Alcoa assesses vanadium battery for WA refineries

The Heavy Industry Low-carbon Transition Cooperative Research Centre (HILT CRC) has announced the recipients of the inaugural 2025 HILT CRC-Curtin University Engineering Scholarships.

The old pit at Kapunda. Image: Environmental Copper Recovery.   BY ELIZABETH FABRI   A GROUP of researchers and miners have joined forces in a two and a half year study that aims to identify and resolve key challenges with in-situ recovery (ISR) mineral extraction in mining.   The research program, led by Mining3 and ISR specialists Environmental Copper Recovery (ECR), will be undertaken at Terramin’s Kapunda copper mine in South Australia with Thor Mining, the University of Adelaide and CSIRO. The program would involve a “tangible demonstration of ISR mining” at Kapunda, providing examples to industry of how to unlock value in stranded assets. Kapunda – Australia’s first commercial copper mine – has been mothballed since the early 1900s,...

Areas of technology investment in Australian mining. Image: Newport Consulting.   BY ELIZABETH FABRI   MINING companies are embracing the transition to the ‘digital mine’ by investing in new technologies, but falling short when it comes to preparing future workforces, Newport Consulting has found.   In its 2018 Mining Business Outlook, the operational management consultancy firm revealed strong signs of revival for the sector following a series of in-depth interviews with more than 50 mining leaders. However it flagged an emerging skills gap confronting the industry as a result of the rise of automation and a ‘gig economy’ set to redefine roles and disrupt job security. “We spoke to many companies of all sizes that voiced concern over a widening...

Image: Hitachi.   BY ELIZABETH FABRI   WITHIN a decade Australian mines will be operated almost entirely by autonomous machines, according to global group Hitachi. Game-changing technologies such as remote and integrated operation centres, driverless vehicles, and advanced analytics are set to be “commonplace” across the entire industry by 2030. “Such advances in technology are predicted to increase productivity and reduce costs by up to 25 per cent, which will have a significant impact on retaining Australia’s competitiveness in the Asia Pacific region, in addition to major positive social impacts such as the ability for mining employees to work in metropolitan areas,” Hitachi stated.   “Hitachi also predicts that by 2030 most mines will have fully integrated IoT systems that...