Image: Green Building Africa
Global mining company, Anglo American has set targets to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030, and become completely carbon natural across all operations by 2040.
Anglo American Head of Technology Development, Mining, and Sustainability, Julian Soles, stated that the company’s primary sources of emissions are emitted from coal-fired power stations that power operational energy grids, diesel consumption by heavy mining vehicles, and diluted coalbed methane at its coal mines. Soles stated that the company consumes approximately one-billion liters of diesel every year and that the transition towards green hydrogen as the fuel of the future will be key to achieving carbon neutrality goals.
Soles also stated that the reliability of energy supply is imperative for mines to operate efficiently and that due to the nature of the commodities industry, cost effectiveness is at the forefront of proposed solutions.
“Different mines have different limitations of where we put infrastructure due to geology, and several of them are constantly evolving.” Soles stated, adding, “So that means putting fixed infrastructure in the pit is something we typically try to avoid.”
Anglo American has partnered with French energy giant, Engie, to convert its fleet of heavy-duty mining trucks to hydrogen-powered mines haul trucks, with delivery of the first vehicle in South Africa scheduled for December 2021.
Energy Capital & Power – Africa’s leading energy event organizer – will host the Africa Energy & Mining 2022 Conference & Exhibition, which will be held in Johannesburg on March 29-31.To learn more about the Africa Energy & Mining series and the post-COVID-19 energy and mining landscape in Africa, please visit www.aem2022.com. For sponsorship or exhibition opportunities, please contact [email protected].