DEC2020australianminingreview.com.au A product of Publications & Exhibitions Australia Pty Ltd GREEN LIGHT FOR VANADIUM P06 MINING SHORES UP TASSIE ECONOMY P43 SYNERGY IN SAFETY P72 RRP $10.00 incl GST GOLDFIELDS AIRCRAFT CHARTER SPECIALISTS 08 9093 2116 admin@goldfieldsairservices.com www.goldfieldsairservices.com 24 hours a day, seven days a week Mining and exploration Personnel movements + FIFO Urgent freight + breakdowns Kalgoorlie-Jandakot-Esperance PILBARA POWERHOUSE It has been a bumper year for the Pilbara Ports Authority (PPA). which has served as an engine room for the WA economy, achieving a record annual throughput of 717.2mt despite the pandemic. 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PO Box 8023, Perth BC, WA 6849 E-mail the editor at editorial@australianminingreview.com.au4 AMR DEC2020 COMMODITIES SNAPSHOTaussiepumps.com.au Aussie Pumps Australian Pump Industries MINING IT’S A DIRTY BUSINESS Reserve your copy today Call or email ........ 02 8865 3500 info@aussiepumps.com.au Send for new Aussie Blaster Blitz 6 The cleaning bible of the Mining Industry FREE Class A Operator Safety Training NEWS6 AMR DEC2020 M ore than 60 vessels are still anchored off the coast of China, unable to offload millions of tonnes of Australian coal, as the diplomatic row between Canberra and Beijing continues. It’s estimated that more than $500m worth of Australian coal is on ships caught in the impasse, as the spat between the two countries cuts into trade and also threatens to escalate into a humanitarian crisis. At least 15 of the carriers have been waiting since June, and the remainder have been delayed for at least four weeks, according to an analysis of shipping data conducted by Bloomberg. And it’s not just the cargo: an estimated 1000 seafarers are also victims of China’s move to blacklist a wide swathe of Australian commodities and foodstuffs, ramping up tensions between the two trading partners that have deteriorated since Huawei Technologies was barred from building Australia’s 5G network in 2018. Many crew members are in need of relief and are mentally and physically exhausted, due to unprecedented prolonged stays on board because of COVID restrictions. Media outlets reported that Chinese power stations and steel mills were told to stop using Australian coal in October, and ports were instructed not to offload the fuel. Many ships that were on schedule to deliver Australian coal to China are being diverted to India or Vietnam, while others continue to wait at the ports. F ortescue Metals Group is investigating the development of a green ammonia plant in Bell Bay, Tasmania, which has been announced as a successful participant in the Tasmanian Government’s Renewable Hydrogen Industry Development Funding program. The project envisages the construction of a 250MW green hydrogen plant at the Bell Bay Industrial Precinct, with green ammonia production capacity of 250,000t per year for domestic and international export. It has the capacity to be one of the world’s largest green hydrogen plants, powered entirely by Tasmanian renewable energy. The project is targeted for an investment decision by the Fortescue Board in 2021. Fortescue Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Gaines said working with its wholly owned subsidiary Fortescue Future Industries, the company is assessing clean energy opportunities locally and internationally to capitalise on the important role that green hydrogen will play to ensure the world can meet the Paris 2050 targets. “Subject to detailed feasibility analysis, the Tasmania Project will be an important step in demonstrating our intention to position Australia at the forefront of the establishment of a bulk export market for green hydrogen," she said. The project supports Fortescue’s industry- leading operational target to be net zero by 2040, and builds on the company’s investment in green hydrogen production SHIPS STRANDED IN CHINA SYNDROME GREEN LIGHT FOR AMMONIA PLANT Coal is just one commodity being affected, with barriers also put in place for Australian barley and timber. The coal standstill is in stark contrast to conditions at the start of the year, when China’s power plants pulled in tankers full of the high-quality fuel as ITS domestic mines were disrupted by COVID. But since May, when China appeared to start shunning Australian supplies, imports fell to about 32mt through to the end of September, down from about 42mt in the same period in 2019. The Chinese Government, for its part, claims the imported coal simply did not meet environmental standards. In a briefing at Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said China had strengthened examination and testing over imported coal for safety, quality and environment levels “so as to better protect the legitimate interests of Chinese companies as well as environmental safety”. But Chinese officials have also blamed Australia’s “cold war mentality” for worsening relations with Canberra. Thirty-nine of the ships – most of them off the northeast coast near the ports of Jingtang and Caofeidian – are carrying about 4.1mt of metallurgical coal, while nine are carrying about 1.1mt of thermal coal. Earlier in November, the Morrison Government called on Beijing to help resolve a “deeply troubling” standoff involving an and technologies, including: • A partnership with the CSIRO for the development of new hydrogen technologies, including a world first membrane technology which provides the potential for large scale hydrogen extraction from ammonia Indian ship carrying Australian coal that had been stranded for five months at a Chinese port. Federal Trade Minister Simon Birmingham raised concerns about the welfare of the Indian crew who remained on board, while making a broader appeal to the Chinese Government to cease “what seems to be a recurring targeting of some Australian industries”. “It’s deeply troubling, particularly because it goes beyond the mere question of trade, and involves the question, of course, of individuals who have found themselves at sea for a prolonged period of time,” he said. He said Australia understood the need for checks to ensure the safety and integrity of product going into a market. “However, I note that there has been a consistent theme of these sorts of technical issues in relation to what we would usually consider to be safe and reliable Australian product,” he said. “We urge China to give clarity around the type of practices that are being applied here, because this type of disruption and uncertainty is hurting not only Australian businesses, but those Chinese businesses who rely upon Australian product.” AMR • A$32m hydrogen mobility project at Christmas Creek comprising the construction of a renewable hydrogen refuelling facility and the deployment of a fleet of hydrogen fuel cell passenger coaches from mid-2021 • A partnership with ATCO Australia to build and operate the first combined green hydrogen production and refuelling facility in WA • A Memorandum of Understanding with Hyundai Motor Co and CSIRO to advance renewable hydrogen technology for domestic transport. AMR The project envisages the construction of a 250MW green hydrogen plant at the Bell Bay Industrial Precinct. An apparent Chinese blacklist has stranded more than 50 Australia carriers.INDUSTRIAL MEDIC SERVICES INDUSTRIAL MEDIC SERVICES (IMS) is a professional provider of Paramedics, Ambulance, Emergency Response and Site Medical services dedicated to the provision of best practice emergency response and medical services within the Oil & Gas Industry sector. Our experienced Paramedics, Nurses and Doctors specialise in managing workplace trauma and the provision of emergency response services on remote sites ranging from mobile drilling teams through to large scale mining and production facility operations. IMS can rapidly deploy personnel and infrastructure anywhere in Australia, and overseas. We can tailor services to meet your risk management, emergency response planning and work place health and safety needs, including: • Paramedics, Nurses and Medical Practitioners • Emergency Service Officers (ESO) • 4WD Ambulance and Emergency Response Vehicles • Fire Appliances/Equipment and Personnel • Site Medical Rooms • Aeromedical Retrieval Support Services • 24 hour/ 7 day - Emergency Physician Communications & Doctor Support REMOTE MEDICAL SPECIALISTS (08) 8162 9854 craig.harris@industrialmedics.com.au For more information, please contact Craig Harris, Director - Remote Field Operations on NEWS8 AMR DEC2020 The project includes open pit mining, crushing, milling and beneficiation at the site and a processing plant for final conversion to high- quality vanadium pentoxide. A ustrian iron ore producer VA Erzberg and Liebherr concluded a development contract for a Trolley assist system for the T 236 (100t mining truck) at the Bauma 2019 trade fair. Since then the miner has been testing the diesel-electric truck, which was modified to operate with an overhead line connected through a current collector with bars on a 500m long test track. Up to now, the transport of more than 13mt of rock per year has required enormous amounts of energy, of around 4.5mL of diesel per year. Erzberg believes it will be 3mL less diesel in the future when the successors to the mechanical diesel trucks currently in use start operating at the mine. Successful Test Phase The diesel-electric truck is equipped with a current collector with bars that connect the truck drive system to the overhead power lines on uphill haulage segments to drive with electric power. This innovative technology allows for tracks with small radiuses and even switchbacks. It also allows for a wider use of the haul road width aside of the catenary line in comparison with conventional pantograph solutions. This is of importance when the haul road conditions are not optimal due to weather conditions for example. Erzberg technical director Josef Pappenreiter said there are only a few companies in the world that use overhead line technology for A ustralian Vanadium has announced a number of green hydrogen objectives aimed at reducing carbon emissions. According to AVL Managing Director, Vincent Algar, the use of green hydrogen would allow the company to reduce its carbon footprint and leverage both the economical and environmental benefits of this growing market. “The green steel opportunity is one that WA should particularly embrace, with the potential for many jobs to be created and a globally competitive steel industry,” he said. “This strategy can assist with environmental approvals and in attracting finance partners with an environmental, social and corporate governance focus, for the AVL Project to be brought into production.” The proposed project is located about TROLLEY TRIAL A TRIUMPH HYDROGEN AIM FOR VANADIUM PROJECT their trucks. “However, we realised very quickly that the existing technology would not work for us,” he said. “Our newly developed technology is different from everything previously available on the market in terms of both the overhead line system and the vehicle technology itself. This could only be developed with our cooperative and innovative partner Liebherr Mining in Colmar.” New Challenges The upper sections of the new extended track for a fleet of six Liebherr T 236 sit at around 1055 m above the sea level. VA Erzberg will be observing how the weather conditions will affect the overhead lines during the winter in the Eisenerz Alps. Project manager Peter Schimek said the entire electrical engineering proved another challenge as all six T 236 can be connected to the overhead lines simultaneously in several places. Mining Responsibly When connected to the overhead power lines in trolley mode, the full power capacity of the electric wheel motors of the T 236 can be translated into speed on grade while the diesel engine idles, thus reducing emissions and fuel consumption. In the long term, VA Erzberg expects to save around 3mL of diesel and 4200t of CO 2 per year. Furthermore, the emission of nitrogen oxides and fine dust will also be reduced. “With this technology, we expect a sustainable energy-optimised production,” Mr Pappenreiter said. “About 13mt of rock are currently transported in the mine every year. The cost factor for ore production is correspondingly high. “In addition to the positive environmental effects, an investment in this new technology also secures the sustainable extraction of the important raw material iron ore for domestic steel production. “A total of around 20m euros will be invested in the project.” AMR The T 236 on the track at VA Erzberg. 40km south-east of Meekatharra in WA, and includes open pit mining, crushing, milling and beneficiation at the site and a processing plant for final conversion to high- quality vanadium pentoxide for use in steel, specialty alloys and battery markets, to be located at a site at Tenindewa, between Mullewa and Geraldton. AVL’s strategy to incorporate hydrogen into the project specifically includes: • Introducing a percentage of green hydrogen into the natural gas feed for the processing plant, to reduce carbon emissions. This will be analysed fully in the Company’s Bankable Feasibility Study. • Offtake of ammonia from green hydrogen production for use in the final vanadium precipitation step of processing. The CSIRO is working on an ARENA-funded project to develop a production process that does not contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. • Powering minesite or haulage vehicles to move material from the minesite to the processing plant with green hydrogen. Hydrogen generation could be undertaken at the minesite and at the processing plant for refueling. This is a new area of development for Australia and will need to be fully assessed for its financial implications. AVL is keen to work with the Federal and State Governments and haulage companies who have a forward plan for this technology. • The use of green hydrogen for steel production in the ore reduction step. AVL is seeking partnerships with companies interested in this area as it would be a noble and efficient use for the Fe-Ti coproduct that the Company plans to produce. • Through AVL’s 100% owned subsidiary, VSUN Energy, integrating hydrogen electrolysers in plant design, combined with energy storage utilising vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) technology. To support the Government of Western Australia’s plans for a green hydrogen economy, AVL has submitted a formal response to the request for expressions of interest for the Oakajee Strategic Industrial Area Renewable Energy Strategy. Having a project located in the Mid-West region, with a variety of ways for AVL to incorporate green hydrogen means that the company is well-positioned to leverage the emerging hydrogen economy and its financial and environmental benefits. AMR The T 236 connected to the overhead lines at VA Erzberg.Broons Group (08) 8268 1988 - info@broons.com - www . broons.com BH-1300 MS 14 Tonne 1300mm Module BH-1950 MS 18.5 Tonne 1950mm Module Broons has led Impact Roller technology for over 35 years, with benefits to the mining sector: Features Heavy Duty Linkage Gusseted Chassis Extra Wear Plates Lugged Tyres • Deep Compaction • Unrivaled Productivity • Haul Road Construction • Capping Tailings Dams • Rock Rubbilisation • Tyre Wear Reduction • Limit Suspension Fatigue • Operator Comfort • Secure Tip Heads • Low Running Costs • Reduce Fuel Costs • Risk Mitigation IMPACT ROLLERNext >