Diversified miner South32 has reiterated its commitment to the Paris Agreement objectives, with the miner committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

In May, South32 announced its target to achieve a 50% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 operational emissions by the 2035 financial year. To achieve this, the miner is investing in efficiency projects, studying green energy alternatives, applying low-carbon design principles and evaluating low-carbon technologies.

Further, a South32 spokesperson has told Mining Weekly, in response to emailed questions, that the group is “sustainably reshaping [its] business for a low-carbon future by increasing [its] exposure to base metals”.

At the group’s Hillside Aluminium operation, it is focused on reducing carbon intensity through energy efficiency projects and transitioning its electricity supply to a green alternative.

“The next significant energy efficiency project at Hillside is the installation of AP3XLE technology, which has already been successfully deployed at Mozal Aluminium,” the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson added that the group is studying the potential to upgrade the potlines at Hillside Aluminium with AP3XLE technology to improve their energy efficiency, resulting in reduced energy consumption, operating costs and carbon emissions.

“In 2020, we set up a project team to fast-track studies of ways to obtain affordable, low-carbon electricity for Hillside Aluminium. Procuring a sustainable green energy solution will require a coordinated approach and the support of government, Eskom and other potential partners.

“It is a significant challenge, but we believe it is critical to reduce carbon emissions while ensuring South Africa maintains and grows its economy, as the world transitions to a low-carbon future,” the spokesperson commented.

South32, headed by Graham Kerr, has also welcomed the South African government’s recent announcement that companies will be able to build distributed generation projects of up to 100 MW without having to obtain a licence from the National Energy Regulator of South Africa.