Revolutionizing the mining industry with high-voltage technology – UQ News

Researchers from The University of Queensland have developed a groundbreaking technology that could revolutionize the mining industry by significantly reducing energy consumption and decarbonizing operations.

The High Voltage Pulse (HVP) technology, similar to a lightning strike, selectively breaks mineralized ores while keeping barren rocks intact. This innovation, spearheaded by Project leader Dr. Christian Antonio from UQ’s Sustainable Minerals Institute, aims to make mineral processing more energy-efficient.

Dr. Antonio explained, “By separating ‘barren’ rocks from the valuable mineralized rocks, which are weakened by the lightning strikes, we can cut down processing time and make the whole process more energy efficient.” The technology has shown a reduction of approximately 30% in processing time and energy consumption, particularly in the grinding stage.

Associate Professor Kym Runge, the Group Leader at UQ’s Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre, highlighted the industry’s interest in adopting this technology to improve profitability and minimize environmental impact. The project is funded through the Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Trailblazer program, with support from mining industry partners like Newmont and JKTech.

The team is currently working on building a business case to quantify the benefits of the HVP technology and plans to design a pilot plant to demonstrate its effectiveness at a sponsor’s site. This innovative approach to mineral processing could pave the way for a more sustainable and efficient mining industry.