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...

FCX makes shock new President Director appointment at Freeport Indonesia

In a shock move, US mining giant Freeport-McMoran Copper & Gold (FCX) has removed the President Director of its 90.68% subsidiary, PT Freeport Indonesia, after the resolution of a dramatic three month's strike by over one-third of the companies 23,000 workers at the Grazberg gold-copper mine in Papua province, Indonesia. Dr Rozik B. Soetjipto, a Commissioner of PTFI since 2000 has been appointed as its new president director, replacing the outgoing Armando Mahler.

He will be assisted by an executive committee chaired by FCX chief executive Richard Adkerson, while Armando will serve as a senior advisor to the committee. “The new management organization will enable us to renew our commitment to operate the Grasberg mine in a safe, efficient and world class fashion for the benefit of our employees, the local community, and the Republic of Indonesia,” the company stated.

Dr Rozik, a mining engineer, previously held senior positions in the Indonesian Department of Energy and Mineral resources, including the posts of Director General of Geology and Director General of Mining, as well as serving a two year term as the nation's State Minister of Public Works. He is a graduate of the Bandung Institute of Technology and obtained masters and doctorate degrees in metallurgical engineering from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium.