Xstrata Copper North Queensland.pdf - Mount Isa Mines

Environmental performance
The second Category 2 incident was recorded
when approximately 2,000–4,000 litres
of electrolyte spilt due to a process hose
clamp coming loose. Again, the entire spill
was contained within the internal drainage
system, and subsequently recovered and
treated. No off-site discharge occurred,
and no environmental impacts resulted
from this incident.
Full incident investigations took place for both
incidents and corrective measures were taken
to prevent a recurrence.
Climate change
Carbon emissions
In 2010, the Townsville copper refinery’s
total greenhouse gas emissions was
121,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents
(CO 2 -e) a slight increase on the 2009 total of
117,000 tonnes of CO 2 -e. Carbon intensity
for the copper refinery in 2010 remained
consistent with 2009 at 0.42 tonnes of
CO 2 -e per tonne of contained metal.
Elizabeth Hunnam – Environmental Advisor, conducts dust deposition monitoring at Xstrata Copper’s
Townsville port operations
Greenhouse gas emissions –
Townsville copper refinery
‘000s tonnes CO 2 -e
Fresh water use –
Townsville port operations
ML
The port operations’ total greenhouse gas
emissions were 1,700 tonnes of CO 2 -e in
2010. They accounted for only 1.4% of
the Townsville operations’ emissions and
have remained at similar levels for the past
five years.
150
125
100
97
96
114
117
121
12
10
8
7.7
The Townsville operations’ total greenhouse
gas emissions are comprised of direct and
indirect emissions. In 2010, the Townsville
operations’ direct emissions accounted
for 15,000 tonnes of CO 2 -e of the total
greenhouse gas emissions, compared to
13,000 tonnes of CO 2 -e in 2009. Indirect
emissions accounted for 106,000 tonnes
CO 2 -e of the total greenhouse gas emissions,
compared to 104,000 tonnes of CO 2 -e
in 2009.
Energy
In 2010, the Townsville copper refinery
increased its total energy consumption
to 723,000 gigajoules (GJ) compared to
671,000 GJ in 2009. This was due to an
increase in the volume of copper anode
processed through the refinery. In addition
to the anode produced in Mount Isa, the
refinery continued to process imported
anode. The refinery had 4% greater
production in 2010 compared to 2009.
A table detailing energy consumption by
source can be found on page 106.
75
50
25
0
Carbon intensity –
Townsville copper refinery
Tonnes CO 2 -e per tonne contained metal
0.750
0.625
0.500
0.375
0.250
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
0.46
0.41
0.43
0.42
0.42
0.42
6
4
2
0
Fresh water use –
Townsville copper refinery
ML
150
125
100
75
50
3.2
117
3.7
110
5.1
116
114
5.3
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
127
Energy intensity increased to 2.5 GJ per tonne
of contained metal compared to 2.4 GJ
per tonne of contained metal in 2009.
0.125
25
0
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011*
0
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
*Target
Sustainability Report 2010 105