Nevada Gold Mines (NGM) is investing in a 200MW solar power plant designed to accelerate its decarbonisation programme in line with the greenhouse gas reduction roadmap of its majority owner and operator Barrick Gold.

NGM is partnering with First Solar to manufacture the modules required to support the 200MW construction and expects to begin construction in the September quarter of 2022. The modules supplied by First Solar are expected to be delivered in the beginning of the June quarter of 2023 and will power both phases of the power plant. The plan is to commission both phase I and phase II by early 2024.

The 200MW solar array construction and the conversion of its coal fired power plant to cleaner burning natural gas is expected to achieve a 20% carbon reduction by 2025.

"The project is the latest in a series of carbon-reducing initiatives across the group's global operations. The solar power plant will complement the transition of NGM's coal power plant to a dual fuel process, which will enable it to generate electricity from natural gas, reducing carbon emissions by as much as 50%," said Barrick Gold's group sustainability executive Grant Beringer.

This article first appeared in sister publication Mining Journal on 13 April 2022. Credit: Staff Reporter