Theme 3: Targeting the zero waste mine

Recent breaches in tailings dams have illustrated the verys serious risks associated with the management of tailings and wastes from mining. 

In Australia alone, waste rock from mining and tailings from mineral processing increase at a rate of 6 to 7 billion tonnes per year.  (Current worldwide cement production is about 3.5 billion tonnes per year).  In Queensland alone, the cost of rehabilitating mined land is currently estimated at $7.3billion.

This theme will revolutionise chemical processing options for reducing and mitigating waste during operations, and finding solutions for remediating existing waste through environmental engineering.