“Decarbonisation will be one of the key topics featured at the Investing in Africa Mining Indaba 2025 next February in Cape Town. We will bring our own experts to this important gathering to present the findings of our research along with solutions that will help mining companies to advance their efforts to decarbonise and future-proof their operations,” says Gerhard Bolt, principal with dss+.
Written by Gerhard Bolt, principal with dss+
Mining accounts for 4-7% of direct global greenhouse gas emissions. When scope 3 downstream emissions are included, this rises to 28%, or 19,440 megatons of carbon dioxide equivalent which is second only to agriculture/ land use/waste at 30% of global emissions.
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The research done by dss+ shows that little is changing, with roughly the same amount being emitted per tonne of mineral output every year. This holds especially true for deep gold and platinum mines that are experiencing reduction in ore grades and increasing demand for ventilation and cooling services – technological advances proving insufficient to offset an increase emissions intensity.
“Based on our analysis of 52 mining companies, we found that the average annual rate of emission reductions was approximately 2% between 2018 and 2021. The current 2% annual reduction rate would result in a 40% gap to 2030 targets. The current decarbonisation rate aligns to a future of more than 2°C of warming, far above the target of 1.5 °C future set out by the Paris Agreement and associated science-based targets,” says Bolt.
“To achieve such reductions, the decarbonisation rate must increase to 4.5% per annum across the mining industry and be extended to include scope 3 emissions.”
The mining industry is faced with a paradox: companies must reduce emissions to align with decarbonisation goals and improve their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) performance, but must also ramp up production to meet the unprecedented demand for energy transitions minerals.
“This will require more energy and produce more absolute greenhouse gas emissions in the process. Indeed, this creates a situation where the current rate of decarbonisation is too slow to meet targets – an issue that is increasingly seen as problematic by the investors needed to fund the exploration and expansion of mining operations,” says Bolt.
Although many mining companies have committed to decarbonising their operations, our interviews with mining executives across commodities and geographies reveal that several barriers still exist. From reporting difficulties to implementation barriers, miners described the various obstacles to decarbonising their operations.
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The step change required can only be achieved if leadership adopts a value-based approach to decarbonisation – recognising the value of reducing emissions, creating the appropriate cultural context, building the right organisational and individual capabilities, and developing enabling structures and processes.
Specifically, dss+ recommends that mining companies pursue the following to overcome the barriers identified in the research:
“Ultimately, there are clear, proven strategies that can help miners to overcome barriers and accelerate their decarbonisation journeys in the short-term,” he adds.
Underpinning this is the requirement for a mindset shift within the industry – leaders must recognise the value of reducing emissions, create the appropriate cultural context, build the right organisational and individual capabilities, and develop enabling structures and processes.
“Doing so can drive significant reductions that are sustainable in the long-term, and thereby support more positive outcomes for all stakeholders.”
dss+ is a knowledge partner of Investing in Africa Mining Indaba 2025.
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