Keywords
Mining Operations
Power System Reliability
Variable Frequency Drives
Power Quality
Ghana
Gold Mining
How to Cite
Abstract
Mining operations constitute a significant part of operational expenditure, with electrical systems comprising 40-60 percent of total energy consumption in underground and surface mining operations. This paper is an evaluation of the execution of energy efficiency and reliability optimization strategies at Former Golden Star Wassa Limited, a gold mine in Wassa Akyempem, Ghana. An energy audit was carried out over six months that included the analysis of the power quality, load distribution, equipment efficiency, and the reliability of the systems in processing plants, hauling operations, and ventilation systems. The research utilized both qualitative measurements and quantitative performance measurements such as power factor correction, harmonic distortion measurement, and reliability measures such as System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) and System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI). It was found that strategic measures such as the installation of variable frequency drive (VFD) on the grinding mill, power factor correction to 0.95, LED lighting retrofit, and predictive maintenance measures decreased the specific energy consumption by 20.1 percent. Reliability of the power systems also improved, as the SAIDI reduced to 68 hours/year, and SAIFI to 14 interruptions/year. The financial analysis shows that the simple payback period is 2.3 years and an internal rate of return is 38, which indicates good economic viability. These results give evidence-based advice on how energy can be managed in mining activities, which are resource-intensive, and this adds towards sustainability in the extractive industry.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Emmanuel Acquah (Author)