Sibanye Stillwater Western Platinum Refinery

Project Background

In late 2024, Sibanye Stillwater’s Western Platinum Refinery (SSPMR) in Vulcania, Brakpan, launched a major infrastructure upgrade to replace its aging lighting system with modern, energy-efficient LED technology.
This 50-year-old facility required a solution that met stringent Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) standards, aligned with Energy Savings Goals (ESG), and ensured
long-term sustainability.

The Challenge: A Complex Retrofit Across +/-300+ Areas

SSPMR’s lighting upgrade posed unique challenges:

  • The facility was built long before LED technology existed and has evolved over time.
  • Original lighting relied on fluorescent and HID systems.
  • The site spans 12 hectares, with half under roof and multiple outdoor tank farms.
  • Harsh operating conditions include:
    • 24/7 operations
    • High-temperature smelting zones
    • Chemical and corrosive environments
    • Hazardous areas
    • Security-sensitive zones

The Nordland Mandate

SSPMR issued a closed RFQ to South Africa’s leading industrial lighting providers, requesting:

  • Reliable long-term support
  • Full turnkey retrofit on a supply-and-install basis
  • OHS-compliant lighting across all zones
  • Completion within extremely tight timeframes
  • High-efficiency systems to meet ESG and carbon reduction targets
  • Standardized luminaires tailored to each operating environment

Ramika Projects & Nordland: Rising to the Challenge

Ramika Projects, an OEM supplier of Nordland products, accepted the challenge. After a comprehensive 3-day site inspection, several competitors withdrew due to the project’s complexity. Ramika and Nordland pressed forward.

Smart Retrofit Strategy

To meet budget and time constraints:

  • Ramika reused 35% of existing luminaires were retrofitted with Nordland’s latest LED light engines restoring the infrastructure to as new.
  • The Ramika approach not only utilised existing infrastructure to avoid costly rewiring but more importantly accelerated the completion of the project.
  • Upgraded light output exceeded original designs, ensuring long-term OHS compliance.
  • This approach saved millions in Capex and installation costs.

Nordland’s “One-Stop Shop” Industrial Lighting Solution

By leveraging off Nordland’s comprehensive range of locally manufactured floodlights, bulkheads, high-bays, emergency fittings, hazardous-area lighting, and high-mast products Ramika were enabled to provide a customised, risk-free solution for SSPMR.

Key features included:

  • High System Lumens Maximized energy efficiency for ESG goals.
  • Advanced Heat-Sinking Ensured longevity in high-temperature zones.
  • Quality Internal Drivers Delivered consistent, reliable performance
  • Robust Materials Withstood chemical and corrosive exposure.
  • Future-Proof Design Enabled easy upgrades as technology evolves.
  • Simplified Maintenance Reduced operational disruptions.
  • Minimized Lifecycle Costs Prioritized long-term cost-effectiveness

Delivery Excellence Under Pressure

Despite peak-season constraints, Nordland’s ISO-certified facility delivered all products within 60 days-meeting SSPMR’s accelerated schedule ahead of the December shutdown.

Perimeter Security Lighting
Plant Lighting
High Mast Lighting

A Sustainable Partnership

By standardizing the refinery’s lighting on Nordland’s locally produced range, SSPMR secured:

  • Long-term compliance and support
  • Reduced design revisions and maintenance costs
  • A future-ready lighting system
Conclusion

Nordland’s ability to deliver a full range of industrial and hazardous lighting backed by local manufacturing, technical innovation, and Ramika’s turnkey execution enabled SSPMR to achieve a safe, sustainable, and cost effective transformation.
This project sets a benchmark for industrial lighting upgrades across South Africa.

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