Issue
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April
2022
19 Recently announced renewables in mining projects and commitments by Australian mines ENERGY AND MINES MAGAZINE
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CONTENTS
Introduction............................................ 6
(A) CASE STUDIES.............................. 6 1: Australian Potash Limited................... 8 Lake Wells Sulphate of Potash Project Microgrid integrating gas-fuelled power, solar PV, wind and battery storage Announcement date: September 7, 2021
2: BHP Group Limited............................ 10 BHP Nickel West’s Mt Keith and Leinster operations Solar, battery, and likely wind Announcement Dates: July 7, 2021, and February 2, 2022
3: BHP Group Limited.............................12 Olympic Dam Solar, wind hybrid Announcement Date: October 14, 2021
4: Calidus Resources.............................. 14 Warrawoona Gold Project Gas/hydrogen-fuelled power, solar, and battery storage Announcement Date: January 24, 2022
5: RED5 Limited......................................16 King Of The Hills Gold Mine Gas-fuelled power, solar, and battery storage Announcement Date: March 29, 2021
6: Northern Star Resources Limited......18 Carosue Dam gold mining operation Modular, scalable, re-deployable solar PV Announcement Dates: October 8, 2021 and March 3, 2022
7: Fortescue Metals Group..................... 20 Chichester Hub (Christmas Creek and Cloudbreak Iron Ore Mines) Solar PV, battery storage and gas-fuelled power Announcement Date: December 15, 2021
8: Pilbara Energy (Generation) Pty Ltd [Subsidiary: Fortescue Future Industries]......................................... 22 Uaroo Renewable Energy Hub Solar, wind, battery storage Announcement Date: February 15, 2022
9: Rio Tinto plc....................................... 24 Weipa Operations Solar, battery storage Announcement Date: September 19, 2021
10: Rio Tinto plc..................................... 26 Gudai-Darri Iron Ore Mine Solar, battery storage Announcement Date: July 27, 2021
11: Rio Tinto plc...................................... 28 Tom Price, Australia Solar, battery storage Announcement Date: July 2, 2021
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12: Gold Fields Limited.......................... 30 Gruyere Gold Mine, Agnew Gold Mine Solar Announcement Dates: April 15, 2021, and October 4, 2021
(B) COMMITMENTS.......................... 42 18: Rio Tinto plc..................................... 42 Pilbara Iron Ore Operations; Boyne Island and Tomago smelters Wind, Solar
13: Iluka Resources Limited.................. 32 Jacinth-Ambrosia Zircon Mine Solar PV/diesel hybrid Announcement Dates: March 15, 2021, and December 22, 2021
14: IGO Limited...................................... 34 Nova Ni-Cu-Co Operation, Western Australia
Announcement Date: October 20, 2021
19: Fortescue Metals Group Limited..... 44 Scope 3 Emissions Across Its Global Value Chain Green hydrogen, green ammonia, new renewable-based technologies for decarbonising iron & steel, shipping, cement Announcement Date: October 5, 2021
Solar, battery storage, diesel Announcement Date: January 27, 2022
15: OZ Minerals Limited......................... 36 West Musgrave Nickel and Copper Sulphid1 Wind, solar PV, battery storage, diesel Announcement Dates: December 9, 2020; February 4, 2022; March 18, 2022
16: AngloGold Ashanti Limited............. 38 Sunrise Dam, Tropicana Gold Mines Wind, solar and battery storage Announcement Date: June 1, 2021
17: BHP Group Limited..........................40 Nickel West Wind Announcement Date: April 5, 2022
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Introduction Renewable energy delivered a record third of Australia’s energy market in 2021. New, large-scale renewable energy projects added 2,955 MW in 2021, nearly 1 GW more than that added in 2020. According to Australia’s Clean Energy Council, as at the end of 2021, 68 large-scale projects – including 42 solar farms and two hybrid wind and solar projects – were under construction or financially committed. Collectively, this pipeline represents more than 9 GW of new capacity and over $18 billion of investment. “The acceleration of the renewable energy transition in 2021 shows that a future where Australia’s electricity costs less, is more reliable and has zero emissions is no longer a possibility, it is a certainty,” said Kane Thornton, Chief Executive, Clean Energy Council, earlier this month. Encouragingly, both the battery and hydrogen sectors are also taking forward strides. Specific to mining, renewables are getting a lot of love from the industry because they reduce reliance on fossil fuels and their volatile pricing. Not only does the switch to renewables reduce a mine’s carbon footprint, it also makes business sense by cutting operational costs. Geographically too, the harsh climatic conditions at remote mines are in fact a boon for renewable energy generation. The advantages of renewables are increasingly so compelling that remote mines are no longer considering “fuel-only” options for their energy needs. Unsurprisingly, renewable energy projects in Australian mining are growing in number and size. Here is a showcase of 19 projects and climate commitments announced by Australian mining companies in recent months. This is not a full picture of current activities as the pace of announcements and commitments by Australian mining companies has accelerated significantly over the last year. However, this offers a window into the exciting steps and ambitions mining companies are taking to decarbonise in Australia.
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Australian Potash Limited Lake Wells Sulphate of Potash Project Microgrid integrating gas-fuelled power, solar PV, wind and battery storage Announcement date: September 7, 2021
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ake Wells Sulphate of Potash (LSOP) is the current flagship project for Australian Potash Limited (APC). Located approximately 500 km northeast of Kalgoorlie, in Western Australia’s northEastern Goldfields, the shovel ready project consists of granted mining leases and exploration licenses covering a total of over 1,200 square kilometres, and a long-life operation of more than 30 years. APC has awarded the ~35 MW hybrid renewable microgrid at LSOP to PWR Hybrid on a Build-OwnOperate basis. The microgrid will integrate a gasfuelled power station with solar PV, wind and battery energy storage technology.
The microgrid project is expected to achieve a Renewable Energy Fraction (REF) above 65%. Australian Potash Managing Director and CEO, Matt Shackleton said, “Strategically, we shifted the focus of the LSOP development and operations to a sustainable energy footing to capture and leverage the already low GHG footprint of a solar-salt project.” The hybrid energy facility will become a leading remote mine site power installation in Australia, supplying energy to a sulphate of potash (SOP) project claimed to be the country’s greenest.
Article Source: Australian Potash Announcement Images Source: Company presentation, and ASX Announcement
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BHP Group Limited BHP Nickel West’s Mt Keith and Leinster operations Solar, battery, and likely wind Announcement Dates: July 7, 2021, and February 2, 2022
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HP Group Limited (BHP) has begun construction on the Northern Goldfields Solar Project which it announced in July 2021 a week after it signed a nickel supply agreement with Tesla. One of the world’s largest off-grid mining solar and battery energy storage systems, the project will power BHP Nickel West’s Mt Keith and Leinster operations. Being built by TransAlta, the Australian arm of Canadian energy major TransAlta Renewables, the project comprises a 27.4 MW solar farm at Mt Keith, a 10.7 MW solar farm and a 10.1 MW battery at Leinster. Juwi Renewable Energy, has been awarded the engineering, procurement and construction agreement for the project. BHP Nickel West Asset President Jessica Farrell said the system will remove the equivalent of up to 23,000 combustion engine cars from the road every year, supporting the company’s greenhouse gas reduction targets. BHP entered an additional agreement in February with TransAlta for the identification of potential wind sites for a 40 to 50 MW wind farm that would cut Scope 2 emissions at BHP’s Mt Keith and Leinster operations by an estimated further 30%. The Northern Goldfields Solar Project is TransAlta’s first renewable energy project in Australia.
Article Source: BHP Image of Nickel West’s Mount Keith Operation: BHP
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BHP Group Limited Olympic Dam Solar, wind hybrid Announcement Date: October 14, 2021
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HP’s Olympic Dam mine is one of the world’s most significant deposits of copper, gold, and uranium. Located 560 km north of Adelaide, South Australia, the mine is made up of underground and surface operations and operates a fully integrated processing facility from ore to metal. In October, BHP signed a landmark deal with Iberdrola Australia to secure the supply of renewable energy to Olympic Dam from the new Port August Renewable Energy Park (PAREP) in South Australia. PAREP will be Australia’s biggest wind and solar hybrid facility with 210 MW of wind and 110 MW of large scale solar; BHP is to become the primary customer of this new renewable facility. “Olympic Dam’s copper has an important role to play to support global decarbonisation and the energy transition as an essential product in electric vehicles and renewable infrastructure,” said BHP Olympic Dam Asset President, Jennifer Purdie. “Reducing emissions from our operations will further enhance our position as a sustainable copper producer.” Last month, it was reported by RENEWECONOMY that PAREP was close to begin production of wind energy after a green light from the Australian Energy Market Operator. Meanwhile, the solar farm component is in the final stages of completion. PAREP is expected to fully commission by the middle of this year. The arrangement with BHP becomes effective July 1, 2022.
Article Sources: Renew Economy, BHP Image Credit: Iberdrola
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Calidus Resources Warrawoona Gold Project Gas/hydrogen-fuelled power, solar, and battery storage Announcement Date: January 24, 2022
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alidus Resources, which owns the Warrawoona Gold Project located in the East Pilbara district of the Pilbara Goldfield in Western Australia, is on track to become Australia’s next gold producer in June 2022. The company announced in January its agreement with Zenith Pacific for the construction of a 4 MW solar farm with 3.5 MW battery energy storage system at Warrawoona. The renewables will be combined with an 11 MW gas-fired power station powered by LNG gensets that can use up to 25% hydrogen. This facility is currently under construction by Zenith. The gas fired power station, solar farm and battery system are components of a Power Supply Agreement (PPA) inked with Zenith by Cadilus in furtherance of its environmental objectives at Warrawoona. The mine is rated to produce up to 105,000 ounces of gold annually and boasts a post-tax payback period of only 15 months on a capital budget of $120 million, assuming the price of gold at $2,355 per ounce. Calidus Managing Director Dave Reeves said the renewable micro grid was a cornerstone of the company’s carbon reduction plan and in line with its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) initiatives.
Article Sources: ASX Announcement and The West Australian Image Credit: Calidus Presentation
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RED5 Limited King Of The Hills Gold Mine Gas-fueled power, solar, and battery storage Announcement Date: March 29, 2021
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ed5 Limited owns the King of the Hills (KOTH) gold deposit, ranked among the top 10-largest ore reserves in Australia.
In March 2021, the company entered a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Zenith Energy for a hybrid energy installation at the project. Zenith Pacific (KOTH) Pty Ltd (Zenith), a subsidiary of Zenith Energy Limited, will build, own and operate the power facility. High-efficiency reciprocating gas generation, a 2 MW PV solar farm, and a battery energy storage system will combine to produce 30 MW of power supply for the KOTH mine. The term of the PPA is 10 years, commencing in the March quarter of 2022. In the event the mine is run at a throughput higher than 4 Mtpa, the PPA contains a provision to enhance the capacity of the power plant. The arrangement “provides the efficiency and stability required for the processing plant and
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infrastructure to enable King of the Hills to be a long-life, low-cost gold producer,” said Red 5 Managing Director Mark Williams. Red 5 has separately contracted for the gas supply from the Goldfields Gas Pipeline, about 13 km from the mine. The hot tap into the pipeline has been completed, while the gas lateral pipeline installation is underway.
Article Source: Red5 Limited Image Source: Red5 Presentation
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Northern Star Resources Limited Carosue Dam gold mining operation Modular, scalable, re-deployable solar PV Announcement Dates: October 8, 2021 and March 3, 2022
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old miner Northern Star Resources Limited is pursuing a pathway and reductions in GHG emissions from its baseline (FY20) of 931kt CO2-e down to approximately 590kt CO2-e. It is installing re-locatable solar arrays at its Carosue Dam Operations in partnership with independent power provider Nomadic Energy. In October 2021, the company more than tripled the capacity of the solar farm at Carosue Dam by adding a 3.3 MW re-deployable array to the existing 1 MW system which was commissioned in January 2020. Nomadic installed prefabricated, pre-wired Maverick solar modules designed by Sydney-based manufacturer 5B for the expansion solar array. In March 2022, Nomadic Energy took less than 21 days to complete a 2 MW install to further boost the solar capacity at Carosue Dam. The Maverick panels can be deployed up to 10 times faster and can generate up to twice the energy as conventional single axis tracker installations of comparable size using the same amount of land, claims 5B. The expanded 6.3 MW solar farm is expected to offset 6,686 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
Articles Source: PV Magazine - October 2021 and March 2022 Image Source: Nomadic Energy
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Fortescue Metals Group Chichester Hub (Christmas Creek and Cloudbreak Iron Ore Mines) Solar PV, battery storage and gasfueled power Announcement Date: December 15, 2021
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n December, solar energy flowed to the Christmas Creek and Cloudbreak mine sites in Fortescue’s Chichester Hub in the Pilbara on completion of the 60 MW Alinta Energy Chichester Solar Gas Hybrid Project. The project’s solar farm powers up to 100 per cent of daytime operations at the two sites, an Australian first, and displaces around 100 million litres of diesel every year. The remaining power requirements are met through the 35 MW/11 MW battery storage and 145 MW gas-fired generation at Alinta Energy’s Newman Power Station. Approximately 60 km of transmission line linking Fortescue’s Christmas Creek and Cloudbreak mining operations to the solar farm and Alinta’s existing Newman power station and battery energy storage system also formed a part of the project. The 60 MW Alinta Energy Chichester Solar Gas
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Hybrid Project is developed, owned and operated by Alinta Energy. “The project is a practical example of Fortescue delivering on its ambitious carbon neutrality target and demonstrates that renewables can power the energy needs of Australia’s mining and resources sector,” said Fortescue chief executive officer Elizabeth Gaines.
Article Source: Fortescue, PV Magazine Images Credit: Fortescue, Alinta Energy
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Pilbara Energy (Generation) Pty Ltd [Subsidiary: Fortescue Future Industries] Uaroo Renewable Energy Hub Solar, wind, battery storage Announcement Date: February 15, 2022
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ilbara Energy (Generation) Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Fortescue Future Industries, plans to construct and operate the Uaroo Renewable Energy Hub, a renewable energy generation project in the Pilbara, to power the Fortescue Metals Group (FMG) mining operations. The project is located approximately 120 km south of Onslow and 170 km west of the FMG operated Eliwana Mine Site in the Shire of Ashburton and in the Thalanyji Native Title Determination Area, on land used predominantly for cattle grazing. The massive project will consist of up to 340 wind turbines (2.04 GW) and a solar farm (3.33 GW), or a
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maximum energy generation capacity of 5.4 GW. The project also includes a 9.1 GWh battery energy storage system, substations, and associated supporting infrastructure. “FFI is exploring the potential development of a renewable energy hub at Uaroo in Western Australia’s Pilbara region,” said FFI chief executive Julie Shuttleworth. “This will support Fortescue’s industry leading commitment to achieve carbon neutrality for Scope 1 and 2 emissions in its mining operations by 2030.”
Article Source: Renew Economy Image Credit: Fortescue
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Rio Tinto plc Weipa Operations Solar, battery storage Announcement Date: September 19, 2021
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io Tinto in September approved the construction of a new 4 MW solar plant and 4 MWh of battery storage at its Weipa bauxite mines in Queensland. Due to be completed in late 2022, the new solar farm and battery storage will complement the existing 1.6 MW solar farm at Weipa. Rio Tinto has awarded the contract to EDL to build, own, and operate the expansion facility. EDL already owns and operates the existing solar plant, built in 2015. Rio Tinto Aluminium Pacific Bauxite Operations General Manager Michelle Elvy said “the new solar farm and battery storage at Weipa will help us lower our carbon footprint and diesel use in a reliable way.” “The original Weipa solar farm was the largest solar facility at an off-grid Australian mine site at the time it was built, and it played an important role in showing the viability of renewable energy systems in remote locations,” she added. The new solar plant will connect directly to the Weipa electricity network, while the 4 MWh battery system will be built next to the existing Weipa power station and will help provide a stable power network for Rio Tinto’s Weipa Operations bauxite mines and the Weipa township. The expansion will reduce Weipa Operations’ diesel consumption by approximately 7 million litres per year and cut annual carbon dioxide emissions by about 20,000 tonnes - the equivalent of taking more than 3,750 cars off the road.
Articles Sources: Rio Tinto, GreenCarCongress Image Credit: Rio Tinto Weipa
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Gudai-Darri Iron Ore Mine Solar, battery storage Announcement Date: July 27, 2021
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RW Holdings is building a 34 MW solar farm with a 12 MWh lithium-ion battery energy storage system at mining conglomerate Rio Tinto’s Mt Gudai-Darri iron ore mine in Western Australia. Announcing the win of the US$44 million EPC contract from Rio Tinto, NRW chief executive and managing director Jules Pemberton said renewable energy represented an increasing opportunity for the group, particularly projects where the energy output is integrated into the client’s network. The project comprises 100,000 solar panels and will supply the Gudai-Darri mine’s entire electricity demand during peak solar generation times, and approximately 65% of its average electricity demand. Also included is a 33KW substation that can be remotely controlled and monitored from Perth. The solar project will connect to Rio Tinto’s grid at the Gudai-Darri central substation via a 6 km-long overhead powerline and fibre-optic link. “We continue to look for ways to reduce the carbon impact of our operations,” Rio Tinto said. “Choosing renewable energy over traditional power generation, like we are doing at Gudai-Darri, is one of them.” The solar facility will cut the mine’s annual carbon dioxide emissions by about 90,000 tonnes compared to conventional gas-powered generation. The project forms part of Rio Tinto’s commitment to reduce its carbon footprint, targeting net zero emissions by 2050.
Article Source: NRW Holdings ASX Announcement Image Credit: Rio Tinto
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Tom Price, Australia Solar, battery storage Announcement Date: July 2, 2021
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massive battery project under construction at Rio Tinto’s Tom Price iron ore mining operation in the Pilbara, Australia, will make it easier for mines to achieve a “100% renewables” target. The 45 MW big battery by Hitachi ABB acts as a “virtual synchronous machine” (VSM), also known as a “grid forming inverter,” and has energy storage capacity of 15 minutes, or 12 MWh. Stephen Sproull, a senior engineer at Hitachi ABB, said at the time that the Tom Price battery would be the biggest of its type in Australia, and the biggest battery in the world that is not connected to a national interconnected grid. The battery acts as a virtual spinning reserve, allowing the mine to switch off expensive and highly polluting gas turbines currently used as a backup for fossil fuel turbines. In case there is a problem the battery steps in and has the capacity to hold the grid together until the back up turbines come on line. “The aim is to switch off synchronous machines such as gas turbines today, but also lay the technical foundation to operate with no synchronous generators in the future and source all electricity from renewables,” said Sproull in an interview.
Article Source: Renew Economy, Hitachi ABB Image Credit: Hitachi ABB
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Gold Fields Limited Gruyere Gold Mine, Agnew Gold Mine Solar Announcement Dates: April 15, 2021, and October 4, 2021
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old Fields Limited is targeting 50% absolute emission and 30% net emission reductions from 2016 baseline (Scope 1 and 2) and net zero by 2050. Initiatives include the integration of decarbonisation into business strategy, processes, and capital programmes; investment in renewables; and a reduction in the use of fuels. As per Gold Fields’ decarbonisation plan, the renewable component of total electricity supply at its St Ives, Agnew, and Gruyere mines would be 95%, 73% and 25%, respectively, by 2030. At the Gruyere Gold Mine in Western Australia, APA, which owns and operates a solar/gas/battery hybrid power solution for the mine, awarded the solar farm component to Juwi Renewable Energy Pty Ltd (Juwi). The project comprises the addition by APA of a twelfth reciprocating gas-fired engine to the mine’s power station and the construction by juwi of a 13.6MWp solar farm. APA will also install a backup 4.4MW/4.4MWh battery energy storage system. The project is expected to be completed in the first half of 2022. The Agnew Mine is home to the country’s largest hybrid renewable micro grid, and the first to power a mine with mainly wind generated electricity. The mine’s energy requirements are being met by EDL operating a configuration of 18 MW wind, 4 MW solar, 13 MW/4 MWh battery storage, 18 MW gas, and 3 MW diesel generation. According to Gold Fields Executive vice-president Stuart Matthews, the hybrid model at Agnew had been very successful with the mine achieving a renewable component of as much as 70 - 80% during optimal wind and solar conditions.
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“We are working on a solution that could see this mine well over 90 per cent on renewables alone, including powering all our underground fans and things like that, powering the processing plant and everything up to 90 to 95 per cent on renewable energy alone,” Matthews added.
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Meanwhile, the St Ives mine is the subject of a feasibility study around the potential addition of renewable energy.
Articles Sources: juwi, ABC Image of Gruyere Gold Mine: Gold Road
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13 Iluka Resources Limited
Jacinth-Ambrosia Zircon Mine Solar PV/diesel hybrid Announcement Dates: March 15, 2021, and December 22, 2021
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n March 2021, Brisbane-based juwi Renewable Energy Pty Ltd was awarded the contract to integrate 3.4 MW of solar generation with an existing diesel power station at Iluka’s JacinthAmbrosia Project in South Australia, the world’s largest zircon mine. juwi agreed to construct the hybrid power solution with KPS, an operating subsidiary of Pacific Energy, which would own and operate the facility for the mine. Pacific Energy is an Australian developer, owner, operator, and supplier of specialist power generation and energy storage facilities including for mining operations and townships at remote locations. It was the sixth hybrid project for juwi, a subsidiary of German renewable energy giant juwi AG.
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In December, Pacific Energy announced that KPS Power Generation, together with juwi, had completed the conversion of the 10 MW diesel power station at the Jacinth-Ambrosia mine to a hybrid power facility. In a “world first,” the hybrid power station incorporated both solar photovoltaics and electric turbo compounding (ETC) technology, combined with an upgraded control system. ETC technology allows generators to maintain the same power output using less fuel and producing lower CO2 emissions, making generators work more cleanly and effectively by recovering waste energy from exhaust.
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“The reduction in diesel consumption and improvement in fuel efficiency is expected to save over 2 million litres of diesel and over 5,500 tonnes of CO2 per year, every year, for at least the next seven years,” said Pacific Energy chief executive Jamie Cullen. Further, the hybrid project would fulfil almost 21% of the mine’s annual power requirement.
Articles Sources: juwi, International Mining Images of Jacinth-Ambrosia Mine: Iluka
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Nova Ni-Cu-Co Operation, Western Australia Solar, battery storage, diesel Announcement Date: January 27, 2022
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enith Energy, an independent power producer, is trialling a 100% renewable energy operation at the Nova nickel/ copper/cobalt mine owned by IGO. During the trial, of duration up to nine hours a day, the Nova mine will operate in an “engines-off ” mode, and solely on renewable power, during summer and spring. The site is currently powered through a combination of solar and diesel engine generation. By adding an additional 10 MW of solar panels, and a 10 MWh Battery Energy Storage System, the system expansion will allow for 100 percent renewable power generation during daylight hours, weather conditions permitting. “While the Nova site will continue to rely on diesel generated power overnight and during inclement weather conditions, this project is a key next step on the journey to 100% renewable power generation 24 hours a day,” writes Dominic Da Cruz, Zenith’s executive manager for growth. The trial, an industry-first, is expected to demonstrate that: ‘Engine Off ’ is achievable An integrated Battery Energy Storage System is a key component for achieving ‘engine off ’ Relocatable renewables are viable (Nova will be “the first practical demonstration at scale of relocatable renewable energy”) 100% renewable energy penetration can be sustainably achieved and replicated IGO COO Matt Dusci said the company was now at a point where technology and cost structure
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are enabling powering of an entire mining operation with 100% renewable penetration. Article Sources: Zenith Energy/Dominic Da Cruz, Mining Weekly Image Credit: IGO
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OZ Minerals Limited West Musgrave Nickel and Copper Sulphide Wind, solar PV, battery storage, diesel Announcement Dates: December 9, 2020; February 4, 2022; March 18, 2022
OZ Minerals Limited has received the EPA’s environmental approval for its giant $1.1 billion West Musgrave nickel and copper sulphide project. The project would be crucial to balance the supply of battery metals in the fast-growing EV and batteries markets. EPA APPROVAL OZ Minerals has committed to achieve “net-zero” by 2040, and the West Musgrave project will use a mix of renewables to power its operations. Around 80% of the project’s power supplies will be provided by renewables over the project’s initial 26 year life with a 70-80 MW wind farm, 40-50 MW solar PV array and 20-30 MW/25-35 MWh battery storage system to be complemented by a 45-55 MW installation of diesel gensets. OZ has committed that West Musgrave’s Scope 1 emissions will drop from 196,500t CO2 equivalent a year from the start of 36
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construction in 2023 to a maximum of 156,000 tpa from 2028, 75,000 tpa from 2033 and zero from 2038. PFS 2020 A pre-feasibility study in 2020 had showed West Musgrave’s potential for renewable energy. “With a future focus on developing a roadmap to 100% renewable generation, and reducing dependency upon fossil fuels over time, West Musgrave will become one of the largest fully off-grid, renewable powered mines in the world,” said the company statement. The solution would result in the avoidance of in excess of 220,000 tpa of carbon dioxide emission compared to a fully diesel-powered operation, the company added.
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ELECTRIC HEAVY HAULAGE Last month, OZ announced it was partnering on an ambitious world’s first trial to use battery electric trucks for heavy haulage across the long distances and harsh terrains of the Australian outback. OZ is partnering with Janus Electric and Qube for the self-funded trial scheduled to commence in the latter part of 2022. Janus Electric will test its revolutionary heavy vehicle exchangeable batteries in the world’s largest electric truck over the 12-month trial.
Articles Sources: Stockhead, Renew Economy, Oz Minerals Release2022, Oz Minerals Release2020 Image Credit: Oz Minerals Media Gallery/YouTube
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Sunrise Dam, Tropicana Gold Mines Wind, solar and battery storage Announcement Date: June 1, 2021
AngloGold Ashanti Limited, the South Africa headquartered gold mining company with operations in Africa, South America and Australia, has committed to a target of net zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2050, and to accelerating action on Scope 3 emissions. It operates the Sunrise Dam and Tropicana Gold Mines in the north east goldfields of Western Australia. Decarbonisation actions the company has already taken include switching its Sunrise Dam mine’s generators from diesel to cleaner LNG, and after commissioning the Tropicana mine, switching both to piped natural gas. In June 2021, the company invited expressions of interest through consulting firm Advisian for renewable energy projects to provide renewables-based electricity to the Sunrise Dam and Tropicana Gold Mines. The company sought EOIs for PPAs and associated infrastructure for up to 100 GWh per annum per site, including from the wind, solar and storage sectors with an expected COD between January and March 2023. The company is expected to soon announce “a credible 2030 decarbonisation target - the first milestone in our pathway to net zero by 2050,” according to its Climate Change Report for 2020/21 released on December 23, 2021.
Articles Sources: AngloGold Ashanti Release, Advisian, Image of Sunrise Dam Mine: AngloGold Ashanti
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BHP Group Limited Nickel West Wind Announcement Date: April 5, 2022
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HP has signed a 12-year PPA with Enel Green Power, the renewable subsidiary of Italy’s Enel Group, for the supply of renewable energy from its 76 MW Flat Rocks Wind Farm Stage One, located in the Great Southern Region of Western Australia. Effective 2024, Enel Green Power will provide about 315 GWh of wind energy annually to BHP’s nickel operations in Western Australia. The renewable energy will help decarbonise the nickel business and allow for BHP to supply low-carbon nickel to its customers in EV and battery markets. The agreement includes all Large-Scale Generation Certificates. BHP would be able to run both its Kalgoorlie Nickel Smelter and Kambalda concentrator with the energy supplied by Enel under the PPA. The Flat Rocks Wind Farm Stage One is expected to cost $200 million and will comprise 18 Vestas wind turbines, each of 4.2 MW. The wind farm is scheduled to be operational by 2024, and BHP will be its first customer. “We are taking great strides in making our operations more sustainable and strengthening BHP’s position as a nickel supplier of choice to global customers,” BHP Nickel West President Jessica Farrell said in a statement.
Article Sources: Enel Green Power, Reuters Image of BHP Nickel West, Mt Keith, WA: BHP Media Gallery
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18 Rio Tinto plc
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io Tinto will invest in energy from renewable sources, including wind and solar, to decarbonise its Boyne Island and Tomago smelters and its massive iron ore mines in the Pilbara in Western Australia. Between 2022 and 2030, the company will spend as much as A$7.5bn to cut its Scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions in half by the end of the decade.
Pilbara Iron Ore Operations; Boyne Island and Tomago smelters
Plans for the Boyne Island and Tomago smelters entail installation of about 5 GW of renewable power and a back-up solution.
Wind, Solar
At the Pilbara, Rio Tinto plans to rapidly deploy 1 GW of wind and solar energy as a first step. This would reduce emissions from the iron ore operations of around 1 million tonnes of CO2. The move would also replace gas for plant and infrastructure.
Announcement Date: October 20, 2021
This 1 GW investment would facilitate the initial electrification of trucks, mobile equipment and rail operations; however, Rio Tinto would need to invest in another 2 GW to completely move its Pilbara operations to green energy. The mammoth task is to cut the one million tonnes of carbon dioxide emitted by its trucking and rail activities. By 2025, the company is targeting trial runs of zeroemission trucks and locomotives. It has decided not to buy any diesel-powered vehicles after 2030. Other moves Rio Tinto is considering include: Crush ore in the mine pit and move it out using conveyors powered by renewable energy Use more of smaller, autonomous trucks that can utilize current battery technology, and
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Electrify iron ore hauling locomotives including the use of regenerative braking
Rio is evaluating a technology that would produce pig iron by combining biomass with the ore and adding heat from microwaves.
SCOPE 3 EMISSIONS Approximately 70% of Rio Tinto’s Scope 3 emissions are accounted for by customers converting iron ore into steel.
Another option under consideration is to make hot briquetted iron using hydrogen. This would be melted to remove impurities before being fed into a furnace.
The steel-making industry is responsible for nearly 8% of global emissions. A switch from blast furnaces to electric arc ones would be environmentally friendlier; however, impurities in the Pilbara iron ore are a hurdle. ENERGY AND MINES MAGAZINE
Article Sources: Renews.biz, Renew Economy, Sydney Morning Herald Image of Rio Tinto’s Yandicoogina Mine, Pilbara Operations: Rio Tinto
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19 Fortescue Metals Group Limited
Scope 3 Emissions Across Its Global Value Chain Green hydrogen, green ammonia, new renewable-based technologies for decarbonizing iron & steel, shipping, cement Announcement Date: October 5, 2021
F
ortescue Metals Group (FMG) announced in October 2021 its target to achieve net zero Scope 3 emissions by 2040.
The ambitious target would include crude steel manufacturing, which alone accounts for 98% of FMG’s Scope 3 emissions. FMG also committed to decarbonizing its own fleet of eight ore carriers and engage with shipping partners to reduce, and aiming to eliminate, emissions from shipping. Key to FMG’s mission is the development and supply of green hydrogen and green ammonia from Fortescue Future Industries (FFI). FMG intends to work with downstream customers, particularly iron and steel, on the application of these, and other technologies for emissions’ reduction and elimination. FFI is aiming to produce 15 Mt of green hydrogen annually by 2030. FMG itself became the world’s first major carbon emission heavy industry operation to set a target to achieve carbon neutrality by the same year. “Our work to decarbonize Fortescue’s iron ore operations will position Fortescue as the first major supplier of green iron ore in the world, paving the way for production of green iron and a new green steel industry,” said FFI Chief Executive Officer, Julie Shuttleworth. “Fortescue has commenced its transition from a pure play iron ore producer to a green renewables and resources company,” said Fortescue Chief Executive Officer, Elizabeth Gaines, in the announcement.
Article Source: International Mining Image Herb Elliott Port: Fortescue Media Gallery
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