Geothermal an energy option for Colluli mining project in Eritrea

Road to Mendefera, Eritrea (source: flickr/ David Stanley, creative commons)

Reported in mining news outlet Mining Weekly, it is reported that Australian Stock Exchange-listed potash developer Danakali is evaluating renewable energy as part of its planned mininig project in Eritrea.

The company is developing the project in cooperation with the Eritrean National Mining Corp. (Enamco) in a 50:50 joint venture. The project is targeting the mining of sulphate of potash (SoP) and potentially incorporating solar, wind or geothermal as part to become a zero carbon producer of SoP.

The Colluli project lies in an area that saw detailed geological and geochemical work by USAID and US Geological Survey with the Eritrean Ministry of Mines and Energy. For the area a high-temperature geothermal reservoir was identified in Alid with estimates of a potential heat of 250 to 300 degrees Celsius. This would make geothermal power generation a real option for the project. A similar project on Lihir Island in Papua New Guinea is today using geothermal power to power gold mining operations.

The site saw further work that highlighted its potential in 2015.

Source: Mining Weekly, Danakali