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...

Vietnam coal sector 'must focus' on labour safety

Vietnam's Deputy Prime Minister, Hoang Trung Hai, has emphasised that ensuring labour safety is the responsibility of not only each worker but also each production team in order to minimise accidents in coal exploitation.

Speaking at the Vietnam Coal and Mineral Industries Group (Vinacomin) 2010 implementation conference in Hanoi, Mr Hai also asked or a boost in coal production for domestic consumption and export as well as ensuring energy balance.

Vietnam’s coal demand is estimated at 200 Mt by 2020 and over 300 Mt by 2025, said Hai, who entrusted Vinacomin to establish a long-term production plan to manufacture 100 Mt of coal in 2020.