Zijin Akyem Strengthens Carbon-Neutral Drive

Zijin Golden Ridge Limited has intensified its carbon-neutral strategy at the Akyem Gold Mine, implementing a series of landmark green initiatives that set a new benchmark for responsible mining in West Africa. The programme, developed in alignment with Zijin Mining Group's global sustainability framework, aims to reduce the mine's carbon footprint to net-zero by 2035.

Central to the initiative is the transition to renewable energy sources, including the installation of a solar power facility capable of meeting a significant portion of the mine's energy requirements. The project is expected to reduce diesel consumption by thousands of litres annually and cut CO₂ emissions by tens of thousands of tonnes per year.

The Company has also invested in energy-efficient mining equipment, including the deployment of electric haul trucks and drill rigs, which generate substantially lower emissions than their diesel-powered counterparts. An advanced energy management system has been implemented across all operational areas to monitor and optimise real-time energy use.

"Our commitment to green mining is not merely a corporate aspiration — it is a business imperative," said a senior environmental officer at Zijin Golden Ridge. "We are demonstrating that gold production and environmental responsibility can, and must, coexist."

The Akyem mine has additionally expanded its reforestation programme, having planted over 500,000 indigenous trees across previously disturbed land within the concession area. Biodiversity monitoring, water recycling, and progressive rehabilitation of mined-out pits form core pillars of the environmental management strategy.

Zijin's green mining model at Akyem has drawn international attention, with delegations from several African mining jurisdictions visiting the site to study its approach. The Company has committed to publishing an annual sustainability report tracking progress against measurable environmental targets.