Trimegah Bangun Persada

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Utilizing Clean and Renewable Energy in Harita Nickel Operations

20 September 2024

Clean, renewable, and environmentally friendly energy could be the key to keeping global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial levels, and thereby meeting the targets outlined in the Paris Agreement of December 2015.

Harita Nickel supports this process, not just by providing raw materials for batteries powering the energy transition, but also by ensuring that its nickel mining and processing operations are conducted in a sustainable and responsible manner. One of the ways this is achieved is through an emphasis on the use of environmentally friendly energy.

With several initiatives already underway, Harita Nickel aims to achieve net zero emissions by 2060. Here are some of the clean energy projects that are moving this journey forwards:

1. Flue Heat Recovery System at PT Halmahera Persada Lygend (HPL)

Like other industries, HPL's nickel processing produces exhaust gasses, steam, or hot liquids. However, in 2023, Harita Nickel implemented a waste heat recovery system to capture and convert this heat back into clean energy. This initiative allowed Harita Nickel to recover 2,870,080 gigajoules of energy and avoid 307,988 tons of CO2e emissions. Considering that 1 liter of gasoline produces about 0.32 gigajoules of energy, this means Harita Nickel has recovered energy equivalent to 9 million liters of gasoline by reusing factory heat.

2. Replacing Coal with Used Cooking Oil

Harita Nickel provides daily meals for its 25,000 employees, which generates a significant amount of used cooking oil. PT Megah Surya Pertiwi, a Harita Nickel business unit processing nickel ore into ferronickel, uses this oil to operate its rotary kiln electric furnace (RKEF) smelter. This initiative has reduced coal usage in the smelter by 6.4 percent.

3. Using Solar Panels for Street Lights

Street lights are essential to Harita Nickel's operations. Solar panels have been installed in the Obi Industrial Area to power street lights around the PT Trimegah Bangun Persada mining complex, the PT Halmahera Persada Lygend nickel processing complex, and the PT Halmahera Jaya Feronikel nickel processing complex. These solar panels have generated 98 gigajoules of energy, avoiding 42.83 tons of CO2e emissions.

4. Increasing Biodiesel Use

Since February 2023, Harita Nickel has been using biodiesel in its power generation and transportation equipment. This initiative has generated 908,220 gigajoules of energy and avoided 45,011 tons of CO2e emissions.

5. Replacing Diesel with Electricity

In addition to using biodiesel, Harita Nickel has replaced six forklifts and six towing tractors with electric units. This initiative has reduced the need for conventional fuel by an estimated 163,680 liters.

6. Solar Panels and Micro Wind Turbines

Based on Regional Regulation Number 12 of 2023, the Kawasi Village New Settlement is a South Halmahera Regency Government program which aims to build a new residential area for the Kawasi Village community. To support this program, Harita Nickel has been assisting with development since 2023. In addition to supporting the construction of houses and other social infrastructure, Harita Nickel has installed two solar panels with a 200-watt peak capacity and a 1-kilowatt peak micro wind turbine to power village facilities and housing in the Kawasi Village New Settlement.

2024 Initiatives

Harita Nickel recognizes the road to net zero emissions is a long one. However, the company continues to innovate in the use of clean and environmentally friendly energy to achieve its goals and reach the intended destination. Several initiatives are planned for 2024, including:

  1. Installing solar panels to power telecommunications towers throughout the TBP Mining business complex, employee residences, and dining areas;
  2. Installing 400 MWp solar panels on the roofs of buildings in the company's integrated nickel processing area; and
  3. Installing ground-level solar panels with a capacity of 300 MWp by 2025 – this additional energy source forms part of Harita Nickel's long-term strategy to increase the use of clean and environmentally friendly energy throughout its operations.

Harita Nickel is committed to exploring innovations in clean energy solutions. By continuing to expand and upscale its use of environmentally friendly energy, the Company is on course to achieve its goal of net zero emissions by 2060.

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