MANAGEMENT

Solar hybrid plant for Barrick's Loulo

As part of its cost-reduction programme and drive to manage its carbon footprint, Barrick Gold's Loulo gold mine in western Mali is to install a 24MW off-grid solar hybrid plant

The 24MW off-grid solar plant has the potential of saving 10 million litres of fuel a year while reducing Loulo’s carbon emissions by 42,000t/y

The 24MW off-grid solar plant has the potential of saving 10 million litres of fuel a year while reducing Loulo’s carbon emissions by 42,000t/y

The plant will support its existing 63MW thermal power station by harnessing Mali's abundant solar resource.

Barrick Gold stated that this renewable energy project is part of its strategy of moving away from thermal power in Africa, where lack of infrastructure means that many mines need to rely on self-generated diesel energy, making this their largest cost item.

The company has already cut its energy costs significantly by utilising hydropower in the Democratic Republic of Congo, grid power in Côte d'Ivoire and heavy-fuel baseload generators in Mali. Continuing roll-out of renewable energy sources will ensure that its future needs are met in the most cost-efficient and environmentally friendly manner.

The solar feasibility study forecasts that the photovoltaic plant will replace 50,000MWh/y of thermal generation, saving 10 million litres of fuel per year and reducing CO2 emissions by 42,000t over the same period. The introduction of the solar component will cut the complex's energy cost by around US$0.02/kWh.

Construction of the project - which meets Barrick's investment criteria of 20% internal rate of return (IRR) - will start later this year, and it is scheduled for commissioning in late 2020. The plant will use the latest weather prediction models, which will enable the power management system to switch between thermal and solar without compromising the micro-grid.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Magazine Intelligence team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Magazine Intelligence team.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Exploration Report 2024 (feat. Opaxe data)

A comprehensive review of exploration trends and technologies, highlighting the best intercepts and discoveries and the latest initial resource estimates.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Future Fleets Report 2024

The report paints a picture of the equipment landscape and includes detailed profiles of mines that are employing these fleets

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Digitalisation Report 2023

An in-depth review of operations that use digitalisation technology to drive improvements across all areas of mining production

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Automation Report 2023

An in-depth review of operations using autonomous solutions in every region and sector, including analysis of the factors driving investment decisions