Industrial Consumers

BHP Billiton to cut 50% GHG emissions in Australian refinery

BHP Billiton Nickel West

BHP Billiton announced this Monday it will cut 50% of the greenhouse gas emissions from its Nickel West Refinery, in western Australia. Also confirmed it was going to do so through a power purchase agreement with Risen Energy.

The company said the PPA would reduce the refinery’s emissions from electric use by 50%, around 2024; based on fiscal year 2020 levels.

First, BHP Billiton announced the PPA was for 10 years, through the Merredin Solar Farm, the largest in Australia. Second, the agreement would specifically avoid the emissions of nearly 364,000 tons of CO2, over the life of the contract.

Indeed, such amount would be equivalent to remove 11,200 combustion engines from west Australia, each year.

In fact, this PPA was the first one signed by BHP in the area; it follows the renewable agreements that cover BHP’s operations in Queensland and Chile.

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BHP Billiton aims to increase sustainable nickel demand

In addition, Eddy Haegel, BHP’s Asset President, said. “This contract will further increase the sustainability of the nickel produced by Nickel West. Also, it will reduce the refinery’s electricity emissions by 50 per cent. Consequently, it will diversify our energy supply, and reduce the refinery’s electricity bill.”

“First, nickel is a future-facing commodity that is essential to creating the high performing lithium-ion batteries used in battery electric vehicles (BEV),” he added. “Consequently, the demand for nickel and especially the nickel produced by Nickel West is set to grow dramatically.”

Haegel also underlined that the sustainable production of Nickel will be essential to meet this future demand; then, customers of BEV’s will also know the elements of their vehicles are sustainable.

In fact: “Nickel West is already one of the most sustainable nickel producers in the world but has committed to significantly reduce CO2 emissions further,” he concluded. Moreover, these efforts, in addition to the company’s integrated value chain makes it one the world’s most sustainable nickel miners.

Finally, Risen Energy vice general manager, John Zhong, concluded. “We are proud to sign this agreement with BHP Nickel West. Truly, this agreement will bolster current and future Western Australian renewable projects. We also look forward to welcoming many more clean energy partnerships to power manufacturing, minerals processing and other Western Australian industries.”

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