Teck takes step to carbon neutral status with renewable power deal for Chilean mine

VANCOUVER — Mining company Teck Resources Ltd. says it is making another step on its vow to be carbon emission neutral by 2050 by signing a long-term renewable power purchase agreement for its Carmen de Andacollo copper mine in Chile.

Under the agreement, the mine will source 72 megawatts (550 gigawatt-hours per year) from AES Gener’s renewable portfolio of wind, solar and hydroelectric energy.

The Vancouver mining company says the transition from fossil fuel power sources will eliminate about 200,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions annually, equal to removing over 40,000 passenger vehicles from the road.

AES Gener, owned by the AES Corp., is also to be the supplier of renewable power for Teck’s Quebrada Blanca Phase 2 copper mining project currently under construction, providing more than half of its total operating power needs when completed.

Teck has set a goal of achieving 100 per cent renewable power in Chile and reducing the carbon intensity of all of its operations by 33 per cent by 2030.

The Carmen de Andacollo (CdA) renewable power deal is in effect as of Sept. 1 and is to run through to the end of 2031. The mine is about 350 kilometres north of Santiago.

“Teck is tackling the global challenge of climate change by reducing the carbon footprint of our operations and working towards our goal of becoming carbon neutral,” said Teck CEO Don Lindsay.

“This agreement takes Teck a step closer to achieving our sustainability goals, while also ensuring a reliable, long-term clean power supply for CdA at a reduced cost to Teck.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 17, 2020.

Companies in this story: (TSX:TECK)

The Canadian Press