Shortlist Announced for the 2025 Decarbonising Mining Awards

Recognizing Excellence in Mine Decarbonisation on May 6 in Perth

PERTH, Western Australia , April 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Energy and Mines is pleased to announce the shortlist for the inaugural Decarbonising Mining Awards, honouring the companies and individuals leading the transformation towards low-carbon mining. These prestigious awards celebrate outstanding leadership, innovation, and execution in mine decarbonisation, recognizing the projects, individuals, and strategies that are shaping the future of sustainable mining.

A distinguished panel of judges from leading mining, sustainability, and finance organizations, including BHP, Westgold, Clean Energy Finance Corporation, Pollination, Boliden, Ramelius Resources, Sandfire Resources, Thalanyji Aboriginal Corporation, Resource Capital Funds, Macquarie Bank, Alcoa, and SysEne Consulting will evaluate the finalists. The winners will be revealed at the Decarbonising Mining Awards Gala Dinner on May 6, 2025, at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, coinciding with the Decarbonised Mine conference.

Adrienne Baker, Director of Energy and Mines, emphasized the significance of these awards: "The mining industry is in the midst of an unprecedented transition towards decarbonisation. These awards recognize the pioneers leading this shift—those who are not just talking about change but actively implementing solutions that set new benchmarks for sustainability in mining."

Decarbonising Mining Awards 2025 – Shortlist:

Pioneering Renewable Integration in Mining Award (IPP, EPC, INTEGRATOR or SIMILAR) - For an IPP or integrator who has excelled in integrating renewable energy for mining companies on a particular project or across a number of projects.

1. TransAlta – Partnering with BHP Nickel West, TransAlta developed the 48MW Northern Goldfields Solar and Battery Storage Facility, integrating solar and battery storage into an off-grid mining network, reducing Scope 2 emissions by 540,000 tonnes CO₂e over 10 years, and demonstrating a scalable renewable energy model for mining.
2. Pacific Energy – In partnership with AngloGold Ashanti, Pacific Energy designed and delivered a 61MW off-grid hybrid power system at the Tropicana Gold Mine, incorporating wind, solar, and a 13MW battery system to cut diesel and gas consumption by 96% and 50%, reducing 65,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually, while maintaining reliable, high-demand mining operations.
3. Zenith Energy – The Kathleen Valley Hybrid Power System for Liontown Resources integrates 30MW wind, 17MW solar, and 17MW battery storage, enabling Engine-Off operations for 70+ hours, and setting a new industry standard for large-scale mining decarbonisation. Zenith is also constructing Australia's highest renewable energy fraction islanded power system for Bellevue Gold.
4. Monford Group – Developed in partnership with SEPD, the Port Hedland Solar Farm is a cyclone-resistant renewable energy project that provides 100% of BHP's port facilities' daytime power needs, setting a new standard for large-scale solar integration in mining.
5. EDL – The Agnew Hybrid Renewable Microgrid at Gold Fields' Agnew gold mine was Australia's first large-scale wind-integrated hybrid power system, delivering 50% renewable energy penetration, cutting CO₂ emissions by over 200,000 tonnes since 2020, and achieving 99.99% uptime reliability.

Innovation in Decarbonising Material Movement (PROJECT OR TECHNOLOGY) - For a project or technology at the demonstration level or beyond in a mining environment that demonstrates innovation and excellence in the decarbonisation of material movement.

1. Komatsu's Power Agnostic 930E – A first-of-its-kind ultra-class haul truck designed to integrate multiple power sources, including battery, trolley-assist, hydrogen fuel cells, and diesel-electric, providing future-ready decarbonisation for material movement without compromising productivity.
2. The BluVein Project – A collaborative initiative led by South32, Northern Star, and Vale, BluVein is developing dynamic charging technology for underground battery-electric haul trucks, aiming to eliminate diesel reliance while enhancing fleet efficiency and operational flexibility.
3. XCMG's Supply of Battery Electric Heavy Mobile Equipment to Fortescue – Delivering over 100 battery-electric mining vehicles to Fortescue's Pilbara operations, replacing millions of liters of fossil fuel, reducing emissions, and setting a new industry standard for zero-emission haulage.
4. Janus Electric – Transforming heavy transport decarbonisation by retrofitting diesel prime movers with exchangeable battery technology, enabling fully electric bulk freight operations at Qube Bulk's Picton site while eliminating emissions and maintaining operational efficiency.
5. Electric Power Conversions Australia (EPCA) – Retrofitting diesel-powered mining trucks with battery-electric power, achieving zero emissions, 10-hour runtimes, 50-minute charging, and a 54% lower total cost of ownership, offering a cost-effective, rapid transition to electrification.
6. The Cosmos Fleet Electrification Study – An industry-first feasibility study by IGO, Perenti, and ABB demonstrating the viability of a fully battery-electric underground mining fleet, proving comparable productivity, ventilation cost savings, and minimal cost premiums, with results shared in a public white paper to accelerate industry-wide adoption.
7. Energy Power Systems Australia  & Redpath Australia - This project successfully integrated the Caterpillar BESS Power Grid Stabilisation (PGS1260) system with regenerative hoist technology at a remote Australian gold mine, creating a hybrid power solution that significantly reduces diesel consumption, lowers emissions, and enhances energy efficiency to support the mine's decarbonisation goals. 

Excellence in Mine Decarbonisation Innovation (PROJECT OR TECHNOLOGY) - Sponsored By HopgoodGanim - For a project or technology unrelated to renewable energy or material movement that has demonstrably improved the carbon footprint of a mining operation.

1. NHOA Energy – NHOA Energy, in Consortium with Elecnor Australia, is delivering the Blyth Battery, a large-scale battery energy storage system (BESS) in South Australia, on behalf of Neoen. Blyth Battery is a direct enabler of mine decarbonisation, demonstrated through its support of a 70MW renewable energy base-load contract between Neoen and BHP.
2. Arca – Advancing on-site carbon mineralization in mine waste through Mineral Activation and Smart Churning technology, permanently sequestering CO₂ while generating carbon credits to support mining decarbonisation.
3. Aderco – Deploying V35 fuel treatment at a Western Australia bauxite mine, reducing fuel consumption by 5.1%, lowering CO₂ emissions by 3.3 tonnes per liter of V35 used, and delivering cost savings per truck.

Excellence in Decarbonisation Strategy and Implementation by a Mining Company - Sponsored by Stantec - Awarded to a mining company to recognise high achievement and leadership in reducing carbon emissions. Specifically, a commitment to an ambitious reduction target and implementation of projects to meet that target.

1. Mineral Resources – MinRes has introduced an internal decarbonisation fund that charges business units for emissions, creating a financial incentive for operational efficiency, funding decarbonisation projects, and accelerating the transition to net zero by 2050.
2. Gold Fields – A leader in mining decarbonisation, Gold Fields has invested A$400M+ in renewable energy projects, including the St Ives and Agnew microgrids, significantly cutting emissions and advancing net-zero mining operations.
3. Fortescue – Fortescue's "Real Zero" strategy commits US$6.2 billion to eliminating fossil fuels from its iron ore operations by 2030, replacing nearly 1,000 diesel-powered machines with zero-emission alternatives, and investing in large-scale renewable infrastructure.
4. Bellevue Gold - Bellevue Gold is implementing a decarbonisation strategy aimed at achieving net-zero emissions by 2026, with measures including an 80% renewable energy power station and efforts to produce 'green gold'.

Mining Decarbonisation Champion (INDIVIDUAL) - - Sponsored by TransAlta - Honouring and recognising an individual who has shown leadership and inspiration for the mining industry's decarbonising efforts. 

1. Willem du Plessis – Manager, Hydrocarbon and Biofuel Procurement, Rio Tinto
2. James Koerting – Senior Manager, Energy, Gold Fields
3. Chris Carr – Head of Technical Services, IGO
4. Katherine Chapman – Principal of Biofuels, Rio Tinto
5. Siobhan Cribb – Founder, Connect Zero

Additional special recognition categories (no shortlist available):

Excellence in Renewable Energy in Mining (MINING COMPANY) -(Recognition of Excellence)

This award recognizes a mining company that is excelling in achieving high penetration renewable energy significantly reducing emissions and setting a new benchmark for sustainable, off-grid mining operations.

Excellence in ESG by a Mining Company - (Recognition of Excellence)

This award recognizes an innovative mining company implementing a comprehensive sustainability framework with ambitious ESG goals, including emissions reductions, gender diversity, and building meaningful partnerships with Traditional Owners.

For further details, visit awards.energyandmines.com.

About Energy and Mines: Energy and Mines connects the mining, energy, finance, OEM and government sectors through events and research that drive collaboration on decarbonisation solutions for mines. The Decarbonising Mining Awards recognize excellence in sustainability, innovation, and leadership in mine decarbonisation.

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