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Newly appointed Gold Fields executive VP for South Africa Bedford Mokoatle has told Mining Weekly the company will complete a feasibility study on wind power at the Westonaria-based South Deep mine within the next three to four months.
The study should inform the company about the best size and location of wind turbines to generate electricity to supplement the existing 50 MW Khanyisa solar plant on site.
Mokoatle also tells Mining Weekly that the solar plant had, since its commissioning in October 2022, offset 12% of what would have been grid electricity.
Following an optimisation process of the plant that is under way, the plant will reach full capacity in June.
Gold Fields corporate affairs VP Sven Lunche said an environmental-impact assessment on wind power was also ongoing, which would help the company make an informed final decision on proceeding with wind power within the next five months.
Mokoatle, who had served as acting executive VP since July 2022 before being permanently appointed in the position on May 26, said the strategy put in place for South Deep in 2017 was still going strong.
He was part of the team that was tasked to "reset" the mine, with changes from conventional to mechanised mining methods and other organisational changes to improve processes and systems.
These efforts have helped South Deep to ramp up production to about 320 000 oz/y, against a target of producing 384 000 oz/y by 2024.
Mokoatle's short-term priorities include ensuring optimal safety and health on site, as well as creating an environment for employees to thrive in. He has been reinvigorating the leadership system at South Deep and instilling a culture of innovation, diversification and wellbeing.
"Driving the right culture enables the transformation of a business and a healthy work environment, which creates a lasting impact on people," he said.
Mokoatle is also focusing on further optimisation at South Deep, especially as the compounding impact of high inflation has taken its toll in the last two years.
"As such, we need to be agile and ahead of macroeconomic factors, better manage wastage and improve financials," he stated, adding that asset optimisation ensured that Gold Fields could deliver value.
Last, but not least, Mokoatle is driving decarbonisation at the mine to create measurable value and sustainability. He believes sustainability is what will enable Gold Fields to add margin back into the business, given high input costs.
Mokoatle added that green energy would ensure not only higher profit margins, but secure the business' future.
Gold Fields aims to reduce its carbon footprint by 30% on a net basis by 2030, with 2016 as the baseline, before journeying towards carbon neutrality by 2050.
In keeping with South Deep's modernisation strategy, Mokoatle said Gold Fields planned on trialling autonomous trucks next year, as well as looking into battery electric vehicles, as the technology matured.
