❓ Hon Robin Chapple asks about diesel usage, energy requirements, renewable energy proportion, and greenhouse gas emissions for proposed magnetite mines in the Mid West. The answer provides general industry data and benchmarks rather than mine-specific details, citing confidentiality and development uncertainties.
AnsweredQoN 95Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to page 18 of the Strategic Energy Initiatives Directions Paper, under the heading "Regional and sector electricity demand forecasts in Western Australia", and for each of the proposed magnetite mines in the Mid West region, I ask:
(a) how much diesel fuel will be used for transport per year at peak operational capacity;
(b) how much energy will be required to be generated per year to keep the mine at peak operational capacity;
(c) what proportion of that energy will be generated from renewable fuel sources; and
(d) what is the total estimated annual greenhouse gas emissions when operating at peak capacity?
(a) how much diesel fuel will be used for transport per year at peak operational capacity;
(b) how much energy will be required to be generated per year to keep the mine at peak operational capacity;
(c) what proportion of that energy will be generated from renewable fuel sources; and
(d) what is the total estimated annual greenhouse gas emissions when operating at peak capacity?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
6 August 2013
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Minister for Energy
Response time
56 days
(a) Mining operations do not provide specific data on fuel
consumption. Commonwealth Government information compiled for the Energy
Efficiency Opportunities Program (2008-09) indicates that, on an energy
equivalent basis, diesel use for haulage and electricity generation represented
17 per cent of total energy consumption in the mining sector.
(b) The
Department of Mines and Petroleum has advised that, given uncertainties around
development schedules of specific mines, per tonne benchmark energy consumption
figures are more relevant than output based figures. Energy use for the
production of magnetite concentrate output is about 95 to 125 kilowatt hours
per tonne.
(c) Mining operations located in the Mid West region
connected to the South West Interconnected System will receive the same
proportion of renewable energy as all other grid-connected consumers. This
is currently about 9 per cent of total electricity supplies.
(d) The
National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (Measurement) Determination 2008
states that average emissions from electricity purchased from the South West
Interconnected System are 0.82 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions
per kilowatt hour. This equates to about 80 to 100 kilograms carbon
dioxide equivalent emissions per tonne of magnetite concentrate output.
consumption. Commonwealth Government information compiled for the Energy
Efficiency Opportunities Program (2008-09) indicates that, on an energy
equivalent basis, diesel use for haulage and electricity generation represented
17 per cent of total energy consumption in the mining sector.
(b) The
Department of Mines and Petroleum has advised that, given uncertainties around
development schedules of specific mines, per tonne benchmark energy consumption
figures are more relevant than output based figures. Energy use for the
production of magnetite concentrate output is about 95 to 125 kilowatt hours
per tonne.
(c) Mining operations located in the Mid West region
connected to the South West Interconnected System will receive the same
proportion of renewable energy as all other grid-connected consumers. This
is currently about 9 per cent of total electricity supplies.
(d) The
National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (Measurement) Determination 2008
states that average emissions from electricity purchased from the South West
Interconnected System are 0.82 kilograms of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions
per kilowatt hour. This equates to about 80 to 100 kilograms carbon
dioxide equivalent emissions per tonne of magnetite concentrate output.
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