Mining Magazine Spring 2022

GREEN CORRIDORS: forging a net zero path

Charting the course for QLD's RESOURCES INDUSTRY

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Welcome to the first edition of Mining Magazine, a new publication that explores the latest news, discussions, innovations and projects in Australia’s mining sector.

Monkey Media Enterprises ABN: 36 426 734 954

C/- The Commons, 36–38 Gipps St, Collingwood VIC 3066 P: (03) 9988 4950 monkeymedia.com.au info@monkeymedia.com.au miningmagazine.com.au info@miningmagazine.com.au ISSN: Pending

It is an exciting time to be involved in the mining sector; the world is changing, with a push towards having a reduced reliance on coal for energy production, and increasing pressure on traditionally strong export markets for minerals like iron ore.

But on the flip side, the global thirst for technology like smartphones, computers, solar panels, batteries and electric vehicles is growing at an exponential rate; and Australia has significant deposits of the critical mineral resources required to build these products.

Australia is already a world leader in the export of resources, with a welldeveloped industry that is able to supply countries with high-quality, ethically sourced minerals using environmentally sustainable practices.

However, the industry also faces a number of challenges including skills shortages, mental health and well-being, and the need to digitalise and reach ESG and sustainability goals.

For Mining’s inaugural edition, we take a closer look at some of these challenges as well as other major topics the mining sector is grappling with, such as demand for critical minerals, automation, and exports and trade. We also explore the trends impacting the sector, what our future mines could look like and what governments and mine owners/ operators are doing to drive the sector into the future.

In this issue, the Queensland Department of Resources discusses the Queensland Resources Industry Development Plan, which charts a course for everyone to work together to transform the industry so it continues to create jobs and prosperity – responsibly and sustainably. It examines the six key focus areas identified in the plan, and

what it imagines the industry will look like in 30 years’ time.

We have an article from Peter Majewski from UniSA’s Future Industries Institute that looks at materials demand for renewable energy systems until 2025, and the CSIRO shares a brief history of critical minerals. We also explore what the future of the industry could look like through key industry trends, and take a deep dive into green corridors.

For this launch edition, we’ve partnered with IMARC and WA Mining Conference and Exhibition to distribute the magazine. We’ll be partnering with other major mining events over 2023 for distribution, so be on the lookout for us.

Mining is published by Monkey Media, the team behind highly regarded industry titles including Pump Industry, Utility, Infrastructure, Energy and Council. As well as the quarterly print magazine, Mining is supported by a website which is updated with breaking news daily, and a weekly enewsletter which delivers all of the news for the week directly to your inbox. Head to miningmagazine.com.au to explore the online home of the magazine, and subscribe to the enewsletter or magazine if you haven’t done so already.

Australia’s mining industry is on the cusp of significant change; but with great change comes great opportunity. It is our aim to provide the industry with the knowledge that will propel it forward to continue to be a leader on the global critical resources stage.

If you have any innovations, projects, research or thought-leading ideas you’d love to share with Mining Magazine, you can email me at lauren.cella@monkeymedia.com.au.

I hope you enjoy Issue 1.

CRITICAL MINERALS IN FOCUS

SUSTAINABILITY

A heightened focus on ESG is gaining momentum within the mining industry, as non-financial factors play an increasing role in investor and consumer decision-making worldwide. This new reality calls for mining businesses to consider the unique ESG risks to which their operations are exposed, and measure, report and improve performance on various ESG criteria. Understanding ESG principles and adopting an appropriate framework enables companies to provide the transparency and accountability that investors now require, overcoming challenges while offering opportunities for innovation and value creation.

INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION

FUTURE MINES

Although

environmental and

landscape have caused swift shifts in miners’ priorities. Here, we look ahead to the biggest areas of opportunity in mining and the challenges the industry is looking to tackle in the coming years.

GOVERNMENT COMMITS TO IMMEDIATE ACTION ON SKILLS SHORTAGE

The Federal Government has committed to several policies addressing ongoing skills shortages following the conclusion of its Jobs and Skills Summit.

The event engaged representatives from industry, unions and other stakeholders. Following the consultation, the Federal Government committed to the immediate implementation of 36 initiatives.

Two of these policies seek to improve upon current skills shortages, and include:

♦ An additional $1 billion in joint federal-state funding for fee-free TAFE in 2023 and accelerated delivery of 465,000 fee-free TAFE places

♦ An increase in the permanent Migration Program ceiling to 195,000 in 2022-23 to help ease widespread, critical workforce shortages

The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) celebrated the Federal Government’s commitment, which it says will improve the strength and composition of the domestic resources workforce.

MCA Chief Executive Officer, Tania Constable, said the policies would

drive greater participation in the mining industry.

“The MCA welcomes the positive announcements on childcare support, training and skilled migration at the Jobs and Skills Summit and will continue to engage constructively on proposals to increase real wages through productivity growth,” Ms Constable said.

“The Federal Government’s commitment to increase permanent skilled migration by 195,000 nationally will benefit regional communities, with an extra 9,000 places providing the mining industry an increased talent pool.

“Bringing forward child support and more fee-free TAFE places are important measures to increase choice and pathways for Australians, including women, people with disability, First Nations people and families.”

However, Ms Constable cautioned against proposed changes to industrial relations reform, suggesting any change must be ‘carefully considered’.

“The strong contribution of mining –and the opportunities for further minerals development and value-adding – must not be compromised by a return to industrial disruption and wage-price

inflation, which characterised industrywide bargaining prior to the Keating Government’s workplace relations reforms,” Ms Constable said.

“A number of new workplace relations priorities nominated by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Tony Burke, will require careful consideration and extensive consultation to avoid unintended and counterproductive outcomes for jobs, productivity, wages and investment in the technology and equipment that will position workers to thrive in the industries of the future.

“No case has been made to extend multi-employer bargaining to high-paying industries like mining.

“As the Minister indicated, any change must preserve the ability of employers to make enterprise agreements under the current regime.

“Mining has successfully used enterprise bargaining and a suite of employment options to treble employment over the past 20 years from 88,000 to 278,000 people, with 88 per cent of those jobs being permanent and average wages across the industry of $144,000 a year.”

MINE EXTENSION PROVIDES STABILITY FOR CQ MINING WORKFORCE

ACentral Queensland steel-making metallurgical coal mine extension has been approved, ensuring the continued support of more than 700 mining jobs.

Queensland Resources Minister, Scott Stewart, said the extension of the Carborough Downs mine near Moranbah would increase the mine’s lifespan by another eleven years and support its large workforce.

“The Carborough Downs mine is a significant employer and economic contributor for the Isaac region and this extension ensures the future stability of those jobs,” Mr Stewart said.

Carborough Downs is an underground metallurgical coal mine which is owned and operated by Fitzroy Australia.

The mine currently supports about 700 employees, with nearly 70 per cent of its workforce being local or drive in, drive out workers.

Mr Stewart said the investment is a strong vote of confidence in the Queensland resources sector, including its large deposits of high-quality steelmaking coal.

“This extension will create flow-on economic benefits for the entire Isaac region, from tools, safety and workwear suppliers right through to our pubs, cafés and accommodation providers.

“Queensland offers a great lifestyle and having good jobs available in the regions is an important way to sustain this.”

Coal production from the mine’s extension is expected to begin within the next 12 months.

Mr Stewart said the Queensland Government will continue to support the resources sector for the royalties and jobs it generates, particularly in regional Queensland.

“The resources industry directly supports about 77,000 jobs across the state, particularly in the regions, which account for around two thirds of all mining jobs,” Mr Stewart said.

“Queensland is naturally blessed with the world’s highest quality metallurgical coal, which the world needs to make steel.

“Even as the world transitions to renewables, metallurgical coal for steel will remain an essential, and valuable, international export commodity for Queensland.”

WA ACCELERATES EFFORTS TO ACHIEVE NET ZERO IN MINING

The Western Australian Government will expand the research scope for the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia (MRIWA) in a bid to support research into clean energy and emission reduction technologies.

Western Australia Mines and Petroleum Minister, Bill Johnston, made the announcement at the MRIWA Net Zero Emission Mining WA Conference, along with announcing the launch of the Hybrid Power Purchase Agreement guide and template.

The template will help facilitate contract negotiations between miners and independent power producers for the installation of on-site renewable generation.

“Expanding MRIWA’s research scope will position our state to benefit from research and development focused on emissions reduction and the broader clean energy value chain,” Mr Johnston said.

With decarbonisation activities and downstream processing opportunities accelerating, momentum continues to grow for

industry to reduce emissions and reach the Western Australian Government’s goal of net zero emissions by 2050.

The Government is supporting industry by:

♦ Allocating $6 million in funding for research and development in critical minerals, precision and low-impact mining, and the uptake of clean energy technologies

♦ Developing its Sectoral Emissions Reduction Strategies with industry

♦ Drafting the Greenhouse Gas Storage and Transport Bill

♦ Providing a series of resources through its Energy Industry Development (EID) team

While many clean energy technologies are well-established, significant technological barriers remain that are preventing broad adoption. Specific applications of clean energy solutions at scale, particularly in heavy and extractive industries, remains a challenge.

MRIWA will commence consultations to identify and prioritise the high-impact research areas in parallel to legislative changes being made.

NEW CEO COMMENCES AT WA CHAMBER OF MINERALS AND ENERGY

The new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Western Australia’s Chamber of Minerals and Energy (CME), has officially commenced their new role.

Rebecca Tomkinson comes to CME from the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS), where she served as CEO for more than four years.

Ms Tomkinson has taken the reins from Paul Everingham, who stepped down from the role at the end of his contract earlier in the year.

Ms Tomkinson said she was excited about the opportunity to serve as CME’s CEO.

“It is a real honour to join CME and I am looking forward to working in partnership with our member companies in the mining and resources sector in Western Australia,” Ms Tomkinson said.

“Our sector is the engine room of the Australian economy and plays a critical role in our communities, our economy and our everyday lives.”

During Ms Tomkinson’s tenure at RFDS, the service achieved significant growth and new capabilities through diversification and technological advances, including the introduction of two new aircraft types at the RFDS in Western Australia – Pilatus PC24 jets and EC145 helicopters – both national firsts for the organisation.

The Rio Tinto LifeFlight PC24 jets have halved flight times and increased patient capacity on long-haul routes across Western

Australia since their introduction in 2018. The integration of the jets led to the RFDS being named the state’s Tech Company of the Year in 2019.

Ms Tomkinson thanked acting CEO, Rob Carruthers, for managing the organisation since late May.

“Rob has expertly guided CME during the past several months, including establishing important links with the new Albanese Federal Government and leading the response to the WA Parliamentary Inquiry Into Sexual Harassment Of Women In the FIFO Mining Industry,” Ms Tomkinson said.

“I will work closely with Rob and the executive team over the next month as I make the transition out of RFDS into CME.”

After more than three and a half years with CME, Mr Carruthers will depart the organisation to take up a new corporate affairs role at Liontown Resources.

NEW ACLAND SECURES MINING LEASES ENDING 15 - YEAR FIGHT

After a 15-year-long battle, New Hope Group has secured mining leases for Stage 3 of its New Acland Mine, following an independent assessment by Queensland’s resources ministry. The company has sought an expansion to the New Acland mine for over a decade, a project that will increase total capacity to 7.5 million tonnes and extend operations by at least 12 years.

The only remaining primary approval required for New Acland Stage 3 to proceed is the granting of the Associated Water Licence by the Department of Regional Development, Manufacturing and Water.

New Hope Group Chairperson, Robert Millner, said the issue of the New Acland Mine Stage 3 Mining Leases is very welcome and long awaited news.

“New Hope and the local communities around Acland and Oakey are now only one step away from restarting the New Acland mine where there has been mining activity for over 100 years,” Mr Millner said.

“New Acland Stage 3 stacks up environmentally, socially and financially, and is consistent with and delivers on the recently released and extensive Queensland Government Resources Industry Development Plan.

“Unfortunately after 15 years of seeking approvals, New Hope remains at risk of ongoing delays caused by objectors utilising the court system to engage in ‘lawfare’ to slow down the approval process, regardless of the merits.

“We are hopeful that the Queensland Government can see a way to finally approve New Acland Stage 3 with certainty to secure jobs in the region and significant economic benefits for Queensland.”

NEW QR C REPORT PREDICTS MAJOR CHANGES FOR QLD RESOURCES SECTOR

The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has released its latest State of the Sector report for the June 2022 quarter, with the new data showing the fallout of the Queensland Government’s royalty hike as well as predicting major changes to the sector’s workforce over the next three years as companies accelerate efforts to achieve 30 per cent female participation by 2026.

The report confirms the Queensland Government’s decision to impose the world’s highest royalty taxes on coal producers has hit the resources sector hard, with more than one quarter (27 per cent) of resources leaders expecting to employ less people at existing operations over the next five years as a direct result of the State Government’s royalty hike.

The same survey conducted six months ago found that at that time, no Queensland CEOs expected to cut jobs over the next twelve months and 35 per cent were feeling confident about increasing employment at their operations.

QRC Chief Executive, Ian Macfarlane, said the report confirms the industry’s worst fears about the impact of the government’s higher royalty taxes on future investment plans.

“This latest data shows the State Government’s extra royalty tiers have dramatically impacted business confidence and investment plans across all commodities, not just coal projects,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“The report is a major red flag because it shows how much the royalty hike has hurt Queensland coal projects as well as gas, base metals and critical minerals projects.”

Mr Macfarlane said while it’s not possible for resources companies with

established operations in Queensland to relocate mines, new projects or planned expansions of existing sites will be hit hard as companies consider investing in less highly taxed destinations.

The report found that 54 per cent of CEOs believe the likelihood of expanding or upgrading their existing operations has decreased because of the royalty hike.

Additionally, 62 per cent of CEOs said the likelihood of new projects had also fallen, with 38 per cent saying the chance of undertaking new projects had dropped by more than 25 per cent.

Despite coming against the backdrop of a national jobs and skills summit and major skilled worker shortage across the industry, the report did contain some good news, showing that 78 per cent of the state’s CEOs plan to implement new diversity and inclusion programs over the next 12 months.

According to the report, 85 per cent of Queensland CEOs believe a more diverse and inclusive workforce improves staff attraction and retention rates, and 62 per cent believe it boosts business performance, productivity and employee wellbeing.

Mr Macfarlane said the intense competition for skilled workers has helped to accelerate company efforts to recruit more women and people from Indigenous and culturally diverse backgrounds.

“Along with other industries, resources companies have been struggling for some time to fill positions because of border restrictions relating to the pandemic and Australia’s historically low unemployment rate right now,” Mr Macfarlane said.

“The positive out of this for Queenslanders is that

new doors are opening for a wider and more diverse section of our community to get a well-paid job in our minerals and energy sector, where they can contribute to our industry’s transition to a lower emissions future.”

According to the QRC’s most recent diversity and inclusion report, the proportion of women in project management roles has more than doubled over the past ten years and now sits at 23 per cent.

Over the past five years, the number of women in trade and operational roles has increased by 37 per cent, representing nearly 14 per cent of these positions.

The report also included a CEO sentiment survey, which found the top three concerns keeping Queensland resources leaders awake at night right now are:

The global macroeconomy, with some CEOs pointing to a looming recession and the impacts of the Ukraine war as a major concern

High input costs which has jumped from sixth place to number two since the December 2021 quarter

The problem of attracting and retaining skilled employees, which has fallen from the number one position for the first time since the June 2021 quarter

INDUSTRY MAKES $3.9B INVESTMENT IN MINERALS EXPLORATION

The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) has released a report calling for greater business investment in new technologies and projects.

MCA Chief Executive Officer, Tania Constable, said the MCA’s Economic Series Report demonstrated the need for investment growth.

“The last decade has seen Australia going from one of the best performing OECD countries for private sector capital investment to one of the poorest performing and labour productivity growth falling 2.5 percentage points,” Ms Constable said.

“Since the end of the last mining investment boom, growth in the economy’s real net capital stock

substantially slowed and it is now growing at its lowest rate in 60 years.

“Unless this is turned around, Australia is at risk of experiencing continued weakness in business investment, which in turn will further weaken the contribution from our stock of capital to productivity growth.”

To attract capital investment, the report highlights the need for economic reforms that deliver internationally competitive tax settings; expanded trade and investment opportunities; efficient and effective regulatory settings; practical and beneficial workplace relations rules; an efficient transformation to net-zero emissions; and, industry-focused skills and training programs.

“The minerals industry has demonstrated its ability to be a major contributor to Australia’s private sector capital investment and productivity growth owing to the expansion of mining that began in the 2000s,” Ms Constable said.

“The industry can again make a substantial contribution to lifting productivity if policy settings make Australia a competitive destination for large-scale investment in mining and minerals processing projects.

“A one per cent lift in productivity by 2030 would deliver a $200 billion boost to the Australian economy, 9.4 per cent increase in real wages and Australian families $11,700 better.”

BHP’S NEW PROGRAM TO ASSIST MINERAL EXPLORATION STARTUPS

BHP’s new cohort-based accelerator program – Xplor – will offer early-stage startups in-kind services, mentorship, networking opportunities with industry, and investors and connections to hasten critical minerals exploration.

The program is set to assist early-stage mineral exploration startups find critical resources, such as copper and nickel, to drive the energy transition.

BHP Xplor merges concepts from both venture-capital and early-stage accelerators, to establish a fit-for-purpose exploration portfolio of innovative earlystage mineral exploration companies and help drive their exploration campaigns.

BHP’s Chief Development Officer, Johan van Jaarsveld, said that through this program BHP hopes to create disruptive results in copper and nickel exploration by identifying new concepts, leveraging new data and testing opportunities at a much faster pace than discoveries to date.

“The demand for future-facing commodities, such as copper and nickel, needed to support the global energy transition, is forecast to increase in the coming decades – the launch of BHP Xplor will help us accelerate in finding these critical commodities now and into the future,” Mr van Jaarsveld said.

COMBINING LOCATION, TRACKING AND AI FOR ENHANCED MINE SAFETY AND PRODUCTIVITY

MAs the resources industry rapidly digitalises, implementing technology that allows for digitally-enabled decision-making represents a major opportunity for the sector to improve operations. If a mining company has access to a digital map of a mine site, showing the location and quantities of equipment and materials, the whereabouts of personnel, and has access to enhanced communication, it can not only increase productivity but also improve health and safety outcomes on-site.

erging location and tracking with the intelligence of AI, new technology from Australian-owned company, Contact Harald, provides mining companies with better methods to bring significant operational and process improvements, allowing workers to find equipment and locations with an interactive map of assets tagged with tracking technology.

This powerful combination also helps create a safer work environment as personnel can be located and tracked quickly by first responders if someone is injured, or in times of emergency.

Such technology paves the way for companies to unlock the value of technology through integrated operations, enabling them to be more agile in their response to changes and to make informed operational decisions.

Ask Harry

Ask Harry is an intelligent digital assistant designed to streamline mining safety procedures and provide the industry with operational productivity gains. Using multilingual voice control as the main input, Ask Harry makes finding and reporting information simple. It can also be used by personnel to call for help, either by phone or two-way radio.

Find Harry

Find Harry is an integrated location and tracking system, designed for both real-time tracking and last-seen location solutions. It helps improve safety and efficiency by providing a clear picture of workers' whereabouts and the precise location of tools, equipment, inventory and assets, at all times. Combining multiple technologies such as GPS, Bluetooth and Wifi, Contact Harald tailors cost-effective solutions to meet the unique scenarios and needs of its customers.

Merging technologies to transform the mining industry

Combining Ask Harry’s ease, speed and multilingual offerings with Find Harry’s location capabilities, provides mining companies with the tools needed to unlock value across the mine site by:

♦ Enhancing communication

♦ Providing faster access to information

♦ Enabling quicker, more accurate safety reporting

♦ Optimising inventory, equipment, asset and fleet management

With Harry's network of beacons and tags, users can view a digital map of the mining site, showing the location of equipment, materials and the whereabouts of personnel.

Mining personnel can also access job information, directions and safety updates with a call to Harry, and upload reports onsite through their mobile phones or two-way radios. In the case of an incident, those nearby can call Harry to alert emergency personnel, and the location services provided by Harry can help early responders rapidly locate those injured.

Having produced innovative solutions over the past decade, and being the first to squeeze battery-powered Bluetooth tracking technology inside a credit card, Matt Denton, Contact Harald’s CPO, said Ask Harry and Find Harry build on the evolution of the company’s work to find new ways to provide effective answers for the challenges faced by businesses globally.

“Find Harry is the natural evolution of our work in location technologies over the past decade. We are expanding our products to include indoor, outdoor and proximity-based solutions,” Mr Denton said.

“When you add Ask Harry in the mix you get location with intelligence, creating smarter ways to use your location data. Ask and Find Harry form a powerful duo to help create a safer work environment, plus increase productivity.

“I'm certain that the sector is about to make great strides in productivity and worker safety.”

The Ask Harry and Find Harry solutions will launch toward the end of Q3 2022 in Australia, with offerings in the US to be made available around late Q4 2022. For more information, visit bit.ly/askharry-mm

A PORTABLE VALVE ACTUATOR FOR THE MINING SECTOR

By definition, open pit mines are often located in remote areas, and can be large or even gigantic (some mines are much larger than large cities).

The process of operating a mine is complex and involves many industries. The infrastructure (electricity, clean water, wastewater, roads, etc.) is comparable to that of a large city, not to mention the industrial infrastructure itself.

Water is a resource that is used extensively in all areas and its supply is critical. It often comes from far away and is transported by large pipelines.

Whether in the water pumping stations at the ocean's edge, on the route of the pipelines or – above all – in the mine itself, the water networks are complex, with enormous flows and consequently large valves. Often, these valves are manual and, given their size and the torque required, require several thousand turns of the hand wheel to open or close them, which represents a very long operating time.

Modec portable valve actuators are used for preventive maintenance

♦ Drastic reduction in operating time

♦ Reduced fatigue, risk of accidents and occupational illness

♦ Protection of the valve itself with our power, speed and torque control systems

♦ Increased valve service life due to shorter, easier and therefore more regular maintenance operations

♦ The valves are of course located in remote and sometimes very isolated locations

This is where the Modec range is of particular interest due to the possibility of using portable battery-powered actuators (with a continuous autonomy of up to 90 minutes), or actuators with combustion engine (in this case the autonomy is limited only by the size of the petrol canister taken by the operator).

For the numerous valves located in pumping stations or water treatment complexes (most often equipped with a compressed air network), a particularly powerful and light pneumatic compressed portable actuator can also be used. It is also possible to use one of the battery-powered actuators directly connected to the mains for total autonomy.

♦ Simple installation : The portable actuator and flying adapter can be installed in seconds

♦ Ease of use : The device is intuitive, safe, lightweight and can be used safely by anyone

1300 FMT FMT (368 368)

Melbourne

1/53-57 Rimfire Drive

Hallam VIC 3803

Brisbane

2/5 Percy Drive

Brendale QLD 4500

Perth

3/48 Hardey Road

Belmont WA 6104

sales@fmt.com.au fmt.com.au

♦ Robustness : Portable actuators do not require any special maintenance and are particularly suitable for demanding environments

♦ Versatility : With only five models (two pneumatic, two battery, and one gas) and a few adapters, any valve can be handled in any environment. Whether the need is to save time by going faster or to gain strength for difficult valves, our devices are there for you

♦ Associated gains : It is not necessary to look far to see the gains brought by these portable actuators – saving time (and therefore money), reduction of accidents, sick leave and occupational illness which cost the company a lot of money, reduction of drudgery (operator satisfaction and improved productivity), drastic improvement of equipment maintenance and consequently its lifespan

Established in 1995, Field Machine Tools has thrived as a privately owned Australian company supplying portable maintenance machines and engineering solutions to clients across Australia. The business aims to flatten production downtime by providing operators with the most complete scope of products and accessories for industries across Australia and beyond.

MATERIALS DEMAND OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS

UNTIL 2025

By Peter Majewski, Future Industries Institute, University of South Australia

During the past ten years, the uptake of renewable energy systems, especially solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and wind turbines, has significantly increased, and represents a significant change in the way we are generating power on-grid and off-grid. Both technologies have become important means to transition to an electric power generation which is renewable, scalable and free of greenhouse gas emission.

Recent reports of The World Bank¹ clearly highlight the future demand in mineral and metal resources to manufacture renewable energy systems, and estimates that over three billion tonnes of minerals and metals are needed to manufacture renewable energy systems. This is especially the case for energy storage, which requires an up to 500 per cent increase in production of graphite, lithium and cobalt; and solar PV and wind power systems require significant resources of aluminium, silicon and rare earth elements.

In 2050, the entire 2018 production volume of nickel will be consumed to manufacture renewable energy systems, and the production of vanadium and indium needs to be doubled to satisfy the demand. In addition, it is estimated that up to 29 million tonnes of copper have to be mined by 2050 to provide sufficient amounts for renewable energy systems.

All this is required to avoid a global temperature increase of 2°C. However, if more ambitious climate targets are requested – and this is not unthinkable – the required amount of minerals and metals for the manufacturing of renewable energy systems will be even higher. While this demand in minerals and metals represents a significant challenge in future, it also represents a significant economic opportunity for mineral-rich nations and related industries, and the prognosis provides the necessary data for long-term planning in this industry sector.

While these reports are providing an important outlook of what will be necessary in 2050 from today’s point

of view, it still needs to be considered that technology change may affect this prognosis within the next 30 years. For example, the report of the Club of Rome in the early 1970s² gave the prognosis that the world will run out of essential minerals and metals within a few decades. However, this prognosis was quickly rendered obsolete by the rise of plastics and polymers – which by now have replaced minerals and metals in numerous applications – by the rise of computers and ICT which transformed manufacturing, and the discovery of more and more minerals and metals resources worldwide.

More challenging may be the aspect of technology change, which may significantly reduce the expected demand in minerals and metals in some areas, but may increase the demand of other minerals and metals in other sectors of renewable energy systems. New concepts for wind power systems, called vortex wind power, may provide wind energy with less demand in materials, especially materials for the wind turbine blades and generators³. However, more significant development may have to be made in order to make such wind power systems compatible with conventional wind power systems.

Currently, 85 per cent of all solar photovoltaic panels are based on silicon. However, new solar PV systems are emerging, which are based on copperindium-gallium-selenide instead of silicon⁴. While such PV systems may play a more significant role in future, it is not very likely that they will replace siliconbased solar PV systems in the near future, as significant investments were made to build manufacturing capacities for silicon

solar PV systems, so they will most likely stay for some time.

It is, therefore, essential to assess the demand in minerals and metals for renewable energy systems over a much shorter time frame in order to identify potential bottlenecks in supply which may affect the spread of renewable energy systems.

Increase of renewable energy capacity until 2025

Together, solar PV and wind power technologies generated 1.44TW of electric power in 20205. Considering the increase of solar PV power and wind power since 2011, it can be expected that by 2025 solar PV power will generate electric power in excess of 1.5TW and wind power in excess of 1.1TW (Figure 1)6

These combined 2.6TW of electric power generated by a conventional black coal plant would produce about 16.4 billion tonnes of CO2. However, as shown in Figure 2 the demand in electric energy increases by almost the same amount between 2020 and 2025, and therefore, the increased solar PV and wind power uptake will most likely only address the increased global energy demand and not reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Figure 1: Increase in the uptake of solar and wind power⁵ and expected further increase until 2025. Grey: wind power; black: solar PV power.

Compared to conventional electric energy generating technologies, the energy density in kilograms of weight per watt generated by solar PV or wind power systems is very low. Compared to coal and gas, solar PV requires about five to ten times more essential materials and wind energy requires nine to 18 times more8. This only considers the essential materials for the actual power generation like copper, silicon and other metals. If additional necessary materials used in the systems are included– like glass and aluminium for solar PV panels, fibreglass composites in wind power, and steel for the mounting the solar PV systems or building the wind turbine towers – the ratios are much larger.

Materials demand for solar photovoltaic power until 2025

Solar PV power generation has significantly increased worldwide between 2015 and 2020 by 490GW5. This means that – considering a state-ofthe-art solar PV panel during this time

period produced 300W to 350W – a staggering 1.4 billion to 1.63 billion solar PV panels were installed during this time period worldwide.

At a usual weight of a solar PV panel of about 18.5kg9, to achieve this, 17.6Mt to 20.5Mt of tempered glass, 3.9Mt to 4.5Mt of aluminium for the frame of the panel, 0.78Mt to 0.9Mt of silicon for solar cells, and 0.26Mt to 0.3Mt of copper for the junction box, and 3.4Mt to 3.9Mt of polymers for waterproofing were consumed. In total, 25.9Mt to 30.1Mt of materials.

However, in regards to copper, the numbers are even higher for solar panel systems due to the interconnection of the panels and connections to the storage battery and grid. It is estimated that about 4.6 tonnes of copper per megawatt generated is needed for complete systems8. Considering this number, the amount of copper consumed is about 2.25Mt. In addition, about 15Mt of steel for the mounts of the panels in complete systems were consumed.

By 2025, as outlined above, the expected installed capacity of solar PV power generation will have increased by about 800GW to about 1,500GW worldwide. Considering that the newest panels are capable of producing an output of 350-400W, it can be expected that in addition to the recently installed 1.4 billion to 1.63 billion panels another two billion to 2.3 billion panels need to be manufactured and installed during the time period between now and 2025. This would see a demand of 25.2Mt to 28.9Mt of tempered glass, 5.5Mt to 6.4Mt of aluminium, 1.1Mt to 1.3Mt of silicon, 0.37Mt to 0.42Mt of copper, and 4.8Mt to 5.5Mt of polymers. The demand for copper will reach between about 4Mt to 4.4Mt, and for steel about 24Mt when complete solar systems are considered, as outlined above.

While silver is used in older solar PV panels, it has gradually been replaced in manufactured panels. Therefore, silver demand for solar panel manufacturing over the coming years is not considered in this discussion.

Materials demand for wind power until 2025

Wind energy has been the second biggest renewable energy producer after hydro energy over the past 20 years. However, it can be expected that it will be overtaken by solar PV power in the near future. Due to better and more predictable wind resources offshore, wind power is being increasingly generated by offshore wind farms with foundations embedded in the ocean floor, or using new floating wind turbine technology. However, due to higher costs for

Figure 2: World energy consumption. Source: US Energy Information Agency⁷.

offshore wind farms, onshore turbines remain the dominant technology.

During the past 35 years, wind turbines have become significantly taller and more powerful. The world's largest wind turbine currently is the 260m-tall Haliade-X offshore turbine. It features either a 14MW, 13MW or 12MW capacity, a rotor with a total diameter of 220m and three 107m-long blades.

In 2020, 733GW of wind power was generated worldwide5. During the time period between 2015 and 2020, the wind power capacity increased by about 317GW. In the near future, the expected increase in wind power capacity is about 400GW resulting in a total capacity of above 1,100GW to 1,200GW by 2025 (Figure 1)10

As for solar PV power, this increase of 400GW in capacity will result in significant demand in materials. Considering the current state-of-the-art wind towers, the expected increase would require the manufacture and installation of an additional 30,000 wind towers of Haliade-X size or 130,000 of the state-ofthe-art smaller 3MW onshore wind towers by 2025.

The demand in materials varies between the various types of wind towers.

Older wind turbines apply a gearbox between the rotor and the generator. Newer wind turbines are mainly manufactured using a direct drive, i.e. gearbox free, power transmission to the generator. While removing the gearbox provides a significant weight reduction by reducing the amount of steel for the turbine, direct drive turbines require higher amounts of copper of 3000t to 5000t per gigawatt generated as well as higher amounts of rare earth elements for the permanent magnets (100 to 240t per gigawatt generated) (Table 2).

Based on the data given by the International Energy Association7 and the European Commission11, at the expected increase of about 400GW of wind power capacity, the expected demand in rare earth elements can be calculated to be between 40,000 tonnes and 96,000 tonnes between now and 2025. For copper, the demand would be between 1.2 and 2Mt. About 2.2Mt of zinc and between 48Mt and 52Mt of steel would be required. Demand in minor components of the wind turbines would be 0.2Mt to 0.4Mt of aluminium, 0.12Mt of nickel, 0.04Mt of molybdenum, 0.32Mt of manganese, and 0.2Mt of chromium.

At the current state of wind power technology, it is estimated that eight to 13.4 tonnes of wind turbine blade materials is required to generate one megawatt of electric power12. Therefore, about 3.2 to 5.4Mt of glass fibre and carbon fibre composite material for wind turbine blades would be demanded until 2025.

Discussion

While the benefit of using solar PV and wind power to reduce greenhouse gas emission during electric power generation is widely acknowledged,

1. K. Hund, D. La Porta, T.P. Fabregas, T. Laing, J. Drexhage (2020), ‘Minerals for Climate Action: The Mineral Intensity of the Clean Energy Transition’, The World Bank, Washington, DC, USA

2. Donella H Meadows, Dennis L Meadows, Jorgen Randers, William W Behrens (1972), ‘The Limits to Growth’, Universe Books, New York, USA

3. P. McKenna (2015), ‘Bladeless Wind Turbines May Offer More Form Than Function’, MIT Technology Review <https://www.technologyreview.com/2015/05/27/167972/bladeless-wind-turbines-may-offermore-form-than-function/>

4. J. Ramanujam and U.P. Singh (2017), ‘Copper indium gallium selenide based solar cells – a review’, Energy Environ. Sci. 10, pp. 1306-1319 <https://doi.org/10.1039/C7EE00826K>

5. International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) (2021), ‘Renewable Capacity Statistics 2021’, Abu Dhabi, UAE

6. R. Andrews (2021), ‘Emission reduction and world energy demand’, last accessed 25 May 2021, <http://euanmearns.com/emissions-reductions-and-world-energy-demand-growth/>

7. T-Y. Kim and M. Karpinski (2020), ‘Clean energy progress after the Covid-19 crisis will need reliable supplies of critical minerals’, last accessed 21 May 20211, <https://www.iea.org/articles/clean-energyprogress-after-the-covid-19-crisis-will-need-reliable-supplies-of-critical-minerals>

8. M. Hall (2020), ‘World could add more than 900 GW of solar by 2025 if politicians grasp the nettle, IEA, last accessed 25 May 2021, <https://www.pv-magazine.com/2020/11/10/world-could-add-more-than900-gw-of-solar-by-2025-if-politicians-grasp-the-nettle-iea/>

9. P. Majewsk, W. Al-shammari, M. Dudley, J. Jit, S-H. Lee, K. Myoung-Kug and K. Sung-Jim (2021), ‘Recycling of Solar PV Panels - Product Stewardship and Regulatory Approach’, Energy Policy 149, 112062, <https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2020.112062>

10. J. Lee and F. Zhao (2021), ‘Global Wind Report 202’1, Global Wind Energy Council, last accessed 25 May 2021, <https://gwec.net/global-wind-report-2021/>

11. S. Carrara, P. Alves Dias, B. Plazzotta, C. Pavel (2020), ‘Raw materials demand for wind and solar PV technologies in the transition towards a decarbonised energy system’, European Commission, Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2020

Table 2: Materials in direct drive wind turbines11 Numbers in tons/GW capacity.

the required demand in materials to satisfy the expected increase in power generation by these technologies is of concern (Table 1).

To put these amounts of materials in some context, it can be calculated that the required amount of aluminium would be sufficient to build 100,000 airliners of the newest type of Boeing 73713. The amount of steel would be enough to build almost 1,200 Golden Gate Bridges, and with the amount of copper required it would easily be possible to connect planet earth with the sun with a 1.5mm solid copper wire.

However, compared with the production numbers of these materials in 2020, shown in Table 3, the situation appears less critical. Nevertheless, the expected future demand in these materials represents a significant additional demand which can be considered a reasonable challenge, especially in regards to rare earth elements, as the demand competes with the increasing demand of other essential technologies such as information and communication technologies. Nevertheless, the prognosis also presents a short-term business opportunity for the producers of these materials and mineralrich nations.

Given the significant demand in these materials within a rather short timeline, it is essential that markets, supply lines, and manufacturers of these materials

and renewable energy systems are prepared to achieve this. In addition, governments need to create and ensure undisrupted supply lines and trade agreements for these goods to guarantee the expected increase in renewable energy capacity. The consequence would be an undesirable significant increase in greenhouse gas emission due to increased conventional power generation.

It also has to be considered that at one stage, in about 15 to 25 years, the renewable energy systems that are currently installed, and those which are to be installed within the next few years, will reach the end of their operational life and will eventually go to waste. Most of the applied metals will go through recycling, but some of the materials are either very difficult to recycle or it is not economical to recycle them. One example is glass fibre composite material. The amount of this material consumed in wind turbine blades which were installed since 2015 and are expected to be installed until 2025 is about 5.7Mt to 9.6Mt, and causes a significant challenge for end-of-life management and recycling21

Silicon from existing solar PV panels is currently only recycled in very small amounts. The combined amount of

silicon consumed for manufacturing solar PV panels since 2015 and required for the solar PV panels until 2025 is expected to be about 1.88Mt to 2.2Mt.

In this context, economic recycling processes for silicon from solar PV panels is, therefore, important to ensure that this valuable material is incorporated into the circularity of the economy and reused for the manufacturing of solar PV panels or other silicon-based products such as silicon carbide ceramics.

Some materials are used across both technologies, such as copper, and some materials are crucial for generating electric power by the technologies, such as silicon and rare earth elements. These materials can be considered as absolutely essential, while others are only used for structural components, like aluminium and steel. Materials, like aluminium, which are not essential for directly generating electric power, can therefore be replaced by other materials, or made redundant by changing the design of a solar panel. Developments in this direction are already ongoing, such as the emerging organic solar cells22, floating solar panels and solar farms, which may require more light weight designs23, and build-integrated solar panels24

in Mt.

12. P. Liu and C.Y. Barlow (2017), ‘Wind turbine blade waste in 2050’, Waste Management 62, pp. 229–240

13. Modern Airliners (2022), ‘Boeing 737 Specifications’, last accessed 22 June 2021, < https://modernairliners.com/boeing-737/boeing-737-specifications/>

14. M. Garside, ‘Major countries in silicon production 2010-2020’ (2021), last 18 May 2021, <https://www.statista.com/statistics/268108/world-silicon-production-by-country/>

15. Global Data (2021), ‘Global copper production to recover by 5.6 % in 2021’, last accessed 18 May 2021, <https://www.globaldata.com/global-copper-production-recover-5-6-2021-covid-19-hit-output-2020says-globaldata/ >

16. International Aluminium (2022), ‘Primary Aluminium Production’, last accessed 18 May 2021, <https://www.world-aluminium.org/statistics/>

17. Statista (2021), ‘Global Production of Zinc Metal from 2004 to 2020’, last accessed 18 May 2021, <https://www.statista.com/statistics/264878/world-production-of-zinc-metal/#:~:text=In%202020%2C%20 approximately%2013.7%20million,world's%20largest%20producer%20of%20zinc>

18. M. Garside (2021), ‘Major countries in rare earth mine production worldwide 2020’, last accessed 18 May 2021, <https://www.statista.com/statistics/268011/top-countries-in-rare-earth-mine-production/>

19. S. Mazumdar (2020), ‘The Glass Fiber Market’, last accessed 18 May 2021, <http://compositesmanufacturingmagazine.com/2020/01/2020-state-of-the-industry-report/>

20. World Steel Association (2021), ‘Global Crude Steel Output deceases by 0.9% in 2020’, last accessed 18 May 2021, <https://www.worldsteel.org/media-centre/press-releases/2021/Global-crude-steeloutput-decreases-by-0.9--in-2020.html>

21. P. Majewski, N. Florin N, J. Jit and R.A. Stewart (2021), ‘Product Stewardship Policy Consideration for Wind Turbine Blades’, Energy Policy, submitted April 2021

22. L. Duan and A. Uddin (2020),’ Progress in Stability of Organic Solar Cells’, Adv Sci 22, 1903259, doi: 10.1002/advs.201903259.

23. P. Ranjbaran, H. Yousefi, G.B. Gharehpetian and F.R. Astaraei (2019), ‘A review on floating photovoltaic (FPV) power generation units’, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 110, pp. 332-347

24. B. Joseph, T. Pogrebnaya and B. Kichonge (2019), ‘Semitransparent Building-Integrated Photovoltaic: Review on Energy Performance, Challenges, and Future Potential’, Internat J Photoenergy, 5214150, <https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/5214150>

Table 1: Materials in solar PV panels. Average weight of an about 400W panel is about 18.5kg⁹.

Table 3: Material demand between now and 2025 at an expected increase in power generation of about 800GW for solar PV power and 400GW of wind power. Numbers

A SHO R T

HISTO � Y OF

CRITICAL MINERALS

By Jane Nicholls

They are the very definition of a modern hot commodity. Jane Nicholls reports on how governments decide what minerals are added to the critical minerals list, and why it’s a brilliant opportunity for the Australian resources industry.

Innovation is the simple reason that attention to critical minerals is in such sharp focus. Numerous technologies – from EV batteries to PV cells, from fibre-optic cables to semiconductor chips – rely on these minerals, which means we’re using more of them and in greater volumes.

“A hundred years ago, we were using a dozen main metals, and that was it,” said Allison Britt, Director Mineral Resources Advice and Promotion at Geoscience Australia.

“These days, we’re using almost all of the periodic table in some fashion in various technologies. We need to better understand critical mineral supply chains, diversify them and make them much more robust than they have been.”

These minerals are critical across numerous technologies driving energy transition, medical devices, aerospace and even banknotes, and are also crucial for products we regard as everyday, such as stainless steel and electronic appliances.

“The definition we use for critical minerals is that they are metallic or non-metallic elements that are essential to the functioning of our modern technologies, economies and national security, and that there is a risk that their supply chains could be disrupted,” said Ms Britt, who is a commodity specialist and expert in critical minerals.

In addition to minerals listed as critical, others are classed as strategic, and the list varies slightly from country to country, based on local uses and threats.

“I was once in a meeting with a famous American geoscientist discussing what’s a critical resource and what’s strategic,” recalled Dr Chris Vernon, Senior Principal Research Scientist at CSIRO Mineral Resources.

“He said it really simply; ‘It’s stuff you need that you can’t get’. That struck me as a good touchstone!”

The evolution of listing critical minerals

Ms Britt said, for example, “lithium, cobalt and tungsten are regarded as essential to modern life”.

They are all in geological abundance in Australia and on the critical minerals lists of the US, EU, Japan and India.

“Supply chain disruption to those minerals could come in the form of market monopolies – or near-monopolies such as we see with Chinese control of rare earths – or it could be market immaturity, political decisions, social unrest, natural disasters, mine accidents, geological scarcity, and recently we’ve seen pandemic and war.”

War was the reason the US made its first list of critical minerals. During WWI1, five key minerals – tin, nickel, platinum, nitrates and potash – were scarce on its own soil and within two years of the conflict beginning, were becoming difficult to obtain.

“The Americans drew up a list of War Minerals,” explained Ms Britt.

By 1917, the US Geological Survey had reoriented its work to aid the search for minerals needed for the war effort.

“Later they split it into three lists –strategic, critical and essential minerals – but by World War II, the lived war experience had shown those distinctions were largely academic.”

That is, they were all critical in one way or another.

Many critical minerals aren’t necessarily scarce in Australia, but as well as vulnerable supply chains, keeping up volume to meet surging demand from allied manufacturing sectors is a potential issue.

“If you’re relying on imports of all resources, that makes everything critical,” said Dr Vernon.

“Minerals that are on Australia’s critical list are usually major inputs to the economies of our allies and end up in things that we buy back in a finished form. Rare earth elements are on the Australian critical minerals list2, for example, not because we make things out of rare earths here, rather in recognition that allied economies rely on them.”

How an abundant mineral can quickly become critical

“When it came to developing Australia’s first Critical Minerals list, which was published in 2019, the Australian Government’s approach reflected the fact that our mineral economy is dominated by mineral exports, not manufacturing,” said Ms Britt.

“The original list of 24 minerals was based on the strategic needs of our partners – such as the United States, the EU, Japan, the UK and South Korea –combined with Australia’s high geological potential to supply those minerals.”

The 2022 Critical Minerals Strategy 3 published in March by the Department of Industry, Science and Resources saw the addition of high-purity alumina and silicon, both abundant in Australia.

“They are both important for a range of technologies including batteries, quantum computing and semiconductors,” said Ms Britt.

She said the addition of those two to Australia’s list, to bring the total to 26, is a classic example of how the importance of minerals shifts over time.

“They reflect changes in technologies, in geopolitics, supply chains and processing techniques,” said Ms Britt.

“Technically, neither high-purity alumina or silicon are available as

minerals in the raw – the base minerals are bauxite and silica sand – but it is a recognition that those are materials that are incredibly important,” said Dr Vernon.

“Silicon has been added in part because there is a global computer-chip shortage. When the chip shortage became apparent, governments scrambled and had a look at the supply chain for computer chips and went, ‘Ah, actually a lot of these chips are made in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, the US, and Europe, but manufacture of the base substrate material is concentrated in three or four individual manufacturers in China’. That’s a weak point in the supply chain.”

Enter the pandemic for a live demonstration of how a supply chain gets smashed almost overnight.

“When COVID hit China, factories closed down and they stopped producing as much of this high-purity silicon wafer, that’s essential for semiconductors,” said Dr Vernon.

“It was a pretty broad impact. The US can’t make enough of their own silicon wafers for these microchips. Solar photovoltaic panels are also made of high-quality silicon, so while the world is

not running out of silica (quartz and sand), it’s running out of high-purity silicon, because it’s not produced in enough places to keep the supply chain open and viable. That’s why silicon was added to the list this year.”

The demand for certain critical minerals will continue to fluctuate.

“It’s hard to believe today that asbestos and arsenic were once considered critical minerals,” said Ms Britt.

“It definitely keeps people busy trying to forecast what commodities will be regarded as critical minerals in the future! With renewable energy technologies in demand, we might find that Australia adds nickel, copper, tin and zinc to the list.”

All except copper are already on the US Geological Survey’s List of Critical Minerals4, which was first published in 2018 and had 15 added in 2022 to bring it to 50.

“The Australian Government regularly reviews our Critical Minerals list, and those of our partners, to ensure it reflects those changing conditions in technology, economics and geopolitics,” said Ms Britt.

“We want to make sure we are in the best position to build our own domestic capability for critical minerals discovery, processing and supply chains, which is a real opportunity for Australia.”

The critical minerals list is an important signal to markets

Ms Britt said that the addition of the two new minerals to Australia’s list in 2022 means they are now supported by the government’s Critical Minerals Strategy It sends a signal to the resources industry and helps to unlock investment in both mineral exploration, processing and downstream value-adding.

“The strategy includes a range of actions to help build Australia’s critical minerals capabilities,” explained Ms Britt.

The Federal Government’s $2 billion Critical Minerals Facility was announced in 2021 and is already providing loans to the sector. A $50 million virtual National Critical Minerals Research and Development Centre5, hosted by CSIRO in conjunction with Geoscience Australia and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) is another important initiative. It was

announced in March 2022 to help unlock new sources of economically viable critical minerals, develop Australian IP in critical mineral processing, target technical bottlenecks in strategic supply chains and drive collaborative research breakthroughs.

Ms Britt said once a mineral is on the list, companies can apply to the Critical Minerals Facilitation Office for connection to government funding facilities6

“For example, now that high-purity alumina is on the list, a company can apply for a range of financial support for its high-purity alumina project that will help improve access to it, secure supply, or advance its processing,” said Ms Britt.

“If a mineral is not on the list, that’s not an option.”

Australia’s potential as a critical minerals superpower

“The surge of electric vehicles and renewable energy projects around the world is a huge opportunity for Australia,” said Ms Britt.

“People want their cars to be made of materials that have been produced responsibly – they don’t want the cobalt in the battery to have come from child labour, or the rare earths in a motor to have contributed to irreversible environmental destruction. Manufacturers want secure supply of those minerals, and other critical minerals such as lithium, graphite, manganese and vanadium, all of which occur abundantly in Australia.

“The challenge is to value-add to our natural mineral wealth. Australia is a mining superpower, but with a few exceptions, such as the aluminium industry, we haven’t been so good at taking the next steps in the supply chain that would enable us to realise better returns.”

As Ms Britt said, most of our minerals are shipped out in bulk or minimally processed into concentrates or basic metals.

“The high-value critical mineral purification, chemicals and componentry are all created in other countries, and

the technology using these materials and components are manufactured in other countries – then Australia buys it back.”

Dr Vernon and Ms Britt also stressed that value-adding to our minerals onshore will not only bring economic benefits, but it will also bolster global security around these minerals.

“It’s incumbent on us to lengthen and strengthen these critical minerals supply chains,” said Dr Vernon.

“It’s exciting to dig up and concentrate an ore of something that’s scarce, but if you export it in raw form, you’ve lost all control over the supply chain. Valueadding within Australia to strengthen global supply chains is an important aspect to ensure we are not perpetuating the current situation, where some minerals are critical only because there’s a pinch point in the supply chain, and it’s in a country that’s not necessarily transparent in its dealings.”

He calls out two Australian companies that are forging a value-add path for our critical minerals wealth by doing more downstream processing onshore.

“Lynas Rare Earths7 is building a processing facility in Kalgoorlie, creating far more security in the supply chain,” he says.

6. https://www.industry.gov.au/policies-and-initiatives/critical-minerals-facilitation-office

7. https://lynasrareearths.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Lynas-Kalgoorlie-Project-Update-Feb-2022.pdf

8. https://www.iluka.com/getattachment/bf86791e-7a5b-40cd-a38f-0fd6185fdc24/eneabba-rare-earths-refinery-final-investment-(1).aspx

The company is the only producer of separated rare earths at scale outside China.

“Iluka Resources8 is building a refinery in Western Australia which will produce purified rare earths to feed into a rare earths metal refinery, with the product going to magnet makers. Those are both examples of companies lengthening their supply chains.”

Ms Britt said there’s immense scope for more projects like those.

“The growth in the critical minerals sector means we have this opportunity to reinvigorate our own domestic manufacturing sector, and to do more of that value-adding right here in Australia,” she said.

“Any downstream manufacturing needs a reliable feedstock and that’s where Geoscience Australia comes in – we uncover mineral potential which helps companies make those discoveries to provide the raw feedstock that will underpin a lengthened, diversified supply chain manufacturing sector here in Australia.”

For the Australian resources sector, it’s not so much a matter of ‘watch this space’ as watch this list.

HOW CRITICAL MINERALS WILL TRANSFORM THE MINING INDUSTRY

By Michelle Goldsmith, Contributing Editor, Mining Magazine

Minerals are crucial to the technologies enabling the global clean energy transition. As the need for climate action becomes increasingly urgent and efforts to reduce emissions intensify worldwide, demand for certain minerals is expected to soar. The rapid transformation of the global energy sector will cause dramatic shifts in mineral markets – bringing about a new set of challenges and opportunities for mining industry stakeholders.

Critical minerals underpin a net-zero future

Global energy systems are set to undergo massive transformations over the coming years, as societies transition from the widespread use of fossil fuels to lower-carbon energy technologies. This revolution has already begun – yet it must swiftly gain pace to limit the global rise in temperature to 2°C or under and for countries around the world to meet their emissions reduction targets. The increased uptake of renewable energy generation and storage technologies will require a significant boost in the supply of various critical minerals.

While the exact minerals needed differ by technology, solar PV systems, wind turbines, battery storage and electric vehicles (EVs) generally require significantly more minerals to build than their fossil-fuel counterparts1. Lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese and graphite are essential for high-performing batteries, while the magnets used in wind turbines and EV motors rely on rare earth elements. Electrification and the expansion of electricity networks necessitate large amounts of copper and aluminium. Meanwhile, the expansion of hydrogen as an energy carrier underpins major demand growth for nickel and zirconium for electrolysers, and for platinum-group metals for fuel cells.

To meet the goals of the Paris Agreement (including a global temperature rise under 2°C, and preferably less than 1.5°C, over pre-industrial levels) mineral supply to the clean energy sector will need to quadruple by 20402. The World Bank has estimated that more than three billion tonnes of minerals and metals will be needed3. Alternatively, to meet the more ambitious target of net zero globally by 2050, the clean energy sector would need six times more minerals by 20404. Either way, satisfying increased demand will require mineral supply far above current production.

The World Bank projects that by 2050 the energy sector’s annual demand for cobalt could be 460 per cent greater than 2018 production5. Similarly, graphite demand could be 494 per cent higher than 2018 levels, lithium 488 per cent, indium 231 per cent, vanadium 189 per cent, and nickel 99 per cent6. These figures refer purely to the quantities required for clean energy technologies, and do not account for the demand for these same minerals for other uses.

In many cases, clean energy growth projections signify drastic shifts in markets for these resources, as the energy sector becomes responsible for a much greater proportion of total demand. IEA (the International Energy Agency) estimates suggest that if the Paris Agreement goals are to be achieved, the clean energy sector will represent over 40 per cent of total demand for copper and rare earth elements by 2040, 60-70 per cent for nickel and cobalt, and almost 90 per cent for lithium7

Energy transition technology is becoming the fastest-growing segment of demand for many minerals. EVs and battery storage have already overtaken consumer electronics as the largest consumer of lithium and are expected to surpass stainless steel as the largest nickel end-user by 20408

The demand trajectory for each resource will depend on the climate policies and technology mixes adopted by different countries and remains subject to various sources of uncertainty. Any shortfall in supply of critical minerals could disrupt the global energy transition, resulting in delays we can ill afford.

Reshaping the mining sector

The push to decarbonise energy systems worldwide will undoubtedly shake up mineral markets and become a decisive force in the future of the mining and minerals sector. Understanding the various push and pull factors driving change, the principles likely to underpin how various parties approach critical mineral supply and key sources of uncertainty will be vital to overcome the challenges and seize the opportunities inherent in the global energy transition.

A successful energy transition, unhampered by critical mineral supply bottlenecks, will rely on effective collaboration between various stakeholders across the globe, including governments, the private sector, industry bodies and NGOs. Whether critical mineral supply can be ramped up quickly enough to meet demand depends on three key factors: how rapidly mining and processing capacity expands, the absolute availability of mineral reserves and resources, and how various geographical and geopolitical risks affect supply9

The impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on nickel prices demonstrates the power of geopolitical tensions to reap havoc on critical mineral markets and reaffirms the importance of supply diversification10. Currently, the mining and processing of certain minerals is highly concentrated in limited geographical areas, making supply chains extremely vulnerable to disruption. For instance, much of the total production and processing of lithium, cobalt and rare earth metals currently occurs in China. Meanwhile, battery-grade nickel supply relies heavily on the success of projects in Indonesia11. It's also possible for international tensions to catalyse changes to trade patterns, such as where certain minerals are processed. CSIRO research suggests that Australia could capitalise on rich mineral resources by expanding our refining and manufacturing capabilities to produce high purity materials and products12 In addition to overall demand growth and changes in end user sector dominance, focus on critical mineral recycling will likely intensify in an attempt to ease some of the pressure on production13

1. The role of critical minerals in clean energy transitions, IEA, 2021, https://www.iea.org/reports/the-role-of-critical-minerals-in-clean-energy-transitions

2. The role of critical minerals in clean energy transitions, IEA, 2021, https://www.iea.org/reports/the-role-of-critical-minerals-in-clean-energy-transitions

3. Minerals for climate action: the mineral intensity of the clean energy transition, The World Bank, 2020, https://pubdocs.worldbank.org/en/961711588875536384/Minerals-for-Climate-Action-The-MineralIntensity-of-the-Clean-Energy-Transition.pdf

4. The role of critical minerals in clean energy transitions, IEA, 2021, https://www.iea.org/reports/the-role-of-critical-minerals-in-clean-energy-transitions

5. Minerals for climate action: the mineral intensity of the clean energy transition, The World Bank, 2020, https://pubdocs.worldbank.org/en/961711588875536384/Minerals-for-Climate-Action-The-MineralIntensity-of-the-Clean-Energy-Transition.pdf

6. Minerals for climate action: the mineral intensity of the clean energy transition, The World Bank, 2020, https://pubdocs.worldbank.org/en/961711588875536384/Minerals-for-Climate-Action-The-MineralIntensity-of-the-Clean-Energy-Transition.pdf

7. The role of critical minerals in clean energy transitions, IEA, 2021, https://www.iea.org/reports/the-role-of-critical-minerals-in-clean-energy-transitions

8. The role of critical minerals in clean energy transitions, IEA, 2021, https://www.iea.org/reports/the-role-of-critical-minerals-in-clean-energy-transitions

9. Critical minerals for the energy transition, IRENA, 2021, https://irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Technical-Papers/IRENA_Critical_Materials_2021.pdf

10. Critical minerals threaten a decades-long trend of cost declines for clean energy technologies, IEA, 2022, https://www.iea.org/commentaries/critical-minerals-threaten-a-decades-long-trend-of-costdeclines-for-clean-energy-technologies

11. The role of critical minerals in clean energy transitions, IEA, 2021, https://www.iea.org/reports/the-role-of-critical-minerals-in-clean-energy-transitions

12. Critical energy minerals roadmap, CSIRO, 2021 https://www.csiro.au/en/work-with-us/services/consultancy-strategic-advice-services/csiro-futures/energy-and-resources/critical-energy-minerals-roadmap

13. Taking ESG seriously: The crucial role of mining investors in the energy transition, White & Case, 2021, https://www.whitecase.com/insight-our-thinking/taking-esg-seriously-crucial-role-mining-investorsenergy-transition

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) stresses the importance of a fair, sustainable, and orderly global energy transition.

“Increased mining activities should be sustainable: good working conditions, local economic development, respect for cultural and natural heritage, and net-zero carbon energy use,” states the 2021 IRENA Critical minerals for the energy transition report.

“Mining activities are increasingly subject to lengthy approval processes, and local acceptance is critical for a timely and adequate growth of primary materials supply. If done properly, new materials supply chains can create socio-economic benefits that will increase support for the global energy transition.

“An inherent tension exists between markets and government intervention. There is a need to find a balance, with appropriate roles for both… Global markets will always be the sum of the actions of different public and private actors. However, wellfunctioning markets need transparency.”

As countries around the world strive toward sustainable development goals, transparency and accountability will be key to success in critical mineral mining operations. Investors and financiers are highly aware of their role in the clean energy transition, and ESG (environmental, social and governance) considerations are a powerful and growing influence on investment decisions14. For companies in the mining industry, access to strategic partnerships, capital and more will depend on the ability to demonstrate performance on ESG principles.

Navigating shifting tides in uncharted waters

The rapid global transformation of the energy sector represents an array of challenges, uncertainties, and opportunities for companies within the mining industry. The critical minerals landscape is complex, with future demand for each mineral subject to various influences and uncertainties. To thrive in this space, stakeholders need to prepare and account for key risks.

Fundamental differences in critical minerals markets from familiar hydrocarbon-based energy markets need to be understood. Mineral supply faces its own distinct set of challenges. Energy security involving critical minerals functions quite differently than for hydrocarbons, and current international energy security mechanisms are primarily designed to insure against the risks of disruptions or price spikes in oil supply15. Oil supply disruption affects all oil users (such as drivers of diesel vehicles) due to the combustion of the fuel necessitating ongoing new supply. Critical mineral supply shortfalls or price rises will affect only new clean-energy infrastructure. Minerals from older infrastructure also have the potential to be recovered and recycled.

Each of the different minerals considered critical to energy transition technologies has its own unique supply characteristics. Some minerals, such as copper and molybdenum are used in a range of technologies, whereas others may be required for relatively few, such as graphite and lithium for batteries16. Those

with less diverse applications are subject to greater demand uncertainty: changes in the exact technology mix deployed or future innovations allowing for substitution or greater efficiency could cause significant reductions in total demand. In general, critical mineral demand trajectories are subject to substantial technology and policy uncertainties17. IRENA also stresses the need for more robust and comprehensive data on critical mineral resources in many jurisdictions.

The IEA identifies the chief vulnerabilities to critical mineral supply, which must be managed for clean energy transition, as:

♦ High geographical concentration of production

♦ Long project development lead times

♦ Declining resource quality

♦ Growing scrutiny of environmental and social performance

♦ Higher exposure to climate risks

While heightened investor focus on ESG can create challenges for companies within the mining industry, it is also a key source of future opportunity18. Exceptional standards, accountability and transparency will be essential for the bankability of critical mineral mining operations. Within the mining sector, the link between ESG performance and financial returns is strengthening. Non-financial criteria are now a pivotal consideration for investors evaluating the risks and opportunities of potential investments.

To access capital, critical mineral operations will need to adopt strong ESG principles and prove performance against various related metrics, demonstrating social and environmental best practice at all stages of their projects and throughout their entire supply chains. This will also be critical to build trust and prevent tensions between mining companies and the leaders and communities of resource-rich locales, which could otherwise become a major fault line in the global energy transition19

Companies that take a proactive approach to ESG stand to benefit by differentiating themselves from competitors, gaining access to new sources of capital, and taking advantage of advanced technology and data science to identify opportunities for innovation and value creation. One such possibility relates to the carbon footprint of critical mineral mining. While the extraction of critical minerals tends to be relatively carbon intensive, the large variation between operations suggests that emissions can effectively be minimised via fuel switching, lowcarbon electricity generation and efficiency improvements20

Demand for the minerals required to enable clean energy technologies will define the evolution of the mining sector over the coming decades. Likewise, the vital role of mining in securing mineral supply means that the industry has a huge part to play in the global energy transition, with ample opportunities for value creation and growth. In a rapidly shifting environment characterised by policy and technology uncertainties, understanding various forces at play, and satisfying ESG accountability and transparency expectations will be key to resilience and long-term financial success.

14. Why is ESG so important to critical mineral supplies, and what can we do about it?, IEA, 2022, https://www.iea.org/commentaries/why-is-esg-so-important-to-critical-mineral-supplies-and-what-can-we-doabout-it

15. The role of critical minerals in clean energy transitions, IEA, 2021, https://www.iea.org/reports/the-role-of-critical-minerals-in-clean-energy-transitions

16. Taking ESG seriously: The crucial role of mining investors in the energy transition, White & Case, 2021, https://www.whitecase.com/insight-our-thinking/taking-esg-seriously-crucial-role-mining-investorsenergy-transition

17. Critical minerals for the energy transition, IRENA, 2021, https://irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Technical-Papers/IRENA_Critical_Materials_2021.pdf

18. Mine 2021: great expectations, seizing tomorrow, PwC, 2O21, https://www.pwc.com.au/mining/global-mine-2021.html

19. Safeguarding critical minerals for the energy transition, CSIS, 2022, https://www.csis.org/analysis/safeguarding-critical-minerals-energy-transition

20. The role of critical minerals in clean energy transitions, IEA, 2021, https://www.iea.org/reports/the-role-of-critical-minerals-in-clean-energy-transitions

ESG:

BEYOND THE BOTTOM LINE

By Michelle Goldsmith, Contributing Editor, Mining Magazine

A heightened focus on ESG is gaining momentum within the mining industry, as non-financial factors play an increasing role in investor and consumer decisionmaking worldwide. This new reality calls for mining businesses to consider the unique ESG risks to which their operations are exposed, and measure, report and improve performance on various ESG criteria. Understanding ESG principles and adopting an appropriate framework enables companies to provide the transparency and accountability that investors now require, overcoming challenges while offering opportunities for innovation and value creation.

More and more frequently, investors are considering a company’s wider impacts, beyond the purely financial, when deciding whether to invest. ESG (environmental, social and governance) refers to the three main pillars encompassing the non-financial criteria often used by investors to assess company performance.

Environmental

Environmental ESG criteria primarily relate to positive and negative environmental impacts, including effects on the atmosphere, land, oceans, seas, habitat, coasts, water bodies, and biodiversity. Investors may consider environmental protection policies and measures taken to optimise environmental impact by reducing pollution, balancing resource consumption, conserving natural ecosystems and resources, and supporting climate mitigation and adaptation.

What is ESG?

Social

A company’s social performance depends on the effects of its activities on people and communities. This includes outcomes related to community health, liveability and wellbeing, social cohesion, gender equality, education, housing, security, and more. Investors assess policies and measures to ensure fairness, accessibility and inclusion, or to enhance quality of life and community wellbeing.

Governance

Investors may assess the governance of a company on criteria including transparency, accountability, inclusive decision-making and building community trust. Good performance in this area generally involves transparency and demonstrating inclusive governance mechanisms, effective community engagement and risk mitigation, user focus, ethical business practices and good corporate citizenship.

Different investment firms may measure ESG performance against different criteria and assign varying weights to different elements. Overall, excellent ESG performance requires company management to consider impacts across the entirety of a business’s operations and successfully optimise and balance outcomes under each of the three pillars.

The new reality of investor expectations

Across Australia and worldwide, investor interest in ESG outcomes has rapidly intensified over the last decade. This comes in response to changing consumer and investor expectations of business transparency and accountability, resulting from increased awareness of the wide-ranging direct or indirect impacts of various commercial activities. For many investors, including a growing number of large investment firms, ESG impacts are now a major influence on investment decisions. In a 2021 investor survey by EY, 91 per cent of investors reported that non-financial performance was “pivotal” to their investment decisions1. Measuring an investment’s value on criteria beyond maximising profit is becoming the norm, rather than the exception, and momentum continues unabated.

While many investors want their investments to align with their own ethics and benefit people and planet, and seek to avoid association with unethical companies, these are not the

only reasons for their focus on ESG. Increasingly, companies that perform well on ESG are seen as smarter investments with lower risk and greater potential for long-term financial returns. Essentially, ESG performance is considered to reflect good management and risk mitigation. Adopting an ESG framework and reporting on performance demonstrates that management has a comprehensive perspective of business operations, is collecting and analysing relevant data, and is taking a proactive approach that considers and addresses risks that may disrupt operations, affect investment value and reduce competitiveness.

Evidence suggests a strengthening link between companies’ financial performance and their ability to track, measure and report on ESG criteria2 On average, mining companies with better ESG ratings generate shareholder returns outperforming the general market index by ten per cent3. Poor performance on ESG criteria, or lack of data or transparency, can be a powerful deterrent to investors, making it more difficult and expensive to access capital. The mining corporations with the lowest ESG scores can end up paying capital costs up to 25 per cent higher4 Meanwhile, companies that perform well can access funding from a wider range of sources and at more generous interest rates. ESG accountability also has crucial implications for a mining company’s ability to obtain permits, protect their assets from disruption, and access strategic partners, customers and other opportunities.

ESG exposure in mining

Commercial-scale mining operations are inherently exposed to various ESG risks. Extracting valuable resources from the earth will always involve some level of disruption to surroundings, while using industrial machinery has safety implications and necessitates hazard mitigation, and tailings and other waste products must be disposed of.

Like any large-scale industrial activity, mining operations consume significant energy, resulting in emissions from fuel use and electricity generation. Mining generally also has heavy water supply demands, which must be balanced with environmental requirements and the needs of any other water users sharing a source.

Unique ESG concerns may be associated with the location of mining

operations; certain applications, processes or materials involved; or an array of other factors relevant to individual sites or projects. Industry and project-specific concerns come in addition to the ESG risks common to most businesses and employers, or to companies dealing in valuable resources, managing high-value projects, handling large amounts of money and/or generating significant profits.

Fundamentally, investors may appraise companies on ESG criteria encompassing any non-financial topic, though some are more prevalent than others (e.g., carbon emissions). Some of the most common issues falling under each pillar of ESG are listed below.

Environmental:

♦ Biodiversity preservation

♦ Threatened species conservation

♦ Energy production and use, carbon footprint, greenhouse gas emissions and associated climate change impact

♦ Ecosystem services

♦ Water use and management

♦ Mine waste/tailings management and utilisation

♦ Air quality and noise

♦ Waterway health

♦ Hazardous substances

♦ Recycling

♦ Site remediation

Social:

♦ Human rights

♦ Preventing child and forced labour

♦ Land use

♦ Resettlement

♦ Vulnerable people

♦ Local infrastructure

♦ Local communities

♦ Community outreach and engagement

♦ Employment

♦ Indigenous cultural heritage

♦ Gender equity

♦ Labour practices

♦ Worker and community health and safety

♦ Security

♦ Artisanal miners

♦ Mine closure

♦ Company culture

♦ Diversity

♦ Education

♦ Sanitation

♦ Food

♦ Disaster and crisis management

♦ Mental health

1. Five-step framework for CFOs to get non-financial reporting off the ground, EY, 2021 https://www.ey.com/en_ie/cfo-agenda/five-step-framework-for-cfos-to-get-non-financial-reporting-off-the-ground

2. Mine 2021: great expectations, seizing tomorrow, PwC, 2O21, https://www.pwc.com.au/mining/global-mine-2021.html

3. Mine 2021: great expectations, seizing tomorrow, PwC, 2O21, https://www.pwc.com.au/mining/global-mine-2021.html

4. Creating the zero-carbon mine, McKinsey & Company, 2021, https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/metals-and-mining/our-insights/creating-the-zero-carbon-mine

Governance:

♦ Legal compliance

♦ Ethics

♦ Anti-bribery and corruption (ABC)

♦ Transparency

♦ Policies

♦ Tax

♦ Lobbying activities and association with other parties (such as political parties)

To unlock the benefits of better ESG ratings, managers must understand which considerations are most relevant and pressing across a company’s operations and apply measures to minimise negative effects while maximising positive impacts.

Challenge or opportunity?

For the mining industry, ESG is still sometimes framed primarily as an inhibitor to profit or a hurdle that must be overcome. Satisfying investor expectations in this arena indisputably has its challenges. In EY’s annual report on risks and opportunities within the global mining and metals sector for 2022, surveyed mining companies ranked environmental and social issues as their number one disrupter, followed by decarbonisation and licence to operate5

Thankfully, many of the problems that result from ESG issues and increased investor scrutiny can be avoided by taking a proactive approach to adapt that takes advantage of technological advancements and data analytics.

Reframing ESG as an opportunity and potential source of value has a variety of benefits, direct and indirect.

PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) cites ESG as a key growth prospect for mining companies.

“ESG represents one of the mining industry’s most significant opportunities for long-term value creation, building trust and sustainable growth,” states the 2021 mining industry report. “Miners need to engage with their stakeholders and start to ‘bake’ ESG into the core of their strategies.”

ESG performance can become a key differentiating factor for companies that actively align their businesses to ESG principles, giving them a competitive advantage and making them more attractive to potential project partners, customers, investors and financiers. Additional near and long-term advantages for companies that successfully navigate ESG include:

♦ Access to the best industry talent and better staff retention

♦ Reduced costs due to more efficient use and better management of energy, water and other resources

♦ Greater resilience to disruption due to water, energy or other resource scarcity

♦ Reputational benefits, including strengthened stakeholder relationships and reduced insurance and other costs

♦ Expanded scope for innovation and continuous operational optimisation by utilising advanced insights from more comprehensive data collection and reporting

♦ Greater supply chain transparency and control

♦ Increased productivity

♦ Investment and asset optimisation

♦ Reduced regulatory and legal interventions

These sources of upside value, in combination with the advantages of avoiding the worst repercussions of ESG-related problems or serious incidents (including loss of access to finance, loss of permits, civil or criminal liability, reputational damage, project disruption due to protests, investor divestment, employee dissatisfaction, and more) make a compelling case for miners to invest in ESG.

The need for in-depth data and reporting to demonstrate ESG accountability and prove performance is one of the foremost challenges for businesses seeking to navigate this industry climate, especially for newer or smaller operations with limited resources. Failure to disclose ESG metrics due to lack of data can put a company at a competitive disadvantage and may even be seen as evidence of having something to hide. The challenges inherent in measuring and reporting on ESG are often exacerbated by a lack of guidance and uniform standards. However, new industry frameworks and technology can help ease the transition.

Performing on ESG

Data, reporting and the adoption of a strong ESG framework are key to ESG success. Satisfying expectations on ESG criteria essentially involves balancing an array of elements across all dimensions of a business and its activities to align with ESG principles.

The greatest benefits of ESG-related market transformation will be realised by companies that take an outcomesfocused, proactive approach, applying effective policies to embed ESG principles into operations and align their business to best practices, rather than merely fulfilling the minimum mandatory requirements.

Effective application of ESG policies to action real improvements necessitates rich data to assess risks across the ESG spectrum, and the capabilities to accurately measure outcomes against metrics, analyse results and assess opportunities.

“As stakeholders continue to hold miners accountable for environmental and social practices, purpose, long-term value and sustainability are no longer add-ons to business as usual – they are themselves business as usual. In such an uncertain and shifting environment, we are likely to see greater use of data science, scenario planning and data modelling to guide more intelligent decisions and create differentiation,” said Paul Mitchell, EY Global Mining and Metals Leader6

Transparency is crucial. Investors expect companies to publish an ESG statement outlining their commitments and the performance criteria they are working to achieve. Regular reports on ESG metrics further build credibility and supply evidence of progress towards these goals. Voluntary accreditations can also demonstrate dedication to ESG principles, prove sincerity, and provide investors with independent validation of companies’ claims.

Technology and digitalisation can also be important elements of the journey towards accountability. Deployed in service of an ESG agenda, digital innovation can enable greater sustainability, provide opportunities for diversification, and allow larger quantities of richer data to be obtained and analysed efficiently for improved transparency and ease of reporting7 Advanced digital technologies can help miners overcome the challenges of a transition to net zero, improve on-site health and safety, and more.

A growing number of resources are available to mining companies seeking to begin or progress their ESG journey.

SLR Consulting outlines the key steps miners need to undertake towards ESG accountability8:

♦ Assess and screen ESG risks and opportunities for single sites and across your mining portfolio

♦ Set your ESG strategy and objectives at both a board level and for your corporate executive

♦ Agree and define your strategic action plan from board level through to individual sites

♦ Pursue specific project interventions at each mine site, focusing on your prioritised ESG issues

♦ Collect and report ESG data for your investors and other key stakeholders

♦ Seek certification and associated independent validation of your ESG performance

Towards ESG excellence in Australian mining

While many facets of ESG accountability in the mining industry are universal, details can significantly vary by location. Acknowledging this, Australian miners must account for our country’s individual context. This may include consideration given to Australia’s unique regulatory and political landscape, societal factors, climate and geographical features, Indigenous heritage, flora and fauna, and ecosystems.

The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) has adopted Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM), an independently verified accountability framework providing guidance to mining companies in relation to evaluating, managing, and communicating their performance on sustainability and other ESG metrics9

The TSM framework was first established by the Mining Association of Canada (MAC) in 2004. It is being adapted for Australian requirements as part of a five-year implementation plan and will be administered by the MCA. TSM supplies much-needed standardisation and uniformity regarding measurement and reporting on ESG indicators for Australian miners. It builds upon existing commitments laid out in Enduring

Value – the Australian minerals industry’s framework for sustainable development and aims to help companies address the challenges of ESG and reap the benefits of supplying the transparency and

accountability investors and the public now demand.

TSM’s eight performance protocols focus on three core areas to link commitments and site-level performance – communities and people, environmental stewardship and climate change. Each protocol comprises a set of indicators to assess, demonstrate and enhance the Australian minerals industry’s ESG performance at site level10 Above all, the TSM framework is built on the foundations of accountability (assessments are conducted at a facility level, providing communities with meaningful data on mining activities), transparency (performance is reported against a suite of indicators and externally verified), and credibility (the program is overseen by an independent Community of Interest (COI) Advisory Panel, which fosters dialogue between stakeholders to refine and shape the initiative into the future). From 2025, MCA members will be required to assess and publicly report on their performance against TSM indicators, with independent verification every three years.

Shifting expectations are undeniably transforming the landscape across all industries. Investors, financers and the public are demanding greater accountability from businesses. This new market reality sees investors placing a growing importance on non-financial factors when assessing risk and growth opportunities. Environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance has come to the fore. In this environment, transparency, accountability and alignment with ESG principles are becoming essential for mining businesses’ success in the near and longer term. This represents both the greatest challenge and foremost opportunity for organisations within the industry, with those who view ESG as an avenue for growth and innovation set to benefit by balancing commitments to people, planet and profit. By taking a strategic, proactive approach to implement an ESG framework and making the most of technology and digitalisation, companies can differentiate themselves in the market, optimise operations, and unlock additional value and sources of capital.

5. Top 10 business risks and opportunities for mining and metals in 2022, EY, 2021, https://assets.ey.com/content/dam/ey-sites/ey-com/en_gl/topics/mining-metals/ey-final-business-risks-and-opportunitiesin-2022.pdf

6. ESG with a heightened focus on environment and social issues, emerges as the top risk/opportunity for the mining sector, EY, 2021, https://www.ey.com/en_lb/news/2021/10/esg-with-a-heightened-focus-onenvironment-and-social-issues-emerges-as-the-top-risk-opportunity-for-the-mining-sector

7. Top 10 business risks and opportunities for mining and metals in 2022, EY, 2021, https://assets.ey.com/content/dam/ey-sites/ey-com/en_gl/topics/mining-metals/ey-final-business-risks-and-opportunitiesin-2022.pdf

8. ESG insights: how to tackle ESG risks and opportunities in the mining industry, SLR Consulting, https://www.slrconsulting.com/en/news-and-insights/insights/esg-insights-how-tackle-esg-risks-and-opportunitiesmining-industry

9. Towards sustainable mining: taking ESG accountability to a new level, MCA, https://www.minerals.org.au/towards-sustainable-mining

10. TSM 101: a primer, MCA, 2019, https://www.minerals.org.au/sites/default/files/MAC%20TSM%20101%20-%20A%20Primer.pdf

THE IMPORTANCE OF MINE REHABILITATION

By Christopher Allan, Journalist, Mining Magazine

Mine rehabilitation is a restoration process ensuring that land used in mining is made available for economic activity, conservation, and diverse community uses. Rehabilitation projects can range from restoring forest ecosystems, native vegetation and agricultural land, through to the development of ecotourism experience centres. Here we consider why mine rehabilitation represents a critical obligation for the mining industry and an integral component of a mining company’s sustainable development strategies, before taking a look at some major rehabilitation projects from around Australia.

At its simplest, mine rehabilitation is about restoring landscapes for future use after mining activity.

This restoration can range from simply making a mine site safe and stable, through to a best-practice approach that works progressively towards the intended future use of the land.

The final land use of a rehabilitated mine site can vary greatly: from restoring major forest ecosystems to repopulating the land with native revegetation and fauna; from agricultural use in crops and grazing, to the development of major ecotourism centres.

At a practical level, the rehabilitation of a coal mine could involve flattening the steep sides of the mine, covering exposed coal with soil and clay, and revegetating the area with trees and grasses.

Although the rehabilitation of a mine site might be associated with its closure, best practice in industry has evolved to integrate rehabilitation during the planning and operational stages of a mining project – referred to as progressive mine rehabilitation.

Best practice rehabilitation also implicates community consultation; communities are often the future users of land rehabilitated from mining, and should be meaningfully engaged in any discussion regarding land restoration.

In a report considering industry mine rehabilitation responses, the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA), said, “The industry’s approach to land rehabilitation has improved significantly over past decades.

“This evolution has been driven by sustained investment in land rehabilitation techniques, evolving corporate values, community expectations and government regulation.

“While much progress has been made, the industry is continuing its efforts to improve rehabilitation methods to ensure mining’s compatibility with current and future land uses.”

Why is mine rehabilitation important?

Australia’s mining sector is evolving, and an emergent priority is making sure that capital investment is better aligned to environmental, social and governance considerations.

Indeed, industry leaders are now faced with an opportunity to demonstrate environmental stewardship across all mining activities, and responsible environmental practice is particularly significant given the finite nature of mining projects in a landscape.

Mine rehabilitation also reflects the important social obligations facing mining companies, who are socially licensed to operate on the condition that their actions support future land uses, community economic prospects, and public safety.

The 2014 Hazlewood mine fire in Victoria perhaps demonstrated a failure from part of the mining industry to adhere to its public safety obligations, with major repercussions.

Described by Environment Victoria as “one of the worst environmental and public health disasters in Victoria’s history”, the Hazlewood mine fire was estimated to have a total financial cost exceeding $100 million.

Importantly, the Hazlewood Mine Fire Inquiry found that the fire was entirely preventable, and even heard that mine rehabilitation can be an effective way of preventing coal mine fires.

The financial obligation for mine rehabilitation

Beyond social and environmental obligations, mining companies also possess a financial stake in mine rehabilitation – with closure planning and rehabilitation enshrined in statebased regulatory approvals.

According to the MCA, companies are required to progressively rehabilitate mined land “where practical” and report annually on their progress.

Furthermore, all jurisdictions require that previously mined land is made “safe, stable and non-polluting”.

To guarantee these outcomes, mining companies must deliver some financial surety – such as a rehabilitation bond – before any mine’s approval or lease.

These funds can be directed into mine rehabilitation, often through covering third party costs, should a mining company default on its approved obligations.

While financial obligations do incentivise mine rehabilitation, environmental groups such as Environment Victoria have also speculated that rehabilitation bonds can be “too low to provide sufficient incentive for mine operators to fulfill their obligations”.

The world of mine rehabilitation projects

Mine rehabilitation projects can vary greatly, from lengthy revegetation programs to the conception of new experience centres. The MCA has identified ten key stages of mine rehabilitation, spanning the full lifecycle of a mining project.

These stages are:

♦ Environmental investigation

♦ Post-mining land use planning

♦ Rehabilitation security bonds

♦ Species and habitat protection

♦ Site preparation

♦ Progressive rehabilitation

♦ Mining and landform design

♦ Topsoil and revegetation

♦ Monitoring

♦ Sign-off and relinquishment

Here we explore three different mine rehabilitation projects that reveal both the potential for success and the depth of effort involved when restoring landscapes used in mining.

Native vegetation: Ginkgo Mineral Sands Mine

Situated on semi-arid land in the Murray-Darling Basin, western New South Wales, the Ginkgo Mineral Sands Mine stands as a testament to the benefits of progressive rehabilitation when re-establishing native vegetation and fauna.

Owned and operated by Cristal Mining, the Ginkgo mine faces highly challenging environmental conditions for restoration –the MCA reports that the site receives around 270mm of annual rainfall, with summer temperatures exceeding 40 degrees.

The value of a proactive rehabilitation strategy for Ginkgo mine has been evident throughout the project’s operation, given the high levels of diligence and monitoring required to restore native vegetation in such a challenging environment.

For example, an extensive seed collection campaign put rehabilitation efforts on the right track, with seeds collected from areas up to 500km away from the site at Ginkgo to ensure progressive rehabilitation of native vegetation.

Rehabilitation at the Ginkgo site also implicates the value of community land users, with community members from the Dareton Men’s Shed contributing to the building of bat and bird boxes to provide habitat for returning animals, and local landholders also helping Cristal Mining manage incoming populations of feral goats, which can destroy native vegetation.

To gauge ecosystem development and monitor success of the project, Cristal Mining also adopted an innovative program of counting ants; abundances of ants can represent both a stable food source in the food chain as well as support the germination of plants.

The progressive rehabilitation and monitoring of native vegetation and fauna at Ginkgo, alongside ongoing operations, speaks to both a depth of commitment from the operator as well as the sensitivity required to restore a semi-arid ecosystem.

Water management: Renison Bell tin mine

The rehabilitation of Renison Bell tin mine in western Tasmania is a success story for responding to the impact of mining operations on water quality.

Re-opened in 2008, the Renison Bell tin mine is one of the world’s largest and highest-grade tin mines. The mine is currently owned by Bluestone Mines in a 50/50 joint venture between Metals X and Yunnan Tin Group.

Major rehabilitation efforts at Rension have centred around two tailing storage facilities (TSF), which were identified to have a history of discharging elevated levels of dissolved metals, sulphate and acidity into the nearby Lake Pieman.

Lake Pieman represents a highly valued trout fishing and ecotourism destination for western Tasmania.

Following innovative geochemical studies carried out in collaboration with the CSIRO, the Renison mine operator embarked on a rehabilitation strategy to cap these storage facilities, excluding oxygen and neutralising the water within.

By adopting this cap procedure and working to rehabilitate the land into a wetland ecosystem, the operator has ensured that surface water quality has rapidly improved since 2003, with acceptable discharge standards achieved – by 2014, waterbirds had inhabited the wetland ecosystem.

By partnering with the CSIRO to understand and solve water quality issues, the Renison Bell tin mine operator has ensured its legacy is a testament to both the application of good science and a commitment to solve environmental challenges.

Ecotourism: The Eden Project at Anglesea coal mine

The proposed rehabilitation of Anglesea coal mine into a world-class cultural attraction highlights how ecotourism restoration projects can offer economic prosperity, while also reinforcing the importance for the mining industry to hold true to sustainable practices.

With the Anglesea coal mine having retired operations in August 2015, the proposed Eden Project Anglesea is an ambitious plan to transform the site of Anglesea’s retired coal mine into a major environmental tourism attraction.

In a project vision statement, the Eden Project Anglesea projected that the world-class centre could create more than 1,300 new jobs, generate $350 million for the regional economy in its first ten years of operation, and deliver 750,000 projected visitors per annum.

The vision statement for Eden Project Anglesea reads, “Set within the landscape of the Anglesea Heath, it showcases a vision to transform an area within the former coal mine into a destination for immersive education and experiences which celebrate the local ecology and tells a story of sustainability.”

A large part of the $150 million ecotourism concept would see the mine void transformed into a massive water body.

Delivery of the Eden Project Anglesea is contingent on whether Alcoa, the mining company overseeing the rehabilitation plan, can fill the mine void with water to at least half of its total capacity by 2024.

Alcoa has already made existing progress in its Anglesea Mine Rehabilitation and Closure Plan, with the demolition of

the power station in October 2018, and subsequent clearing of the site.

However, the scale of the Eden Project Anglesea’s ambitious revitalisation of the mine site has been matched by environmental concerns about how the mine void is being filled with water.

For example, recent concerns reported by the ABC in March 2022 centre on Alcoa’s preference to source water from an aquifer beneath Anglesea.

The ABC reported that community and environmental groups, such as Friends of Anglesea River, believe that Alcoa’s current methodology for filling the mine void could lead to long-term harm to local ecosystems, accelerating acidification of Anglesea River and damaging fish ecosystems.

Group member of Friends of Anglesea River, Janine Strachan, said, “What we're really wanting to see is an Anglesea River rehabilitation plan that all of the regulators come together and identify and offer their expertise, and bring together a plan that we can see the life of the river brought back into its former glory.”

With Alcoa set to hand over the delivery of its mine rehabilitation strategy to the Eden Project by 2024, a full response to local environmental concerns would ensure that the Eden Project’s environmental message rings true from its inception.

Meeting rehabilitation obligations

In summary, the mining sector is environmentally, socially and financially obligated to engage with mine rehabilitation –starting from any project’s initial planning stage.

The breadth of rehabilitation projects undertaken around Australia in recent history – from semi-arid vegetation restoration in the Murray-Darling Basin to wetland introduction in western Tasmania – speaks to the values of adaptability and willingness to collaborate for operators in the minerals industry.

While there is always room to improve industry towards best-practice, the overall success of mine rehabilitation projects in Australia reflects the depth of effort taken towards returning mined land for fair use in the community.

Heritage walking track at Blue Gum Hills Regional Park. The walking track winds through a rehabilitated coal mine site, with replanted eucalyptus trees forming part of the rehabilitation plans.

UNEARTHING THE FULL POTENTIAL OF BIG D ATA IN MINING

By Lauren DeLorenzo, Assistant Editor, Mining Magazine

For an industry that boasts incredibly advanced machinery and sophisticated remote operating systems, there is a lot of room to improve the way information is stored, accessed and implemented across mining operations. Here, we look at challenges of managing big data and how miners can use these systems to drive down costs and spur forwardthinking solutions.

As miners look towards sustainability and increased efficiency outcomes, it’s no wonder that ‘big data’ has become a bit of a buzzword in recent years. In fact, use of the term in mining companies’ reports increased by 72 per cent between the first and second quarters of 2021, and rose by 150 per cent since 2016, according to a GlobalData analysis.

Big data refers to large pools of data that can be collated and analysed to identify patterns and trends. Data can be brought in from multiple sources and be used to make big decisions and identify areas for improvement and growth. Technological advances mean equipment can be fitted with sensors, which can generate huge amounts of geoscientific, asset condition and operational data that paints a detailed picture of operations in real time.

Big data can be woven into every corner of mining operations, measuring variety, volume and velocity across the business – giving key decision-makers a comprehensive overview of where productivity, safety and margins can be refined. This type of analysis is expected to play a huge role in the mining industry’s advances towards reducing waste, enhancing productivity and remaining competitive in the industry.

But to reach the full potential of this data, miners need to invest in analytical technology that can unlock the true value of this asset, with many experts seeing data analytics as a massive game changer for the way the industry operates – from operational efficiencies, workforce management, real-time planning and so much more. Miners are looking to cloud-based systems, automation and artificial intelligence (AI) to boost predictive capabilities, monitor operations in real time and gain a competitive advantage.

Moving to cloud platforms

Increasingly, analysts are moving away from legacy information storage systems and towards cloud-based information storage. The huge, clear benefit of this is that it means data streams can merge into one, improving agility and speed of data collection and analysis, and meaning that valuable insights can be accessed even more quickly, along the entire supply chain, sometimes in real time.

And the faster the insights are accessed, the faster they can be implemented and create savings. For example, an iron ore truck fitted with sensors can be continuously taking in data, analysing the information, and suggesting alternate, time-saving routes to the driver. Small fuel, energy, cost and efficiency savings can quickly accumulate to have a large financial impact.

Moving data to the cloud also means it is accessible from anywhere – so mining companies can access information remotely. In turn, this boosts the ability of different teams to collaborate, as they can all build on a single data point.

On the other hand, traditional information storage requires a lot more maintenance, and can be more prone to inaccuracies.

Cloud-based platforms are also flexible in storage capacity, allowing operators to scale up – a huge asset for an industry that generates massive amounts of data.

IoT and predictive analytics

Advancements in industrial IoT systems have made it possible to collect data in difficult places such as underground mines, revealing insights that were previously unavailable.

Equipment fitted with sensors can provide real-time information about its operation, allowing for immediate or even predictive corrective action, increasing equipment up time. Advanced sensors can monitor vibration, corrosion, temperature and acoustic emission for analysis. Data trends can predict when equipment repairs are necessary, and when they could be at risk of breaking down, allowing miners to increase overall machine reliability by acting on these issues before they interfere with operations. This results in increased machine lives, better repair times, better product quality, reparation planning and lower maintenance costs.

Predictive analytics are useful for a myriad of situations in the mining industry, not just for equipment maintenance. For example, previously, when a drill ran into a hard rock, the ore had to be analysed before deciding how to proceed. Now, predictive analytics built on big data can analyse the ore swiftly, delivering information to managers in a much smaller amount of time. Predictive analytics can also help machines make decisions themselves, improving automation around the site.

Analytics can also help site managers get a better understanding of what makes some site days more productive than others, looking into the conditions surrounding them. They can then aim to replicate these conditions for greater productivity and efficiency.

Sifting through all of this data, however, is time consuming. Machine learning (ML) algorithms are able to quickly interpret and analyse data to make future predictions about the operation of the mine.

Minimising costs

Mines typically account for a third or more of operational costs for large-scale operations, and this is expected to increase as the industry navigates operational and regulatory challenges. But by collecting data from mobile equipment and identifying trends, maintenance costs can be anticipated with precision. This means that the time and cost of maintenance and equipment downtime can be significantly reduced, increasing productivity. Monitoring the mine’s water, ground and gas levels can also help the operation significantly reduce waste.

Safety and workforce management

Big data and digital technologies can play a huge role in empowering workers with information and in creating advanced safety mechanisms. Automated ground control systems can be used in underground or pit mining, which capture information on ground vibrations. These systems can collect vibration data and use it to determine the structural integrity of the operation, so that if a dangerous situation such as a ground slide were to occur, the monitoring system could send out an early warning signal for evacuation. The same data could be used to develop safer drill equipment and technologies.

Data capture also allows for real-time monitoring of people, equipment, temperature and environmental factors such as dust, gas concentration and wind speed. Having these insights on hand is a groundbreaking tool to ensure the safety of workers. Monitoring of equipment operating pressure, power and speed allows for analysis that could potentially predict and avoid future risks, such as instances of near-misses.

Challenges

One of the biggest challenges in unlocking the full potential of big data is finding ways to manage and assimilate huge amounts of information from a vast array of sensors, machinery and other sources. Miners must decide which data to collect, how to prioritise it and how to create systems to implement analytics-based solutions.

Other potential roadblocks include integrating new technologies with legacy systems, IP and privacy concerns, and storage and security issues. Increased use of data will mean that digital security measures will need to be strengthened. Interruptions in operations, cyber attacks and data theft should be considered as more devices are connected, making them more vulnerable.

Workers will also need to be shown how to interpret data, and people on the ground will need to understand how data will be procured, stored, maintained and used.

The way forward

Successful integration of big data in mining operations will rely on a focused strategy that is part of the business model. Looking outside of the current portion of the value chain can spark further ideas for creating better value through data.

Going forward, digital standardisation and regulation could define how data is used within operations. These standards could define data ownership and encourage the sharing of information across the ecosystem while maintaining privacy measures.

Digital platforms can be used to improve transparency about how operations are tracking in terms of environmental concerns, sourcing, production and community engagement. Companies can implement policies to allow disenfranchised groups and communities access to data.

Building awareness of how data can be reused, and opening procurement to local tech and communications companies can provide opportunities for startups and small businesses to innovate. Digital services could be opened up to these organisations, such as cloud hosting, software and support.

Ethical management of big data includes building projects and algorithms with awareness of bias in mind, to prevent biased outcomes. Algorithms are coded by people with conscious or unconscious bias, and one way to prevent this from translating to algorithms is to ensure that design teams are diverse, comprised of people from underrepresented backgrounds.

Everyday chaos and change

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We know that the mining industry is under significant pressure to manage quality, safety and operational performance with a rapidly changing workforce.

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• Keeping on top of constant requests and issues raised due to unforeseen situations

• Working to ensure good on-site communication and documentation when there is a major change.

All while maintaining a safe, efficient and compliant operation.

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THE T � ANSFORMATIONAL TECHNOLOGY BEHIND RIO TINTO’S MOST ADVANCED MINE

By Lauren DeLorenzo, Assistant Editor, Mining Magazine

Drones, robotics and autonomous vehicles have been sparking innovative solutions in the mining industry for years. Rio Tinto’s most technologically advanced iron ore mine in the Pilbara has taken this to a whole new level – boosting safety, energy efficiency and output, and paving the way for mines of the future.

While the industry is typically slow to adapt to change, the COVID-19 pandemic and recent supply chain challenges have accelerated the need to reimagine how the industry operates.

Now more than ever, miners are looking to new technologies and digital solutions to transform their operations into a more robust, energy efficient and productive system, with 90 per cent of mining leaders wanting to increase IT investment in 2022, according to an Equinix report.

An unprecedented use of innovative technologies underpins

Rio Tinto’s most advanced mine in the Pilbara – the Gudai-Darri iron ore mine.

Previously known as Koodaideri, Gudai-Darri is Rio Tinto’s first greenfield mine in more than ten years. The mine is expected to become an important pillar in the future production of the company’s Pilbara Blend product in the region. Gudai-Darri has an expected lifespan of more than 40 years and an annual capacity of 43 million tonnes once it reaches peak operation.

After opening in June 2022, the mine aims to improve product mix from the Pilbara and drastically increase production volumes, and is expected to reach capacity in 2023.

Developing the mine

Development for the Gudai-Darri mine began in 2019, supporting over 3,000 jobs in the construction and design phases, and establishing around 600 permanent jobs for the mine’s operation.

Rio Tinto’s initial $2.6 billion investment was disrupted by supply chain issues and COVID-19-induced labour shortages, leading to a $4.3 billion increase in capital cost estimates.

The mine is located on land belonging to the Traditional Owners, the Banjima People, and Rio Tinto said it consulted with them and with the Yindjibarndi People through the planning and development stages of the mine.

Rio Tinto’s Chief Technical Officer, Mark Davies, said, “The safe and successful delivery of Gudai-Darri, in the midst of a global pandemic, is testament to the resilience and hard work of thousands of Rio Tinto employees and contractors, including a range of local Western Australian suppliers, as well as Pilbara Aboriginal businesses.

“In building this new hub, we have brought together the best of our innovations, including autonomous trucks, trains and drills, as well as the world’s first autonomous water trucks, to make Gudai-Darri our most technologically advanced iron ore mine.

“This suite of autonomous assets complements the planned deployment of other leading-edge technologies including a robotic ore sampling laboratory, field mobility devices for all personnel and a digital asset of the fixed plant, which, together with data analytics, will make Gudai-Darri safer and more productive.”

During the construction phase, a total of $3.2 billion in resources was sourced, with $1.5 billion in contracts awarded to Western Australian-registered businesses. These included NRW, Primero, Southern Cross Electrical Engineering and DTMT Construction Company.

Contracts were also awarded to local Aboriginal businesses for the construction and development of the mine, including White Springs, Lorrex Contracting, Hicks Civil and Mining, Brida, Karijini Development, Yurala Contracting Services and Karlka FenceWright WA.

The mine’s delivery required moving more than 20 million cubic metres of earth, the batching and placement of 35,000 cubic metres of concrete, the installation of 10,000 tonnes of steel and more than 14 million work hours in total.

But all of that investment into the mine is expected to pay off with high volumes of output. Gudai-Darri is expected to contain a total of 561 million tonnes of reserves, graded at 61.8 per cent iron, including 186 million tonnes of proven and 275 million tonnes of probable reserves.

Conventional truck and shovel open-pit mining is used at the mine to extract the ore at appropriate bench height. Ore removed from the mine undergoes dry-crushing in-pit before being conveyed to the central processing facility and transported to the port for export.

Four Cat autonomous drills, dozers, graders, loaders, water carts and shovels make up the mine fleet, with iron ore grade controlled by blast hole data.

A feasibility study is currently underway for the expansion of the mine, and technological advances are set to help operations ramp up to peak capacity in 2023.

Full year shipments guidance for 2022 is estimated to be between 320 and 335 million tonnes, depending on risks associated with the ramp-up of new mines, weather and management of cultural heritage.

Autonomous vehicles, trains and drills

Australian miners are already driving major changes in this area, using the most autonomous mining trucks of any country in the world. In fact, between May 2021 and May 2022, the number of autonomous haul trucks in operation globally rose by 39 per cent.

The Gudai-Darri mine is no exception. The mine aims to follow the guidelines set out in Rio Tinto’s Mine of the Future strategy, which connects all aspects of the mining value chain and advocates for increased use of automation and digitisation. The strategy focuses on a holistic approach to improving recovery practices, efficiency and safety practices. Gudai-Darri uses advanced data analytics in conjunction with automation to reduce environmental impacts and improve safety.

The mine uses autonomous 793F trucks, which are fitted with Caterpillar’s autonomous haulage system, Cat Command. The trucks can provide real-time ore tracking, using sensors to show live dig face progression. There are almost 200 autonomous 793F trucks in service across the Pilbara, equipped with Cat Command for hauling.

Rio Tinto is working with Caterpillar to continue to develop zero-emissions autonomous haul trucks, and aims to deploy the trucks at Gudai-Darri once the technology is fully developed.

The mine also uses driverless, heavy-haul, long-distance trains to transport iron from the mine to the port at Cape Lambert.

First beginning operations in June 2019, the autonomous trains were the first of their kind in the world, operating along a new 166km railway line that connects to the existing network. The trains’ AutoHaul system allows for remote monitoring by operators in Rio Tinto’s Perth Operations Centre, more than 1,500km away from the mine.

In addition to the autonomous haul trucks and trains, the mine also uses the world’s first autonomous water carts, developed in partnership with Caterpillar. These carts are mainly used for on-site dust suppression. Intelligent digital systems on board the carts can monitor and detect dry and dusty conditions on site, and trigger when water is used on roads to maintain their condition. The digital tracking of these conditions will help the mine monitor water consumption and reduce waste.

Autonomous drills, filled with monitoring systems, will also keep track of existing conditions. These drills contribute to datainformed modelling, which can give operators a more accurate assessment of ground conditions and help identify potential safety measure improvements.

Robotics for sampling and heavy mobile equipment

The mine makes use of advanced robotics for its iron ore sampling laboratory, which is fully automated and integrated with the mine.

The lab processes production samples in both lump and fine forms, providing ore grade visibility within minutes. The samples enter through a conveyer from the sample station. The samples are then transferred to the automated production cell by a robot. The laboratory will provide much better visibility of the stockpiled iron ore on site, allowing for better monitoring and assessment.

Robotics will also be critical in the heavy mobile equipment (HME) warehouse. Four automatic guided vehicles (AGVs) will autonomously handle pallet frames, reducing the amount of manual handling required and improving safety for workers. The robots use laser obstacle scanners and auto-stop functions to move around the warehouse by themselves.

Another piece of advanced equipment in operation at the mine is Rio Tinto’s first rotable bucketwheel reclaimer. Typically, several reclaimer components need to be removed and replaced regularly for maintenance. This means that there is a prolonged shutdown period while the components are taken out. The rotable reclaimer, however, will allow for the entire bucket wheel module to be changed out for maintenance, meaning that efficiency and safety are improved.

Digital twins and real-time, paperless monitoring

Gudai-Darri operators and workers have access to real-time data through tablets, enabling them to go paperless and access the most up-to-date information about the mine. The tablets allow them to more easily communicate between teams, and to access the key applications they need in the field, helping to streamline systems and eliminate the need to travel between sites.

Digital technology is key to monitoring the mine, and a number of data analytics capabilities have been implemented to streamline processes and improve efficiencies. These capabilities include control loops to optimise production and reduce downtime.

For the first time Rio Tinto is leveraging a full digital replica of the processing plant to further its safety measures and allow workers to get a more complete understanding of the site’s operations. With this technology, workers can access a digital replica of the processing plant in real time.

A remotely monitored digital twin of the mining site will enable the team to visually navigate the site, planning their work

to scale and allowing them to view or download associated technical data and documents. The digital twin has a predictive component, and allows teams to test different situations before they are implemented, saving time and resources.

This digital twin will provide a highly detailed and interactive 3D environment for virtual reality training, making training safer and more efficient. These autonomous assets are remotely monitored from the Rio Tinto Operations Centre, which is located in Perth – over 1,500km away.

Solar farm to power operations

One of the most significant energy efficient aspects of GudaiDarri is the solar farm operation in the Pilbara which will power the mine.

The farm will consist of approximately 83,000 solar panels with photovoltaic cells to convert sunlight into energy. With 35MW of capacity, the facility is expected to reduce the mine’s carbon dioxide emissions by 90,000 tonnes per annum. Rio Tinto estimates that this is equivalent to taking about 28,000 cars off the road.

The solar farm will eventually be joined by a 45MW/12MWh big battery, which will act as a “virtual synchronous machine” and eventually allow the network to operate on 100 per cent renewable energy.

The solar farm is connected to the Rio Tinto grid with an overhead powerline and fibre-optic link.

Rio Tinto also plans to develop a one gigawatt solar and wind farm in the Pilbara to power the mine. The facility is expected to be seven times bigger than Western Australia’s largest solar farm.

The solar plant aims to power one third of mining operations after its completion in August, providing all of Gudai-Darri’s electricity demand during peak solar power generation times. The plant aims to provide 65 per cent of the mine’s average electricity demand.

Rio Tinto is conducting further studies to assess future opportunities to implement more sustainable energy sources in the Pilbara.

Creating a mine of the future

Western Australia’s Minister for Mines and Petroleum and Energy, Bill Johnston, said that the Gudai-Darri mine represents a “prototype of the mine of the future”.

Rio Tinto Iron Ore Chief Executive, Simon Trott, echoed these thoughts, and said that the company was looking forward to the changes advanced technology is expected to bring.

“Gudai-Darri represents a step-change in the deployment of automation and technology within our iron ore business and a fantastic demonstration of the talent, ingenuity and capability that exists in Western Australia, a region which is now known globally for its technical excellence and innovation,” Mr Trott said.

“Gudai-Darri’s combination of data and analytics, machine learning and automation, will make this mine safer and more productive.”

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LONG - � ANGE PLAN

DRIVES THE QUEENSLAND RESOURCES INDUSTRY TO A STRONG FUTURE

For decades to come, high school principal-turned-Resources Minister, Scott Stewart, wants to see young Queenslanders excitedly planning a career in a resources industry that offers high wages, secure, safe jobs, and opportunities to make the world a better place.

“I’ve spent years as a teacher working with young people, hopefully equipping them for the future and opening their minds to the range of opportunities open to them,” he said.

“As Resources Minister, that remains a passion, which is why Queensland’s new 30-year plan for its resources industry is absolutely crucial.

“The industry needs these future workers to prosper, our regional communities need the jobs and business that resources projects bring, and the world needs our mineral and energy resources.

“The Queensland Resources Industry Development Plan charts a course for everyone to work together to transform our resources industry so it continues to create jobs and prosperity – responsibly and sustainably.”

After more than 18 months in development, the plan was released mid-year with a 2022-23 State Budget that included an injection of almost $40 million for the state’s emerging critical economy minerals sector, with a goal of building a long-term pit-to-product industry.

Mr Stewart sees critical minerals – which includes exciting new opportunities in the rapidly expanding global market for critical minerals – as key to the industry’s future.

“The resources industry has long been one of the cornerstones of Queensland’s economy, generating jobs and prosperity, particularly, in regional Queensland,” he said.

“However, economic, environmental and social forces are changing our world. History shows that success lies in anticipating and embracing these changes.

“Happily, Queensland’s resources industry has demonstrated that capability over decades, through cycles of gold, base metals, coal, and LNG.

“The next cycle is critical minerals, like our existing strengths in copper, and emerging new opportunities in vanadium; the minerals the world needs to decarbonise and meet its target of net-zero emissions by 2050.

“Queensland has the minerals underground and the renewable energy above ground. We have the human resources and innovation capability to mine, process and manufacture those minerals sustainably.

“With the commitment of industry and government, working together, Queensland’s resources industry will transform, diversify, and continue to thrive in a twenty-first century decarbonised world.”

Coal and gas

Although the global market for thermal coal is declining as the world decarbonises, Mr Stewart said steel-making metallurgical coal will remain a strength for Queensland for decades to come.

Metallurgical coal makes up 85 per cent of the value of Queensland’s exports, and the Minister is confident that its quality and relatively low emissions profile, as well as progress in reducing emissions on mine sites, will help maintain this product’s global competitiveness.

The Minister sees gas continuing to perform the important role of enabling renewable energy investment both at home and abroad by providing grid reliability and security. Gas is also a vital feedstock for a range of domestic manufacturing processes.

The Queensland Government has been supporting the growth in domestic supply and is looking to do more, such as by investigating a potential new gas pipeline in the Bowen Basin.

“There’s opportunity ahead for gas companies to become diversified energy providers by investing in low emissions gases like hydrogen,” Mr Stewart said.

“The industry could apply its expertise in gas supply to support the development of our new hydrogen industry, which is a key priority for this Government.”

But the message is clear for the long term.

“We have to diversify to ensure that we continue to create jobs and business opportunities for Queenslanders,” he said.

And the big prize Queensland has its eye on is its emerging new economy minerals sector.

Critical minerals

Mr Stewart pointed to Queensland’s accessible, quality deposits of critical minerals, including copper, lithium, vanadium.

“Our North West Minerals Province is particularly rich, and already serviced by transport infrastructure after decades of base metals operations at Mount Isa,” he said.

“The next exciting development is the potential for a vanadium hub at Julia Creek, where Multicom Resources is developing the $250 million Saint Elmo mine.”

Multicom, QEM Limited, Vecco Group and Alumtek Minerals have formed the Queensland Vanadium Consortium to advance a new sector producing vanadium – a mineral fundamental to producing super lightweight steel now, but with a big future in vanadium redox flow (VRF) batteries for electricity grids.

The Queensland Government has already committed at least $10 million for a commonuser critical economy mineral processing plant in Townsville, initially for vanadium miners. The northern port city is already the transport hub for most of the North West’s resources outputs.

The State Budget has also put serious dollars behind critical mineral development, including:

♦ An additional $17.5 million over four years for exploration. This takes the state’s total investment over five years to $22.5 million to find the future mines producing the minerals and metals that the world needs

♦ $10 million over two years for geoscientific research to find out more about identified deposits and potential new ways to mine them

♦ $5.7 million over three years to the Resources Centre of Excellence in Mackay to expand its existing training and business incubation service to support critical minerals projects

♦ $5 million over two years for research to better define Queensland's critical minerals potential

♦ $1.59 million to make mining and exploration assessment and approvals more efficient

New from old

As they say, if you wait long enough, everything comes back in fashion. The same may be the case for some of Queensland’s closed and abandoned mines.

Changing technology, and new uses for minerals that didn’t exist previously, mean some of the state’s old mines could be commercially feasible again.

With about 120 complex abandoned mine sites across the state, the Queensland Government is keen to establish if at least some of them have realistic re-commercialisation potential in their tailings storages, stockpiles or remaining in-ground resources.

The Government has started work on a pilot release of a highpriority abandoned mine site with re-commercialisation potential.

Initially, the Government is looking at a site that includes the former Wolfram Camp and Bamford Hill mines about 130km west of Cairns in Far North Queensland.

Despite being an old site, Wolfram Camp still has potential commercial deposits of tungsten and molybdenum – two in-demand critical minerals.

A market sounding exercise earlier this year found keen interest from industry in recommencing resources activities at the sites.

Current plans are for expressions of interest to be called later this year for companies to explore or mine in this area again and hopefully bring the former Wolfram Camp and other prospective targets in the area back to life.

People power

Mr Stewart recognises that human resources are also fundamental to successful transformation and diversification.

“Queensland needs to be workforce ready, and that is why the Government is working alongside industry to develop a resources-specific workforce plan,” he said.

“We want to ensure Queenslanders can seize job opportunities emerging through new technologies and digitalisation, and that the industry can source the skilled workers it needs.

“Part of that is also increasing diversity in the workforce itself, attracting Queenslanders from a broader range of backgrounds, identities and cultures.

“Young people coming into the workforce today aren’t just focused on pay packets.

“They want flexibility in their workplaces, a career in purposeful work, and they are more aware of inclusiveness and the value of diversity than in the past.

“If we want to attract the next generation of resources workers, this is what we need to offer, along with, first and foremost, safe and healthy workplaces.

“Companies with a diversity of employees – women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, defence force veterans and people with a disability – gain a diversity of perspectives that brings new and innovative ways of doing things.”

A big focus in Australia’s most decentralised state is keeping jobs in regional communities. Some areas of Queensland, like Mount Isa and the Isaac region, were originally established decades ago on the back of mining.

“At the same time, we want to ensure new technologies and automation do not see jobs leaving regional communities,” Mr Stewart said.

“By providing the right training locally, to local people, we can help protect and grow our regional communities, regional jobs and regional economies.

“There’s a lot of great work already underway that we can build on; for instance, we have the Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy, a joint effort by the Queensland Resources Council and Government introducing school students and their teachers to the career opportunities in the industry.”

QUEENSLAND’S RESOURCES INDUSTRY, CIRCA 2050

The 30-year-old plan identifies six key focus areas and imagines the state in 30 years’ time.

1. Grow and diversify the industry

♦ Critical minerals are being mined, processed, and manufactured in Queensland

♦ Queensland is the global supplier of choice for premium commodities that are critical for low-emission technologies, supporting global decarbonisation

♦ The mining technology (METS) sector is solving many global industry problems and is a major contributor to the Queensland economy

♦ Efficient exploration is driven by world-class data and digital technologies, including real-time digital earth visualisation

♦ Queensland’s traditional resources strengths of coal and gas have remained globally competitive for longer by decarbonising their operations and taking advantage of new pockets of demand growth in fast growing IndoPacific economies

2. Strengthen ESG credentials and protect the environment

Queensland’s resources industry is known globally as an environmental, social and governance (ESG) leader and recognised as safe, high-wage, environmentally responsible, and well-regulated, with a strong focus on genuine partnerships with First Nations peoples and sustainable community legacy.

The industry has taken decisive action to decarbonise operations and is leading the way in transparently demonstrating independent ESG credentials.

Queensland’s resources companies have transformed from mainly mining to being leaders in materials handling throughout the circular economy. The industry is a leader in disassembly technology and recycling.

The industry is consistently seeking to exceed regulatory requirements to ensure maximum community and environmental benefit from their activities.

To help drive next generation recruitment – ensuring skills will meet need, and jobs stay local – a working group is being established with industry, training providers, workers’ representatives and government to develop an industry workforce plan.

Social licence

Maintaining social licence will be just as critical in 30 years’ time as it is today.

“Community expectations continue to change, and operators are going to have to continue to form long-standing mutually beneficial relationships,” Mr Stewart said.

“Shareholders as well as communities are directing increasing attention to social and corporate governance, on top of the global environmental focus.

“Most Queensland and Australian companies are doing this well, but there is always room for improvement.”

Red tape

The Minister said the Government will also look at its own regulatory efficiency and the 2022-23 State Budget is putting $1.59 million behind making mining and exploration assessment and approvals more efficient.

The independent Queensland Law Reform Commission will also start a wide-ranging review for mining objections and review processes in 2023.

The Minister said exploration activity is already on the up in Queensland, with applications for mineral exploration permits climbing steadily for the past couple of years.

“This is the most activity in a decade and on current trends we could hit an all-time high this year,” he said.

“In fact, ABS statistics released at the end of August show the value of mineral exploration hit an all time high in the 12 months to June 30 with a total of $334 million invested in looking for minerals in the Sunshine State.

“That’s a whopping 44 per cent up on the previous year,” Mr Stewart said.

But industry feedback makes it clear there’s more to be done.

Mr Stewart said the plan is to reconsider and update the current land release practice, where upcoming coal and

gas competitive tenders and their timing are flagged in a Queensland Exploration Program.

The model is under review, including tender timing and frequency, as well as ways to streamline decision making and reduce timeframes.

“Government is also considering something new, and that’s adding highly prospective mineral areas to the exploration plan,” Mr Stewart said.

Consultation was underway at the time of publishing and will be finalised in the current financial year.

The end game

Mr Stewart felt a strong sense of history as he enthused about the resources industry’s future.

“My great grandfather, Wally Davidson, was one of the original Mount Isa mine workers in the 1920s,” he said.

“My late brother managed the Lady Loretta Mine near Mount Isa.

“My electorate is full of mine workers and families who rely for their livelihoods, directly or indirectly, on the resources industry.

“I’d like to think that there’ll be good, secure opportunities in resources for my great grandchildren, their mates and their families because of the work we’re doing now.”

To see the plan, visit https://www.resources.qld.gov.au/qridp.

3. Foster coexistence and sustainable communities

Local communities have benefited from years of coexistence with resources companies operating in their region.

Projects have ended but left a positive legacy in their regional host communities.

Mine rehabilitation and post operations are providing local benefit, as sites have been converted to their highest and best social, economic, and environmental use.

4. Ensure strong and genuine First Nations partnerships

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are true decisionmaking partners in resource projects taking place on Country, and are realising economic benefits as equity partners, owners, and operators.

The resources industry continues to recognise, protect, and conserve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ cultural heritage through strong partnerships and meaningful engagement.

5. Build a safe and resilient future workforce

Queensland’s resources industry employs more Queenslanders, providing high-wage, highly skilled, safe and fulfilling careers. The resources industry is diverse and inclusive, representing host communities and providing careers that young people want to pursue.

While the workforce, mechanisms and methods used for mining will have fundamentally changed, the industry will have prepared workers to take advantage of the benefits of automation and digital innovations.

6. Improve regulatory efficiency

Queensland is benefiting from risk-based, efficient, effective, and transparent regulation that ensures the state’s resources are explored and developed in the public interest. Regulation is contemporary and insights-driven.

Queensland Mineral and Energy Academy workshop at Ayr.

TOP TRENDS FOR DIGITAL IN MINING

By Christopher Allan, Journalist, Mining Magazine

Digitalisation is a disruptive force transforming the terms of work and operation of Australia’s major industries – and the mining sector is no exception. Indeed, opportunities for digital transformation of the mining industry are already being applied to address productivity as well as critical industry priorities like worker safety and net zero operations. From the rise of autonomous vehicles and machinery to the next steps in Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), here we explore some of the top digital opportunities on offer for Australia’s mining sector.

Aglobal industrial trend towards digital connectivity and automation – often called ‘Industry 4.0’ or the fourth industrial revolution – has together with a global pandemic transformed the role of digital in the mining sector.

While many in the mining sector recognised the COVID-19 crisis as an opportunity to engage in digital transformation of work and operations – promoting real-time visibility from mine to market – many companies are still yet to tame the wealth of data and technologies available.

With the right strategy, mining companies now have an opportunity to future-proof their operations via hyper-connectivity and becoming digitally enabled, with the latest digital trends including cyber security and the convergence of IT and OT, the digital

twin, wearable technologies, vehicle and machinery automation, and digital upskilling for workers.

Importantly, these digital opportunities hold the power to elevate industry practice in priority areas like worker safety and emissions reduction.

Deloitte: tracking the trends in digital

In its 14th annual Tracking the Trends report, Deloitte identified the top trends for the mining sector to navigate environmental, societal and governance (ESG) goals, a low-carbon future, and an evolving world of work.

While digital technologies and new digital work modes were common threads throughout the trend list, two entries from Deloitte specifically related to optimising digital in mining: Trend 8: Unlocking value through integrated operations and 9: Closing the IT-OT vulnerability gap

In an article exploring Unlocking value through integrated operations, Deloitte said, “Often too much focus is put on the technology and not enough on how the organisation will interface with that technology and use it to drive effective, integrated decision-making that optimises the system versus an individual function.

“The next steps in achieving companywide efficiencies are using [system-wide] insights to change how decisions are made at every level.

“Actions that benefit the organisation as a whole, rather than specific departments or functions, will enable companies to become more agile in their response to changes, both in operational and business environments, and create greater value.”

In this sense, mastering digitallyenabled decision-making represents a massive opportunity in the mining sector’s approach to digital.

Regarding Closing the IT-OT vulnerability gap, Deloitte stressed that “the acceleration of digitisation, information technology (IT) and operational technology (OT) convergence and value-chain integration in the mining sector has produced new levels of efficiency, driven down miners’ costs, and created exciting new business opportunities.

“However, with opportunity also comes risk and, for many companies, rather than security efforts keeping pace with their digital growth, the gap between risks and controls has widened.”

Here we look at four trends for digital in the mining sector, exploring both the

value on offer as well as challenges to harnessing the power of digital in mining.

1. Autonomous vehicles and machinery

At the heart of Industry 4.0 is the use of automation to streamline processes and reduce the need for workers in hazardous workplaces, and the mining industry has already recognised how autonomous vehicles and machinery can streamline processes, save money, and even take workers out of hazardous situations.

The use of automated vehicles, machines and drones can avoid the use of resource-heavy machinery, reliant on diesel fuel and direct human operation.

When managed properly, drones can be invaluable for the monitoring and surveillance of operational infrastructure, and automated vehicles and drills can keep mine site workers out of hazardous workplaces.

Australian consultancy business GWI found that fleets of autonomous hauling trucks are already being used across Australian mines, with “automated trucks sending information to Remote Operation Centres (ROC) for interpretation, decreasing the need for tools that are more harmful to the environment”.

The rise of autonomous vehicles has also been matched by a movement towards electric mobility at the mine site in the form of electric land cruisers, dump trucks and excavators.

Indeed, most of the world’s top equipment manufacturers are working to deliver electrically-driven versions of their mining machinery to market.

A joint movement towards autonomous vehicles as well as electric vehicles and machinery could continue to grow and help the mining sector in its efforts towards net-zero operations.

A leading challenge for optimising the use of autonomous vehicles and machinery is ensuring that smart sensors and management systems are integrated into their use and performance, to avoid unnecessary costs.

Nicki Ivory, Partner, Corporate Finance, Deloitte, previously highlighted that the new information coming into a mining site’s operations from autonomous vehicles and machinery must be wellmanaged for optimal success.

“It’s about having a platform – like a nerve centre almost – a common platform that can take the information in real time from all of those digital assets and enable it to be analysed.”

2. Cyber security and bridging the IT-OT gap

Cyber security will continue to be a priority for mining companies, and the rapid convergence of information technologies (IT) and operational technologies (OT) is offering new challenges in this space.

As emphasised by Deloitte, aligning IT and OT systems has already been shown to promote efficiency, drive down costs, and create new opportunities for innovation in areas like remote process control.

“IT-OT convergence is increasing, and more devices are being connected than ever before, sometimes without the proper due diligence for security,” Deloitte said.

“The result is that, today, some of the industry’s biggest cyber vulnerabilities are around OT, industrial control systems (ICS), and Industrial Internet of Things (IIOT).

“Traditionally, mining companies have placed heightened security focus on protecting data and systems in functions like finance or human resources, but not enough on the ground at mine sites.”

Because OT systems have historically been designed for isolated operation within the limits of custom software, these systems can represent a cyber vulnerability given greater convergence and interplay with other networks.

According to Deloitte, “The adoption of remote and hybrid operating models as ‘the new normal’ means that now is a good time to review cyber security measures around interconnected or segmented networks, and ensure they are robust enough to sustain current practices and support future business growth.”

In this sense, there has never been a better time for companies in the mining sector to ensure that the efficiencies gained by IT-OT convergence and new modes of work aren’t set back by introducing cyber risk.

3. Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) and wearable technologies

Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), which allows equipment like machines and sensors to share information and communicate in a coordinated way, represents a space for innovation from mining companies to build interacting networks of technologies.

In the context of the mining industry, a popular example of applying IIoT systems is in wearable technologies, which opens opportunities in workforce tracking and personalised safety.

Advances in smart, wearable technologies can allow for RFID personnel tracking and real-time visibility of staff, which can streamline decisionmaking in areas like field maintenance and real-time inspection instruction work.

Importantly, wearable technologies and smart devices delivered within IIoT networks can promote the industry-wide priority of worker safety.

The application of wearable technologies towards safety outcomes includes devices that restrict personnel access to dangerous areas in a mine, as well as live tracking of staff GPS data to significantly improve response times in the event of emergencies.

4. The Digital Twin

The digital twin represents an opportunity for the mining sector to develop a full digital recreation of a mine or asset, to better manage, understand and innovate a live mine or asset.

Major opportunities exist for the mining sector to use digital twins to analyse processes in a virtual environment and estimate operational performance across different scenarios, in turn lowering the time and money spent on real-world searching and developing activities.

An advantage of the digital twin is how it recognises the value of storing and updating information within a single reference for easier access from a range of users, promoting interoperability and a shared framework for the work of different departments and teams.

The digital twin also opens up opportunities for mining companies to innovate creatively within a digital model before bringing this new,

Some of the world’s top equipment manufacturers are working to deliver autonomous versions of mining equipment including haul trucks, water carts, drills and trains.

digitally-enabled decision-making to the live asset.

With the digital twin market forecast to be $16 billion by 2023, leaders in major infrastructure projects around Australia are already adopting a digital twin for their assets, with more and more leaders in the mining sector likely to do the same.

The digital mine of tomorrow

Many of the biggest challenges facing the mining sector – from global supply chain disruptions through to ESG objectives and net zero operations – have been shown to have solutions in digital technologies and digitally-enabled decision-making.

For example, in the area of supply chain management, new supply chain visibility tools could help mining companies become more agile in a volatile global landscape, by assisting with risk evaluation and rerouting around crises.

From a more human perspective, Deloitte has suggested that digital leadership is a valuable commodity for anyone making a career in the mining sector.

“Digital leadership can be described as providing vision and purpose, creating conditions to experiment, empowering people to think differently, getting people to collaborate across boundaries, and creating a culture of distributed leadership.

“In the wake of COVID-19, the need for resilient digital leadership has possibly never been more relevant.”

There also exists ample opportunity for leaders in the mining sector to boost engagement with digital technologies and digital decision-making among their workforces.

Management Consulting Firm BCG found that the metals and mining industry is roughly 30 or 40 per cent less digitally mature than comparable industries like automotive or chemicals, suggesting that sizable gains are available in the space of workforce digital literacy.

“Most metals and mining companies have adopted traditional operational improvement tools, including overall equipment effectiveness, Six Sigma, and lean business principles – now leaders need to add digital to this toolbox,” BCG said.

“Of the organisations we surveyed, 30 per cent had no digital upskilling plan at all, while another 45 per cent had only recently begun training initiatives.

“Shaping this culture requires time and can be arduous, but the potential payoff is tremendous.”

REVENUES RISE, BUT FOR HOW LONG?

By Lauren DeLorenzo, Assistant Editor, Mining Magazine

Although commodity prices remained high in 2021, changes in our global political, environmental and social landscape have caused swift shifts in miners’ priorities. Here, we look ahead to the biggest areas of opportunity in mining and the challenges the industry is looking to tackle in the coming years.

An accelerating energy transition. Geopolitical instability. Technological advancements. While the mining industry has traditionally operated over the long term, these recent global forces are demanding that mines react quickly in the short term.

Last year, high commodity prices elevated executives’ confidence in a lucrative future. A recent PwC report, Mine 2022: A critical transition, highlighted a 32 per cent increase in revenue and a 127 per cent increase in net profits in 2021, in large part due to these high prices and careful cost management.

But as critical mineral demand rises and climate issues loom large, experts agree that the mining sector must reconfigure its priorities and business strategies to address the impact of external influences.

While the pandemic took a toll on the industry, KPMG’s survey of over 300 mining executives, Global Mining Outlook 2022, found that the impact of COVID-19 is no longer considered a top risk by executives. Rather, it is regarded as something that will be incorporated into regular business practices.

Instead, supply chain issues, social license to operate and environmental risks and regulations were seen as the top risks to the industry. So how can miners address these concerns, and where will the future of mining take us?

Critical minerals

A surge in demand for critical minerals has reshaped the focus of the industry. Critical minerals with direct impacts on the energy transition are forecast to dominate the mines of the future.

The mining industry’s ability to deliver these critical minerals will be fundamental in Australia’s energy transition, and in allowing the country to reach its goal of net-zero emissions.

Demand for these minerals is expected to surpass US$400 billion by 2050, but the industry is already struggling to keep up.

A failure to meet this demand, the PwC report found, would jeopardise the potential for a large-scale renewable energy transformation in Australia.

The report found that there is a major risk for a supply shortfall in the near-term, particularly for copper, lithium and cobalt, and mines will need to scale up operations quickly. Shortages of silicon, rare earth elements, uranium, aluminium and steel could hinder progress of new energy generation projects and installation of distribution networks.

The supply and price of battery materials, including nickel, lithium and cobalt, will be one of the major factors on whether electric vehicle batteries will ever reach cost parity with traditional internal combustion engines.

Urgency is required to meet demand, with a new generation of miners already shifting to take advantage of the supply gap. In 2021, market capitalisation of the top five lithium, graphite and rare earth producers grew by 56 per cent, 101 per cent and 154 per cent, respectively. In comparison, market capitalisation for the top 40 miners grew by seven per cent.

Because critical minerals are not considered bulk commodities, investors may need to reassess their threshold for investment, or aggregate supply through shared infrastructure hubs.

Price volatility and limited price visibility mean that going forward, innovative financing solutions may be required for these projects.

Environmental social governance (ESG)

Establishing trust

Once considered a point of differentiation, environmental social governance (ESG) is now considered essential, and is at the top of the priority list for mines of the future.

The expectations for tax transparency, strong social licences, responsible divestitures and minimising environmental impact are high, and will be crucial to success.

In fact, 84 per cent of executives surveyed agreed or strongly agreed that success in the long run will become dependent on a more broad definition, encompassing a holistic view of stakeholder returns, including governments, communities and employees.

Working with communities to establish trust is valuable for more than just a continued social licence to operate. Increasingly, investors are severing ties to projects that are seen as unsustainable or unethical, and basing investment decisions around ESG metrics. Meanwhile, green bonds and sustainability-related loans are becoming more common, enabling ESG-conscious companies with extra capital.

A new business model

KPMG’s survey respondents overwhelmingly agreed that ESG will be a cause of major disruption in the industry over the next three years, significantly impacting the current business model.

Nearly 20 per cent of mines operating today are likely to close

in the decade ahead, according to International Council on Mining and Metals surveys. Miners must collaborate with landowners, communities and stakeholders to manage closures and sustainable decommissioning.

This transition presents an opportunity for the industry to establish trust and move towards a low-emissions future. To achieve net-zero targets, miners can diversify, decommission or reduce emissions at existing operations.

Reporting

But what exactly constitutes ‘good’ ESG is difficult to measure, and KPMG’s research suggests that it will only become less clear over time. Over half of executives believe that investor expectations are not consistent or clearly measurable.

Trevor Hart, Global Head of Mining at KPMG International, said, “Mining companies like clarity and certainty. So they are wrestling with the question of how they should report to the market about their ESG progress when it is not really clear yet what ‘good’ looks like.”

Standardised reporting is being developed by several industry bodies, and until they are finalised, companies should continue to clearly communicate their ESG goals and measures to investors.

Technology

As companies look to decrease their carbon footprint, technology solutions can allow for greener, more socially responsible operations.

KPMG’s survey revealed that 87 per cent of executives believe that technological innovation will have a significant impact on the industry in the next three years –but this can be an opportunity for growth, rather than a threat to operations.

Replacing diesel or petrol as the main energy source for mining equipment and trucks could drastically reduce a project’s carbon output. In Australia, hydrogenpowered equipment is currently being trialled, and electric batteries may be embraced in the future.

New innovations are also set to make operations more efficient. Drone technology can conduct surveys more easily, and health and safety sensors can create real-time data streams for better decision-making.

But technological advancements are nothing without the labour force to maintain and optimise operations. Retention and recruitment of a new labour force in the sector will be paramount in realising the full potential of the industry in the coming years.

Companies are looking to invest in technology-centric roles, data analysts, computer scientists, environmental scientists, heritage experts, water management experts and more. Some companies are offering mobility schemes to allow individuals to travel and work around the world, and better ESG will make these positions more attractive to talented workers.

The new business model

The impacts of COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine have shaken supply chains, and governments are responding with new partnerships and alliances. Companies will need to demonstrate they’re addressing risks and setting higher ESG standards for continued growth.

Strategies for growth

While the KPMG report reveals a general trend of better access to traditional sources of capital over the last year, for some companies, it is still a significant challenge.

According to the survey, 62 per cent of executives agreed or strongly agreed that companies need to embrace new business models, such as strategic partnerships, private equity and public private partnerships. This view was particularly pronounced in organisations with market capitalisation of less than US$5 billion, and there are signs that increased ESG reporting, regulatory

requirements and a combination of funding factors are encouraging miners to consider alternative models.

The survey also found that organic growth was still seen as the most effective strategy for most businesses, but mergers and acquisitions are now seen as the second best option. According to the report, miners can expect mergers and acquisitions to play an increasingly large role in the years ahead, as big businesses buy up smaller companies to quickly increase their production. If valuations stay high, companies may consider the cost of a merger or acquisition against investing in their existing brownfield sites.

Another trend found in PwC’s analysis is that many original equipment manufacturers and end users are directly entering into joint ventures, partnerships and offtake agreements with miners to secure supply. This points to original equipment manufacturers eventually becoming directly involved with critical minerals mining.

Deals

The number of deals made in the last year increased by 60 per cent, with the primary driver being gold.

Due to low debt levels and high commodity price, gold miners are well-suited to take part in mergers and acquisitions, and this trend is expected to continue as large and middle-tier gold miners look to expand portfolios.

The mining sector has seen a staggering growth – 159 per cent – in critical minerals’ real value since 2019, and this trend is expected to continue for at least the next ten years, as demand grows and assets with high extraction costs become viable as prices rise.

Many leading companies are already shifting their focus towards these minerals. In August 2021, BHP announced a divestiture from its oil and gas operations to concentrate on its potash mine development. Glencore has also announced its intentions to accelerate its shift towards future commodities.

Recommendations

PwC’s report recommends that companies should review their position on critical minerals for the energy transition, and evaluate opportunities to own more of the supply chain or partner with original equipment manufacturers. Developing shared infrastructure solutions could accelerate timelines on this front and lower capital costs.

Companies should consider the impact of high volatility in the short or medium term, and the impact of increased geopolitical risks, while evaluating merger and acquisition strategy in the long term.

Increased attention to ESG is crucial, and miners should be aware of the potential impact of the OECD’s pillar 2, while looking towards exploring green premiums in the future.

Copper is an essential critical mineral used in the wiring of solar panels.

FORGING A NET ZERO PATH WITH GREEN CORRIDORS

By Lauren DeLorenzo, Assistant Editor, Mining Magazine

Governments and industry bodies are aiming for increasingly ambitious environmental targets, challenging miners to make drastic cuts in emissions in the coming years. But the key to achieving this could lie in creating a new green pathway in one of the most notoriously difficult areas to decarbonise – shipping.

Recognising the need for climate action, the mining and shipping industries are looking at ways to radically transform the way that commodities are moved around the globe.

Shipping is responsible for around three per cent of total global emissions, and a number of countries, including Japan, Australia, the UK and the US, have set goals of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. The International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has mandated a 50 per cent emission reduction for all vessels by the same deadline And in 2021, over 200 maritime organisations signed the Getting to Zero Coalition’s Call to Action for Shipping Decarbonisation, advocating for the commercial deployment of zero-emission vessels by 2030.

The technology used to produce zero-emission fuels and vessels is close to being market ready, with many trials and pilot programs underway. Key technologies for transitioning the largest ships will be available by 2024.

But while zero-emission fuels are a clear and available solution, they are much more expensive than conventional fuels. In fact, zero-emission fuels can increase the total cost of vessel ownership (TCO) by between 40 and 60 per cent. Implementing this fuel across a huge range and variety of stakeholders through the value chain would be incredibly difficult. The shipping industry runs through a complex chain of diverse stakeholders, and there is no singular system through which to implement this change.

Another challenge is that vessels have an operating life of 20 years or more. This means that if more carbon-efficient vessels are going to have a meaningful effect before 2030, then the industry would have less than a decade to implement zeroemissions fuels throughout the industry.

Whichever zero-emissions shipping solution is pursued, it must be deployed quickly and feasibly at an industry-wide scale, and at a lower cost than current operations.

What are green corridors?

The idea of a green corridor is to reduce coordination challenges while making a large-scale impact, bringing together a wide range of stakeholders into one simplified, more sustainable shipping ecosystem.

This means establishing a trade route between major ports that can support the integration of low-emissions fuel infrastructure and vessels between countries and along the value chain.

Ideally, this would have regulatory and legal support from nearby countries, which could provide low-carbon refuelling stations and other low-carbon infrastructure. Policymakers could enable green corridors with targeted financial incentives and safety regulations to encourage their use, and could consider incentives to lower the cost of zero-emissions fuel, which could in turn increase demand for green shipping.

Green corridors represent the opportunity for the industry to create a pathway for implementing zero-emissions fuels. They create a system for mobilising demand and sharing benefits along a more specific and limited group of stakeholders. This would involve relevant value-chain parties, such as fuel producers, cargo owners, vessel operators and regulatory authorities. Having these stakeholders on board would provide offtake certainty to fuel producers and send a strong signal to others to invest in zero-emission shipping, alleviating some of the risks.

Because it is limited along one corridor, the risk for these stakeholders would remain relatively low compared to a

complete zero-emissions vessel overhaul, while also having a significant impact on cutting down global shipping emissions. Corridor-specific initiatives could be used to increase demand through pre-competitive coalitions. The creation of a transparent, standardised tracking registry could help stakeholders to better manage risk and reduce loss.

TCO, which is the cost of capital expenditure and operating expenses during the lifetime of the ship, rises significantly with the introduction of zero-emissions fuels. Alongside the added expense of the fuel itself, extra costs might also include the opportunity cost of lost cargo space for larger zero-emissions fuel tanks. This is a vital consideration when deciding the fuel type and shipping corridor – but green corridors share this risk along the corridor.

This system is expected to have significant spill-over effects in the reduction of shipping emissions through other corridors. Once the infrastructure for a green corridor is set up, it could also be used for shipping on other, adjacent shipping routes.

This is just one of the reasons that deciding on the corridor route is so crucial. Corridors should be selected for their ability to incorporate a viable fuel pathway, considering the availability of zero-emission fuels and refueling infrastructure for zeroemission vessels.

Corridors should be able to mobilise demand for green shipping, and they should look to be scalable and replicable in other parts of the world, making their value increase. Policy and regulations that affect the corridor should also be examined, as incentives and regulations will be needed to ensure appropriate safety measures and to narrow the cost gap associated with zero-emission fuels.

Finally, any proposed routes should involve stakeholders who are enthusiastic about aiding decarbonisation and willing to collaborate to explore new forms of cross-value-chain collaboration.

Mining companies are now looking towards several viable options to establish green corridors and lower overall emissions.

The iron ore Australia-East Asia corridor

In April, a consortium led by the Global Maritime Forum and including BHP, Oldendorff Carriers, Star Bulk Carriers and Rio Tinto signed a letter of intent to investigate the development of an iron ore green corridor that would connect Australia to East Asia.

The consortium will enable discussions between private companies and the public to explore the specific requirements for establishing the corridor.

Currently, the shipping routes which connect Australia to East Asia are responsible for more than 22 million tonnes of carbon dioxide every year, and establishing a green corridor here is expected to significantly reduce this number.

Although there are no current estimated costs for the corridor as of yet, the biggest primary cost is expected to be zero-emission fuels. The letter of intent identified ammonia as the most promising fuel option, and the consortium is looking to enable the rollout of ammonia-fuelled bulk carriers and regional bunker capacity in 2026.

Global Maritime Forum CEO, Johannah Christensen, said that the success of this green corridor route would rely on the collaboration of key stakeholders.

“Zero greenhouse gas emission pathways require the creation of a parallel value chain that involves new ways of working, new contractual relationships and drives the development of decarbonised fuel production and infrastructure,” Mr Christensen said.

“This new iron ore green corridor collaboration is an important step towards enabling zero greenhouse gas emission shipping from both the supply and demand side.”

BHP Vice President of Maritime and Supply Chain Excellence, Rashpal Bhatti, said, “BHP’s membership of this green corridor consortium is testament to the importance we place on targeted exploration and partnerships in identifying pathways to decarbonisation for the maritime sector.

“As one of the largest bulk charterers in the world, we recognise this opportunity and have announced a number of partnerships across our value chain to seek to accelerate the process.”

Rio Tinto’s Head of Commercial Operations, Laure Baratgin, agreed that establishing the green corridor would be an important step in decarbonising the company’s shipping.

“This collaboration is another important step towards accelerating the delivery of our climate commitments on shipping, as part of Rio Tinto’s broader goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 and a 50 per cent reduction by 2030, and supports efforts in providing our customers and partners with sustainable value-chain solutions,” Ms Baratgin said.

Australia-Japan iron ore route

The consortium intends to further the development studies of the 2021 Getting to Zero Coalition report, The Next Wave: Green Corridors, which urged the sector to reduce its emissions, and suggested that green corridors could be key to transitioning to low-carbon solutions. The pre-feasibility study analysed the potential impact of an Australia-Japan iron ore green corridor.

The Australia-Japan route is one of the largest dry-bulk trade routes in the world, moving 65 million tonnes of iron ore annually. An estimated 75 per cent of the iron ore was shipped directly from the Pilbara region to Japan, with the remaining 25 per cent including stops at other ports. In 2019, ships carrying iron ore between Australia and Japan produced approximately 1.7 million tonnes of carbon emissions.

The report found that this route has a strong potential to be a first-mover green corridor, with growing momentum among stakeholders to decarbonise this route. Around 90 per cent of the iron ore exported from Australia to Japan is mined by companies that have announced net-zero commitments. This includes three major mining companies – Fortescue Metals Group, which has committed to net zero for Scope 3 emissions

by 2040, and Rio Tinto and BHP, which have committed to net-zero 2050 targets, including shipping-related emissions. For major mining companies, downstream transport can represent around 20 per cent of pre-processing Scope 3 emissions, and decarbonisation along green corridors could drastically reduce that number.

An Australia-Japan green corridor would capitalise on Australia’s increasing capacity for green ammonia and green hydrogen production, with plans to build 30GW of hydrogen electrolyser capacity by 2030. The world’s largest green energy hub, which will eventually produce green hydrogen and green ammonia, will add another 50GW of capacity in Western Australia. Many of these production hubs are planned near iron ore production sites and ports. Investors would have a secure supply and could benefit from cost advantages when exporting through these hubs.

This route would leverage the existing political collaboration between Australia and Japan, with one of the main appeals of the route being the willingness of stakeholders and a favourable regulatory environment. Depending on the regulations and incentives in the corridor, the report estimates an end-to-end annualised TCO gap of between 50 and 65 per cent, compared to a fossil fuel-based vessel.

However, new partnerships between miners, fuel producers and vessel operators could bolster demand for green shipping along the corridor. Evolving the partnerships into new institutional models, like joint ventures, is one way to mitigate first-mover risk. Stakeholders could also reduce costs through using innovative systems to share costs, and policy mechanisms could also help to bridge the gap. The report estimates that if a contracts for difference mechanism was implemented, it could bridge the cost gap between $250 and $350 million.

This report included three primary bunkering (refuelling) stations in North West Australia for zero-emission vessels travelling on the route. Port Dampier, Port Hedland and Cape Lambert would be the three Pilbara hubs. There is a possibility of bunkering at other low-cost ports along the route (such as in Singapore or China), but this would incur an additional cost.

Based on favourable production conditions, the study found that green ammonia was the best choice for an enabling regulatory environment and for getting willing stakeholders on board. Fuel production for the planned 41 zero-emission iron

ore vessels would require an estimated 1.7GW of electrolyser capacity, calling for an estimated capital expenditure of between $3.7 billion and $5.2 billion. These costs would include electrolysis, hydrogen storage, the ammonia production process and the investment costs for renewable electricity.

For the consortium, the next step is to jointly assess green ammonia supply, bunkering and first-mover support mechanisms. Ultimately, the aim is to develop a framework as an initial step towards actual implementation of a green iron ore shipping value chain.

Alternative green corridor routes

The report also studied a number of alternative route options, including a Brazil-China iron ore route. This route is much greater in distance, and so it was found to have a significantly higher impact on lowering overall emissions.

However, for this reason the route was also much more sensitive to increased fuel costs along the corridor.

An Australia-China route was also explored, but the study found that, from a regulatory point of view, the Australia-Japan route was much more feasible, with engaged and willing stakeholders. However, successful implementation of the Australia-Japan route could have spillover effects for a potential Australia-China route, given that some stakeholders in Australia and along the value chain would overlap. This would further accelerate decarbonisation pathways for miners who are exporting on other, adjacent routes.

The challenges ahead

The Australia-Japan iron ore green corridor will need coordination between a number of industry groups, as well as from governments and fuel suppliers that are involved. Although the route is still in very early planning stages, it is already attracting attention from big miners who are looking to cut down emissions at scale from their operations.

The pre-feasibility study highlights the potential impact of a green corridor, and its role as a potential stepping stone towards transitioning the industry.

Green corridors could further the momentum around decarbonising shipping as an industry, and prove that demonstrable systems can be put in place through coordinating stakeholders and deploying that system at scale.

TAPPING MINERAL WEALTH IN MINING WASTE COULD OFFSET DA MAGE F � OM

NEW GREEN ECONOMY MINES

By the University of Queensland’s Anita Parbhakar-Fox, Principal Research Fellow/ Group Leader – MIWATCH; Kamini Bhowany, Postdoctoral Research Fellow; Kristy Guerin, Postdoctoral Research Fellow; Laura Jackson; and Partha Narayan Mishra

To go green, the world will need vast quantities of critical minerals such as manganese, lithium, cobalt and rare earth elements. But to some environmentalists, mining to save the planet is a hard pill to swallow if it leads to damage to pristine areas.

WEALTH COULD NEW

The good news is that in many cases, the mining for these minerals has already been done. After Australia’s major miners dig up iron ore, billions of tonnes of earth and rock are left over. Hidden in these rock piles and tailing dams are minerals vital to high tech industries of today and tomorrow.

In recent years, we have seen a welcome focus on remining – the extraction of valuable minerals and metals from mining waste. While Australia has been slow to adopt this approach, it holds real promise. We don’t necessarily have to mine more. We can mine smarter.

Why do critical minerals matter?

For our new government to deliver net zero by 2050, we will have to mine more critical minerals. In Australia, these minerals include lithium, cobalt, rare earth elements, tin, tungsten and indium. These metals are essential for manufacturing the wind turbines and electric vehicles required to transition to a low-carbon economy.

In May, Four Corners explored the potential for critical minerals mining in Australia, such as Western Australia’s major lithium deposits, cobalt resources in New South Wales, and Tasmania’s opportunities in tungsten and tin. For nearby communities, new mining can mean socioeconomic rejuvenation.

But some environmentalists are sceptical, with the Bob Brown Foundation calling it a form of “greenwashing”. They point out that increasing mining would mean more damage to the environment, and produce much more waste. Globally, mining produces over 100 billion tonnes of solid waste annually. This waste is usually deposited in tailings dams or waste rock dumps, which both have risks if not done properly. Tailing dams breaking due to geotechnical issues have caused lethal disasters. Another issue is acid mine drainage, when highly acidic water laden with heavy metals escapes containment.

If Australia does want to make the most of its critical minerals, it is important to improve mining methods. If we don’t, we are likely to see extremely high waste to product ratios, as we already do for traditional commodities like gold, copper and iron.

Balancing these concerns is difficult. For instance, the multi-metal Rosebery mine in Tasmania requires a new way to store tailings to continue operations. If it doesn’t, the mine’s operators say they may have to close. But the Bob Brown Foundation is strongly protesting its construction, due to the threat to a rare owl.

Tungsten is being recovered via gravity separation from mine waste at Mt Carbine.

Phosphate mining can be a source of rare earth elements.

One solution? Mine the waste

How can we resolve these issues? One approach is to look to circular economy principles. By treating this waste as a source of value, we could reduce the environmental footprint of mining while producing critical minerals and other vital products such as sand.

For instance, at the Luossavaara-Kiirunavaara Aktiebolag mine in Sweden, the tailings from iron ore mining now comprise one of the largest deposits of rare earth elements in Europe. Recognising this, the mine’s owners are planning a circular industrial park to recover these valuable elements.

Similarly, the world’s annual phosphate production is estimated to contain around 100,000 tonnes of rare earth elements, a large proportion of which ends up in waste streams.

Copper deposits are a well-known source of many critical metals such as antimony and bismuth, as well as cobalt and indium.

Even in coal ash – the deposits left after burning coal – we can find valuable minerals such as gallium, scandium, vanadium and rare earth elements.

A growing area of interest

There is growing interest in extracting minerals from mining waste, with conferences held in the new area of remining in Europe and new prospecting ventures under way in Australia exploring mine waste.

The first to invest in this secondary prospecting was the Queensland Government, which has funded sampling across 16 sites. Early results have found cobalt deposits rich enough to draw overseas investment.

New South Wales has recently launched a similar program, while work is under way by Geoscience Australia, the University of Queensland and RMIT to produce the first-ever atlas of mine waste in Australia.

Once complete, this atlas will be a valuable resource for companies keen to position themselves as tailings extraction experts such as New Century Resources.

Major miners are also paying attention. Rio Tinto has invested AU$2 million into a new startup, Regeneration, which uses income from mine waste mineral recovery to pay for mining site rehabilitation.

Do we have the right technologies for the task?

Existing technologies are being put to work to extract manganese from waste from South 32 mines using aqueous solutions.

Another proven technique, gravity separation, is being used to recover tungsten from mine waste at Mt Carbine.

For some deposits, however, we will need more advanced techniques. These might include emerging methods such as fine particle flotation, and even using remarkable plants to mine metal in a process called phytomining.

Given the Federal Government has committed AU$240 million to develop critical mineral processing facilities, we should explore the use of mine waste as feedstock.

Early days for remining

Australia’s mineral wealth could see us become a renewable and critical mineral superpower. But to ensure this shift gains widespread support, we must do the best we can to tackle environmental concerns. To spur on this change, we can vote with our wallets. Companies like Volkswagen and Apple are looking for new providers of critical minerals, given ethical and geopolitical concerns around existing supplies.

If we as consumers call for a percentage to be sourced from mine waste, we could drive clean economic growth and reduce the need for new mines, while funding the rehabilitation of Australia’s 50,000 abandoned mine sites.

This article originally appeared on The Conversation and can be accessed at https://theconversation.com/tapping-mineral-wealth-in-mining-wastecould-offset-damage-from-new-green-economy-mines-183232.

Many waste rock piles hold hidden stores of valuable minerals.

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