Enabling progressive energy management practice in minerals operations

CIM Journal, Vol. 3, No. 3, 2012

D. L. Millar and M. Levesque Bharti School of Engineering, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON G. Lyle and K. Bullock Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation, Sudbury, ON

The options for reducing the carbon footprint of energy use in mining fall into three categories of activity: i) reducing demand, ii) improving energy utilization, and iii) adopting low carbon energy technologies. In addition to the environmental imperative, the economic case for these activities gains higher priority as the prices of electricity, gas, and liquid fuels increase. Low-carbon, energy-saving technology options that are available to mining industry companies lead to projects with return rates that must compete alongside other capital-intensive projects considered by mining company boards. Energy projects frequently involve longer payback periods and lower rates of return than those of competing bids for capital, such as new mineral property developments. For energy services companies that specialize in the financing, construction, efficient operation, and maintenance of energy projects, the same returns and payback periods can be considered acceptable or even attractive.