Mineral carbonation combats emissions at scale

The WA Government is looking at ways to fast-track industry-scale mineral carbonation as part of its recently released Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) Action Plan which highlights the process as a potential emissions reduction technology.

Mineral carbonation is a naturally occurring carbon sequestration process that has the potential to lock up carbon emissions on a gigatonne (Gt) scale in WA.

For context, 1Gt is equivalent to one billion tonnes. Global energy-related CO₂ emissions in 2023 was 37.4Gt (or 37.4bt), according to the International Energy Agency.

Australia, on the other hand, emitted 432.9mt CO₂ e in the year to December 2023, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics.

These are interesting statistics to go by. It makes mineral carbonation look like an attractive option in the concerted global effort to remove CO₂.

Mineral carbonation technology

Using mining wastes and by-products, the Minerals Research Institute of Western Australia (MRIWA) Mineral Carbonation Roadmap has identified a pathway for this accelerated in-situ mineral carbonation, the industrial-scale process to convert CO₂ into a stable form.

It sets out a co-ordinated program of work to enable accelerated mineral carbonation in WA across four themes: science and technology, economic viability, social and environmental impacts, and policy and regulatory needs.

WA Mines Minister

WA Mines and Petroleum Minister David Michael comments on this.

“Accelerated mineral carbonation technology provides an opportunity for State and industry to work together to convert large legacy stockpiles of mining and processing waste into sequestration assets,” he said.

“Research focused on accelerating mineral carbonation technologies will play a vital role in contributing to reducing CO₂ emissions, as well as potentially creating new jobs, businesses and markets for mineral carbonate products for WA.”

2015 Paris Agreement

The 2015 Paris Agreement aims to limit global warming to well below 2, preferably to 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial levels.

Part of the solution is the removal of CO₂ from the atmosphere through this form of CCUS called mineral carbonisation.

This process is versatile at both removing and permanently storing CO₂ at the gigatonne (Gt) scale, while also helping WA rapidly transition to a low-carbon economy supporting global low-carbon supply chains.

Best materials to use

The best types of materials for mineral carbonation are those rich in the metals calcium, magnesium and iron, such as the mafic and ultramafic rocks found within WA’s prolific greenstone belts.

These metals are also present in many industrial wastes, including tailings, ash from combustion processes, blast furnace slags and cement waste.

MRIWA is now taking expressions of interest for applications under the $2.5m Accelerated Mineral Carbonation Research Program to activate the roadmap.

For more information on how to apply and to register your interest, visit: https://www.mriwa.wa.gov.au/research-funding/grant-applications/amc-research-program-application-information/