Helping OZ Minerals take green initiatives
Source: Golder Associates - www.golder.com.au
26 August 2010
As
countries around the world prepare or implement new legislation on
carbon emission and energy use, Oz Minerals is demonstrating industry
leadership at their Prominent Hill copper mine in South Australia
through identifying potential ‘green’ changes, well before the
Australian government introduces an Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).
Australian legislation is likely to be driven by a market driven carbon
reduction mechanism, which will require all large corporations to report
greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption and production, as well as
publicly disclose corporate level greenhouse gas emissions and energy
information. This process will enable consistent and comparable data to
be available for decision making.
Oz Minerals is taking a forward thinking and proactive approach to
preparing for an ETS through developing effective reporting systems.
As part of Oz Minerals preparations, Golder Associates is helping the
mine conduct an assessment of its current carbon reporting processes and
a detailed energy efficiency review that will ultimately form part of a
continuous improvement programme.
“The analysis involves defining a structured and consistent data set to
meet all requirements for completeness, transparency, accuracy and
comparability, and identifying short, medium and long term opportunities
to deliver energy cost savings, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and
improve resource efficiency,” said Golder’s Principal Environmental
Scientist on the project, Alex Blood.
A team from Golder is working alongside site personnel to develop
methodologies for improvement, including gap analysis of current carbon
reporting structures and processes, developing carbon reporting tools
and standards for contractors, consideration of ‘beyond compliance’
emission reporting requirements, energy action planning, management
practice assessments, and training and knowledge transfer.
The completed assessment will form the basis for a long term Sustainable
Energy Efficiency Programme, which will meet all requirements of the
forthcoming Australian legislation. Early action should also see the
mine avoid some of the additional costs associated with the proposed
ETS.