South Africa's mining industry is undergoing a significant transformation as it embraces decarbonisation to reduce carbon emissions and meet international climate goals. This article examines the strategies and innovations driving this change, including renewable energy integration, electrification of mining equipment, and digital transformation. It also addresses the challenges faced by the sector and the economic, social, and environmental benefits of transitioning to a low-carbon economy. Through collaborative efforts and cutting-edge technologies, South Africa's mining sector is poised to play a crucial role in global sustainability efforts.

The global push for decarbonisation is driven by the urgent need to mitigate climate change and meet international agreements such as the Paris Agreement, which aims to limit global warming to well below two degrees Celsius. The mining industry, as a significant emitter of greenhouse gases, plays a critical role in achieving these targets. Climate-smart mining and recycling strategies offer significant opportunities to meet the demand for metals while helping achieve the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)¹.

The South African Context

In South Africa, mining is a key part of the, providing jobs and contributing significantly to the gross domestic product (GDP). However, it is also one of the largest sources of carbon emissions, primarily due to the heavy reliance on coal and diesel for energy. Decarbonising this sector is essential for South Africa to meet its commitments under the Paris Agreement and ensure long-term sustainability and competitiveness in the global market. The government's Integrated Resource Plan (IRP)² aims to diversify energy sources and reduce reliance on coal, which currently accounts for the majority of the country's energy production. Furthermore, the South African government has developed a Just Energy Transition Implementation Plan to guide the process of that balances economic, social, and environmental considerations to ensure an equitable and sustainable outcome for the mining sector and affected communities.

Moving to a low-carbon economy presents both challenges and opportunities for innovation and growth in the sector³.

Challenges in the Mining Sector

Operational Challenges

South African industry has strong incentives for improving energy efficiency, but barriers such as organisational structure, financial controls, and culture must be addressed for successful implementation⁴. High energy consumption and reliance on fossil fuels are major challenges, exacerbated by the country's ageing infrastructure and the intermittent supply of electricity⁵.

Regulatory Landscape

Mining companies are required to meet stringent environmental regulations, including carbon tax policies and renewable energy mandates. Compliance with these regulations can be costly, but failing to do so can result in significant penalties.

Economic Factors

Implementing decarbonisation technologies requires substantial upfront investment. However, the long-term benefits, such as reduced operational costs, increased energy efficiency, and improved health of mine employees and the broader community, can outweigh these initial costs. Incentives and subsidies from the government can also help mitigate the financial burden. Furthermore, bridging finance, rent-to-own and unit price contracts are available in the market that can unlock the technological advances whilst overcoming the capital hurdle.

Social Factors

A phase-out of coal and higher diversification of power generation, dominated by solar and wind capacity, can partially substitute the decline in coal-related jobs in affected regions for decarbonisation⁷. Social acceptability and community involvement are crucial for the successful implementation of decarbonisation strategies.

Pathways to Decarbonisation

The mining industry in South Africa can reduce greenhouse gas emissions through a combination of energy efficiency, renewable energy integration, carbon capture and storage, electrification of equipment, and digital transformation^{7 8}.

The mining industry can leverage several technologies to reduce carbon emissions:

Renewable energy

Mining companies are increasingly shifting towards renewable energy sources like solar and wind power, geothermal energy solutions and hydropower to power their operations^{9 10 11 12 13}. Some of these initiatives include:

• Implementing efficiency measures such as solar-powered LED lighting systems, solar photovoltaic-powered ice-making and spot cooling, energy regeneration from high-pressure systems, high-efficiency fans and ventilation systems, optimising refrigeration and thermal storage systems, and predictive maintenance to detect and address inefficiencies.
• Controlling ventilation systems, refrigeration systems, and thermal storage systems to improve operational efficiency and load shifting out of peak tariff periods for effective energy management programs in deep South African mines¹⁴.
• High-efficiency fan impellers, ventilation flow control equipment such as ventilation on demand, conversion from pneumatic to hydropower, and detection of worn pump impellers for energy efficiency in South African hard rock mining¹⁵.
• Implementation of a regional energy strategy anchored in hydropower can potentially decarbonise the South African economy without significant economic growth loss¹⁶.

Electrification of mining equipment

Diesel-powered mining vehicles and equipment are gradually being replaced with electric battery or fuel cell-powered alternatives¹⁷. Electric vehicles and machinery are not only cleaner but also more efficient and cost-effective in the long run¹⁸.

Operational efficiency

Improving the energy efficiency of mining processes through measures such as optimising material and water movement, reducing waste, and upgrading equipment can lead to incremental emissions reductions. This is a relatively low-cost decarbonisation lever¹⁹.

Automation and digitalisation

Automating mining operations using technologies such as cell phone networks to automate and remotely control mining equipment can reduce fuel consumption and emissions²⁰.

Carbon capture and storage

While not yet widely implemented, carbon capture and storage technologies can help address hard-to-abate emissions, particularly from coal mining's fugitive methane²¹. Furthermore, integrating mineral carbonation into mining operations can significantly reduce carbon emissions and generate additional revenue streams through the generation and sale of carbon credits²².

Collaboration and Innovation

The mining industry is increasingly working together to develop and share decarbonisation solutions. Partnerships with technology providers, customers, and across the supply chain are crucial^{23 24 25}.

Digital Transformation

Digital technologies (for example, Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI)) can help monitor energy use, optimise processes, and reduce emissions²⁶. Investment in these can play a transformative role by optimising energy use, enabling renewable energy integration, automating equipment electrification²⁷, supporting circular economy initiatives and accelerating the development of innovative emissions-reducing solutions^{28 29 30}.

_{Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash}

The Economic, Social and Environmental Benefits of Decarbonisation

Decarbonisation is technically and economically feasible through clean electrification, energy efficiency, carbon capture, and natural climate solutions, but must occur rapidly across all sectors to avoid the worst climate change impacts³¹. Decarbonisation also offers several economic and environmental benefits.

Economic benefits

Some of the real-world economic benefits that have been reported include:

• Based on an energy audit of 20 large mine cooling systems, widespread implementation of variable speed drives on mine cooling systems can potentially result in 32.2% annual electrical energy savings, annual cost savings of US$6.9 million, and CO2 emissions reduction of 132Mt annually³².
• Using the ISO 50001 energy management standard for a deep-level gold mineshaft led to a final energy reduction of 18.5%. Although below the 20% target, this translated to an approximate saving of R75 million per year (calculated with the 2015/2016 Eskom electricity tariff)³³.
• A variable water flow strategy and real-time energy management tool can achieve an average electrical energy saving of 33.3% in mine cooling systems without negatively affecting cooling requirements³⁴.

Competitive Advantage

Decarbonisation can enhance the competitiveness of South African mining companies in the global market. Companies that adopt sustainable practices are more attractive to investors and customers who increasingly value environmental responsibility³⁵.

Social impact

Decarbonisation presents significant social impact benefits, particularly in addressing social inequality and improving public health outcomes. Renewable energy initiatives linked to decarbonisation efforts can promote social justice by ensuring equitable access to clean energy for marginalised communities³⁶. Additionally, these initiatives can improve public health outcomes by reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, leading to better air quality and fewer respiratory illnesses³⁷. For mine workers specifically, decarbonisation can directly enhance their health and well-being by reducing exposure to harmful pollutants and creating safer working conditions.

Environmental Impact

Beyond the economic advantages, decarbonisation contributes to a cleaner environment, helps mitigate climate change impacts, and supports the sustainable extraction of resources needed for the global energy transition³⁸. This benefits not only mining companies but especially their employees, and the communities and ecosystems around them. Reduced carbon footprints and improved sustainability practices ensure the longevity of mining operations and their social license to operate.

Decarbonisation: human capital and skills required

To drive successful decarbonisation efforts, an organisation needs to prime and merge with the existing ecosystem with a focus on human capital and skills development aspects:

• Leadership and innovation
  • Develop leaders who can articulate and implement a strategic vision for decarbonisation. This includes the ability to create and cultivate an awareness of decarbonisation in the organisation.
  • Cultivate a culture of innovation by encouraging creativity and investing in R&D focused on sustainable practices.
• Systems and processes
  • Undertake studies to identify opportunities for decarbonisation.
  • Implement comprehensive technical training programs and encourage continuous learning needed for energy-efficient and low-carbon technologies.
  • Develop integrated operational systems and leverage data analytics to monitor and optimise energy use reducing carbon emissions.
• Conflict of resources
  • Strike a balance between investing in existing capabilities and developing new ones, tailored to decarbonisation efforts.
  • Manage the transition from traditional mining operations to green mining carefully to maintain stability.
• Development of dynamic capabilities
  • Foster flexibility and responsiveness through adaptive capabilities and agile methodologies.
  • Promote collaboration across functions and build external partnerships to leverage diverse expertise in green technologies and sustainable mining practices.

We understand that embarking on decarbonisation projects in South Africa involves seizing significant opportunities whilst navigating complex challenges. Together, we can create a sustainable future where mining contributes to economic growth without compromising the health of our planet.

Leveraging leading industry expertise and working together with our strategic partner Fraser McGill, The Project Company offers a range of services that are indispensable for successful decarbonisation project execution:

• Project conceptualisation and options analysis
  • Mine design reviews and recommendations for improvements
• Front-end study phases
• Dry stack tailings:
  • Dewatering, transport and stacking technology selection.
    • Tailings facility detail design.
    • Waste licence applications.
  • Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV).
  • Electric mine conversions including the implementation of renewables
• Optimisation and decision-making support
  • Optimisation and technology potential studies.
• Detail design and execution
  • Execution planning incorporating all initiatives.
  • Detail design of all infrastructure and incorporation into mining, infrastructure and shaft designs.
• Operations and stay in business projects
  • Fleet swap and phasing modelling.
• Detailed operational planning
• End of life and mine closure
  • Rehabilitation and repurposing studies.

Decarbonisation offers immense opportunities for growth and sustainability. However, realising this potential requires expertise, innovation, and strategic collaboration.

Get in touch with Morné or Mathapelo if you would like to know more about how to explore decarbonisation for your organisation.