Tag Archives: South32

South32 powers up Cannington solar PV farm

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The new 7,200-panel solar farm at South32’s Cannington silver-lead mine in northwest Queensland, Australia, is up and running, the mining company confirmed.

The 6 ha, 3 MW installation is the company’s first solar installation and will help to deliver reduced greenhouse gas emissions by offsetting gas consumption with solar. Construction commenced in May.

“Electricity generated from the farm will be used to supply the operation’s accommodation village and airport with surplus power used to support mining and processing operations,” South32 said.

The project – which contributes to the objectives of the company’s Climate Change Strategy – is the second largest solar installation in a remote, off-grid mining operation in Australia and the first to be integrated into a gas-fired power station, according to the company.

Earlier this year, EDL Energy signed a 14-year extension of its contract to supply electricity for Cannington, which included partnering with SunSHIFT, a wholly-owned subsidiary of engineering and construction firm Laing O’Rourke, to ‘hybridise’ the existing 34 MW gas plant at the site, with this 3 MW solar photovoltaic installation.

It is anticipated the new solar farm will prevent between 4,000-6,000 t/y of greenhouse gas emissions.

Rob Jackson, Vice President Operations at Cannington, said the operation was committed to identifying energy efficiency initiatives. “Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is a big part of that so I’m delighted that our Cannington operation’s solar installation is leading the way,” he said.

The cost to install and operate the solar farm will be offset by lower fuel costs, according to South32. This makes it an economically viable solution for the operation.

De.mem to clean up at South32’s Cannington silver-lead mine

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Water and waste water treatment company De.mem has unveiled A$350,000 ($252,364) in new orders from municipal and resource sector customers, including one from South32’s Cannington silver-lead operation in Queensland, Australia.

The sale to South32 is for a membrane-based water treatment system supplied by the company’s wholly-owned Akwa-Worx subsidiary.

Akwa-Worx designs, builds and delivers a wide range of water and waste water treatment systems that make use of modern membrane technologies. Depending on the contaminants to be removed, and the product water quality desired, these systems may use ultrafiltration, nanofiltration or reverse osmosis membranes, plus there is also a membrane bioreactor option.

Cannington has been in production for 20 years and now produces 7% of the world’s lead and 6% of the world’s silver, according to the company.

Mastermyne back on the road at South32’s Illawarra coal complex

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Australia and coal focused Mastermyne Group has been given the nod by South32 to restart roadway development services at the Illawarra coal complex in New South Wales.

The contract, initially awarded back in August 2017, is expected to deliver annual revenues of some $18 million, according to Mastermyne.

South32 requested roadway development be stopped in line with the temporary closure of the Appin mine, part of the Illawarra complex, last year.

Mastermyne said the additional revenue generated through this contract secures the upper end of the 2019 financial year (to end-June 2019) guidance range of A$230-250 million ($165-179 million).

Mastermyne CEO Tony Caruso said: “We are very pleased to have recommenced work on this project and further extend out working relationship with South32’s Illawarra metallurgical coal operations.”

The company already has a contract in place with South32 for the provision of services at the Appin mine. This is primarily process works and supplementary labour in the Appin longwall area.