AngloGold Ashanti installing 62MW of clean energy at Tropicana gold mine

Mining giant AngloGold Ashanti is making progress with the installation of 62 megawatts of wind, solar and energy storage technology at the Tropicana gold mine in a bid to achieve net-zero carbon emissions. A 24MW wind, 24MW solar and 14MW battery storage system will be delivered by Pacific Energy at the mine 330km north-east of Kalgoorlie-Boulder. AngloGold Ashanti energy and decarbonisation manager Vicky Scobie provided an update on the company’s renewable energy project at last week’s What’s Down The Track Forum & Exhibition. Ms Scobie said the project was on track for completion by the first quarter of next year, with the site’s 44,000-panel solar farm now complete. “Earlier in November during our shutdown, Pacific Energy successfully achieved hydrocarbons off under low-load conditions,” she said. “This means that we were producing 100 per cent carbon-free power for that low load. “We’re really looking forward to being able to enjoy more periods of hydrocarbons off once our wind turbines are commissioned and those conditions are favourable.” Ms Scobie said two of the four wind turbines had been installed. She said the energy project was part of AngloGold Ashanti’s strategy to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. The Tropicana gold mine is owned by AngloGold Ashanti (70 per cent) and Regis Resources (30 per cent).