Coal Firm Anglo American Secures 100% Renewable Electricity for Australian Ops

Mining conglomerate Anglo American has said that it has sourced the supply of 100% renewable electricity for its operations in Australia from 2025, agreeing terms for a 10-year partnership with Stanwell Corporation, the Queensland Government-owned provider of electricity and energy solutions.

Anglo American said that the deal will effectively remove all Scope 2 emissions from its steelmaking coal business in Australia from 2025, supporting progress towards carbon neutral operations of Anglo American by 2040.

Dan van der Westhuizen, CEO, Anglo American Australia, said, “Sourcing 100% renewables supply from Stanwell Corporation, linked to two major wind and solar projects in Queensland, is a big step towards our target of carbon neutral operations in Australia – and globally – by 2040.”

The CEO added, “I am delighted that we are able to support Stanwell Corporation in its investment in 650MW of renewables capacity for Queensland. Today’s deal brings significant environmental benefits and is NPV positive compared with our current energy mix, while underwriting a large investment in renewable energy generation for Queensland.”

Anik Michaud, Group Director, Corporate Relations and Sustainable Impact, Anglo American, said,  “Many of the metals and minerals we produce are critical to the infrastructure and technologies required to decarbonise the world’s energy and transport systems – and this includes the ingredients needed for steelmaking. Our commitment to being part of the solution to climate change begins in our own business by meeting our emissions reduction targets and our 2040 operational carbon neutrality goal.

“Combined with the agreements we already have in place for all our South America operations, from 2025 we expect to be drawing 60% of our global electricity requirements from renewable sources, transforming our Scope 2 emissions profile. We are committed to producing the metals and minerals that we need to mitigate the extent of global warming in the most responsible and sustainable way,” said Michaud.

The partnership between Anglo American and Stanwell underwrites investment in the two major Queensland renewable energy projects – Clarke Creek Wind Farm in Central Queensland, and Blue Grass Solar Farm near Chinchilla.