On the way to net-zero MELODIE MICHEL REPORTER Energy and Mines
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chieving net-zero mining operations will take time, but that doesn’t mean miners are waiting to act. With many renewable power decisions to be made in the coming years, Martin Schlecht, Chief Operating Officer at Suntrace, tells Energy and Mines about the challenges ahead for the industry. Energy and Mines: How have you seen the focus on net-zero mining changing the conversation around renewable energy and storage for mines in recent months? Martin Schlecht: I think it’s becoming more and more obvious that companies need to address decarbonisation in their overall strategy, and come up with plans to demonstrate how they’re going to handle this to shareholders and the markets. So they are developing their strategies covering scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions, as well as ESG goals. Some companies start bottom up, implementing solutions at specific sites and then integrating them into an overall strategy. And others are looking at it from a helicopter vision, trying to figure out what the best way to start is. No one is better than the other: it’s very specific to each company, how it is handling its operations and assets, and how it wants to achieve decarbonisation. E&M: What does net-zero power for mines look like? 14
ENERGY AND MINES MAGAZINE
