Solar Grids a Means for African Mining to Combat Climate Change?

With mining companies under growing pressure, pointedly from shareholders, to clean up their environmental act - including reducing their carbon footprint - the installation of a solar microgrid at global mining house Gold Fields' Granny Smith gold mine in Australia is a means to reduce fuel consumption, and may be a precursor for a similar setup for the firm's South African operation. Zimbabwe is eyeing making similar strides after Canadian mining operator Caledonia Mining Corporation raised U.S.$13 million for the installation of a solar power plant for Blanket Mine in Matabeleland. The project is part of a strategy to beat power cuts that have dogged the industry for the past two years and an effort to tap into green and-cost effective energy.

InFocus

solar power, solar panels, alternative energy.

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