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that has happened in our world is the re- these things are going to become no- is having on climate change,” Quail said.
duction of poverty in China and India and brainers, so why would you truck in and “Perhaps in WA because we don’t
other countries in Asia. Our resources burn all this diesel at a mine site when have a big coal industry, we don’t see
sector has played a key role in providing power can be sourced through wind, it as much, but one of the risks I see is
the energy and minerals needed to de- solar or other sources? I think these are that people will tar the whole industry
liver better outcomes to support people,” good stories that need to get out there,” and form the view that mining is bad for
Canavan said. Quail said. the environment, mining is bad for the cli-
It is the type of success stories alluded Despite Quail’s best intentions, the mate. Whereas the likes of lithium batter-
to by Canavan that Quail will look to pro- mining industry’s image is set to be ies and renewable energy is powered by
mote this year and hopes that examples sternly tested this year given the series mining and it’s a good thing. I think that
set by the likes of Gold Fields Ltd at Ag- of bushfires on Australia’s east coast and needs to be communicated a bit more,
new can inspire others in the industry. the perception that the sector had a role but I think the coal industry is going to
“I was amazed at how they can power to play in the destruction caused. have a tough journey.”
a whole mine site with wind and solar “I think Australian mining, particularly – Mark Andrews
and there are others, such as Image [Re- with the bushfires over east, I can’t help
sources NL] which is also setting up a but think people overseas are starting to
solar farm at Boonanarring. Before long, make this link between the impact mining

The WA Mining Club was one of the seed sponsors behind the STEM unitED programme
in 2019, which attracted 30% more schools than originally budgeted for Damian Quail

Environmentally positive stories in the mining sector will be the focus
of WA Mining Club luncheons in 2020. Last year, Gold Fields Australia
Pty Ltd senior vice president, Australasia, Stuart Mathews provided an
in-depth presentation on how the company was converting the Agnew
gold mine to be run by wind and solar energy

aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT FeBRUaRY 2020 Page 55