CCUS could benefit mining’s decarbonisation
WARREN BEECH Carbon capture, utilisation and storage is unlikely to become a reality in the near future
With the mining industry’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint, carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) is a potential mechanism that can significantly decrease the industry’s emissions, states mining law firm Beech Veltman.
“Carbon reduction is carried out through various programmes and mechanisms, such as transitioning to renewable-energy sources, with a particular emphasis on solar power, and transitioning large fleets of equipment from using diesel power to hydrogen technology,” explains Beech Veltman CEO Warren Beech.
While the transition to renewable-energy sources is aimed at eliminating the production of greenhouse gases (GHGs), carbon capture is aimed at securing carbon dioxide at the point of source, with it being transported and stored thereafter to eliminate emissions into the atmosphere.
Beech tells Mining Weekly that the utilisation aspect can potentially create additional revenue, as the captured carbon can be used for industrial purposes.
However, “CCUS is unlikely to become a reality in the near future, owing to the costs associated with the reuse of carbon dioxide (CO2).”
Carbon capture and use technology is expensive, and despite projects being implemented internationally, it would probably not meet the affordability, reliability and sustainability requirements, he adds.
Implementing CCUS projects would result in many benefits, including compliance with GHG emissions requirements, and the associated health and social benefits.
Beech adds that CO2 storage will require ongoing monitoring and maintenance, consequently creating job opportunities, employment and socioeconomic benefits, which may flow to the surrounding communities.
“However, the reality is that South Africa will continue to rely on energy from its coal-fired power stations for the foreseeable future, and the emphasis must be on making it as easy as possible for CO2 point-source capture to be implemented,” he concludes.
Comments
Research Reports
Projects
Latest Multimedia
Latest News
Showroom
Rooted in the hearts of South Africans, combining technology and a quest for perfection to bring you a battery of peerless standing. Willard...
VISIT SHOWROOM
ISO-certified Condra manufactures overhead cranes, portal cranes, cantilever cranes and crane components: hoists, drives, end-carriages, brakes and...
VISIT SHOWROOM
Press Office
Announcements
What's On
Subscribe to improve your user experience...
Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):
Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):
All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors
including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.
Already a subscriber?
Forgotten your password?
Receive weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine (print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
➕
Recieve daily email newsletters
➕
Access to full search results
➕
Access archive of magazine back copies
➕
Access to Projects in Progress
➕
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format
RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA
R4500 (equivalent of R375 a month)
SUBSCRIBEAll benefits from Option 1
➕
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports on various industrial and mining sectors, in PDF format, including on:
Electricity
➕
Water
➕
Energy Transition
➕
Hydrogen
➕
Roads, Rail and Ports
➕
Coal
➕
Gold
➕
Platinum
➕
Battery Metals
➕
etc.
Receive all benefits from Option 1 or Option 2 delivered to numerous people at your company
➕
Multiple User names and Passwords for simultaneous log-ins
➕
Intranet integration access to all in your organisation
