Mining

The Impact of Gravity Induced Hydro (GIH) on Mining Profitability and Decarbonization

For every 100 MW of GIH capacity integrated into mining, the sector can save over $200 million annually while achieving full decarbonization. 

Example of a mine in Central Africa where diesel is used for generation and cost $2.50 per litre the sector can save over $300 million annually

⚙️ 1. Typical Power Consumption in Open-Cast (Surface) Mining

Power use varies by:

• Ore type (coal, copper, iron, platinum, etc.)

• Ore grade and hardness (affecting crushing/milling)

• Size of operation (tonnes mined per year)

However, based on benchmark studies (World Bank, ICMM, and mining OEM data), we can estimate total electrical demand for a large open-cast mine as follows:

Rule of thumb:

A large open-cast mine typically consumes 60–120 MW of electricity continuously, excluding diesel haulage. This would be 2-3 by 50 Mw GIH units

🔌 2. Power Breakdown by Use

Here’s the approximate distribution of electrical power (excluding diesel logistics):

⚡ 3. Including Electrified Haulage and Plant

If we electrify haul trucks and mining support vehicles (currently diesel), total power requirements increase substantially but remain manageable for GIH supply.

For example:

• 150 × 6×4 trucks × ~500 kWh/day each = 75 MWh/day ≈ 3 MW continuous

• Add processing and conveyors → total demand ≈ 70–120 MW continuous

Thus, a large mine (100 Mtpa scale) would need a GIH installation of roughly 100 MW to fully replace both diesel and grid/generator power.

💰 4. Financial View

Potential annual savings:

$100–400 million per mine (depending on current power mix).

🪫 5. Integration Summary

✅ Conclusion

A typical large open-cast mine would require ~100 MW of GIH capacity to run fully electric operations, saving up to 35% of OPEX and hundreds of millions annually — while eliminating most CO₂ emissions and diesel dependency.

Where electricity is from the grid and trucks have a diesel cost of $0.9 per litre 

Deploying GIH in mining transforms operational economics — cutting fuel dependence, stabilizing power supply, and creating a new benchmark in sustainable extraction.

For every 100 MW of GIH capacity integrated into mining, the sector can save over $200 million annually while achieving full decarbonization.