Implementation of DSM strategies at the Kopanang Mine

Abstract

This paper describes the implementation of Demand Side Management (DSM) strategies at AngloGold’s Kopanang Mine, for a period of three months during 2001. Since the unit price of electricity was very high during certain hours of the day, it was endeavoured to save costs by scheduling the operation of specific high power drawing equipment, (such as the clear water pumps and bulk air coolers), to operate mainly outside of peak hours. This objective was achieved by modelling and calculating a daily optimum operation schedule, which was supplied daily to the mine. As a result, an amount of R335 000 in electricity costs was saved during this period. It was also demonstrated that an additional R273 000 could have been saved if the supplied schedules had been complied with consistently.