Resolute’s Syama Gold Mine in Mali, the world’s first purpose-built, fully automated, sub-level cave gold mine, will develop a new hybrid modular power station.
The new power plant, to be developed with partner Aggreko plc, will be a combination of solar, battery, and thermal generation technologies. It will replace the mine’s 28 MW diesel-based power station, which supplies energy at the cost of USD$0.20/kWh to USD$0.24/kWh.
“We are delighted to be partnering with Aggreko in delivering a lower cost and more environmentally friendly power solution for our Syama Goldmine,” said managing director and CEO, Mr. John Welborn. “The new Syama hybrid power solution will lower our power costs at Syama by approximately 40% while significantly reducing our carbon emissions.”
The hybrid project will be delivered on a phased basis with work commencing in the current quarter. Stage I of the new plant, comprising three new thermal energy Wärtsilä Modular Block generators, each of 10 MW, and a battery storage system, also of 10 MW, will complete in 2020.
Stage II will consist of a 20 MW solar power system with its solar array to be constructed on the surface of a decommissioned Tailings Storage Facility. This stage will include an additional 10 MW modular block. This stage is expected to complete at the latest by 2023.
The new solution will deliver scalable, cost-effective, environmentally friendly, capital-efficient power that can deliver long-term electricity cost savings, the company said.
Read the Company Announcement HERE.
Image Source: Resolute Mining Website