Gold Fields has taken a major step towards a greener future with the approval of a landmark $296 million renewable energy project at its St Ives gold mine in Western Australia.
Gold Fields’ solar farm at Gruyere
This project, the largest of its kind in Gold Fields' portfolio, represents a significant commitment to sustainability and positions St Ives as a leader in the responsible production of gold.
Powering up with renewables
Gold Fields workers walk through the solar farm
The St Ives project will be a game-changer, generating a substantial portion of the mine's electricity needs. Here's a breakdown of what this impressive project entails:
Turbines at Gold Fields’ Agnew Gold Mine
Wind Power: 42 MW of clean energy delivered by seven wind turbines.
Solar Power: 35 MW of sunshine harnessed through a massive 60,000 solar panel array.
Dedicated Infrastructure: A dedicated 33kV renewable energy hub substation and a 132kV transmission line will ensure efficient power delivery.
Gold standard sustainability
This project marks a significant shift in approach for Gold Fields. Previously, renewable projects were managed by external partners. Taking ownership of this project demonstrates Gold Fields' dedication to driving sustainability throughout its operations.
Six out of ten Gold Fields mines and projects already utilise renewable energy to some degree, and this commitment is only growing stronger.
Renewable energy use across Gold Fields' operations climbed from 13% in 2022 to 17% in 2023, resulting in a 5% decrease in carbon emissions.
This is a significant step, but Gold Fields isn't stopping there. They are firmly committed to achieving their ambitious 2030 target of reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 30% compared to their 2016 baseline.
The St Ives project alone will contribute significantly to this goal by slashing the mine's emissions by roughly 50% by 2030.
Looking even further ahead, Gold Fields is setting the bar high with a clear commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
More in the pipeline
The St Ives project compliments many other renewables projects from Gold Fields across the globe.
At the Granny Smith mine in Australia, an 11 MW expansion is planned for the existing 8 MW solar plant, nearly doubling its solar power capacity.
In Chile, the Salares Norte mine is set to embrace solar power with a 7.7 MW solar plant that will complement their existing diesel generators. This project is a significant step towards reducing reliance on fossil fuels and follows all required environmental approvals.
Gold Fields is also exploring the feasibility of adding up to six wind turbines to provide 40 MW of power to the South Deep mine in South Africa. This project holds great promise for reducing the mine's environmental footprint, but awaits final environmental approval.
We can’t wait to see the St Ives project up and running, and we congratulate Gold Fields on this major step in building a cleaner, safer, and more efficient future for Australia’s gold industry.