AUSTRALIAN METS
Servicing the sustainability shift
Export-oriented Aussie companies are set to play a major role in the sustainable mine of the future , according to Dan Gleeson
In a joint report from Austmine and the Australian Trade and Investment Commission , titled ‘ Accelerating Sustainable Mining ,’ the global significance of the Australian mining equipment , technology and services ( METS ) space was laid bare .
The report said these companies are natural partners for the global mining industry in its pursuit of sustainable mining practices .
“ The Australian METS sector has been at the forefront of developing and implementing innovative practices and cutting-edge technologies for mining operations around the world ,” the report stated . “ Driven by a pioneering spirit and a commitment to excellence , METS companies have become renowned for solving the most difficult industry challenges in the harshest global mining environments , from large-scale open-pit copper mines in the Atacama Desert of Chile to complex underground gold projects in the sub-zero temperatures of northern Canada .”
It is their collaborative nature , a willingness to export its skills and solutions , and an evolving focus on sustainability that has Australia ’ s METS companies competing at the very top .
The report authors looked to emphasise this through the identification of several key areas of sustainability impacting operations now and into the future , “ looking through the lens of where the industry is striving to be if we can successfully accelerate sustainable practices .”
These focus areas include : n “ The Smart Water Mine ”: Demonstrating the solutions needed to protect water . Ranging from mine water management and monitoring through to water treatment and desalination ; n “ The Community Mine ”: Re-imagining the traditional relationships between mines and communities to create value for local stakeholders , preserve cultural artefacts and improve the public perception of mining ; n “ The Zero Carbon Mine ”: Showcasing the practices adopted to monitor , analyse and reduce carbon emissions from mining operations , including renewable power generation , electric vehicles and energyefficient systems ; n “ The Small Footprint Mine ”: Leading a fundamental shift in the business models and operational practices of mining companies to create more precise , adaptable and low impact projects ready for the future ; n “ The Waste Free Mine ”: Investigating the circular economy methodologies that can be used to take mine waste and turn it into valuable building materials , energy technologies and precious resources . IM identified some key players in all these categories to showcase where Australian METS companies are accelerating sustainable mining .
Getting smart with water
Evocra has come up with a patented foam fractionation technology – Ozofractionative Catalysed Reagent Addition ( OCRA ) – to solve
UFR ’ s team is leveraging state-of-the-art technology – and applying its own UFRautonomy™ technology stack – to convert Gold Field ’ s Epiroc MT65 trucks at the Granny Smith mine into OEM-agnostic automated haul trucks
challenging acid mine drainage ( AMD ) problems in ecologically-sensitive wilderness areas .
A flexible and versatile technology , OCRA has since been proven to be highly effective in treating a wide range of contaminants , including the removal of Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances ( PFAS ), commonly called “ forever chemicals ”, from complex contaminated waters , such as industrial sewage , saline surface waters , fire training ground runoff , liquid waste and landfill leachate .
The process was first deployed commercially in 2011 , with its first installation for PFAS treatment in 2017 . Evocra has granted patents and patent applications in the USA , Canada , Europe , Australia , New Zealand and South Africa .
The company previously put forward the use of OCRA at a coal mine site operating in a sensitive natural heritage area that had underground mine water containing heavy metals . The coal mine ’ s existing water treatment process required expensive treatment to allow discharge into nearby sensitive natural waterways .
“ Like many mining sites , this operation had historically used a traditional pH adjustment , oxidation approach with dissolved air flotation ( DAF ) to remove heavy metals from the affected
10 International Mining | OCTOBER 2024