Barrick's Nevada Gold Mines Achieves Milestone in Renewable Energy Transition

Jan 10, 2025 at 10:22 AM

Nevada Gold Mines (NGM), operated by Barrick, has recently finalized the construction of a significant solar power facility. This 200 MW plant is now fully operational and can supply 17% of NGM's yearly energy requirements. Notably, it will help cut down carbon dioxide emissions by 234,000 tons annually. The company's president and CEO, Mark Bristow, emphasized that this project forms part of a broader strategy to decrease reliance on carbon-intensive electricity sources. Alongside this initiative, the organization is exploring other green technologies, including transitioning to natural gas and introducing electric vehicles into their fleet.

The completion of the second phase of the solar power plant marks a critical juncture for NGM. According to Mark Bristow, this development signifies an important step towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 8% compared to 2018 levels. The company has also embarked on converting the TS Power Plant to utilize cleaner-burning natural gas. Furthermore, in 2023, NGM began integrating electric vehicles into its light vehicle fleet, accompanied by the necessary charging infrastructure at key locations such as Elko, Carlin, Cortez, Turquoise Ridge, Phoenix, and the TS Power Plant.

With the successful installation and performance testing of the second 100 MW phase, NGM is now concentrating on expanding its renewable energy capabilities through the addition of solar and battery energy storage systems. Recently, the US Department of Energy awarded NGM $95 million to support the development of additional solar facilities with BESS at the Turquoise Ridge and Cortez mine sites. These enhancements aim to provide a reliable secondary power source during off-peak hours and reduce the impact of power grid disruptions. Moreover, NGM is investigating geothermal energy sources as part of its ongoing efforts to diversify its energy portfolio.

Construction of the 200 MW TS Solar Power plant commenced in 2022. Since then, NGM has made steady progress toward achieving its sustainability goals. By leveraging these advancements in renewable energy technology, the company aims to significantly reduce its environmental footprint while enhancing operational efficiency. The integration of various clean energy initiatives underscores NGM's commitment to leading the mining industry in sustainable practices.