Gold-mining company Gold Fields is implementing a number of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) pro-jects at its South African operations.

The biggest CDM project being carried out by the gold-miner is the methane destruction at its Beatrix mining operation, in the Free State. The capital cost of this project is about R78-million, says Gold Fields senior consultant for occupational environment and hygiene Jan du Plessis.

The Free State goldfields are rich in methane, which is unlocked during the normal course of mining and released into the atmosphere, where it acts as a potent greenhouse gas.

The methane escapes from the Beatrix mining operations in the general mine ventilation air and through a number of geological boreholes. Methane is a flammable gas and can explode if the methane concentration in the ventilation air is at concentration levels of between 5% and 15% and an ignition source is present.

The Beatrix project started in 2006 and should be completed in 2009. The final submission for registration of the project is currently in progress.

The methane-capture project has been approved by the Designated National Authority (DNA) for the CDM in South Africa. The main tasks of the DNA, which falls under the management of the Department of Minerals and Energy, are to assess potential CDM projects to determine whether they will assist South Africa in achieving its sustain- able development goals and to oversee the approval process of potential CDM initiatives.

Gold Fields is also pursuing a number of projects that fall within the energy efficiency CDM methodology and these are in the phases of development and motivation. These pro-jects are located at the company’s different mining operations in South Africa, namely Driefontein, Kloof and the South Deep gold mines.

The primary aim of all the other projects is to improve the energy efficiency of production through the efficient use of resources and the replacement of energy inefficient equipment.

“Gold Fields has a strong sustainable development culture and this forms an integral part of strategy to improve the environment through the better use of resources,” says Du Plessis.

He adds that the gold-miner is in the process of its second carbon footprint calculation and has been successful in the carbon disclosure project submission, being awarded second place in the top 100 JSE-listed companies.

The gold-miner’s Ice project, at the Kloof mine’s three shaft, began in early 2008 and its completion date is dependent on the release of capital, but completion is planned for 2010. The project will cost about R460-million. Currently, the Kloof Ice project description document is being prepared.

He says that the extraction of methane from a gold mine is a first using the CDM pro- cess and the use of ice technology as part of the CDM has also not been done before. Gold Fields plans to roll out these techniques to more operations in the next five years.

Du Plessis concludes by saying that Gold Fields has a number of novel solutions planned to improve its energy efficiency. This includes investigating projects that use turbines in the shafts to generate electricity from potential energy in the water that flows down a mine.

To subscribe to Mining Weekly's print magazine email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or buy now.