ACHIEVING Weir’s ambitious sustainability goals requires active participation from every region and site across its global footprint, and Africa plays a vital role in this effort.
In fact, according to Chris Mortimer, Weir’s director of Safety, Health & Environment for Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), the continent’s limited power availability and often dry climates make it even more critical to focus on energy efficiency and water conservation.
“We understand that building a sustainable future hinges on the shift to renewable energy, and that this shift relies heavily on the supply of essential minerals and metals,” says Mortimer. “That’s why our solutions and equipment are designed to help our mining customers operate at peak efficiency, enabling them to support the global energy transition while also achieving their own sustainability goals.”
As a major contributor to the global mining sector, Weir has pledged to cut its carbon emissions by 50% by 2030. This commitment is being realised through clearly defined targets at site, regional and global levels – all aimed at using less energy, conserving water and minimising waste.
In Africa, sustainability efforts include a strong drive toward renewable energy adoption, helping to reduce reliance on carbon-intensive electricity sources such as those prevalent in South Africa.
“Our most energy-intensive operations are our manufacturing plants and foundries, so we are actively working to lower their carbon footprint,” says Mortimer. “At our Isando facility, for example, we installed solar power two years ago. This not only reduces our dependence on the national grid but also enhances our operational resilience during power disruptions.”
Additional solar generation capacity is currently being installed at Weir’s Alrode manufacturing plant, south of Johannesburg, with the goal of eventually running the entire facility on renewable energy.
Similarly, the company’s Heavy Bay Foundry (HBF) near Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape is also progressing toward greater reliance on renewables.
“The first phase of transitioning HBF to cleaner energy involves installing a solar generation facility,” Mortimer explains. “The second phase will introduce wind power, which we plan to procure from the second half of 2026. This will be done in collaboration with other industrial users in the region through an agreement with an independent power producer.”
Mortimer adds that community engagement is a vital part of Weir’s ESG commitments, emphasising that the well-being of local communities and the company are closely connected, particularly in African countries facing economic challenges. He notes that Weir’s service centres and local sites play a key role in driving community initiatives, aiming to make a positive impact wherever the company operates.
