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...

New investment fund for Mongolian coal projects

Origo Partners, an AIM-listed private equity firm focused on China-linked core economic growth opportunities, has opened a new office in the Mongolian capital of Ulan Bator and created a new fund, Origo Altai Partners, to invest in the country.

Origo sees Mongolia as a country of significant mineral wealth with resources encompassing gold, iron ore, molybdenum, uranium, oil, copper and coal and exploration licenses covering a third of the country’s approximately more than 1.5 million sqkm land area.

The country’s proximity to key markets in northern China enables the supply of commodities at a comparatively low cost and this competitive advantage will be underpinned by the ongoing development of rail infrastructure in China and anticipated rail approvals and construction in Mongolia.

Last November, Origo took a 21% stake in Mongolian mining company Gobi Coal and Energy for a total of $15 million. Headquartered in the country’s capital, Gobi holds significant coal resources, leaving it well positioned to capitalise on growing demands from China.