Resources sector leading the way in decarbonising its footprint

The resources sector has been among the first to proactively adopt decarbonisation targets “more quickly than perhaps government”, one local leader says.

Queensland mines are already using various types of renewable energy to power their sites.

Resource industry leaders say the sector is at the forefront in driving sustainable solutions and economic resilience through the adoption of key initiatives and regional innovations to tackle climate change.

For Resources Centre of Excellence chief executive office Steven Boxall, there is no path to a decarbonised future without the resources sector, which has already been investing heavily in green equipment for mining.

“We need the metals and minerals that are mined by the resources sector, whether it’s to help support building electric vehicles, wind farms,” Mr Boxall said, adding, “a whole heap of infrastructure and technology does not happen without the Australian resources and the Australian resources sector”.

Queensland mines are already using various types of renewable energy to power their sites.

“Whether that’s testing and trialling battery-operated or hydrogen-powered or gas-powered equipment, you’ve also got a lot of innovation happening across the supply chain with the end goal of supporting the resource sector,” Mr Boxall said.

Queensland mines are already using various types of renewable energy to power their sites.

Greater Whitsunday Alliance chief executive officer Kylie Porter said the resources sector had been among the first to proactively adopt decarbonisation targets “more quickly than perhaps government”.

“What that has done is set a really strong signal to the sector that they’re going to take a leading role around decarbonising their operations and therefore assisting the Australian economy, you know, start to decarbonise,” Ms Porter said.

An example, she said, was the electrification of mining vehicles that involved collaborative projects between original equipment manufacturers and mining companies to develop.

BMA has also entered into a five-year renewable power purchase agreement with green energy generator CleanCo, which is tipped to provide half the forecasted electricity for its Central Queensland mine operations from January 2026.

The cogeneration plant at Oaky Creek, which captures and combusts waste coal mine gas, produces 21mw of electricity and avoids 81,000 tonnes of CO2 each year.

And as a result regional businesses that already had strong foundations in “being nimble, adaptable and really responsive to industry changes”, were able to apply those same skills to decarbonising their own operations.

‘IF WE GET IT WRONG, IT WILL BE CATASTROPHIC’

Ms Porter said the role of technology was going to be critical in the decarbonising journey and the Mackay region had a long history in being great innovators.

A 2018 Regional Australia Institute report revealed the Mackay ranked eighth highest for registered patents per capita in Australia.

“That really talks to how practical the supply chain in our region is,” Ms Porter said.

Kylie Porter GW3 CEO.

“We are very, very good at providing solutions to problems and if we’re to look at decarbonisation as a ‘problem’, I firmly believe that this region has a whole range of solutions to tackle that head on.”

Mackay businesses like Veyeron and Real Time Instruments, Ms Porter said, were already paving the way in technology innovation that was making a real impact in the resources sector in terms of decarbonisation but could be utilised across other sectors.

“Decarbonisation is just going to be the latest in a long list of how we can lead the world in this space,” Ms Porter said.

“That’s a message I think is really important to tell - when you add this decarbonisation lens into your business operations you can conceivably in the future be regarded as a premium supplier because you have a product which can assist in decarbonising operations.”
However Mr Boxall said it was important to drive forward at the right pace while still being aware of the traditional industries and the contribution they made to the economy.

“If we get any one part wrong, it’s going to have catastrophic effect,” he said.

“We really have to have a harmonisation between traditional industries and future industries because you can’t have one without the other.”

Originally published as Resources sector leading the way in decarbonising its footprint