THE RISING COST OF ENERGY FOR MINING

THE RISING COST OF ENERGY FOR MINING

By: Craig Baker, Head of Power Projects Sales, Aggreko, Africa, Middle East, and Asia Mining operations require significant amounts of energy to power equipment, ventilation, processing, and other systems. Energy can account for 10-40% of operating costs for mines. With volatile fossil fuel prices and climbing electricity rates, energy costs have become a major pain point for industry.   According to BDO’s 2022 Benchmarker survey, energy represented 28% of cash costs for miners in 2021,…

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TRADITIONAL APPROACHES TO ENERGY RESILIENCE

TRADITIONAL APPROACHES TO ENERGY RESILIENCE

By: Luca Ceschinelli, Project Development Manager at Aggreko Africa, Middle East, and Asia The mining industry has historically relied on two primary energy sources to power operations – onsite diesel generators and grid electricity. While these traditional approaches provide a baseline of energy, they come with drawbacks with proven limits in resilience and environmental sustainability. Onsite Diesel Generators Diesel generators have been a staple of mining operations for decades. They offer the benefit of being…

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The Promise of Renewables

The Promise of Renewables

By: Aggreko, Africa, Middle East and Asia   The dramatic declines in costs for renewable energy sources like solar and wind over the past decade have made them competitive alternatives for mining operations seeking to lower energy costs and increase sustainability.   According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the global weighted average levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for solar PV declined by 85% between 2010 and 2019. Onshore and offshore wind have seen LCOE…

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CREATING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR OIL AND GAS

CREATING A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FOR OIL AND GAS

By Hesham El Shamy, Oil & Gas Sector Lead at Aggreko AMEA There are formidable challenges faced by the oil and gas industry across Africa, the Middle East and Asia (AMEA) regions, but perhaps the most pressing is the need for environmentally sustainable power solutions. Currently, flaring is posing a significant threat to the sector across both its environmental impact and the cost to the company. Around 139 billion cubic metres (bcm) of natural gas are flared…

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FLARE-TO-POWER: DEBUNKING COMMON MYTHS ABOUT THE WORLD’S MOST MISUNDERSTOOD ENERGY SOLUTION

FLARE-TO-POWER: DEBUNKING COMMON MYTHS ABOUT THE WORLD’S MOST MISUNDERSTOOD ENERGY SOLUTION

Today, flare-to-power solutions are garnering more and more attention as an innovative new method for tackling the environmental and economic hurdles tied to flaring within the oil and gas sector. These solutions have the potential to transform wasted gas into a valuable source of energy while mitigating the harmful effects of flaring. But like any emerging technology that’s often misunderstood, there are myths and misconceptions surrounding flare-to-power solutions that need to be debunked. In this…

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THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF LOADSHEDDING ON THE MINING SECTOR

THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF LOADSHEDDING ON THE MINING SECTOR

By: Max Schiff – Africa Sales Manager, Aggreko Loadshedding has had a significant impact on the South African mining sector. The PwC report ‘SA Mine 2022’ painted a picture of intense economic and structural complexity which was offset by a remarkable overall performance by the sector despite the challenges. More hours in the dark than with power has meant that the sector has had to put extreme alternative power measures in place but, as the problem with…

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AGGREKO RELEASE: POWERING OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION THROUGH THE ENERGY TRANSITION: A FOUR-STEP GUIDE

AGGREKO RELEASE: POWERING OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION THROUGH THE ENERGY TRANSITION: A FOUR-STEP GUIDE

By Craig Baker, Head of Power Projects Sales, Asia & Middle East, Aggreko   The energy transition can be a source of angst for oil and gas producers, but it doesn’t have to be a cause for concern – at least not in every context. In fact, when it comes to powering oil and gas production assets  which are typically reliant on diesel power generation;  developments driven by the transition can be a boon to the…

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Shifting energy gears in manufacturing

Shifting energy gears in manufacturing

Sibongile Thobakgale, area sales manager for South Africa at Aggreko Africa   Manufacturing is an inherently energy-intensive sector. According to the EIA, 35% of energy consumption in the US is attributed to the industrial sector of which 81% is used by manufacturing. In South Africa, the industry is equally the primary user of power at 52% of the total electricity consumption, and McKinsey points out that the continent as a whole has to redefine its energy consumption profile and…

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The energy transition – what future skills will be required to make it a reality?

The energy transition – what future skills will be required to make it a reality?

Fatou Diagne, Head of HR at Aggreko Africa Organisations that are prioritising transitioning to more environmentally friendly energy solutions will require a well-defined strategy, which requires an in-depth understanding of what future needs will arise. This then needs to be translated into a skills matrix based on new emerging technologies. According to Fatou Diagne, Head of HR at Aggreko Africa, this will require everyone from sales to the technical and engineering teams to understand those…

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Aggreko Release: The role of gas as an enabler of the energy transition

Aggreko Release: The role of gas as an enabler of the energy transition

The threat of climate change has been firmly in the spotlight, with several discussions and commitments at the recent UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland. The importance of gas as an enabler of the energy transition in Africa is again being highlighted. According to the US Energy Information Administration, natural gas emits almost half the carbon dioxide of coal, making it a viable way to transition to a lower carbon impact. Kweku Frempong, Area General…

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The more Africa innovates, the closer the world gets to net zero

The more Africa innovates, the closer the world gets to net zero

By: John Lewis, Managing Director, Aggreko Africa The climate crisis is an unavoidable reality. For every company, individual and government, changing the shape of this crisis has become, or should become a priority. It needs to be central to every conversation, expansion plan, and strategy because remaining aligned with the status quo is not an option. Simply looking at the problems is not either. The only option is to look at solutions, at how the…

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Building Long Term Power Partnerships

Building Long Term Power Partnerships

By: Sibongile Thobakgale, Area Sales Manager for South Africa at Aggreko Consistent and reliable power is the cornerstone of any economy. Yet, according to the African Development Bank Group, more than 30 African countries are currently experiencing power shortages and regular interruptions due to a variety of reasons, including natural causes, such as droughts, oil price shocks, system disruptions caused by conflict and high growth with low investment or structural issues. These interruptions are costly and…

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HYBRID ENERGY: THE ROAD TO CARBON NEUTRALITY

HYBRID ENERGY: THE ROAD TO CARBON NEUTRALITY

By John Lewis, Managing Director, Aggreko Africa   The global population has been growing at a staggering rate. Improvements in healthcare have extended the human lifespan and reduced infant mortality which means more people, living longer. This population weight is drawing ever more heavily on power – energy consumption is increasing and is unlikely to slow down any time soon. This relentless consumption of power is putting pressure on resources and systems and demands that…

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ENERGY 2021: 12 MONTHS OF ENERGY TRANSFORMATION

ENERGY 2021: 12 MONTHS OF ENERGY TRANSFORMATION

By: Romiald Noussi, Head of Operations, Aggreko Africa In the South African Department of Mineral Resources and Energy 2020 Annual Performance Plan report, the authority highlighted the importance of the energy sector in catalysing economic growth and development. As in the report, real life reflects the need for a reliable supply of energy to ensure that Africa continues to push its presence onto the global stage and build foundations of economic and social prosperity. To achieve this…

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CHANGING THE SUPPLY CHAIN CHALLENGE

CHANGING THE SUPPLY CHAIN CHALLENGE

John Lewis, Managing Director, Aggreko Africa A report by the Institute for Supply Management found that nearly 75% of companies surveyed had reported supply chain disruption during the pandemic. While data centre supply chains have not been as seriously impacted as many other sectors, there remains a need for companies to shore up the proverbial defences as they approach 2021, and find new ways of securing their supply chains as the pandemic rages on. Lead…

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AGGREKO SETS INDUSTRY-LEADING NET ZERO TARGETS TO SUPPORT CUSTOMERS THROUGH THE ENERGY TRANSITION

AGGREKO SETS INDUSTRY-LEADING NET ZERO TARGETS TO SUPPORT CUSTOMERS THROUGH THE ENERGY TRANSITION

 By 2030, achieve a 50% reduction in fossil diesel used and a 50% reduction in air quality emissions from solutions provided to our customers By 2030, become net zero in our own operations and by 2050 or sooner, become a net zero business for all scopes 1, 2 and 3 emissions Provide innovative technologies and solutions to help our customers accomplish their transition to cleaner energy 26 January 2021 – Aggreko, the world leader in…

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DRIVING EFFICIENCY THROUGH GAS-GENERATED ENERGY

DRIVING EFFICIENCY THROUGH GAS-GENERATED ENERGY

Industries require reliable energy to operate optimally. When energy supplies are unreliable, it can interrupt manufacturing processes which ultimately leads to a loss in revenue. Organisations are therefore increasingly looking at spreading their risk and supplementing their energy supply to ensure that they can continue operating should the country’s grid go down. Leading West African cement manufacturer, SOCOCIM Industries has signed a 7-year deal with energy provider Aggreko Africa to diversify their energy supply using…

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RELIABLE, SUSTAINABLE POWER AT A LOWER COST

RELIABLE, SUSTAINABLE POWER AT A LOWER COST

Is Africa ready to embrace the opportunity around gas? The African continent holds a significant portion of the world’s gas reserves. Although relatively difficult to exploit, the availability of gas presents an opportunity for governments across the continent to diversify the fuels they use to generate power, improving the sustainability and reliability of their power sources. According to Allan Fairbairn, Area General Manager for Western and Central Africa at Aggreko, while the opportunity is clear,…

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POWER CONTINGENCY PLANNING FOR GOVERNMENTS IN AFRICA

POWER CONTINGENCY PLANNING FOR GOVERNMENTS IN AFRICA

The public sector in Africa holds its vulnerable citizenry in the palm of a hand that is struggling to manage the rigours of legacy infrastructure and the complexities of technology and growing business demand. Governments on the continent are responsible for essential services such as education, healthcare, and sanitation, and all these require reliable power to ensure that they run smoothly. The problem is that often when it comes to power, things do not always…

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