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Comprehensive Supply Chain Solutions

South32 all about that base

wo years ago on the Diggers & Dealers eralised land package and testing of the
Tstage, South32 Ltd chief development highest priority targets are under way.”
officer Simon Collins’ presentation was South32’s finger in the base metals
only the prelude to a greater love affair with cookie jar extends globally, with 20 partner-
base metals as the company divested its ships inked in Australia, Europe and North
South African coal projects. America for greenfields exploration.
In 2021, South32 chief technical officer The company’s focus on base metals
Vanessa Torres continued to reiterate that was indicative of the overarching theme of
transformation, declaring the company’s its presentation, as Torres dedicated a ma-
Hermosa project in Arizona to be one of the jority of her near-half hour time on stage to
best emerging opportunities in the industry. decarbonisation – a topic that dominated
Hermosa offers four minerals across two the three-day conference.
deposits – Taylor (zinc, lead and silver) and “Our priority innovation mission is having
Clark (zinc, silver and manganese) – and is a low footprint, where we are studying initia- Vanessa Torres
underpinning South32’s pivot towards de- tives that will help us reduce our Scope 1
carbonisation. and Scope 2 emissions,” Torres said. sortium, collaboratively researching the
“We are reshaping our business to in- “We are progressing decarbonisation pathway to zero emission projects.
crease our exposure to base metals,” Tor- studies with a focus on our most carbon in- “The challenges we are looking at in-
res said. “Hermosa in Arizona is one of the tensive operations where we can make the clude mine design, energy storage, light
most exciting projects in the industry. most material difference. and utility EVs, zero carbon haulage in
“Our team is progressing a PFS for Taylor “At our Worsley alumina mine, we will de- underground and surface scenarios, and
and we recently released an updated min- liver short term emission reduction through electrical infrastructure,” Torres said.
eral resource estimate of 138mt. A scoping efficiency measures including our mud “These are not easy challenges to over-
study for Clark is also evaluating the poten- washing project, which is expected to re- come but by solving them, we will unlock
tial to produce a manganese product used duce energy and water consumption.” new ways of working with lower emissions
in EV batteries. South32’s dedication to decarbonisation as well as safety and cost benefits.”
“A further 15 regional prospects have is emphasised by its accomplishment as a
also been identified across the larger min- founding member of the Electric Mine Con- – Fraser Palamara

EXPLORING SOUTH EAST ASIA’S PREMIERE NICKEL SULFIDE DISTRICT

Blackstone is taking steps to become a globally significant, green nickel™
product supplier catering to the battery market.

LOOKING FORWARD.
www.blackstoneminerals.com.au
ASX: BSX
MINING GREEN.

aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT SePTeMBeR 2021 Page 45