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Mining for the future

Welcome back to The Intelligent Miner newsletter.

As many of you know, I theme the editorial on the platform each month and January has (unintentionally, but happily) become the month when I write about circular economy. This has also become one of my favourite topics to cover, not only because circularity is the glue that binds many of the new strategies, technologies and ways of thinking that I’ve been exploring into comprehensive change, but also because there are so many interesting people working in this space. New faces and ideas really excite me.

A contact recently sent me a copy of the paper ‘From resource-rich to resource-full’ which Aussie firm, Coreo, prepared for the Australian government during 2022. The information it contained, quite frankly, blew my mind.

The premise being that circular economy presents an opportunity for Australia to harness the full lifecycle value of its resources by applying three key principles: designing out waste and pollution; keeping products and materials at their highest value for as long as possible; and regenerating natural and social systems. (Notice there’s no mention of mining in that manifesto, yet the industry has a central role to play.)

“In a circular economy there is no such thing as waste. Only wasted resources,” said Coreo’s CEO, Ashleigh Morris.

Companies operating in the mining sector are privileged to be trusted with the extraction and usage of precious, finite natural resources and to steward landscapes that are, in some cases, held in sacred regard. By not using those to the full or by wasting/damaging any part of those resources, we are not only disrespecting the people and environments to whom they belong, but also, we are not making the most of the value that they offer. Put simply: circular economy just makes good business sense.

This month, I’m delving deeper into this topic and more - think decarbonisation, future commodities, working towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals etc. - with some fantastic experts. I’ve recommended a few articles below to get your creative juices flowing, and please send me your own recommendations and thoughts in return. I love hearing from this community.

Here's to new year of collective curiosity, learning and expansion!

Carly

Reading list
Eight articles on mining and its place in the future

            ICMM: The Role of Mining and Metals in Accelerating a Truly Circular Economy 

"Sometimes I think about the world my family will live in in 2040 and ask myself, ‘what does a just world look like’?" Excellent article on mining and its role in the circular economy from ICMM's director of innovation, Christian Spano

            Minespider: Creating Sustainable Supply Chains to Respond to ESG Risks

Lee Williams muses on supply chain resilience and sustainability. I admire any writer who can get the word 'smorgasbord' into a technical article

            Sustainability by numbers: The mineral monopoly - will low-carbon technology be controlled by a few countries?

Hannah Ritchie presents a breakdown of global critical mineral production and sourcing along with potential implications for supply security. An eye opener

            Sprott: Gold Mining - Community Relations are the Foundation for ESG

Andrew Stronach explores five key areas of community relations crucial to harmonious mining operations and which represent 'best practices' for miners

Coreo: Resource-rich to resource-full

This is the most comprehensive piece I've read on the state of circularity in any part of the mining market. A highly recommended read

            BBC: The promise of batteries that come from trees

This month's curve ball read... lignin, a polymer found in trees, could potentially provide carbon for battery anodes

            Swann Global: Swann Interview Podcast 1: Professor Laeeque Daneshmend

One to listen to. Nona Sichinava interviews Professor Laeeque Daneshmend, Noranda-Falconbridge Chair in Mine-Mechanical Engineering at Queen’s University, Canada, on innovation in mining

            AFR: Most miners are ducking their climate responsibilities: Cutifani 

One for AFR subscribers. According to Mark Cutifani, two-thirds of the world’s mining companies are yet to get a grip on their environmental and social responsibilities

Last month on The Intelligent Miner
We explored mining and the energy transition

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