PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) has reaffirmed the resource sector’s ambitions to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 in support of the goals of the Paris Agreement.

MCA CEO Tania Constable noted that the industry body and its member companies have continued to invest in research to better understand the technologies and practices that would be necessary to achieve decarbonisation across the sector.

“This ambition can only be achieved through significant investment in technology and member companies are proactively adopting or considering a range of technologies, including those that are already available and others where breakthrough development technology is still required,” said MCA CEO Tania Constable.

She noted that a number of individual activities have been identified to facilitate emissions reductions at scale, which is more than 100 000 t/y of carbon dioxide, including energy efficiency initiatives, carbon capture and storage, additional flaring and gas capture equipment, flaring of underground emissions, ventilated air methane (VAM) abatement, electrification and funding medium-longer term negative emission technologies.

“A more sustainable minerals sector is not only important for Australia’s post-Covid recovery, it is also helping to sustain and improve the lives of millions around the world, providing the critical raw materials necessary for modern and emerging economies to flourish in a decarbonised future,” said Constable.

The Queensland Resources Council (QRC) has echoed the sentiments, with CEO Ian Mafarlane saying its members were absolutely committed to working together to achieve energy security while taking proactive steps towards a low-emissions economy.

“An orderly transition to a low-emissions economy will require an integrated set of national policies, which are technology-neutral,” Macfarlane said.

“These policies must sit within the framework of Australia’s participation in global agreements, including the Paris Agreement, which includes greenhouse gas emission reduction commitments from major emitting nations.”

Macfarlane said the QRC supports the Paris Agreement and its emissions reduction goals to limit global warming to well below 2 ^oC above, preferably to below 1.5 ^oC above, pre-industrial levels.

“Climate change is a critical global challenge which must be addressed by all parts of society, and the resources industry is absolutely committed to being part of the global solution,” he said.

“QRC members are already working on lowering emissions and reducing energy costs in their own operations by improving energy efficiency, adopting renewable energy, investing in co-generation and implementing demand management.”

He said the ongoing strength of the resources sector is essential for Queensland to capitalise on the benefits and opportunities presented by new economy minerals, including their role in creating new energy sources such as renewables and hydrogen.

"The same trends driving global demand for Queensland’s resources are also shaping the direction of Queensland’s resource operations,” he said.

A report released by the QRC earlier this year found that the number of member CEOs investing in low emission technology research and development has almost doubled over the past two years, jumping from 40% to 70%.

“The report also found nearly a quarter, or 22%, of our CEOs are already using renewable energy to power parts of their operations, and almost two-thirds, or 65%, expect to undertake investments to reduce emissions from their own operations over the next 12 months,” said Macfarlane.

“The resource industry is also already well down the path of electrification, which is a critical first step in reducing the emission footprint of mining operations, with most compressor stations, conveyor belts, draglines, grinding mills and reverse osmosis plants already electrified.

“Everything from green power contracts to battery-operated underground vehicles is under consideration.”