Photo by: Reuters
JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Gold miner Hummingbird Resources is considering the development of a run-of-river (ROR) hydroelectric facility to support the development and operation of its Dugbe mine, in south-west Liberia.
Following a positive preliminary report for the proposed hydroelectric power (HEP) plant, about 10 km from Hummingbird’s 4.2-million-ounce Dugbe project, the company has contracted Knight Piesold to conduct a prefeasibility assessment of the potential hydropower development on the Dugbe river and its major tributaries, targeted for the second quarter of 2016.
A prefeasibility report had been issued in draft form, as a preliminary assessment of the project’s viability and it would be updated in final form once additional hydrological studies and topographic mapping had been completed.
The report, which assessed four ROR hydropower options ranging from 15 MW to 30 MW with varying intakes, demonstrated a range of hydropower options that would be beneficial in the development of a sustainable and low-cost source of power for Dugbe.
“The HEP scheme will create a catalyst for growth in the region and provide a significant potential operating cost saving for Dugbe,” Hummingbird CEO Dan Betts said.
A previous desktop HEP scoping study considered power demand of 30 MW by the Dugbe mine; however, the updated average power demand for Dugbe was forecast at 16 MW, but with additional capacity for the local region to address the expected peak demands of 20 MW to 30 MW.
The draft prefeasibility hydropower study was based on a mixture of regional rainfall data and topographical information ranging from 1 m light detection and ranging data near the proposed powerhouse site, up to the 10 m national topographic data.