CEECing Change - where industry collaborates on eco-efficient minerals

In this episode of the Spotlight Leader Conversations series, CEEC communications lead Ailbhe Goodbody speaks to Brian Cornish, José Pablo Domínguez and Roberto Lecaros from ME Elecmetal, a leading global supplier of integrated wear solutions for mining, construction and industry.

In the conversation, they discussed renewables and grinding innovations, including how ME Elecmetal is working towards a long-term vision regarding carbon emissions, recycling and the circular economy. They also talked about how making small changes to reduce energy and steel consumption can result in big improvements in the efficiency of operations.

In this episode of the Spotlight Leader Conversations series, CEEC communications lead Ailbhe Goodbody speaks to Scott Marshall, Scott Ferguson and Ellen Thomson from Thermo Fisher Scientific, a global supplier of scientific instrumentation, reagents and consumables, and software services.

In the conversation, they talked about the latest sensor technologies for ore sorting, and how the company’s mining division is focused on developing technologies that can help its customers achieve their own net zero 2050 targets. For example, the PSM-500 particle size analyzer that Thermo Fisher Scientific launched in 2020 is specifically designed for comminution circuits, and optimises energy efficiency by ensuring that plants are not over-grinding their ore.

In this episode of the Spotlight Leader Conversations, our communications lead Ailbhe Goodbody speaks with Eric Wasmund, VP Global Flotation of Eriez, a world authority on complete magnetic separation, metal detection, fluid recycling, feeders & conveyors, material handling equipment, size reduction and metal recycling solutions.

In the conversation, Eric focuses on how Eriez is delivering breakthrough technologies like StackCell and HydroFloat that are allowing the extractive industries to use less energy and water. He also talks about how the role of non-competitive NGOs like CEEC is key in building collaboration across industry. 

In this episode of the Spotlight Leader Conversations, our communications lead Ailbhe Goodbody speaks with Peter Flanagan, Senior Vice President – Global Project Sales, Executive Accounts and Key Commodities at FLSmidth, a global provider of sustainable productivity to the cement and mining industries for over 135 years.

Today, our communications lead Ailbhe Goodbody talks with Paul Shelley, Global VP of Innovation for Molycop, an organisation that delivers highly developed and innovative products that ensure high breakage resistance and low consumption rates to deliver value for mines all over the globe.

In the conversation, Paul discusses the impact of the digital transformation that has improved the efficiency and productivity of comminution. For example, Molycop’s P86 SAG mill sensor system, which received a high commendation from the CEEC Medal Evaluation Committee a couple of years ago, can successfully capture and analyse data from inside operating SAG mills.

Marc Allen is the Technical Director at engeco, a Singapore-based consultancy providing advisory services primarily in energy and greenhouse gas management and strategy, as well as broader sustainability, across Australasia. Marc has been on the Board of CEEC since 2018

• Why Marc became involved in CEEC

CEEC CEO Alison Keogh interviewed CEEC director Bryan Rairdan for the CEEC director series. Some of the key areas covered in this podcast include:-

• Why Bryan decided to join the CEEC Board

Professor Neville Plint is the Director of the Sustainable Minerals Institute (SMI) at The University of Queensland (UQ) in Australia.

Professor Plint’s extensive background focused on delivering improved operational performance on mining sites by developing and implementing new technologies, whilst establishing a global network of research professionals in academic institutes, mining companies and research organisations.

The 2020 CEEC Medal was won by Dr Grant Ballantyne, for his paper titled “Quantifying the Additional Energy Consumed by Ancillary Equipment and Embodied in Grinding Media in Comminution Circuits”. At the time Dr Ballantyne was working for The Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre which is part of the Sustainable Minerals Institute.

• What the CEEC medal means and why it’s important for industry

Zimi Meka, Managing Director of Ausenco is interviewed by CEEC Director Joe Pease following the 2020 CEEC Medal for technical research presentation to Dr Grant Ballantyne of Ausenco.

With over 35 years’ experience in design, construction and operation of minerals processing plants, and infrastructure globally, he's overseen Ausenco’s diversification into a global business today.

Zimi has been recognized globally with many awards. He was inducted in the Engineer's Australia Hall of Fame in 2019 today's modern was listed by engineers Australia as one of the country's top 100 most influential engineers and is recognized by the AusIMM with the Institute Medal in 2009.

Topics covered in this podcast include:-

• How Grant Ballantyne’s 2020 CEEC Medal win is helping industry to make the right moves in improving energy efficiency

In today’s episode of the 2020 CEEC Medal insights series, CEEC Director Joe Pease interviews Dr Grant Ballantyne, Head of Technical Solutions with Ausenco after the presentation of his 2020 CEEC Medal for outstanding work.

Grant shares exciting technologies key to reduce mining’s footprint, including options that can reduce water, tailings or energy by 50%. As we strive towards net zero design and operation of processing plants, we must account for embodied energy in ancillary equipment such as steel grinding media and conveyors, which can add 30 to 50 per cent more energy use.

Topics covered in this podcast include:-

• An overview of Grant’s Medal Winning paper Quantifying The Additional Energy Consumed By Ancillary Equipment And Embodied In Grinding Media In Comminution Circuit