WA Minister for Mines and Petroleum the Hon. Bill Johnston MLA congratulated Gold Road Resources and Gold Fields earlier this month on their renewable energy initiatives, during visits to the Yamarna exploration camp and Gruyere gold project respectively.
Cutting the ribbon at Yamarna exploration camp (L-R) Cosmo Newberry Aboriginal Corporation Project Officer Harvey Murray, WA Minister for Mines the Hon. Bill Johnston MLA, Gold Road Resources MD and CEO Duncan Gibbs, Unlimited Energy Australia Director Torsten Ketelsen and Unlimited Energy Australia CEO George Zombori.
At Yamarna exploration camp (L-R) Unlimited Energy Australia Director Torsten Ketelsen, WA Minister for Mines the Hon. Bill Johnston MLA, Unlimited Energy Australia CEO George Zombori, and Gold Road Resources MD and CEO Duncan Gibbs.
Sod Turn at Gruyere with (L-R) Gold Fields Australia Manager: Energy Operations Support and Technology James Koerting and WA Minister for Mines the Hon. Bill Johnston MLA.
Minister Johnston commended both gold companies for adopting their innovative new technologies.
"Western Australia is leading the way in deploying renewable energy systems in the resources industry, which is further supporting our global reputation as an innovative mining jurisdiction,” he said.
"The McGowan Government is fully supportive of mining companies embracing renewable energy technologies, and is committed to transitioning to a low carbon future," Minister Johnston added.
Yamarna Exploration Camp
The high-tech Solar Energy Hub at Gold Road’s Yamarna exploration camp, 200 km east of Laverton, includes a 187kW solar photovoltaic array and a 408kWh TESVOLT lithium energy storage hub. The solar field will include up to 580 solar panels with 60 cells each.
It is modular and scalable – meaning the complete system can be relocated, repurposed or expanded in the future. The renewable energy solution provides flexibility for Gold Road given the variable and transient nature of exploration.
Gold Road's system will offset around 70% of the camp's diesel consumption and reduce carbon emissions by 211 tonnes annually.
Gruyere Gold Project
Minister Johnston also visited the nearby Gruyere gold project, a 50:50 joint venture between Gold Road and Gold Fields, with the companies recently committed to installing a 4MW gas engine, a 13MW solar farm and a 4.4 MWh battery energy storage system in 2021.
The new hybrid microgrid will increase the mine's power capacity, reduce costs and increase plant output, reducing carbon emissions, enhancing economic growth and creating ample job opportunities.
Gold Road Managing Director and CEO Duncan Gibbs said the Company is proud to be part of this green energy initiative.
“We have long stated our intention to be an ESG leader, and this initiative follows on from the recent commissioning of a solar and battery power solution at our Yamarna exploration facility. The power expansion at Gruyere provides an elegant technical solution that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, decreases costs and enables an increase in plant capacity up to a targeted 10 Mtpa from the current nameplate design of 8.2Mtpa,” he said.
“This will, not only see increased annual cash flow generation for the business, but it will help drive additional unit cost reductions as Gruyere is further defined as a tier one, low cost and long life gold producer,” Mr Gibbs concluded.
Gold Fields Executive Vice President Stuart Mathews said the installation of renewables is part of the total power solution at Gruyere, and reflects Gold Fields’ strategic objective to strengthen energy security, optimise energy costs and reduce their carbon footprint through the adoption of innovative new technologies.
“The success of the recently completed renewable energy projects at our Agnew and Granny Smith mines has given Gold Fields the confidence to ramp up use of these technologies across our global operations,” Mr Mathews explained.
Once completed, the sustainable power expansion at Gruyere will reduce carbon emissions by an estimated 16,000 tCO2-e per annum; save an anticipated 5% power supply unit cost; enhance gas power generation capacity; and enable increased plant throughput up to the target of 10 Mtpa2.