The quantity and quality of business planning inputs has changed considerably since the early 1990s. Back then concepts like climate change, sustainability, and circular economy were never part of our everyday conversations. The inherent uncertainty in our planning inputs was rarely considered and the breadth of data was narrow compared to what we now know we need to consider to realise the full value of our assets today.

We must embrace these new frontiers of uncertain knowledge, resource complexity and social value, leveraging our network of connections to foster transparency, constructive discussions, and efficient information flow into our business planning processes. Our mission is to blaze a trail to unlock the value of knowledge. It relies on insightful, conscious individuals supported by the right data and integrated processes.

The environmental, social and governance (ESG) obligations of mining companies promotes the consideration of water and land resources as well as the post-mining employment opportunities following the cessation of mining operations. Microalgae are microscale photosynthetic microorganisms that can survive in a range of environments. Microalgae production is already a commercially viable process for high-value products including vitamins, cosmetics and food supplements. This work highlights the environmental and social opportunities to use near-neutral pH mine-influenced waters to grow microalgae in a purpose-built ‘raceway’ track system. Living microalgae can progressively improve water quality by taking up sulfate and soluble metals (i.e., cobalt, nickel, manganese) via bioaccumulation. After harvesting, the microalgae can be used to treat acidic and metalliferous mine waters. Alternatively, the microalgae can be converted into a liquid fertiliser similar to commercially available Seasol® and/or converted into biological charcoal (biochar), which can also be used as a soil amendment. Liquid biofertilisers can be used to substantially accelerate soil formation from mine waste, reducing the topsoil insufficiencies on many mine sites. Microalgae grow rapidly, sequestering CO2 up to 10 times faster than terrestrial plants (such as sugarcane). Growth rates for microalgae are ~0.015 kg/m2/yr, and microalgae consume ~1.83 kg·CO2 to produce ~1 kg of biomass. Therefore, a 40 ha microalgae production facility would sequester ~4,000 t·CO2/yr into the microalgae. When the microalgae are converted to a biofertiliser, they assist in accelerating soil carbon sequestration and re-vegetation growth rates, both of which further sequester CO2. Microalgae production facilities have a lifespan of approximately 30 years. There are potential economic, environmental and social incentives for a microalgae production facility to support progressive mine rehabilitation during mine operation, after which the facility could be transferred to a third party, providing an alternative industry in regional areas for the balance of the microalgae facilities lifespan.