Amplats next in line for energy reduction planning
by Katy Chance,
2015-06-02 06:39:53.0
ENSIGHT has started work on a cost-and energy-reduction programme for Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), following its success at Palabora and Richards Bay Minerals.
When the company came to SA, Ensight was one of 30 out of 850 applicant businesses awarded a scholarship under the Entrepreneurs Internship Programme sponsored by Zimele, Anglo American’s enterprise development fund for supporting new or emerging businesses showing potential to provide innovative solutions to the mining industry.
"This support has been invaluable for us in building our fledgling business here in SA," says Ensight director Rod Welford. "We plan to support the mining industry here, but expand to support energy companies and the steel and aluminium industries — first in SA, then in Australia, South America and Asia.
"As we have started our new business in SA, our work here will not only be the foundation of our planned future international growth, for we have a strong commitment to this vibrant country’s economic development. SA faces many social and economic challenges, including electricity supply.
"We would like to think we can help the government and people of SA face and overcome these challenges. We would like to leave a positive legacy here, while on our way to helping the world’s biggest companies lead the energy transformation needed to minimise the impacts of climate change."
Mr Welford says Australia may be more advanced, "in some ways", in alternative energy sources such as solar systems for domestic housing. There were government programmes to promote this.
But unlike SA, where there is "so much activity", the Australian government has "no genuine belief that climate change is important" and Australia has consequently "slipped badly behind the rest of the world in the last two years".
Palabora’s manager for asset management, safety, health, environmental and quality, Kobie Naude, agrees there are huge opportunities for companies such as Ensight in SA and in other mining jurisdictions across the world. "I think Palabora is the first mining company in the world where such huge savings have been achieved," he says.
Heaps of platinum ore ahead of the concentration process. Picture: SUNDAY TIMES
ENSIGHT has started work on a cost-and energy-reduction programme for Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), following its success at Palabora and Richards Bay Minerals.
When the company came to SA, Ensight was one of 30 out of 850 applicant businesses awarded a scholarship under the Entrepreneurs Internship Programme sponsored by Zimele, Anglo American’s enterprise development fund for supporting new or emerging businesses showing potential to provide innovative solutions to the mining industry.
"This support has been invaluable for us in building our fledgling business here in SA," says Ensight director Rod Welford. "We plan to support the mining industry here, but expand to support energy companies and the steel and aluminium industries — first in SA, then in Australia, South America and Asia.
"As we have started our new business in SA, our work here will not only be the foundation of our planned future international growth, for we have a strong commitment to this vibrant country’s economic development. SA faces many social and economic challenges, including electricity supply.
"We would like to think we can help the government and people of SA face and overcome these challenges. We would like to leave a positive legacy here, while on our way to helping the world’s biggest companies lead the energy transformation needed to minimise the impacts of climate change."
Mr Welford says Australia may be more advanced, "in some ways", in alternative energy sources such as solar systems for domestic housing. There were government programmes to promote this.
But unlike SA, where there is "so much activity", the Australian government has "no genuine belief that climate change is important" and Australia has consequently "slipped badly behind the rest of the world in the last two years".
Palabora’s manager for asset management, safety, health, environmental and quality, Kobie Naude, agrees there are huge opportunities for companies such as Ensight in SA and in other mining jurisdictions across the world. "I think Palabora is the first mining company in the world where such huge savings have been achieved," he says.
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