Algae and mining: A new frontier in sustainable site rehabilitation

Algae might seem an unlikely candidate to help transform Australia’s post-mining landscapes, but a new CSIRO -led project suggests these tiny aquatic organisms could provide sustainable futures for mine sites, surrounding ecosystems, and local communities. Looking down the microscope at the microalgae Nannochloropsis Australia’s mining sector is approaching a crossroads—where economic legacy and environmental responsibility must find common ground. A new CSIRO -led study, supported by the Cooperative Research Centre for Transformations in Mining Economies (CRC TiME), suggests that one of the most promising bridges between these imperatives may come from an unexpected source: algae. Though small in stature, algae are emerging as giants in their potential to transform post-mining landscapes. The study, developed in partnership with the University of Queensland and Murdoch University , proposes that algae-based technologies could reduce mining’s environmental footprint while seeding new...

Thai state co acquiring Indonesian coal mines

The state-owned Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand is in advanced talks to acquire coal mining assets in Indonesia and will hold the stakes through subsidiaries. Thailand, which uses natural gas to generate about 70% of its power, is looking towards coal as it tries to cut its dependence on natural gas for power generation.

"We are in advanced talks with a few targets and hope to close the deal this year," EGAT's Viroj Sivavong, chief of fuel development and planning,told Reuters. "We were also looking at Australia but those assets were too expensive." EGAT is looking at mining assets with about 100 Mt of reserves, he added.