A new Austmine publication is giving mining companies easy access to sustainability technologies from the METS sector.
The world’s transition to clean energy and net-zero technologies has so far been fast and hard. It has demanded the rapid development and implementation of new technologies that bring about new ways of doing business.
In the context of the mining industry, there is an increasing understanding that many of the sector’s sustainability challenges are insurmountable for a single company to tackle alone. This realisation has seen mine operators increasingly turn to the mining equipment, technology and services (METS) sector for help.
Austmine recently launched Accelerating Sustainable Mining, a publication it hopes will elevate more Australian METS companies to the global stage.
“The publication is fundamentally a directory for mining companies to find METS companies with specific sustainability capabilities,” Austmine director of strategic development Marianne Cummings told Safe to Work.
“The purpose is both to promote the cutting-edge sustainability technologies of Australian METS companies to the global market and to provide mining companies with simple access to sustainability solutions.
“By making it easier for miners to identify and procure relevant technologies and solutions to meet their decarbonisation and broader environmental, social and governance [ESG] targets, we hope to contribute to accelerated implementation of sustainable mining practices.”
The publication, which was developed in collaboration with the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), covers five key sustainability areas:
‘The waste free mine’ – showcases various METS companies’ capabilities in waste management, including waste-to-energy technologies, sustainable waste management practices, tailings management, circular economy models for mining, and more
‘The small footprint mine’ – examines METS companies that can help reduce the size and impacts of mining operations, including improving in-situ recovery techniques, low-impact processing, agile and modular mine design, and more
‘The smart water mine’ – covers METS companies with capabilities in mine water management, desalination, water treatment technologies, and more
‘The community mine’ – showcases METS companies with expertise in stakeholder engagement, cultural heritage preservation, mine closure planning, and more
‘The zero carbon mine’ – looks at METS companies involved with carbon capture and storage, clean energy solutions, electrification technologies, and more.
These technologies are demonstrated in case studies throughout the publication, demonstrating how Australian METS companies are helping miners solve their biggest sustainability issues.
Cummings said the publication highlights the pioneering spirit, innovation and can-do attitude of Australian METS companies and how the sector is contributing to sustainability efforts around the world.
“To meet these challenges in the short timeframe required will require rethinking technologies and implementing new solutions,” Cummings said.
“Most miners do not have the in-house resources to develop these solutions in acceptable timeframes and need to look to the METS sector for expertise.”
As 2030 climate targets loom and stakeholder pressure builds, mining companies will need sustainability solutions that can be implemented quickly without reinventing the wheel.
Accelerating Sustainable Mining offers the high-quality Australian METS sector the international recognition it has worked hard to deserve. And, perhaps most importantly, the publication is helping drive the global transition towards sustainable mining.
This feature also appears in the July-August issue of Safe to Work.