If: Coal persists
Anglo Kleinkopje Mine
In this scenario, the conversion from electrical power generation from coal to renewables is protracted, necessitating continued mining across the entire mine property.
Simultaneously, persistent mining operations opens up more opportunities for renewable energy source placements. The ‘mine valleys’ created are populated with PV solar arrays, wind turbines, and biomass plots; nuclear power is introduced and a reservoir formed; the abandoned mine site can be stabilized and converted into a public park for adjacent Witbank, and much of the former mined area can be stabilized and reserved for future energy technologies.
This scenario takes full advantage of the site’s potential to generate energy as an Independent Power Producer rather than just supply ESKOM’s powerplants.