In the journey towards decarbonisation, the South African mining sector is taking its first steps toward renewable self-generation; what will need to follow is a more systematic and integrated approach that addresses the whole mining supply chain.
This was one of the messages from Professor Michael Solomon, in a webinar for the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM) on ‘Decarbonizing the Mining Sector by 2040’. Professor Solomon is the chair of the SAIMM’s Environmental, Social, Governance and Sustainability (ESGS) committee, and an adjunct professor at the University of Cape Town.
“Decarbonisation is often simplistically interpreted as being about renewable energy and the use of fossil fuels,” he said, “but it is far more complex than that.”
He noted that many of the mines’ renewable energy projects were driven by sheer economics, given the rising cost of grid electricity. Ashleigh Maritz, principal environmental scientist at SRK Consulting, was in the webinar and concurred that mines need to look holistically at their operations and value chains.
“There are many opportunities within the mining value chain, including partnering with suppliers, to build a more far-reaching decarbonisation strategy,” said Maritz. “The hydrogen economy is also likely to play an important role.”
