Gold Road Resources (ASX: GOR) and Gruyere Mining Company, a member of the Gold Fields Limited group, today reported on power expansion initiatives at the Gruyere gold mine, a 50:50 joint venture between Gold Road and Gold Fields, located approximately 200 kilometres east of Laverton in Western Australia.
HIGHLIGHTS:
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Gruyere JV installation of a renewable energy hybrid microgrid will increase the mine’s power capacity to enable plant throughput up to a targeted 10 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa);
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Phase 1 installation of an additional 4MW gas engine by mid-2021; and
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Phase 2 installation of a 13MW solar farm and 4.4MW battery energy storage system by the end of 2021.
APA Group (APA) have been contracted to install an additional 4MW reciprocating gas-fired engine by mid-2021 (Phase 1) and build, own and operate a 13MWp solar farm and 4.4MW battery energy storage system by the end of 2021 (Phase 2) under the existing Electricity Supply Agreement (ESA) that runs until November 2033. The cost of the Phase 1 and Phase 2 expansion will be amortized over the term of the ESA and is forecast at A$32 million – A$38 million (100% basis). Phase 1 and Phase 2 will increase the installed power capacity at Gruyere to 64MW.
The benefits of the sustainable power expansion at Gruyere include:
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Reduction of carbon emissions by an estimated 16,000 tCO2-e per annum;
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Anticipated 5% power supply unit cost-saving (MWh), at current gas market prices;
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Ameliorating gas power generation capacity constraints, including the derating of gas engine performance at high ambient temperature; and
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Enable increased plant throughput up to the target of 10 Mtpa.
Gold Road Managing Director and CEO, Duncan Gibbs, said: “Gold Road is proud to be part of this green energy initiative. We have long stated our intention to be an ESG leader, and this initiative follows on from the recent commissioning of a solar and battery power solution at our Yamarna exploration facility. The power expansion at Gruyere provides an elegant technical solution that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, decreases costs and enables an increase in plant capacity up to a targeted 10 Mtpa from the current nameplate design of 8.2Mtpa. This will, not only see increased annual cash flow generation for the business, but it will help drive additional unit cost reductions as Gruyere is further defined as a tier one, low cost and long life gold producer.”