Improvement of Energy Efficiency in a Gold Mining Industry: Case Study of a Russian Gold Mining Company

The issue of energy efficiency is attracting more and more attention of academia, business and policy makers worldwide due to increasing environmental concerns, depletion of non-renewable energy resources and unstable energy prices. The significant importance of energy efficiency within gold mining industry is justified by considerable energy intensity of this industry as well as by the high share of energy costs in the total operational costs. In the context of increasing industrial energy consumption energy efficiency improvement may provide significant energy savings and reduction of CO2 emission that is highly important in order to contribute to the global goal of sustainability. The purpose of this research is to identify the ways of energy efficiency improvement relevant for a gold mining company. The study implements single holistic case study research strategy focused on a Russian gold mining company. The research involves comprehensive analysis of company’s energy performance including analysis of energy efficiency and energy management practices. This study provides following theoretical and managerial contributions. Firstly, it proposes a methodology for comparative analysis of energy performance of Russian and foreign gold mining companies. Secondly, this study provides comprehensive analysis of main energy efficiency challenges relevant for a Russian gold mining company. Finally, in order to overcome identified challenges this research conceives a guidance for a gold mining company for implementation of energy management system based on the ISO standard.

Energy efficiency of glassmaking production

Master’s thesis Energy efficiency of glassmaking production gives description of glassmaking production and possible energy saving measures. Due to the high electricity and fuel prices the problem of rational energy utilization rises sharply. In addition the environmental issues also require a great attention. This work represented the feasible increasing of the furnace efficiency as the most productive activity. Thesis also provides a detail description of utilizing waste heat boiler. Also possible boiler characteristics are calculated and represented at the end of the thesis. As well as brief description of the feasibility of using this method of energy saving. The solution of this problem has a huge importance. Due to the increasing of energy costs and limits of raw materials, glassmaking industry should overcome on high efficiency operation mode. Especially, if such measures is making a significant contribution in the safety of environment.