OceanaGold has installed a new electric furnace in its Macraes’ gold room, increasing safety and reducing carbon emissions at the operation in New Zealand.
The furnace features a cascade pouring system, allowing multiple gold bars to be poured at once, and a mechanical tipping system that eliminates the need for manual handling.
The new electric furnace runs entirely on renewable energy, cutting LPG use by 110,000 litres a year and reducing emissions by 177 t, according to the EECA, an organisation that encourages the use of sustainable energy in New Zealand. The furnace also creates 90% less airflow, meaning fewer fumes.
“The new furnace has great improvement in safety for the gold room workers,” Process Manager, Quenton Johnson, said.
With cascade moulds and a larger crucible, the furnace heats more gold at once, reaching 1,100°C – well above its 1,064.2°C melting point.
“So, for example, instead of having to do say four separate pours to get four bars, we now do one pour and four moulds will fill with gold,” Johnson said.
The furnace is far more reliable and significantly reduces emissions, the EECA claims.
This is the company’s second big move to electric power, following last year’s introduction of a new electric shovel — also a New Zealand first.
Both shifts to electric equipment were co-funded by EECA and support OceanaGold’s goal of achieving net-zero operational emissions by 2050.
