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...

India's domestic coal production up 7.8%

In 2009, India increased coal production by 7.8% to 492.95 Mt. According to provisional statistics, the country's total coal imports in 2009 were about 59 Mt, including 24 Mt of coking coal and 35 Mt of non-coking coal.

Indian coal is traditionally high ash coal and of low calorific value. Imported coking coal, mostly from Australia, is mainly used in the steel sector due to quality considerations. Non-coking coal, mostly imported from Indonesia and South Africa, is used in the power sector and in the cement sector, also mainly on cost-quality considerations.