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Report extract
The Australian mining sector consumes roughly 500 petajoules per year, 10% of Australia’s total energy use, and consumption has risen at 6.0% per annum over the last decade, driven primarily by increased mining volumes. The mining sector derives most of its energy from diesel (41%), natural gas (33%), and grid electricity (22%), with the remainder supplied by a mixture of other refined fuels, coal, LPG, renewables, and biofuels. The percentage contribution from diesel has fallen from 49% to 41% over the last decade and been largely replaced by natural gas and grid electricity, as infrastructure develops and oil prices continue to show volatility. Mining energy intensity – the energy required per tonne of product – is a function of definitions, location, mining type, and processing type.
Average energy intensity is estimated at 50.5kWh/tonne for coal, 10.7kWh/ tonne for minerals, and 54.5kWh/tonne for metals, with the majority consumed in diesel equipment and comminution operations. The energy intensity in metals, however, ranges from 13kWh/tonne for bauxite to 210kWh/tonne for gold, due largely to differences in on-site beneficiation operations. Energy for metals with low on-site beneficiation, such as bauxite and iron ore, is predominately consumed as diesel for plant involved in extraction and transport. Energy for metals with high on-site site beneficiation, such as copper and gold, is predominantly consumed as electricity.
