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A guide to leading practice sustainable development in mining

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Figure 4.13 – Beverley uranium m<strong>in</strong>e site <strong>in</strong> South Australia<br />

Xstrata’s Mount Isa m<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g and smelt<strong>in</strong>g operations are world-renowned. Unlike<br />

many m<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g operations <strong>in</strong> Australia, Mount Isa is <strong>in</strong> very close proximity <strong>to</strong> its<br />

community and thus its operations are under constant scrut<strong>in</strong>y. By undertak<strong>in</strong>g<br />

<strong>lead<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>practice</strong> <strong>in</strong> materials stewardship the company is both able <strong>to</strong> demonstrate<br />

its susta<strong>in</strong>ability credentials and reduce costs (see LP Stewardship p.22). Xstrata<br />

Copper is demonstrat<strong>in</strong>g its commitment <strong>to</strong> materials stewardship and <strong>in</strong>tegration of<br />

its operations by:<br />

<strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>g recovery of sulfur dioxide (SO2) from the copper smelter at Mount<br />

Isa M<strong>in</strong>es and its conversion <strong>in</strong><strong>to</strong> acid for use <strong>in</strong> fertiliser manufacture.<br />

optimis<strong>in</strong>g performance of the acid plant thus reduc<strong>in</strong>g<br />

the need for supplementary sulfur feed.<br />

reduc<strong>in</strong>g fugitive SO2 emissions and mak<strong>in</strong>g them available for conversion <strong>to</strong> acid .<br />

utilis<strong>in</strong>g a waste from the Townsville Copper Ref<strong>in</strong>ery <strong>to</strong> process<br />

electrostatic precipita<strong>to</strong>r (ESP) dust, thereby maximis<strong>in</strong>g copper<br />

recovery while, at the same time, creat<strong>in</strong>g a beneficial use for a waste<br />

and <strong>in</strong>tegrat<strong>in</strong>g downstream process<strong>in</strong>g facilities with the smelter.<br />

Figure 4.14 – Mount Isa illustrat<strong>in</strong>g the copper smelter and acid plant<br />

114 LEADING PRACTICE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM FOR THE MINING INDUSTRY

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