Miners increasingly looking to renewable energy sources to drive operational savings

4th September 2015 By: Creamer Media Reporter

TORONTO (miningweekly.com) – Current pressures on the mining sector are driving increased interest in the cost savings and power security advantages that renewables could provide mining operations.

To this end, a record number of mining leaders will meet with renewable energy and finance experts to network and share knowledge at the third yearly Energy and Mines Toronto Summit on October 22 and 23.

With 50-plus mining participants currently confirmed, the summit was expected to see a record turnout of senior mining operators from major and junior mining operations who were looking to understand the cost, practicalities and finance solutions for integrating renewable energy into their power supply, organiser Energy and Mines said in a statement.

Many mining attendees were currently evaluating power options for new operations and were interested to know whether renewables could assist with diesel abatement.

“I am looking forward to hearing about new technological advances being made in the field of energy storage [at this year's event], so that renewables can provide a continuous flow of energy in the future, rather than an intermittent supply depending on when the sun shines or wind blows,” noted Iamgold president and CEO Stephen Letwin, one of the speakers at the summit.

CEO of U3O8 Corp Richard Spencer, who was also participating as a speaker at the conference, was currently exploring renewable power options for the mining company’s Laguna Salada site, a uranium-vanadium deposit in Patagonia, Argentina.

“The summit will be an interesting and productive opportunity to hear how other delegates approach and evaluate energy alternatives in their future projects,” he added.

The agenda for the Energy and Mines Toronto Summit involved 25 senior mining executives sharing their energy strategies, including representatives from Anglo American, AngloGold Ashanti, Avalon Rare Metals, Barrick Gold, Glencore, Hudbay Minerals, Iamgold, Kinross Gold, Kirkland Lake Gold, Lake Shore Gold, MGX Minerals, Rio Tinto, Roxgold, Rubicon Metals, Stornoway Diamond, Teck, TMAC Resources, U3O8 Corp and Western Copper & Gold.

Along with the latest case studies of renewable energy projects for mining operators, the event would focus on critical topics for mines and renewables attendees, incorporating financing solutions and building energy partnerships with key stakeholders, including First Nations communities reliant on diesel.