Infographic – counting the cost of comminution
As high grade ores stocks dwindle, the need to divest more energy in the pursuit of profits is wreaking havoc on company bottom lines. As the following infographic details, refining the process, known as comminution, on average the most energy intensive part of mining operations, is the first place companies should look when it comes to cutting costs.
Comminution accounts for a whopping 53% of the energy used in mining operations worldwide, while on a wider scale comminution accounts for around three percent of all total electricity consumed worldwide. And this number is growing.
As stocks dwindle the need to crush, break, smash and sift increasingly lower grade ore is increasing – eking out a payload in lower grade ore requires finer filtering and as a result the amount of energy required goes up.
For an already energy intensive industry looking to offload costs and improve on environmental credentials, exploring more energy friendly methods and technologies to improve and refine the communition process is a no-brainer.
Courtesy of Visual Capitalist the infographic below depicts in vivid details the rising cost of communition and provides some very compelling figures for a smart switch to a less energy intensive mining methodology. Click on the image to see it full size.
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