The economics of renewables and emerging funding support for these technologies is something the resource sector should benefit from, says Tsakani Mthombeni, Group Head of Carbon and Energy for Gold Fields.
“In 2015, the data suggested a marked reduction in cost for certain renewable energy technologies as well as increasing funding for these renewables,” he notes. “This is something mining companies could and are taking advantage of.”
Energy and Mines spoke with Mthombeni about Gold Fields’ energy strategy, the South Deep PV project and the next steps for evaluating renewables options for new and existing sites, including the Salares Norte project in northern Chile. Energy costs for the gold leader accounted for US$311 million in 2015 or 22% of operating costs.