JOHANNESBURG (miningweeky.com) – Gold mining company AngloGold Ashanti on Wednesday released a carbon emissions reduction target that aims to achieve a 30% absolute reduction in its Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030 through a combination of renewable energy projects, fleet electrification and lower-emission power sources.

The Johannesburg- and New York-listed company, which has reduced its absolute GHG emissions by more than two-thirds since 2007, is committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

The targeted reduction, from a 2021 baseline of 1.4-million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, aims to see emissions from the company’s activities diminish to about one-million tonnes by the end of the decade.

When growth projects are factored in, including those in Nevada and Colombia, AngloGold Ashanti is targeting a 46% reduction in emissions by the end of the decade.

Scope 1 covers emissions from within the mine site, while Scope 2 covers indirect emissions from the purchase of electricity from third-party providers.

The capital cost required to achieve these reductions over the coming eight years is anticipated to be about $1.1-billion, of which $350-million will be funded over that period by AngloGold and the remaining $750-million through third-party funding, including from providers of renewable energy infrastructure. The company plans in the coming weeks to initiate a process to secure a green funding facility of $250-million to $300-million to finance its portion of these decarbonisation initiatives across its business.

“We have a clear pathway to achieve our target by 2030, when we expect to have lowered our overall emissions by almost a third,” said AngloGold CEO Alberto Calderon in a release to Mining Weekly.

“This ensures we continue to do our part in reducing our carbon footprint, while also improving the value of our business,” Calderon added.

REDUCTIONS FROM ALL BUSINESS UNITS

The targeted reductions incorporate initiatives at each business unit including the introduction of renewable energy, cleaner grid power and partial fleet electrification.

Approximately 60% of the planned emissions reductions will come from large renewable energy projects including wind and solar projects at the company’s Australian operations and solar-power plants at both Siguiri in Guinea and the Iduapriem and Obuasi operations in Ghana.

In addition, a prefeasibility study has commenced at the Cuiaba mine in Brazil to confirm the benefits of replacing some mobile fleet with battery electric vehicles (BEVs).

AngloGold will also be working with Sandvik to trial underground mining’s largest-capacity BEV truck at Sunrise Dam.

The viability of a wind farm at Cerro Vanguardia in Argentina is also being investigated. The vast majority of these projects are expected to be net present value-positive adding value to its business by reducing energy costs and improving energy security. 

Two ‘clean grid’ initiatives are already close to completion – a switch from diesel generation at the Geita mine site in Tanzania to the country’s national power grid, which has a high proportion of power sourced from gas and renewables, and the transition to full hydro-grid power in Brazil.

DECARBONISATION STARTED IN 2008

AngloGold’s decarbonisation journey started in 2008 when the company set a long-term target to reduce emissions intensity by 30% from its 2007 base. By 2021 it had achieved a 47% reduction in emissions intensity, through some fuel switching and efficiency improvements but also owing to the closure and divestment of assets. 

Last year AngloGold Ashanti’s board approved a new climate change strategy and the company published its inaugural Climate Change Report in line with the guidelines and recommendation of the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures.

The company’s 2030 targets are embedded in a Roadmap to Net Zero which focuses on all sources of energy-related emissions, both at the company’s mine sites and from its electric power providers.

As an ICMM member AngloGold was part of a landmark climate change commitment in 2021 to achieve net zero Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions by 2050 and to accelerate action on Scope 3 emissions, including setting credible targets in partnership with its suppliers.