OceanaGold mulls next electrification steps at Macraes & Waihi North based on technical studies
In its just released 2025 Sustainability Report, OceanaGold says its decarbonisation efforts last year continued to focus on projects with potential to have material decarbonisation benefits. This included evaluation and progression of acceptable renewable energy supply procurement and supply agreements…”as well as the electrification of future mining fleet requirements when they are economically feasible, technically proven and when the underlying power source is sufficiently lower carbon in nature to drive a net reduction in GHG emissions.
The miner has identified that renewable electricity supply is its largest near term decarbonisation lever. During 2025 the purchase of renewable energy certificates for the electricity supply at Didipio and Haile was increased (from 25% to 100% at Haile and from 0% to 100% at Didipio) through engagement with regional energy providers. Combined with maintenance of 100% renewable energy sourcing at its two New Zealand operations (which has been in place since 2021), this enabled the company to achieve 100% renewable energy supply for all four of its mines for the first time in 2025.
Looking at fleet electrification, the Waihi North Project and Macraes mine are progressing decarbonisation studies to assess options for the use of electric fleet components. OceanaGold is also a member of the Caterpillar ‘Pathways to Sustainability’ program, an industry initiative intended to help businesses identify
potential opportunities for fleet decarbonisation including hybrid and electric fleet options.
In 2025, Macraes commissioned an external study to examine the outlook for electric and hybrid fleet solutions over the next five years, including evaluating retrofit technologies for electric and hybrid diesel-electric conversions. The study, which explored the technical feasibility, commercial readiness and operational
compatibility of multiple electrification strategies, is expected to be finalised in 2026.
Several electrification studies were also conducted for the Waihi North Project, using diesel mechanical equipment as the baseline scenario. The most promising option for underground operations the miner says is the use of diesel-electric loaders adding “we continue to monitor various other potential technologies for
readiness as they mature.”
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