The first of Westgold Resources’ four hybrid power stations is officially up-and-running at its Tuckabianna site 20km east of the Western Australian town of Cue, replacing its existing diesel-powered facility.
Delivering a reduction of about 15,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions and 10 million litres of annual diesel consumption, the company believes its new 17.9-megawatt station is also expected to drive down operating costs. The hybrid facility includes a 6MW solar farm fitted with 11,088 photovoltaic panels, a battery energy storage system with 2.4MW capacity and a 9.5MW gas-fuelled power station.
An additional three new hybrid power facilities are also being constructed at Westgold’s Bluebird, Fortnum and Big Bell operations. The four hybrid systems are expected to hold a combined installed capacity of 82MW and are due to be powering the company by early next year.
Once all four systems are operational, management is aiming to reduce its annual diesel fuel consumption by 38 million litres and lower annual carbon dioxide emissions by about 57,000 tonnes. It believes its all-in sustaining cost (AISC) will reduce by about $60 per ounce due to lower-cost energy.
Westgold continues to innovate to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and drive our operating costs down. This new hybrid power facility at Tuckabianna incorporates renewable energy and is a great first step along this journey, with power generated from these facilities energising our mines and processing hubs for decades to come. Westgold Resources managing director Wayne Bramwell
The company says its new facilities will be central to its “Clean Energy Transition” initiative, with the gas-fired power stations, battery storage and solar farms owned-and-operated by Pacific Energy under an electricity purchase agreement. The LNG will be provided by Clean Energy Fuels Australia under a supply agreement.
Earlier this month, Westgold unveiled a 2023/24 production guidance of 245,000 to 265,000 gold ounces at an AISC of between $1800 and $2000 per ounce after hitting its target in the past financial year. Just this week, it secured board approval to develop its Great Fingall mine near Cue after presenting a conservative base case to produce 2.5 million tonnes of ore at about 5 grams per tonne gold for 383,000 ounces at an AISC of $1801 per ounce.
The company now plans to begin developing the Great Fingall site early next quarter and has set its sights on first ore production in the first half of next financial year at its Tuckabiana mill, just 28km away.
Throughout the past financial year, Westgold implemented several initiatives to improve its operational and financial performance, including a focus on grade, mining efficiency and overbreak in both development and stoping areas within its operations. Once all four new hybrid power stations are up and running, the company could be looking at a significant decrease in operational costs, while also maintaining its Clean Energy Transition initiative.
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