and related facilities.

subsidiary

R

RBML (JioBP)

company

RBML (Jio-bp) is an Indian company involved in energy and infrastructure, particularly focusing on EV charging infrastructure and energy transition initiatives. It is part of Reliance Industries Limited.

Developer

Voltalia

company

Voltalia is a French renewable energy developer focused on solar, wind, and hydroelectric power. They develop, operate, and maintain renewable energy projects globally, with a strong presence in Europe, Latin America, and Africa.