Sustainable metal production: how do we get there?

Released today, the first issue of CSIRO’s minerals magazine, resourceful, examines the challenges of water, energy and environmental performance in the metal production industry.

“Now more than ever, the industry needs to work smarter and more efficiently to ensure its future viability, through decreasing its energy usage and related greenhouse gas emissions”

Jonathan Law, Director of the CSIRO Minerals Down Under Flagship

Jonathan Law, Director of the CSIRO Minerals Down Under Flagship says with the introduction of the carbon tax this month, these issues are at the forefront of every industry executive’s mind.

‘Now more than ever, the industry needs to work smarter and more efficiently to ensure its future viability, through decreasing its energy usage and related greenhouse gas emissions,’ Mr Law said.

‘CSIRO is working with industry partners to develop a range of technologies that can assist the industry to improve its competitiveness and environmental performance.

‘These technologies can also deliver positive flow-on effects into other challenging areas such as soil salinity, water quality and waste utilisation.’

Stories in this issue include:

• A vision in charcoal: CSIRO’s low emissions integrated steelmaking process has the potential to set the steel industry on a new, low emissions path. It could also have a positive impact beyond the minerals world.
• Water rights: The challenge of operating in a dry climate with scarce water supplies is not unique to the Australian minerals industry. CSIRO is working to develop a new water rights management system in one of the driest places in the world, the Copiapó River Basin, Chile.
• Global adoption: A classic case of a brilliant idea that has grown and prospered through constant adaptation – CSIRO’s Sirosmelt technology is now used in over 70 metallurgical smelting plants around the world.
• The science of soils: Pollution of soils from waste and industrial use is an often overlooked environmental impact from industry. CSIRO has developed the world’s first ever soil quality standards that take into account the individual nature of each soil.

Other stories in this issue include an industry perspective piece from Xstrata Technology Chief Executive Joe Pease, an article looking at sources of energy loss in the metal production industry and an investigation into how industry can integrate social engagement into technology development.

To download a pdf of the magazine or read the full articles online, please visit our resourceful publication page.

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