POWER

Polyus switches to 90% renewables

Russian gold producer Polyus has connected its largest mines, Olimpiada and Blagodatnoye, to hydropower, enabling the company to report that 90% of its entire production facilities are powered by renewables.

 secures 1 billion kWh from the Sayano-Shushenskaya hydropower plant in 2021.

secures 1 billion kWh from the Sayano-Shushenskaya hydropower plant in 2021.

The hydropower deal, reached between utility RusHydro and Polyus' Krasnoyarsk Business Unit (KBU), secures 1 billion kWh from the Sayano-Shushenskaya hydropower plant in 2021.

KBU said the power arrangement for the company's largest producing assets will reduce its emissions in 2021 by almost a half compared to the previous year, and company-wide emissions by a third.

"This deal marks the transition of Polyus' core business unit to renewable energy sources and represents a landmark event for our company," said chiefe executive Pavel Grachev.  "Climate change is a global challenge, and it is important that as a responsible business we support the decarbonization of the global economy."

While the agreement only covers the period until December 31, 2021, Polyus said there is the possibility of an extension.

Last year, Polyus completed a hydropower-led power grid project for its Natalka project in Magadan in Russia's Far East, which ensures that 90% of the mine's electricity demand is met by renewable energy sources.

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 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

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Exploration Report 2023 (feat. Opaxe data)

A comprehensive review of current exploration rates, trending exploration technologies, a ranking of top drill intercepts and a catalog of 2022 Initial Resource Estimates and recent discovery successes.