MINE POWER
Also in Quebec , Nouveau Monde Graphite has awarded ABB a contract to supply , construct and commission the 120 kV substation for its Phase-2 Matawinie mine , as part of the construction preparation for the establishment of a 103,000 t / y graphite mining and concentrator complex .
Located 120 km north of Montreal , the Matawinie mine will be connected to the provincial hydropower network , enabling the access to clean energy to support mining activities and concentrator production of carbonneutral graphite concentrate destined for the lithium-ion battery market .
Nouveau Monde Graphite is set to equip the Matawinie mine with a zero-emission mining fleet and associated charging infrastructure , which would make it one of the world ’ s first allelectric open-pit mines when it starts operating .
Eric Desaulniers , Founder , President and CEO of Nouveau Monde Graphite , said : “ Our environmental stewardship and innovative mindset have been matched by the team at ABB , from the commencement of our electrification journey , to translate our vision into reality .”
A recognised global leader in mine electrification with its ABB eMine™ portfolio of solutions , ABB will lead construction of the substation as the primary connection point between the mine site and Hydro-Québec ’ s hydropower generation facility , enabling full electrification of the Matawinie mine using clean energy , it says .
Making decarbonised operations a reality
It is a combination of emission and cost savings that has led QIT Madagascar Minerals SA ( QMM ), part of the Rio Tinto group , to renew its existing Operations and Maintenance ( O & M ) agreement with technology group Wärtsilä .
The two companies recently expanded this arrangement to include a decarbonisation agreement that , they say , is a groundbreaking offering in the energy sector , allowing for optimising all of the assets in the microgrid , including renewable energy usage , thereby not only reducing emissions but also producing notable cost savings .
The continued O & M agreement covers QMM ’ s 24 MW engine power plant at the company ’ s ilmenite mineral sands mine at Fort Dauphin in south-eastern Madagascar .
The key elements of the agreement include optimised dispatch of the plant ’ s six Wärtsilä 32 engines and QMM ’ s battery energy storage and renewable assets with Wärtsilä ’ s GEMS Digital Energy Platform . The GEMS software uses machine-learning technology to optimise multiple energy generation assets and ensure maximum utilisation of renewable energy .
Jean-Francois Richer , Director Integrated
Operational Services at QMM , said : “ The renewed agreement allows us take advantage of Wärtsilä ’ s competence in power system optimisation and use renewables in the most efficient way , supporting Rio Tinto ’ s decarbonisation objectives and sustainable mining vision .”
Christoffer Ek , Director of Decarbonisation Services at Wärtsilä Energy , said : “ Our decarbonisation agreement is taking energy optimisation to a new level by enabling cost savings , a reduced environmental footprint and higher efficiency . What is more , the partnership is outcome-based with mutual incentives . This is the way forward in making decarbonised operations a viable reality .”
Eramet on the JUWI solar scale
Eramet Grande Côte , a subsidiary of the Francebased multinational mining and metals company Eramet , and South Africa ’ s JUWI Renewable Energies recently reached financial close on a € 30 million ($ 31.5 million ) off-grid solar photovoltaic ( PV ) and battery storage solution for Eramet Grande Côte ’ s mine in Diogo , Senegal .
The 20 MWp solar and 11 MWh battery project will provide clean energy to meet 20 % of the mine ’ s energy needs and reduce carbon emissions by 25,000 t / y .
The off-grid hybrid installation , among the largest in Senegal , will reduce the mine ’ s reliance on heavy fuel oil , improve production stability and align with Eramet ’ s global decarbonisation strategy . The investment also supports the Eramet Group ’ s Science-Based Targets initiative roadmap , which aims for a 40 % reduction in CO 2 emissions by 2035 and carbon neutrality by 2050 .
By leveraging JUWI ’ s expertise in off-grid solar and storage solutions , alongside its engineering capabilities for complex ground conditions , and Eramet Grande Côte and Eramet ’ s commitment to sustainability , the project sets a new benchmark for innovation in the mining sector , JUWI says . It is also Eramet Grande Côte ’ s first off-grid solar and storage project .
Richard Doyle , MD , JUWI Renewable Energies , said most mines in Africa are following a similar strategy to Eramet Grande Côte in terms of initiating and then scaling up their renewable energy capacity .
“ The real issue isn ’ t the availability of renewable generation capacity but the intermittency of renewables like solar and wind ,” he told IM . “ Solar offers about 25 % capacity , wind around 40 % and , combined , they can meet 60-70 % of a mine ’ s needs . To push beyond this , additional over-building and battery storage are required . While 90 % renewable penetration is achievable , higher levels become economically challenging for now .
“ This means most mines will continue using a phased approach , integrating renewables alongside other energy sources to balance cost and security .”
Doyle said decarbonisation isn ’ t the only reason more mining companies in Africa are looking to integrate renewables into their energy mix .
“ In South Africa , for example , the mining sector is targeting approximately 7.5 GW of renewable energy projects , with an estimated investment of over ZAR150 billion ($ 8.3 billion ),” he explained . “ This shift is largely driven by the need for energy security in response to the challenges of an unstable and often unreliable grid .”
He referenced projects with Pan African Resources – a 8.75 MW solar plant for the Fairview Mine and a 9.975 MW solar plant at the Evander Mines – as well as projects by Sibanye- Stillwater , Harmony Gold , Tronox and Gold Fields – to emphasise the point .
Renewable penetration plans
Zenith Energy is targeting an average annual renewable energy percentage of up to approximately 70 % at one of its more recent mine site contracts in Australia .
In July , the company announced it had signed contracts with Lynas Rare Earths Ltd to design , build , own , operate and maintain a hybrid power
The off-grid hybrid power installation will reduce the Diogo mine ’ s reliance on heavy fuel oil , improve production stability and align with Eramet ’ s global decarbonisation strategy
44 International Mining | JANUARY 2025