Resolute to add thermal-renewable energy hybrid at Mali gold mine

Australian gold miner Resolute Mining Limited (ASX:RSG) announced Monday it will set up a hybrid power plant consisting of thermal units, battery storage and 20 MW of solar arrays at its Syama gold mine in Mali.

The new solution to replace diesel generators at the mine site will be delivered in two stages. In the first stage, the gold miner will add three 10-MW thermal energy modular block generators and a 10-MW Y-cube battery storage system. This part of the project will be finalised in 2020.

Construction of the 20-MW solar array will take place in the second stage when another 10-MW modular block will be added to the system. The solar array is planned for installation on the surface of the existing Syama Tailings Storage Facility (TSF). Resolute said the decommissioning of the TSF would determine the start of the second stage. The company expects it will complete the project by 2023 at the latest.

The new power plant is designed to accommodate four more 10-MW modular block units if needed in the future, Resolute said.

The miner has signed a heads of terms agreement with Aggreko plc (LON:AGK), a UK-based specialist in off-grid power generation, for the project development. Aggreko is to fund and operate the power plant, for which Finnish technology group Wartsila Corp (HEL:WRT1V) will provide the modular block technology.

Resolute said that the power supply agreement will be fine-tuned and signed with Aggreko in due course.

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