Solar panel cleaning
Solar panel cleaning for mine solar installations
Mines increasingly run solar plants beside their operations — and mine sites are among the dustiest places a solar array can be. We provide robotic solar panel cleaning for mine solar installations in South Africa and Zambia.
Cleaning on a mine is as much about access, rules and coordination as it is about the panels. For the general process, see the robotic solar panel cleaning overview.
Dust on mine sites
Haul roads, blasting, crushing and screening, stockpiles, tailings facilities and open ground all put dust into the air, and wind carries it onto nearby arrays. Some ore and process dusts stick to glass or are abrasive, and the amount changes with production and the dry season.
That affects which cleaning method is suitable and how often cleaning is worthwhile. We look at the dust sources around your array before confirming a method, and we don't promise a fixed improvement in output.
Inductions, permits and access
Every mine sets its own entry rules: inductions, medicals, PPE, vehicle standards, escorts and permits to work. We don't assume any existing clearance — the requirements are agreed at quote stage and their lead time is built into the programme.
Tell us who manages contractors on site and what documents they need, and we'll prepare for that from the start.
Coordinating with mine operations
Cleaning is planned around the mine, not the other way round. We need to know blasting times and exclusion zones, haul traffic routes, shift patterns and any production windows that limit access to the array.
Electrical isolation and permit-to-work decisions belong to the mine's authorised people. The enquiry and quote concern module cleaning; any additional assessment, monitoring, electrical or maintenance requirements must be discussed and separately agreed with the site team.
Information we need
- Mine name and location, and where the array sits on the property
- Installation type and size: ground-mounted or rooftop, MWp or panel count (or unknown)
- Mounting: fixed tilt or tracker
- Layout drawings and module datasheets / cleaning instructions
- Main dust sources near the array
- Water availability on site
- Induction, medical and permit requirements
- One-off clean or recurring programme
A large mine-owned plant has a lot in common with a utility-scale farm — see solar farm cleaning. For mines on the Copperbelt and elsewhere in Zambia, see solar panel cleaning in Zambia.
Frequently asked questions
Are your teams already cleared for our mine?
Not automatically. Every mine has its own induction, medical and access requirements. We agree them with you during the quote and include the lead time in the programme.
Our panels are next to a haul road — can you still clean them?
Usually, but heavy, regular dust affects the cleaning method and how often cleaning makes sense. We assess the dust sources and the array before confirming a method.
Who handles electrical isolation?
Isolation and permit-to-work requirements are set by the mine's authorised people and built into the work plan. The quote concerns module cleaning; any electrical or other additional requirements are discussed and separately agreed with the site team.
Can cleaning fit around blasting and production?
That's part of the planning. We need your blasting times, exclusion zones, traffic rules and shift patterns so the work is scheduled around them.
Do you clean solar at mines in Zambia?
We consider mine solar sites in Zambia, including the Copperbelt, with mobilisation agreed per project.
Which robot or equipment do you use?
We share equipment details directly with plant owners and site teams during an enquiry, rather than publishing them. Ask us by phone on +27 16 366 3200 or email reception@corrosioncontrol.co.za and we'll take you through the equipment proposed for your site.
How long has the company been operating?
Makhaya Corrosion Control, previously M&S Corrosion Control, was founded in 1981 as an industrial contractor. Robotic solar panel cleaning is one of the industrial services we offer today.
Quote for a mine site
Give us the location and what you know about the array. Dust, access and water notes help us prepare the right questions.
Request a mine-site quote
Other solar cleaning pages
Robotic solar panel cleaning
Overview, assessment process and site requirements.
Solar farms
Utility-scale plants: RFQs from owners and O&M contractors, row access, fixed or tracker arrays, water and logistics.
Large commercial rooftops
Factories, warehouses, distribution centres, offices and shopping centres — roof access, load limits and fall protection first.
Zambia
Solar farms, mining and commercial and industrial sites in Zambia, with mobilisation agreed for each project.