Barrick Gold is stepping up its “green” efforts by signing a 10-year natural gas supply contract in the Dominican Republic. This would mean a switch from heavy fuel oil to natural gas for the mining company that is located in central Cotuí.
Costs at the mine are expected to drop by about US$54 per ounce over its operative life. The savings, according to Barrick, will be partly supported by higher margins on the sale of excess power to the national energy grid.
In addition, the use of natural gas is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with Pueblo Viejo by approximately 260,000 CO2 equivalent tons per year.
It will cost roughly US$7.5 million to convert the Quisqueya I power plant to natural gas. AES will be in charge of setting up a new gas pipeline to the facility, with commercial gas production expected to begin in the second half of 2019.
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Mining
15 May 2018
