Vivo Energy, a seller and distributor of energy fuels and lubricants in Africa, has been engaged by listed Canadian mining company Robex Resources Inc to supply solar energy at its Nampala gold mine in Mali, West Africa.

The project comprises a 3.9 MWp photovoltaic power plant and a battery of capacity 2.6 MWh. These would be integrated with the existing thermal power plant using an energy management system. (Robex)

The use of solar energy will reduce the cost of the KW currently consumed by the mine by $0.04. That will further cut the mine’s production costs, already among the lowest in the world.

“Our mining clients are always looking for ways to reduce their operational costs and improve their sustainability,” said Khadidiatou Fall, General Manager of Vivo Energy Mali. “With this hybrid solar/fuel solution, we can help them achieve both goals.”

“This energy will enable us to reduce our carbon impact by approximately 60,000 tonnes over ten years, and provide us with a complementary source of energy to stabilize our electricity production,” added Benjamin Cohen, CEO of Robex.

Robex’s corporate strategy is to acquire small, low-grade projects at inexpensive prices and then to process the ore in a standardized, responsible and highly cost-effective manner. For example, in only the second year of operations at Nampala, Robex recovered 44,946 ounces of gold at a cost of $643/ounce.

Vivo Energy will supply solar power to Nampala for a period of five to fifteen years.