South32 pushes for low-carbon energy solution at Hillside smelter

Decarbonisation is part of broader efforts to be in line with European export demands

- TAWANDA KAROMBO

SOUTH32 is pursuing a decarbonisation programme for Hillside, its South African aluminium smelter operation in South Africa as part of its broader carbon reduction emission efforts and to be in line with European export demands for the material.

The company said it had temporarily shut down the Wessels manganese mine it runs in the Northern Cape before re-opening it.

In March, Hillside was the subject of a claim by an Australian company that charged that the South32 subsidiary had improperly used intellectual property related to metal transportation at the South African operation.

Now, South32 has on Wednesday said that it is "engaging with stakeholders to secure a comprehensive low-carbon energy solution for Hillside Aluminium and on issues related to a just energy transition" in South Africa.

As part of this, the company was working on implementing AP3XLE technology which delivers energy efficiency.

South32 had relined 57% of the Hillside smelter's pots using the AP3XLE technology.