INTELLIGENT BRANDS // Green Technology
Understanding the priorities
of decision-makers in the
energy sector
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component parts of lithium-ion batteries.
But, while this presents opportunity for
miners, this also means capital investment
opportunities in some mines, such as coal,
has become more difficult. There’s also risk
in investing in the latest technologies as
and when they emerge due to the market
changing regularly.
John Lewis, Managing
Director, Aggreko Africa,
talks about a global
survey that the company
conducted to better
understand the priorities
of decision-makers in the
energy sector.
T
he impact of the energy transition
on the mining industry has been
profound. It is one of the most
energy-intensive industries in the world,
accounting for an estimated 6.2% of the
total global energy consumption. It has also
historically been a disproportionately large
contributor to global warming, through
the intensive use of fossil fuels to power
operations. But now there is a spotlight on
the sector, with increased pressure to move
towards renewable energy.
Decarbonising versus cost
Aggreko recently conducted a global
survey to better understand the priorities
of decision-makers in the energy sector. Of
those surveyed, 50% said that cost is their
primary consideration.
Mine operators are therefore facing a
dilemma – how to integrate renewable
energy into power solutions which require
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The Tasiast mine, one of the largest open pit
gold mines in Africa, located in the remote
north western region of Inchiri in Mauritania,
was facing this dilemma. Its off-grid mine
was powered by an inefficient fuel source
and prone to regular breakdowns, incurring
huge maintenance costs.
significant CAPEX investment, when there’s
a backdrop of commodity price volatility
making investment unattractive.
The Syama gold mining complex in southern
Mali was able to balance this well. Aggreko
recently signed a contract with Resolute
and has been able to support its ambitions
to reduce carbon emissions and improve
overall efficiency for the site. Once installed,
Aggreko will operate and maintain a 40 MW
thermal power plant and a 10 MW battery
storage system, with a further 20 MW of
solar power planned in 2023.
To address their immediate issues, Aggreko
offered a solution that was easy to integrate
into their current power mix. Kinross now
has reliable, guaranteed power 24/7 to
ensure its gold production is unaffected by
power issues or further shutdowns. Given
it was a rental solution, it also gave them
the necessary breathing space and time to
review longer term power options for the
remaining life of the mine.
Managing capital and project risk
It’s clear that mining is a sector undergoing
deep transformation as a result of the
energy transition. The use of hybrid power
solutions at mines is only set to increase,
while investment will continue to be driven
by innovation in green technology.
Long term role of mines versus cost
Advances in technology are also driving
change for the mining industry in terms of
the pool of metals and minerals that are
considered to be a worthwhile investment.
The growing popularity of electric vehicles is
leading to an increase in the need for cobalt,
lithium and nickel, which are important
Mining companies are in the unique position
of needing to deploy green energy sources
whilst also being a key component in the
supply chain for new low-carbon technology.
Finding nimble solutions, such as hybrids
or microgrids, provides companies with the
agility needed to respond to the quickly-
evolving energy landscape. n
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