TRANSFORMING MINE CLOSURES

ALGAE CULTIVATION IS GETTING THE ATTENTION IT DESERVES THROUGH ITS ABILITY TO TRANSFORM POST-MINE LANDSCAPES.

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The multi-billion-dollar algae industry could soon play a crucial role in helping miners achieve net zero carbon emissions while boosting economic opportunities for local communities.

Algae technologies are emerging as a game-changer for improving mine-closure outcomes, capturing carbon dioxide, removing pollutants, boosting plant growth and suppressing dust on mine sites.

A recent report published by the Cooperative Research Centre for Transformations in Mining Economies (CRC TiME) and led by CSIRO senior principal research scientist Dr Anna H. Kaksonen has shown how algae could support the global green transition and reshape rehabilitation practices in Australia's mining sector.

“We found that there are plenty of opportunities where algae could be used for beneficial uses or applications at mine sites. It could provide opportunities for mining companies to move towards the net zero target and achieve environmental goals,” Kaksonen said.

How algae can transform mine sites

The collaborative project between CSIRO, the University of Queensland and Murdoch University revealed that cultivating algae in contaminated mine water could provide a sustainable path forward for mining operations.

The report found that algae could be used to treat mine water by removing nutrients, salts, and acidity, while its biomass could serve as a carbon and electron donor in sulfate reduction-based processes to remove metals and sulfate.