15 December 2014: New Gold’s New Afton Mine in British Columbia, Canada, is anticipating nine gigawatt-hours (GWh) of energy savings in 2014, after becoming the first North American mine to achieve certification to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 50001 energy management system standard. The project is highlighted in a case study from the Global Superior Energy Performance (GSEP) Energy Management Working Group, an initiative of the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM).

As energy comprises a significant portion of the mining industry’s operating costs, energy savings due to more proactive energy management are “inextricably linked with profitability.” Andrew Cooper, an energy specialist at the gold and copper mine, said that at the New Afton Mine, a 1% reduction in energy costs is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars a year.

Working through the ISO 50001 energy planning process helped the mine’s energy team learn much about energy management and use, and energy management awareness has increased. The team was able to use ISO 50001 to: tie the mine’s energy sources, such as electricity, diesel fuel, propane, natural gas, gasoline and explosives, into energy accounting centers; set energy objectives; and monitor, measure, and analyze energy performance to better manage energy use and cost.

In addition, the team examined suggestions by employees during its 2014 energy review to determine what warranted further study and what might be implemented in 2015. Cooper explained that the project has not only improved energy performance but also garnered operational, environmental, and safety benefits.

GSEP publishes energy management case studies in order to improve energy efficiency and mitigate carbon emissions worldwide. GSEP encourages the industrial and commercial building sectors to continually improve their energy efficiency and accelerate broad energy management system use. [CEM News Story] [GSEP Case Study on the New Gold New Afton Mine]