Roadmap to decreasing copper mining emissions
Launched by the Hon. Courtney Houssos MLC, NSW Minister for Finance and Minister for Natural Resources, the new minerals processing roadmap is a collaboration between the resources sector, government, universities and the mining technology industry to reach net zero copper mining.
Copper will contribute to decarbonisation, helping deliver clean energy and electrification that may see global demand for refined copper doubled by 2050. This will bring new development and employment opportunities for Australian economies, but it must be done sustainably.
The most energy-intensive part of upstream copper production is minerals processing, which can contribute significantly to a site’s emission profile. The roadmap identifies how mining companies can embrace innovation using a ‘systems approach’ to work in partnership with stakeholders.
It identifies five mineral processing themes with solutions for now and into the future. These include emerging novel processing solutions, digital and automation technologies like artificial intelligence, mixed realities or machine learning applied across comminution, concentration, extraction, or waste stream processes to better optimise ore liberation, enrichment, recovery, sustainability and asset performance.
Optimising energy, waste, water usage and equipment performance can be achieved through grinding, flotation, leaching, ore chemistry, process optimisation and advanced recovery solutions. Wide-reaching future innovations also include coarse particle flotation, gravity separation, microwave fracturing, novel leaching, bio-mining, artificial neural networks and ESG mapping.
ICAA CEO John Fennell said copper mining has to cut emissions going forward. The minerals processing roadmap shows that this won’t be easy, but it is achievable with collaboration.
The minerals processing roadmap was supported by European Copper Institute (ECI), Aeris Resources, Anax Metals, CMOC – Northparkes Mines, Copper for Tomorrow CRC bid, Glencore, MMG, Newcrest Mining, Newmont, Ok Tedi Mining Limited (OTML), PanAust, Sandfire Resources. The ICAA Roadmap to Zero Project is supported by the NSW Government.
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