| Abstract |
Mines are heavy energy consumers and energy costs are can be significantly high for remote mines located far from the grid, due to considerable spending on fuel and fuel transportation. The mining industry is also increasingly aware of the need to shift towards cleaner energy sources in order to reduce its environmental impact. As a reliable source, capable of delivering very high availability factors, geothermal is an important, though often overlooked, energy option for the mining industry. For mines that are located in areas of high geothermal potential, geothermal energy can provide for parts of a mining operation’s electrical power needs. Geothermal fluids are utilized in a variety of ways during the operational life cycle of a mine. In the production stage, hot fluids are used directly in applications such as raffinate heating in copper production and enhanced heap leaching for the extraction of gold and silver. Underground mines in areas of high geothermal potential must deal with higher ventilation loads; these can be partially provided for by in-situ geothermal power generation. Geothermal fluids can also provide energy for space heating, typically a substantial load for northern mines. In the closure and post-closure phases of a project, hot water irrigation can enhance reclamation rates, while an operating power plant that is turned over to the local community results in jobs creation, and can support community development through projects such as geothermal district heating. In addition, geothermal energy helps reduce a mine’s environmental impact and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and improves its reputation within local communities, while “greening” its portfolio and contributing to sustainable development and the process of acquiring and retaining a social license to operate. The main factors affecting the successful integration of a geothermal energy in a mining development are: the presence of a proven, accessible, and extractable resource; the relative price of alternate energy options; the distance from/to the grid; the potential for coproduction and/or minerals extraction; and the availability of communities and other industries in the vicinity of the mine. This paper outlines the synergies between mining and geothermal energy, and explores the ways in which geothermal energy can contribute to the development and operation of a mine. |