Johannesburg – Platinum group metals (PGMs) and chrome mining giant, Tharisa announced that it is committed to reduce its carbon emissions by 30% by 2030 and to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
The impact of climate change has become a hot topic in the mining industry over recent years and the industry is facing pressure from governments, investors, and society to reduce emissions.
Tharisa whose operations are largely domiciled in South Africa and also have operations in Zimbabwe through Karo Holdings and Salene Chrome Zimbabwe said it has been reviewing its operations with respect to establishing a corporate plan to reduce its carbon emissions while continuing to grow its operations in producing metals that are needed to affect the energy transition away from fossil fuels and deliver the decarbonisation of economies.
The Group aims to generate and utilise renewable electricity and to reduce the use of electricity produced from fossil fuels and enable electricity grid power purchases to be optimised.
It will also look to reduce the carbon intensity of fuels used in its truck fleet as vehicles come to be replaced, taking advantage of advances in alternative fuels, including hydrogen and battery-electric drivetrains.
“At Tharisa, we view safety as a core value. The footprint we leave on the broader stakeholder environment is equally as important to us,” CEO Phoevos Pouroulis said in a statement.
“As an industry, we must focus on the management and mitigation of mining activities, which by their very nature have an impact on the environment and local communities and we strive to balance this with the positive impact we are generating for stakeholders and our community by developing our business sustainably and responsibly.”
Under the 2015 Paris Agreement, 195 countries pledged to limit global warming to well below 2.0°C, and ideally not more than 1.5°C above preindustrial levels.
Current emission-reduction targets published by mining companies range from 0 to 30 percent by 2030, far below the Paris Agreement goals.
Mines theoretically can fully decarbonise (excluding fugitive methane) through operational efficiency, electrification, and renewable-energy use.
Capital investments are required to achieve most of the decarbonisation potential, but certain measures, such as the adoption of renewables, electrification, and operational efficiency, are economical today for many mines.
Equity Axis News
