THE IMPORTANCE OF DECARBONIZATION STRATEGIES

In this interview, Alisha Giglio, Climate Change Expert, SINAI Technologies, discusses how the industry must adopt various decarbonization technologies and strategies, tailored to the mining industry, amidst a scenario of depleting resources and rising demand for clean energy applications.

ENERGY AND MINES: What are some of the most significant changes for the mining industry as a result of the increased focus on ESG and climate performance?

ALISHA GIGLIO: The most significant change the mining industry faces is the adoption of new technologies and processes to reduce climate impact.

Miners must adopt low carbon technologies, such as battery electric or hydrogen vehicles, as well as new processes which reduce both energy and water consumption to limit the environmental impact during the mining process.

Furthermore, we must improve our mine reclamation process to ensure a long-term reduction in mining’s impact on the environment.

E+M: What are some of the challenges for mines in trying to balance climate and ESG commitments with mine production, expansion, and commercial realities?

AG: The demand for mineral inputs for batteries, energy storage, and other low-carbon technologies is only likely expected to escalate with increasing ESG commitments and the transition to net zero.

Meanwhile, many of our natural resources are fast depleting. Under these circumstances, there is understandable pressure to increase mining yields whilst reducing energy and water consumption, ESG impacts, and GHG emissions.

Successful net zero or ESG strategies must, therefore, consider their future cost, as well as environmental and social impact.

E+M: Which technologies are expected to be critical in meeting Scope 1 and Scope 2 carbon emissions goals for mining?

AG: While renewable energy enables the success of many lowcarbon technologies such as energy storage, electrification, and hydrogen production, there is, unfortunately, no onesize-fits-all solution for the mining industry.

Regional or corporate-specific policies, incentives, geographic location, access to capital, and the comfort level of a business with assuming technological risk, all play a role in determining the appropriate decarbonization technology for a company or mine site.

Due to this, it is likely that various technologies, renewable power, energy storage, electrification, and renewable fuels could, together or in combination, play a vital role in the mining industry’s transition to net zero.

Therefore, to develop an appropriate decarbonization strategy for a business, low-carbon technologies should be modeled in a facility-specific context to identify the most appropriate path forward.

E+M: Who are you looking forward to connecting with at the Energy and Mines Toronto Summit on November 1-2 at the Delta Toronto?

AG: I am looking forward to connecting with like-minded professionals who are passionate about reducing the climate change impact of one of the world’s most hard-to-abate industries.

Alisha Giglio is speaking at the Energy and Mines Toronto Summit, Nov 2, 10:50 AM on Scope 3 and Net Zero Mining.