Minimising Coal Consumption at Kounrad
At Kounrad, the Scope 1 emissions predominantly reflect an essential part of the plant’s process, which requires the heating of leaching and copper-bearing solutions in winter with coal-fired boilers to prevent freezing.
As part of CAML’s strategy to reduce emissions wherever possible across the business, this has been an area of focus.
Alternative Fuel Sources
The only option that would generate a significant reduction in greenhouse-gas (‘GHG’) emissions is natural gas, which is significantly more expensive from an operating cost perspective, and capital cost requirements to install pipelines would certainly be prohibitive. This resulted in a focus on achieving energy efficiencies as a way of reducing emissions.
In December 2021, Kounrad installed temperature sensors on the dripper lines on the winter blocks at the Western Dumps. The sensors allow the site team to monitor the temperature of the leachate solution at the end of the dripper lines and fuel the boilers accordingly, to ensure the solution is kept at the optimum temperature and not heated unnecessarily. The results from the 2021-22 winter period were positive and showed a decrease in coal consumption of 15% compared with 2021, which is attributed to the newly installed temperature sensors and a milder winter. During December 2022, Kounrad installed additional sensors on the Western Dumps.Throughout 2021 and 2022, Kounrad undertook an assessment to evaluate the possibility of using an alternative fuel source to coal to heat the leaching solution. The following alternative fuel sources were considered: wood pellets, electrical power, natural gas, diesel fuel, fuel oil and a solar water heating system. The assessment analysed the amount of CO2 (t) produced by each fuel source, the installed heating capacity, and the financial costs and project economics involved.
Improving Efficiency
The assessment showed only marginal annual decreases in CO2 for five of the six alternative fuel sources compared with coal, with electrical power emitting 107% more, owing to the fact that grid power locally is generated from coal-fired power stations.
UN SDG
By producing the metals which play a key role in transmitting renewable power, and therefore contribute positively to the energy transition, we aim to play our part to global decarbonisation. Improving energy efficiency is a key focus of the Company.
We recognise our responsibility, as a contributor of greenhouse gas emissions, to identify and implement programmes to minimise energy usage and increase use of renewable energy where possible, as well as to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change throughout the value chain.