Energy consumption standards and costs in South African gold and platinum mines
Date
2009-06-24T12:10:03Z
Authors
Tshisekedi, Jean Rene Ngalamulume
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Abstract
Benchmarking of selected energy use indicators and related best practices definition
are helpful tools in establishing an effective energy reduction and energy efficiency
strategy. The current energy scarcity exposed by electricity supply shortage in South
Africa is an opportunity to assess and determine consumption limits for major
consumers, including the mining sector for which gold and platinum producers are
among the highest consumers. This dissertation develops, using a survey
questionnaire, visits on mine sites and interviews for data collection and analysis, a
range of energy consumption indicators and related costs. These indicators are related
to mining depth, mechanization and production. These are the most energy intensive
parameters for underground mines and influence the growth rate of energy
consumption. A relationship between these parameters and the energy consumption
data constitute the main findings of this work. The acceptable limits and averages of
energy consumption can be used to compare different and specific energy intensive
activities involved in the mining process, costs of mines operating in similar conditions,
to develop energy efficiency improvement plans and saving targets and to forecast mine
unit demand of power in short and mid–term for gold and platinum mines.