Xstrata Copper North Queensland.pdf - Mount Isa Mines

Environmental performance
Sulphur dioxide, a by-product of the
copper smelting process, is transferred
directly to the Incitec Pivot Acid Plant
via a dedicated pipeline
Climate Change
Carbon emissions
In 2010, Xstrata Mount Isa Mines copper
operations’ total greenhouse gas emissions
was 482,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide
equivalents (CO 2 -e), a decrease from the
2009 total of 491,000 tonnes of CO 2 -e. †
Carbon intensity for the site remained at
2.3 tonnes of CO 2 -e per tonne of contained
metal in 2010.
Our operations’ total greenhouse gas
emissions are comprised of direct and indirect
emissions (please refer to the Energy use by
source table on page 88). In 2010 the Xstrata
Mount Isa Mines copper operations’ direct
emissions accounted for 193,000 tonnes
of CO 2 -e of the total greenhouse gas
emissions, compared to 207,000 tonnes of
CO 2 -e in 2009. † Indirect emissions accounted
for 289,000 tonnes CO 2 -e of the total
greenhouse gas emissions, compared to
284,000 tonnes of CO 2 -e in 2009. †
Carbon emission reduction through
operation efficiencies
The energy efficient 30 megawatt (MW)
Xstrata Power Station (XPS) continues to be
operated as a base load power station. Due
to its higher efficiency compared to alternate
power supplies, the XPS reduces indirect
emissions by 65,000 tonnes of CO 2 -e each
year. The XPS is being expanded to a capacity
of 39 MW with the expansion project to be
completed in the second quarter of 2011.
The Mount Isa Mines copper operations’
underground Pelton Wheel generator
added 3,200 megawatt hours (MWh) of
zero emissions electricity to the site’s power
network in 2009. The generator acts as a
small hydro power station, which recovers
the potential energy from chilled water
being piped 800 metres underground to
cool the copper mine. Rather than using a
pressure relief valve to dissipate the pressure
in the pipeline, the pressure drives a turbine
which in turn drives a generator. As a result
we achieve an indirect emission saving of
2,000 tonnes of CO 2 -e annually.
Environmental protection expenditures and investments by type – Mount Isa Mines
copper operations
Expenditure category 2010
Capital* $14,708,000
Environmental consultants/contractors $2,089,656
Environmental personnel – employees $1,813,293
Licences/liability insurance $435,998
Rehabilitation and decommissioning costs $19,036
Research and development $1,371,342
Treatment and disposal of waste $4,936,329
Treatment of emissions $210,000
Monitoring and analysis equipment $727,988
Operating costs – other $3,124,302
Total $29,435,945
* The majority of this expenditure was related to the Smelter Emissions Project and the tailings reclaim water
line installation.
Greenhouse gas emissions –
Mount Isa Mines copper operations^
‘000s tonnes CO 2 -e
600
500
400
300
200
100
442
479
473
491
482
Carbon intensity –
Mount Isa Mines copper operations^
Tonnes CO 2 -e per tonne contained metal
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5
1.0
0.5
1.8
1.9
1.9
2.3
2.3
2.2
0
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
0
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011*
† 2009 figures have been restated to account for
a change in the reporting methodology related
to the on-site generation of electricity.
*Target
^ 2007–09 figures have been restated to account for a change in the reporting methodology related to
the on-site generation of electricity.
Sustainability Report 2010 87