Abstract
Abstract This paper is aimed to systematically assess greenhouse gases (GHGs) and energy intensity of the granite rock mining operations in Thailand and also identify a range of feasible options to minimize their GHG emissions. Mining factories A, B and C, located in the Eastern region of Thailand, were selected as research case studies. The results indicated that the 3-year average of GHGs emissions from factories A to C was 3387 718 kgCO2e per year with approximately 2.92 kgCO2e per ton of granite rock produced over 2012 to 2014. Of this, the carbon intensity of grid-electricity consumption for the crushed rock production was 1.84 kgCO2/kWh. Diesel fuel combustion for transport activities in the mining factories was the greatest contributor to GHGs emissions (68 %) compared to the purchased electricity and explosion process, with 31 % and 1 %, respectively. In-Pit Crushing and Conveying (IPCC) installation, haul truck payload optimization and management, and reduction in tire rolling resistance have shown potential to reduce carbon emissions accounted for 20 % to 70 %.
Highlights
Thailand’s mining sector is an important contributor to the country’s economy [1]
greenhouse gases (GHGs) protocol developed by the World Resource Intuition (WRI) and the World Business Council on Sustainable and Development (WBCSD), both direct and indirect sources of emissions are systematically considered
Granite Rock Quarrying Process The following four steps of the granite rock quarrying include site preparation, mining, transport and comminution: Site preparation: Site preparation involves the process of preparing the prospect area for mining and constructing a mining infrastructure to support the facility
Summary
Thailand’s mining sector is an important contributor to the country’s economy [1]. Tin and gemstone were vitally important minerals in the country’s history, utilization of other geological resources such as limestone, lignite, basalt, granite and shale are showing an upward trend (Table 1) [3]. The role of limestone and granite rock lies in many applications as a coarse and fine aggregate for all forms of construction, concrete, cement, railways and so on. Most limestone and granite are annually used in the construction industry [4]. Like most heavy industries, mining is a major energy consumer and emitter of greenhouse gases (GHGs) which are drivers of global climate change. In Thailand, TGO [5] reported that mineral production processes accounted for over 90 % of total GHGs emissions from the industrial sector. There is a relationship between (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), in the manner agreed with De Gruyter Open
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