Electricity + Control January 2019

ENERGY MANAGEMENT + ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING

Looking to the future, Roos says B2Gold Corporate is considering two further phases of development for the Otjikoto solar project. “Phase 2 envisages Otjikoto being connecting to the national power grid, which could see up to 45 % of the mine’s power requirements being sup- plied by Nampower on an off-peak tariff, while Phase 3 contemplates the expansion of the solar farm, which would be easily achieved given the modular nature of the installation. We may also, at some point in the future, even look at the possi- bility of energy storage, allowing the solar energy generated by the solar farm to be used at night- time or at times ― for example, when there is cloud cover ― when conditions for generating solar ener- gy are unfavourable. Caterpillar and other vendors already have proven systems that could be used.”

The operation of the project has thus far met all of B2Gold’s expectations, with 468 155 litres of fuel having been saved between from the first day of recording solar energy at the HFO plant

Article by Arthur Tassell.

(8 March 2018) through to 27 May. Over the nine-year modelling period for the project (effective 1 April 2018), it is anticipated that approximately 26,3 million litres of HFO will be saved resulting in operational savings of an estimated US$16 million. On this ba- sis, the payback period of the project is estimated at 4,5 to 5 years.

Electricity + Control

JANUARY 2019

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