RESOLUTE Mining planned to cut energy costs at its Syama mine in Mali by up to 40% once it had built a new power plant that would integrate solar, battery and thermal energy sources, the company said today.
The project will be implemented in stages with the first stage due for completion by the end of 2020, the company said.
The second stage includes a new 20MW solar array which will be built on the site of Syama’s decommissioned tailings storage facilities. The new plant will be funded and operated by Aggreko, a London-listed energy provider.
“The new Syama hybrid power solution will lower our power costs at Syama by approximately 40% while significantly reducing our carbon emissions,” said John Welborn, CEO of Resolute Mining. “Having worked together for several years, we know Aggreko is the right partner to support us as we integrate renewable energy into our Syama operation,” he said.
Resolute said on October 31 that all-in sustaining costs (AISC) at Syama would be higher than previously guided for the firm’s 2019 financial year owing to downtime at the mine.
The AISC number is now put at $1,020 per ounce compared to a previous estimate of $960/oz as a consequence of a crack in the mine’s sulphide circuit requiring repairs. The Syama team has embarked on a full maintenance check of processing equipment.
In addition to Syama, Resolute mines gold at Ravenswood in Australia as well as at the Mako Gold Mine in Senegal. Total output for the third quarter came in at 103,201 ounces establishing the company as a 400,000 oz/year producer.
