Leading the transition
to a circular metals industry
Future Element offers a sustainable alternative to traditional mining and rehabilitation. Leveraging our core competencies in retreatment and mineral processing, and the utilisation of cutting edge technologies, Future Element partners with mining companies to provide an integrated end to end management solution to progressively rehabilitate tailings and treat and recycle water, while extracting remnant value to offset costs.
Our world
is changing
and the way we produce, and use, metals
and minerals must adapt. As our global community
continues to evolve, the pivotal role metals and
minerals play in the world will become ever more
apparent. These elements will continue to underpin
industries and technologies which ensure our
quality of life.
At the same time, intractable challenges such as
climate change and social inequality demand greater
accountability for all impacts from current and future
mines, including externalities that have remained
unaddressed in the past.
At Future Element, we believe that the right amounts of
the right metals and minerals can be made more readily,
more equitably, and more affordably available to contribute
to the future needs of society.
Mining needs
to evolve
Mining will continue to be core to providing metals and minerals for the future.
However, momentum is growing to the industry to reduce environmental and social impacts.
Miners’ competency lies in exploitation of in-ground deposits, built around maximising net present value. The “fight” for capital means means economic recovery of metals from tailings is deprioritised.
-
-60%
new discoveriescompared to 30 years ago, despite 3 times higher exploration expenditure -
20%
capital expenditurein realised projects, compared to budget or forecasted amount -
-11$Bn
y-o-y investmentin Greenfield projects until 2026 due to a lack of approved and financed new projects
Tailings is a key part of mining’s transition to a low carbon future
Strategies which minimise impact, progressively rehabilitate and maximise value in tailings will be core to a mine’s licence to operate.
For future mines, the model will transition to one which leaves a positive legacy, contributes to future industries, and benefits the host economy.
For existing mines, this creates a global opportunity to provide a service which stabilises and rehabilitates tailings, as well as unlocks the latent metal value.
-
283
Billion tonesEstimated tailings in 8,500 active, inactive and closed storage facilities: -
79 %
Estimated tailings in 8,500 active, inactive and closed storage facilities1 :
Create sustainable sources of metal & minerals
The combination of best-in-class tailings management and harnessing latent value locked in tailings provides a new perspective on the ‘cost’ of rehabilitation.
Traditional
rehabilitation:
Deferring rehabilitation increases risk of closure time extension and (potentially uncapped) costs due to regulatory changes
Lost opportunity: Once rehabilitated, the costs to recover valuable metal and the permitting to re-disturb site can make tailings metal recovery uneconomic
Economic
rehabilitation
model:
Progressive and economic rehabilitation of tailings reduces costs for tailings storage & final rehabilitation, accelerates mine closure, and provides a path to reduce environmental bonding and balance sheet liabilities for mining companies
Remnant value of metal in tailings dam is recovered and used to offset costs for rehabilitation. Depending on metal value, the aim is to produce net profit from tailings
Our proposition
Future Element’s strategy focuses on economic rehabilitation: reducing negative environmental legacy & producing sustainable metals for a low carbon future, providing superior environmental, social and economic outcomes:
- A positive legacy, enhancing reputation with all stakeholders
- Sustainable metals from tailings and water
- Offset costs & turning tailings into a profit center
- Fully-funded services, taking rehabilitation off balance sheet
Service offering
Future Element takes on current and historic tailings at operating or legacy mine sites, processes and recovers valuable metals and minerals, treats and recycles contained water and delivers rehabilitated land to standards required for relinquishment.
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Tailings & waste transportlearn more
Tailings handling and remobilisation requires various operating strategies
Costs and ensuring integrity of storage compounds are paramount
May require tailings handling and transport systems integrated with current operations
Including:
- Hydraulic mining
- Dredging
- Truck & shovel
-
Metal & mineral recoverylearn more
Remnant metals economically recovered to offset tailings or final deposition costs
Remove environmentally harmful tails/water content
Products integrated with current streams or new products created
Including:
- Hydraulic mining
- Dredging
- Truck & shovel
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Dewatering & depositionlearn more
Optimised technologies for dewatering and deposition in the final location
Integrated solutions with current operations to ensure tailings footprint is minimised and backfill is maximised
Including:
- Advanced Dewatering
- Optimised Backfill
- Dry Stacking
-
Water treatment & recoverylearn more
Good water management is crucial to reputation and sustaining mining operations in an increasingly volatile climate
Combination of water recycling and targeted/customised water treatment employed
Including:
- Metal recovery
- Contaminant removal
- Evaporation
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Rehabilitation & repurposinglearn more
Based on closure plan and land release requirements, disturbed areas will be rehabilitated using best-in-class practices, revegetation, and continuous monitoring practices
Including:
- Land formation
- Cap & Revegetation
- Repurposing
Service scope
Future Element is responsible for the complete scope from concept development through to operational execution and ultimate relinquishment.
Commercial model
Future Element moves tailings management and rehabilitation off balance sheet via one of two contract structures, customised for each project
Services + Metal Recovery
Services (only)
- Revenue from metal recovery offsets rehabilitation costs
- Increases site reportable metal production
- Allows flexibility in fee structure and funding options via metal exposure
- Single-source accountability for tailings and water management
- KPIs structured to minimise cost and maximise rehabilitation
Technology & Partners
Future Element is forming strategic relationships with world leading technology companies and OEMs to provide robust, adaptable & autonomous solutions.
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Metal recovery, advanced dewatering and water treatment platform technologies cleanteqwater.com
Our team
-
-
John Carr
Managing Director & CEO
learn moreCo-founder and Chief Development Officer of New Century Resources, responsible for project acquisitions and development strategies
Through this process, the Company established one of the world’s largest tailings reprocessing operations at the Century Mine in just 18 months
Previously, Executive General Manager of Mining at Sunrise Energy Metals, for the acquisition and development of the Sunrise laterite project. Prior to this role, John held senior commercial and technology management roles for a range of metals. Previously, technical roles at Rio Tinto
MBA and a Bachelor in Chemical Engineering -
Patrick Walta
Director
learn moreFounding Managing Director of New Century Resources, leading growth of the Company though mine restart and steady state operations
Through this process, the Century Mine became the world’s 13th largest zinc producer, delivering >1Mt of zinc concentrate from tailings reprocessing
Previously, Managing Director of Carbine Resources, CEO of Cradle Resources and various technical roles, with extensive experience in metal extraction
MBA, Masters of Mineral Economics, Bachelor in Chemical Engineering and Science and Australian Institute of Company Directors -
Dennis Gibson
CTO
learn moreOver 40 years international mining experience including with Rand Mines and 20 years with Rio Tinto in various operational and strategic roles, including global Rio Tinto water strategy. Executive Committee member with ASX listed Energy Resources of Australia.
Former Chief Technical Officer Mining with global engineering, consulting and construction firm Black & Veatch. Dennis has provided strategic market entry advice to clients leveraging his vast international experience, deep industry knowledge and extensive networks. MBA and Bachelors and Masters degrees in Engineering -
Brent Slattery
COO
learn more18 years working in the mining industry as a senior leader and consultant
Previously 12 years at BHP in a range of operational & commercial leadership roles in the Coal, Copper & Iron Ore groups including Group Manager for automatous mining as well as responsibility for the Caterpillar relationship globally.
More recently Brent was with Boston Consulting Group as an expert their Industrial Goods & Operations Practices. His focus was operational turnarounds, major capital delivery and operating model transformations
Executive MBA and Bachelor degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Business
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