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KAZ Minerals is constantly seeking to improve the energy efficiency of its facilities.
KAZ Minerals seeks to reduce the impact of its activities on the environment and to raise environmental awareness amongst its employees, contractors and suppliers. The Group has an environmental policy which sets out its commitment to environmental protection, reduction of emissions and waste and efficient consumption of resources such as energy and water.
The Group conducts detailed environmental due diligence prior to the development of new mining projects and continually monitors the impact of its activities on the environment, publishing key performance indicators on an annual basis.
The Health, Safety and Sustainability (‘HSS’) Committee is a Board Committee which is responsible for oversight of the Group’s environmental policies, reporting, standards and compliance. Senior management are responsible for the Group’s overall environmental performance.
The calculation of the Group’s Scope 2 emissions in 2021 is based on an updated emissions factor calculated by the International Energy Agency. Prior year data has been recalculated to ensure a directly comparable result.
In 2021, KAZ Minerals achieved a further improvement in the energy efficiency of its operations, measured as energy use per tonne of sulphide ore processed. Since 2015 the Group has achieved long-term energy efficiency improvements as it has transitioned away from underground mining towards a focus on open pit mining at Aktogay and Bozshakol. These large scale, open pit mines benefit from significant economies of scale, with modern grinding and flotation technology employed at the concentrators, which drives efficiencies.
During 2021, the Group operated at above design capacity at the existing Aktogay sulphide plant, both Bozshakol concentrators and the Bozymchak concentrator, which allowed the Group to achieve a historically low level of energy use per tonne of sulphide ore processed. In addition, the Aktogay and Bozshakol mines benefit from a low strip ratio, with limited quantities of rock required to be removed per tonne of ore extracted, which also improves efficiency.
| Total | 12.55 | 11.95 |
| Energy intensity1 | 0.19 | 0.20 |
| 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity | 9.10 | 8.87 |
| Diesel | 2.36 | 2.01 |
| Heat | 1.02 | 1.00 |
| Coal | 0.02 | 0.02 |
| Petrol | 0.05 | 0.05 |
1 TJ/kt sulphide ore processed.
| Total | 12.55 | 11.95 |
| Energy intensity1 | 0.19 | 0.20 |
| 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|
| Aktogay | 4.68 | 4.35 |
| Bozshakol | 4.65 | 4.46 |
| East Region | 2.88 | 2.87 |
| Bozymchak | 0.34 | 0.27 |
1 TJ/kt sulphide ore processed.
Total energy use increased by 5% in 2021 to 12.55 PJ (2020: 11.95 PJ). The Group consumed higher volumes of electricity as its concentrators at Aktogay, Bozshakol and Bozymchak operated in excess of design capacity, and the second Aktogay concentrator commenced operations in October 2021. Ore mined increased in 2021 by 12% which resulted in an increase in diesel consumption. The Group expects diesel consumption to increase over the coming years as its Aktogay and Bozshakol pits deepen.
The energy intensity of the Group’s activities reduced to 0.19 TJ per kt of sulphide ore processed as the increase in energy usage was more than offset by higher throughput at the Group’s concentrators in 2021.
| Total | 9.10 | 8.87 |
| Electricity intensity1 | 0.14 | 0.15 |
| 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|
| Aktogay | 3.76 | 3.63 |
| Bozshakol | 3.63 | 3.57 |
| East Region | 1.55 | 1.54 |
| Bozymchak | 0.16 | 0.13 |
1 TJ/kt sulphide ore processed.
The Group’s electricity consumption increased by 3% in 2021 to 9.10 PJ (2020: 8.87 PJ) due to higher volumes of sulphide ore processed at all sites except East Region. Electricity consumption increased most significantly at Aktogay where the first sulphide concentrator increased throughput by 7% and the second sulphide concentrator was opened in October 2021. At Bozymchak, electricity consumption increased as the concentrator operated above its design capacity and in 2020 the Bozymchak site was closed for most of the fourth quarter.
| Total | 2.36 | 2.01 |
| Diesel intensity1 | 0.027 | 0.026 |
| 2021 | 2020 | |
|---|---|---|
| Aktogay | 0.92 | 0.73 |
| Bozshakol | 1.01 | 0.88 |
| East Region | 0.28 | 0.28 |
| Bozymchak | 0.15 | 0.12 |
1 TJ/kt ore mined.
Diesel consumption increased during 2021 to 2.36 PJ (2020: 2.01 PJ), a 17% increase which reflected the higher volumes of ore mined during 2021 and the longer haulage distances at the Group’s sites as the pits deepen. At Aktogay, ore mined increased by 33% in 2021 as the site prepared for the launch of the second sulphide concentrator in October 2021. At Bozshakol total rock moved increased by 2% which also led to an increase in diesel consumed at the site. Overall diesel intensity, measured as TJ of diesel per kt of ore mined, remained broadly consistent with 2020.