Editorial

Hello and welcome to the first edition of Connections for 2021.

My name is May Anderson, and I have just recently joined HBM Group as the Digital Content Coordinator and accordingly, Editor for the Associations biannual publication Connections. I am so grateful for the opportunity and eager to make this role my own and to work with ASA and its highly valued members. I hope you enjoy my first edition – as always, feedback welcomed.

Firstly, we discuss and introduce SmartCrete’s recently approved fast track programs, how the Association is supporting these projects and what each are about. Next, we look at a research project led by Cornell University (New York, US) which turns by-products including flue dusts, sludge and slag into valuable materials using a USD $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy.

We feature a story on WA-based company, Neometals and its partner Critical Metals Ltd, providing insights into the partnership’s Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) to recover vanadium from slag in a new processing plant. Following this, we have a story update on the SmartCrete CRC projects after they were given the ‘green light’ by the Australian Government and esteemed recognition for their research efforts.

Bringing it back to local news, we look at a new scholarship opportunity at the University of Wollongong formed by dedicated researcher and educator, Dr George Wang. Dr Wang completed his doctorate and contributed greatly to slag research at UOW with the help of a scholarship. He now wishes to establish a scholarship to return the favour to future students which will support slag research in Wollongong.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

The upcoming Roe Highway Logistics Park (RHLP) development is next on the list, detailing ASA member, Boral’s role in supporting the circular economy through supplying slag cement to this new major project in Perth.

The next story following the RHLP development is a new announcement that has been made by the WorldWide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the NSW Government. A new coalition By the name of The Materials & Embodied Carbon Leaders’ Alliance (MECLA) has been formed to reduce carbon emissions in Australia’s building and construction industry through various methods, including the use of low-carbon products.

The final story for this issue showcases the new product range put forth by Holcim Australia that has the potential to change the face of the construction industry, featuring a cement mixture that can be 100% carbon neutral.

Conclusively, the Australasian (iron & steel) Slag Association would like to thank our members for the ongoing support throughout the end of 2020 up until now. A special thanks to those who assisted with providing information to be published in our blog posts- it is much appreciated.

1. Editorial 2. ASA Supports SmartCrete CRC Fast Track Projects. 4. $1.5M Grant to Explore Integrated Reuse of Steel Industry By-Products. 5. Opportunity For a New Slag Processing Plant in Western Australia. 6. SmartCrete Fast Track Project Given The Green Light. 7. Scholarship Opportunity To Provide Stability for Students. 8. Advances in Boral Low-Carbon Concrete. 9. MECLA: Reducing Carbon Emissions In Australia 2. 10. Holcim Promotes New Low Carbon Concrete Range. 11. McI Wins $14.6 Grant from Commonwealth. 12. Finally Face to Face :: Global Slag Conference. 13. 2021 Membership Survey Reminder.

CONTENTS

CONNECTIONS EDITORIAL TEAM | May 2021 Edition

Connections is published by the ASA

The Australasian (Iron & Steel) Slag Association Wollongong NSW 2500 Phone: 02 4258 0160 Fax: 02 4258 0169 Email: info@asa-inc.org.au Web: www.asa-inc.org.au Executive Director: Craig Heidrich Editor: May Anderson Design: 101 Design Contributors: May Anderson, Dan Webb, Craig Heidrich Connections is a biannual publication with an online circulation of 1500 copies @asa_info