Celebrating Earth, Optimizing Energy: Harita Nickel’s Steps In Managing Emissions

Climate change is a tangible and growing challenge that affects many aspects of life, from everyday activities to industrial operations, including mining. Increasingly unpredictable weather patterns, rising global temperatures, and more frequent extreme weather events are reinforcing the need for more responsible energy management.

In this context, Earth Day serves as a timely reminder of our collective responsibility to maintain environmental balance through measurable and accountable actions in mining operations. As a responsible nickel mining and processing company, Harita Nickel is committed to bringing the spirit of Earth Day to life through its Climate Action program.

Harita Nickel’s ESG Transformation Manager, Zahedi Zakaria, explained that the company’s Climate Action program focuses on both mitigation and adaptation efforts in addressing climate change. 

“On the mitigation side, Harita Nickel has developed a Decarbonization Roadmap to guide our efforts in improving energy efficiency and gradually reducing emissions. On the adaptation side, we are also implementing various initiatives to align our operations with our Climate Action targets,” he said.

 

Sustainable Energy Initiatives (SEI) at Harita Nickel

A key component of this Decarbonization Roadmap is the implementation of Sustainable Energy Initiatives (SEI), designed to support emission reduction targets while improving operational efficiency. These initiatives are rolled out progressively through energy optimization, equipment and process upgrades, and the adoption of more sustainable energy solutions. Key initiatives include:

 

1. Acid Plant Waste Heat Recovery

This initiative captures residual heat from the sulfuric acid production process and converts it into reusable energy for operations. The technology has been implemented across Harita Nickel’s facilities, contributing significantly to energy efficiency, with total energy utilization reaching 11,637,506 GJ.

2. Coal Gasification

Through this approach, coal is converted into synthetic gas (syngas), which is then used as a source of heat energy. This technology has generated 25,206,050 GJ of energy, supporting more efficient operational processes.

3. Electric Vehicles for Operations

The use of electric vehicles, such as towing trucks and forklifts, in the nickel sulfate warehouse area is part of the company’s effort to reduce emissions from internal transportation. In addition to lowering emissions, this initiative has contributed 216 GJ of renewable energy.

4. Belt Conveyor System

In addition to introducing electric vehicles for operations, Harita Nickel has also implemented belt conveyor systems to transport materials. This approach improves distribution efficiency while reducing dust emissions.

5. Energy Management System (EnMS)

Harita Nickel has also implemented an Energy Management System (EnMS) to identify efficiency opportunities and provide recommendations for increasing the use of new and renewable energy. The implementation is carried out in stages, beginning with awareness-building and training, followed by gap assessments, baseline and target setting, and internal audits.

 

These initiatives reflect the company’s commitment to efficient energy utilization, supported by active participation from employees across the organization. 

Zahedi emphasized that energy optimization efforts will continue to evolve. “Our initiatives do not stop here. Harita Nickel will continue to identify opportunities to improve energy efficiency, reduce emissions, and drive the adoption of more sustainable solutions across all operations,” he added.

Earth Day ultimately reminds us that every action matters in safeguarding environmental sustainability. Through a structured and collaborative approach, Harita Nickel continues to advance toward more efficient and responsible nickel mining and processing operations.