Data Sensitivity in Mine

Emissions Inventory
Lpez Rosario
Lamming Steve
Ludea Sandro

AGENDA

Pueblo Viejo Project

Introduction
Methodology
Data sensitivity
Application to
projects

Pueblo Viejo Project

General Aspects

Major
Components

Gate

TSF El Llagal

ARD 03 Pond
Process Plant

ARD 01 Pond

Moore Pit
Stockpiles

Monte Negro Pit

Pozo Hondo Reservoir

Pueblo Viejo Process Plant

View
Crushing

Autoclaves
CCD Wash Circuit

Ferric Precipitation Circuit

Efluent Treatment Plant

Lime boil and slury cooling circuitr

Copper recovery circuit

Neutralization and solution cooling circuit
CIL Cyanidation circuit
Refinery

Introduccin
The mining sector in many countries constitutes a significant
impact to local air quality and mining interests around the
world have to quantify offsite air quality risks.
While this risk has traditionally been determined by dispersion
modelling, it is the determination of source emissions that is
the primary input.
A sensitivity analysis is a tool to evaluate the overall
uncertainty in the emission estimates and to assess where
limited site resources are best assigned to gather more
detailed information may be required to refine emissions data.
For this study, sources are categorized into two source groups
point and fugitive, focusing on two air contaminants
particulate and nitrogen oxides as indicators
Knowledge of key sources of variability in emissions can also
be used to prioritize strategies for controlling emissions.

General Process
Extraccin

Voladura

Transporte

Molienda

Chancado

Proceso
hmedo
del
mineral

Refinacin

Extraccin
del metal

Refinamient
o del metal

Emission inventory data for the Barrick Pueblo Viejo Mine

site were analyzed and the impact of percentage changes
to critical parameters was reviewed in the context of source
significance. This included data from a variety of point and
fugitive sources and a range of assessment methodologies.

PVDC Major Emission

Sources

Open pit emissions:

Process plant
emissions
Lime Stone Plant

Aproach to emission
estimation

Introduction to AP 42, Volume I, Fifth Edition- January 19

Emission factors
The basic formulation of an emission rate is shown as
Emission rate (kg/hr) = Activity rate (units/hr) x Emission factor
(kg/unit) x (1 - Control efficiency (%)/100)

Courtesy Frey 2007

Source measurement
The calculation of emission factors using measured
data, obtained through source testing or
continuous emission monitoring, is a function of the
exhaust flow rate and the concentration of the
specific contaminant in the flow.
In most test campaigns, uncertainty in
measurement methods or results is typically an
average of three source tests where the coefficient
of variation (COV) may vary widely.

Percentage Contribution by
Source
Category and
Activity

% PM in
category

EF
Ratin
g

Blasting

EF

Handling &
Transport
Crushing

EF

Storage piles

Extraction

Process Plant
Source emissions
(autoclaves)
Tanks / Cooling
towers
Other process
Refinery
Plant Total
1
2

Estimatio
n Method

% of total
plant NOx
emission
99.3%

28.7%

83.9%

B1

66.9%

14.0%

EF

3.6%

0%

EF

C1

0.8%

0%

SM

A2

2.4%

100%

EF

95.4%

0%

EF

2.2%

0%

SM

A2

100%

100%

0.4%
100%

% of total
plant PM
emission
63.3%

36.2%

Rating reduced due to parameter uncertainty

Source test measurements are given in-plant A-rating

0.5%
100%

% NOx in
category

Percentage Contribution by
Source
CoV Range PM

CoV Range NOx

Max

Min

Max

Min

Extraction
Process
Plant

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

29.05%

5.04%

56.26%

8.93%

Refinery

16.63%

2.65%

164.62%

23.81%

Conclusiones
In the development of an emissions inventory, proponents
must consider the application of the most appropriate
estimation methodology for each emissions source based
on information available to the project team.
Where the overall contaminant impact may be significant
and the number of sources small then increased attention
should be paid to logging parameters for those sources that
will most significantly affect the emission rate calculation.
In conclusion it is strongly recommended that estimates
used to generate emissions profiles for permit processes are
validated on the as-built scenario for mine due diligence
and environmental protection.