Abstract:
The mining sector is highly energy intensive. Undertaking mining activities at a geographic
location bearing extremely cold temperatures like Lets’eng in Lesotho exacerbates the situation as
abundant energy is required to provide the comfort needed by employees. Nonetheless, there exists
ample waste in energy use within the mining sector which can be avoided by bringing forth energy
management strategies. The study firstly identifies areas of energy waste and their cause. Both
simple and technical energy management strategies are employed in correcting ways of energy use
in order to utilise the least possible energy. The aim of the study is to minimize energy costs at
the mine and reduce environmental damage associated with electrical energy use while also
integrating renewable energy technologies where it is possible to do so. Monthly energy
consumption profiles from electrical meters at the mine were used to analyse the consumption
patterns of different energy processes. The study identified energy management opportunities in
the energy processes of lighting, space heating, water heating and poor power factor. Energy
management interventions for all the opportunities identified were economically assessed in terms
of their cost of implementation and operation against the associated energy savings they would
yield. All the recommendations proved to be economically viable as they resulted in a positive Net
Present Value (NPV) and all Payback Period in years were within the remaining life of the mine
which spans until 2034. Modelling gives a total of 41 903.14 tonnes of greenhouse gases averted
from emission to the environment as a result of implementation of energy management
opportunities.
