JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) – ArcelorMittal South Africa is looking for an independent power producer to build an 800 megawatt gas-fired power station on land at its Saldanha steel works to help ensure its survival, Chief Executive Paul O’Flaherty said.

ArcelorMittal, which is reviewing its Saldanha operation partly due to high electricity costs, is willing to take as much as 220 MW of the plant’s capacity and the company is in talks with other industrial users and the government to sign long- term contracts for the rest.

Building an independent power plant is vital for the survival of Saldanha, O’Flaherty told Reuters, adding that state-owned utility Eskom’s rising electricity prices were unaffordable.

Electricity accounts for nearly a third of costs at Saldanha, the company’s newest and only export-focused plant, compared with less than 10 percent for the rest of the company.

“An environmental impact study is underway on our land,” O’Flaherty said adding that ArcelorMittal South Africa would not own the project.

On Friday, the company reported a slightly narrower loss than expected, sending its shares soaring.

There are also expectations that the government will give local steelmakers further protection beyond the 10 percent steel import tariff agreed in August.

Shares in ArcelorMittal South Africa were up a further 12.74 percent at 6.99 rand by 1200 GMT on Friday.

(Reporting by TJ Strydom and Thekiso Lefifi; Editing by Greg Mahlich)