Examining Electricity Consumption Patterns By The Mining Sector In Namibia Between 2003 -2013

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ABSTRACT

Energy is an essential component of a developing economy such as that of Namibia. The affordability, availability and security of energy supply are indispensable to economic development on many facets. This study focused on electricity consumption patterns by the mining sector in Namibia by examining variations of annual production output, electricity consumption, electricity per unit output of production, and electricity tariffs of Gold, Uranium and SHG (Special High Grade) Zinc in Namibia between 2003 and 2013. The research also aimed to examine relationships between mining production output, electricity consumption, and electricity tariffs of Gold, Uranium and SHG Zinc. Main findings indicate that Gold mining scatter plots of electricity consumption against production output revealed a negative correlation; Uranium mining scatter plots of electricity consumption against production output revealed a positive correlation; and lastly SHG Zinc scatter plots of electricity consumption against production output revealed a positive correlation. It could thus be recommended that onsite energy audits be conducted as a means of assessing the underlying causes of the observed trends particularly the increase in electricity consumption accompanied by a decrease in overall production for gold mining. It could also be advisable for Uranium and SHG mining to visit the option of energy audits within their operations as a means to possibly curb possible excess electricity consumption.  

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