More consumption, more demand for resources, more waste: why urban mining’s time has come

By Michael Odei Erdiaw-Kwasie, Charles Darwin University; Matthew Abunyewah, Charles Darwin University, and Patrick Brandful Cobbinah, The University of Melbourne Pollution and waste, climate change and biodiversity loss are creating a triple planetary crisis. In response, UN Environment Programme executive director Inger Andersen has called for waste to be redefined as a valuable resource instead…

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Developer gets green light for construction of Mortlake Energy Hub

The Victorian government has given BrightNight approval to begin development of the $700 million Mortlake Energy Hub, a hybrid solar and battery energy storage project. Victorian energy minister Lily D’Ambrosio said on Thursday that the fast-tracked project is expected to create approximately 300 construction jobs. According to its website, the energy hub is planned as…

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WA winery awarded $225,000 grant for production of low- and no-alcohol wines

The Western Australian government has announced $1.13 million in funding for nine projects under round seven of the Regional Economic Development Grants program, including to Rockcliffe Winery to assist in production of low- and zero-alcohol wine. According to a statement from regional development minister Don Punch on Tuesday, Rockliffe was awarded $225,000 to help purchase…

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Fleet Space satellite mineral surveying goes to Chile

Satellite technology company Fleet Space Technologies today announced plans to deploy its end-to-end mineral exploration solution, ExoSphere, to enhance Gold Fields Ltd’ exploration and development of their Salares Norte gold-silver project in Northern Chile. ExoSphere will be used to generate 3D subsurface imaging of the Brecha Principal and Agua Amarga resource areas and surrounds aiming…

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Rio Tinto buys Mitsubishi’s share of Queensland aluminum smelter

The reordering of Australian and New Zealand alumina and aluminium production assets continues with Rio Tinto announcing it has completed the acquisition of Mitsubishi’s 11.65 percent stake in Boyne Smelters Limited. BSL owns and operates the Boyne Island aluminium smelter in Gladstone, Queensland which manufactures carbon anodes and aluminium, casting 295,000 tonnes of molten metal…

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Three technology challenges to rebuild manufacturing – by Warren Zietsman

Manufacturing success has never been more dependent on selecting and implementing the right technologies, writes Warren Zietsman. Three challenges are apparent for manufacturers. For an industry largely written off for decades, the recent comments by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the 2024 Bush Summit are a signal of intent in reviving the fortunes of both…

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