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...

Subhash Projects starts Indonesian production

Subhash Projects & Marketing, India's Kolkata-based infrastructure company, will start commercial production of coal from its block in Indonesia in April, chief operating officer Rishabh Sethi said.

The company had begun mining at the PT Bism mine in December. “We were waiting for the barge load conveyors to be readied,” he said. The conveyors are used to move the coal to a barge which then takes it to the buyer.

The company plans to initially sell its coal locally and then export it to Asia. “We are looking at mining about 50,000—60,000 t a month initially,” Sethi said. SPML is looking at mining 3 Mt/y at a later stage.

The mine, which SPML bought with power equipment maker Emco in 2008 for $40 million, has reserves of over 100 Mt. SPML holds 55% and Emco the rest. Both the companies will invest about $4-5 million in the mine in 2010-11.