The second phase of Australia’s landmark Zero Emission Copper Mine of the Future Project–or ZECMotF–is rapidly developing a picture of global Materials Movement innovation.
The Final Report is not due till July, but already ZECMotF is producing groundbreaking insights into new ideas, technologies and systems around the world.
Like the Water and Zero Emission Copper Mining snapshot last year, the Materials Movement study will be a world first and practical guide to outstanding research, development and success stories as copper mining companies search for ways to efficiently & sustainably transfer ore from underground deposits to purification processes.
We’re currently exploring innovations in three main areas—Identifying mega trends, Drilling blasting and fragmentation, and Material haulage. Some recent innovations in the area include:
- Renewable energy systems at mines is a huge trend in tandem with battery energy storage. Last year the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the Colorado School of Mines and the Missouri School of Mines produced a survey of every mining site worldwide installing renewable energy systems to help cut carbon emissions.
- ARES— Advanced Rail Energy Storage system—is being tested in the USA to harness solar electricity to drive weighted rail cars by day and night in a mixed technology system to meet the constant power demands of mines by releasing energy at exactly the time it is needed.
- In Europe the Lithium Systems eDumper project is retrofitting a conventional diesel mining dump truck with massive lithium ion batteries. Coupled with renewable energy charging of the vehicle’s batteries, the eDumper would displace carbon dioxide and fine particulate emissions from conventional diesel engines.
The next phase of Materials Movement will look at conveying and ore sorting, end use slurry, stacking and re-purposing, and Digital, technologies and interoperability.
The Zero Emission Copper Mine of the Future Project is absolutely unique globally. By coordinating Australian copper miners in this industry-led project, the copper companies themselves are identifying new technologies to build a globally competitive & sustainable metal supply for the future.
Check out previous ZECMofF reports: https://copper.com.au/about/projects/zero-emission-copper-mine-of-the-future/