Energy efficiency in the South African mining sector: A Mpumalanga coal mine case study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17159/Abstract
Energy efficiency is embraced as a cost-effective way of both bolstering energy security and limiting the harmful effects of energy use on the environment. Mining is an inherently energy intensive activity, and the 2008 revision of South Africa’s National Energy Efficiency Strategy (NEES) set a target of a 10% reduction in energy consumption by 2015 for the mining sector. In this study, we investigate the effectiveness of the NEES in improving energy efficiency in the South African coal mining sector by surveying energy intensity at a number of operations, and analysing energy efficiency trends and energy use by process and energy carrier at an underground coal mine in Mpumalanga. Most mines surveyed exhibit an increase in energy intensity over time. At the case study mine, the increased energy intensity was primarily due to increased energy use by the beneficiation and discard reclaiming processes. Trends in energy consumption are a poor reflection of trends in energy intensity, as a decline in energy consumption is most easily achieved by a drop in production. A more appropriate metric for energy efficiency at coal mines is energy intensity, defined as energy use per unit of saleable product, relative to a multi-year baseline. The evidence suggests that the NEES has been ineffective in promoting energy efficiency in South African coal mines. We propose that greater success could be achieved by monitoring and reporting on energy intensity at the process level, and by incentivizing energy efficiency gains.Downloads
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Copyright (c) 2024 Kristy Langerman, Cebisile Majola
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