MinRes reassesses mothballed lithium mine

The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) has asked the Federal Government to fund a three-year pilot program to embed AI into environmental regulatory decision-making.The pilot would trial AI support for human decision-making to improve the transparency and accuracy of assessment and approvals under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity (EPBC) Act.Approval delays remain a key concern for the mining industry and regulatory bodies.According to the MCA, an increase in average decision times for resources projects of 60% from 2.3 years in 2019 to 3.8 years in 2025 is creating uncertainty, costing the Australian economy billions and eroding investor confidence.The MCA says AI tools, such as an interactive submissions coach for project proponents, a pre-submission quality check, geospatial data integration and tracking and a risk comparison capability, would reduce proponent errors in applications, eliminate duplication and support faster, better-informed decisions.The proposed pilot would aim to reduce inefficient manual document reviews, inconsistent application of conditions and repeated lengthy requests for information with the aim of enabling regulators to focus effort on more complex and high-risk approvals.The first solution is estimated to take about 12-20 weeks, and the total program development across the four solutions is estimated to take 6-12 months.The MCA says a smaller amount of ongoing capital investment will enable continuous improvement and system evolution.MCA chief executive Tania Constable says embedding AI in approvals can position Australia as a global leader in sustainable development and in responsible innovation using the minerals sector’s extensive use of AI in current operations and understanding of EPBC processes.“We know that EPBC delays and uncertainty can result in millions of dollars in lost project value, duplication of costs and missed investment opportunities which negatively affects communities and the Australian economy as well as project proponents,” she said.“This approach would help government deliver modern, efficient environmental regulation while meeting environmental objectives.”The use of AI-enabled tools in the mining industry, from machine learning, predictive analysis, autonomous haulage systems to safety monitoring and decision making, is becoming increasingly commonplace.The NSW Government has an AI solution to review building permit applications as part of the State significant development process, automate compliance checks and accelerate assessmentsIn the mining-intensive Canadian province of British Columbia, Mining Digital Services built an AI-powered searchable library that extracts and verifies permit conditions from documents, reducing reliance on institutional knowledge and enabling faster compliance reportingDeveloped by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in the US, PermitAI is being developed to support environmental reviews by searching prior assessment and assist document drafting.Though these ongoing advancements are creating new opportunities, implementing AI is not without risk. According to S&P Global, primary concerns include data security and overreliance on empirical and modelled data alongside a series of ethical dilemmas.The growth of AI infrastructure also raises questions about electricity demand and water use, particularly as data centre investment accelerates.In 2024, data centres accounted for about 1.5% of global electricity consumption, according to the IEA.The IEA projects that data centre electricity consumption may grow by about 15% per year until 2030, more than four times faster than the growth of total electricity consumption from all other sectors.Global investment in data centres is accelerating and, though the IEA projects the US, China and Europe will remain the largest data centre regions, Australia is well-placed to become a global leader.This week, the Federal Government released a series of expectations for data centres and AI infrastructure developers as part of its commitment under the national AI plan, stressing that data centre expansion must happen on terms that benefit the community and supports national interest.The expectations are designed to ensure data centre developments put the needs of the Australian people first, ensuring communities benefit directly through jobs, investment in skills and innovation while supporting the clean energy transition and safeguarding long-term water security.Federal Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen says it is no surprise Australia is an attractive investment destination for data centre technology.“Data centres have great potential to support our grid and expand new renewable investment, but it’s important we work together across jurisdictions and with industry to get the investment settings right so that we can continue to keep our system secure and energy prices low for all consumers,” he said.The Federal government’s five expectations are that the developments will:Prioritise national interest Support the energy transition Use water sustainably and responsibly Invest in local skills and jobs Strengthen research, innovation and local capabilityThe Federal Government will prioritise proposals most closely aligned with the overarching national expectations which will work alongside existing laws and help guide local decisions in each state and territory.

International Seabed Authority (ISA) Council negotiations have concluded without the adoption of an agreed upon deep sea mining code and without any mining approvals being granted.  The two-week negotiations exposed unresolved disagreements between participants on issues ranging from environmental safeguards and liability to inspection, compliance and benefit-sharing, with several governments raising major scientific, environmental and governance concerns.  ISA member states also supported the ISA’s legal and technical commission’s (LTC) inquiry and preliminary report into contractor non-compliance, which revealed that an ISA contractor may be in breach of its contract. The report also revealed the contractor may be in breach of its obligations to act in accordance with the multilateral framework under the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea (UNCLOS). Deep Sea Conservation Coalition (DSCC) policy lead Emma Wilson says that if breaches are confirmed, contracts must be terminated. “Contractors cannot hold exploration contracts under the international system while simultaneously undermining it by seeking to mine unilaterally,” she said. “The ISA’s response to threats of unilateral mining is a critical test for the authority.” The inquiry also comes amid concerns surrounding attempts to pursue unilateral deep-sea mining, including questions about the involvement of Nauru Ocean Resources (NORI), a subsidiary of The Metals Company.  DSCC legal advisor Duncan Currie says the inquiry goes directly to the ISA’s core responsibility to the deep seabed as the common heritage of humankind. “If companies attempt to bypass the Authority by pursuing mining through a unilateral national process, it would constitute an unauthorised appropriation of the global commons under the UNCLOS.” A full LTC report is expected at the July meeting, when NORI’s contract is due for extension. The DSCC continues to call on governments to adopt a moratorium on deep sea mining. 

Australia’s freight operators have expressed concerns that proposals to curtail diesel rebates or mandate transitions to electric or alternative fuels would trigger significant cost-of-living increases and threaten the viability of thousands of small transport businesses. The warning comes as Climate Change Authority chairman Matt Kean backed calls to overhaul the diesel fuel rebate, suggesting the billions spent annually would be better directed towards electrification. However, exclusive survey data from Loadshift — a subsidiary of Freelancer Limited (ASX: FLN) and Australia’s largest online marketplace for heavy-haulage transport. — reveals major opposition from those in the freight industry. Loadshift chief executive Matt Barrie says the survey results reflect deep concern across the industry about policies being developed without understanding operational realities. “Our…