As
the July 18 date for the live webinar conference, entitled: Gridlocked – How can mining
companies reduce their reliance on grid power, draws near,
key voices are already highlighting issues and perspectives defining the mining
sector.
Ms Cornish who is expected to be the chief moderator says “New mining operations in Africa are being discovered in the most remote and isolated regions on the continent where grid power is unavailable – making power one of the biggest constraints to delivering and maintaining sustainable operations in these areas”, says Laura Cornish, Editor-in-Chief of the leading trade journal and digital platform Mining Review Africa. She adds: “with the cost of diesel generator fuel steadily increasing, renewable energy alternatives are becoming increasingly attractive as costs continue to reduce.”
In
a release by Annemarie Roodbol and made available to OpenLife, the Mining Review Africa Editor-in-Chief
explains: “the mining industry now finds itself in a position where it has to
consider cost-effective, environment-friendly solutions that ensure not only
the sustainability of its operations, but improves the mines’ social licence to
operate, especially through community infrastructure upliftment, during
operations and post.”
The industry is already showing signs of embracing this technology and
overcoming challenges to make it work she adds: “a good example is B2Gold’s
Otjikoto mine in Namibia successfully delivering a solar power plant and
Resolute Mining looking to deliver similar success at its Syama project in
Mali.”
Meanwhile, The African Development Bank’s Chief Regional Power Systems Officer,
Anders Cajus Pedersen has already confirmed his participation in the live
expert broadcast, during which the public can engage with the expert panel
and ask questions. The webinar is a co-production between the leading mining
and energy trade journals and portals, Mining Review Africa and ESI Africa.
“The electricity supply industry must take action to unlock the grid” says
Nicolette Pombo-van Zyl, Editor of ESI Africa, the leading energy trade
journal and news portal in Africa. She continues: ”The way forward is to
provide decentralised power generation using the localised available resources
and technology along with addressing innovative utility business models.”
Pombo-van Zyl will join Cornish as co-moderator in the webinar on 18 July.
“Our traditional large-scale power plant models and long-distance transmission
and distribution networks are unfortunately ineffectual in reaching remote
areas where many of the energy-intensive mining operations are located.”
Some of
the topics that will be covered during the live webinar include:
Drawing a comparison – which power option makes the most financial sense?
How can renewable energy be effectively and feasibly incorporated into mining operations?
What are the challenges around renewable energy in mining and how to overcome those
The financial benefits associated with using renewable energy sources to power your mine
The benefits off-grid renewable energy solutions offer remote villages and communities – and this contribution to an improved social licence to operate
Case studies – a closer look at those mining companies who are or have incorporated renewable energy solutions successfully into their operations
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