Sustainability

Operating safely and sustainably is core to Latrobe Magnesium’s approach to creating value for its employees, partners, shareholders and stakeholders. It sits at the heart of everything we do and is embedded in our day-to-day work. We put health and safety first, we make a real difference to the environment locally and globally and we work to develop strong relationships with the communities we operate and live in.

Health and Safety

The health and safety of our people and communities is the upmost priority to Latrobe Magnesium (LMG).

Caring about people is a core value that drives our culture where health and safety is at the forefront of every day, every meeting, every task and every conversation.

We are committed to providing a safe working environment where every employee goes home safe and healthy at the end of every day.

We are equally committed to the health and safety of the communities we operate in. We are proud of the fact that we will reprocess potentially hazardous wastes into valuable products, reducing long term health risks to people and the environment from these legacy wastes. LMG’s process is low emission, and we will report openly to the community on our emissions and safety performance.

As we grow our company, we will focus on continuously improving our systems and processes for health, safety and the environment to ensure that we allow our people to perform their roles safely.

In 2023, LMG continues to have no fatalities or injuries and will aim to maintain this performance through 2024 as we ramp up to operations.

Climate Change

LMG is committed to helping to meet the challenges of transitioning to a low carbon future to combat climate change.

LMG’s projects will significantly lower CO2 emissions from the production of magnesium and other valuable by-products such as SCM through its efficient, low emission proprietary-patented process. LMG will enable significant further greenhouse gas reductions through the use of its products e.g., through the light-weighting of electric vehicles.

LMG aims to have the world’s lowest CO2 emissions for any magnesium producer by:

  • Using its proprietary, efficient, and low emission hydromet process to extract valuable products from fly ash and ferro nickel feedstocks
  • Implementing its vertical furnace technology that results in up to a 20% reduction in typical industry energy consumption
  • Using renewable energy where possible to power its operations
  • Investigating the use of Hydrogen as a supplementary fuel source.
LMG is targeting net zero emissions by 2030 through the use of renewables and other
technology advancements in conjunction with industry and its partners such as CSIRO.

LMG’s CO2 emissions estimates for the plant are:

CO2 t/tMg
Brown coal fly ash
9.7
Ferro nickel slag
0.7
LMG’s plant is estimated to produce 9.7 tonnes of CO2 per tonne of Mg - 53 % lower than the traditional magnesium producers’ average emissions of 21.8 tonnes of CO2 per tonne of Mg. LMG produces no CO2 emissions in the production of its SCM.

With a renewable energy supply, CO2 emissions from magnesium production from a ferro nickel slag feedstock are estimated to be as low as 0.7 tonnes per tonne of Mg.

Environment

LMG recognises that protecting the environment is an important component of performance and key to our ability to operate in the communities in which we live and work.

Our commitment to environmental management ensures that we seek to avoid and mitigate environmental impacts from the start of the life of an operation through to its closure. LMG will continue to develop its environmental management systems, implement environmental initiatives and engage with stakeholders to improve environmental outcomes.

This involves being a good steward of water resources ensuring that we responsibly manage water resources and maintain water releases within permitted limits.

LMG’s projects offer significant potential environmental benefits to the Latrobe Valley. LMG can aid the rehabilitation of the Latrobe Valley’s brown coal mine sites, specifically their extensive fly ash dams.  

Processing fly ash waste into valuable products contributes to a ‘circular economy’ and removes a potential long-term risk that toxins can spill and leach from poorly constructed, ageing ash dams into surface and groundwater with potential contamination of domestic and agricultural water supply.

LMG’s process reuses nearly 100% of the fly ash feedstock. LMG’s process produces about half the CO2 of traditional magnesium production, and LMG is looking to further offset this and produce net zero CO2 through the use of local renewable energy. Downstream the production of valuable by-products such as SCM eliminates any waste streams and enables further lifecycle CO2 benefits.

The demonstration plant project helps remediate mining sites by recycling 100% of potentially hazardous wastes into valuable saleable products. Fly ash dams risk contaminating water systems and effecting the environment. Fly ash, if dried and airborne, can cause health issues such as silicosis.

Latrobe Valley Redevelopment

Latrobe Magnesium (LMG) is committed to the long-term operation and development of its magnesium production plants in the Latrobe Valley. We believe in the long-term future of the region as a basis for clean, green, and innovative future industries. Our workers will live in and contribute to vibrant regional communities.

LMG’s projects will help the region transition from its reliance on brown coal power generation showcasing Australian innovation and productivity. LMG is well placed to:

  • Use existing Latrobe Valley infrastructure including energy infrastructure and roads
  • Provide employment for skilled workers from the energy and related industries
  • Work with local training providers to develop skills and employment opportunities in the Latrobe Valley
  • Support local businesses and suppliers to provide services
  • Encourage and potentially partner with related up and down stream industries in the region including renewable energy producers.

LMG’s projects offer significant potential environmental as well as social and economic benefits to the community. LMG can potentially be a key partner in the rehabilitation of the Latrobe Valley’s  brown coal mine sites, specifically their extensive fly ash dams. There are sufficient current and historic stores of fly ash feedstock, to enable LMG to operate long term (i.e., 30 years).
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Processing fly ash waste into valuable products contributes to a ‘circular economy’ and removes a potential long-term risk that toxins can spill and leach from poorly constructed, ageing ash dams into surface and groundwater with potential contamination of domestic and agricultural water supply.

LMG’s process reuses almost 100% of the fly ash feedstock. LMG’s process produces about half the CO2 of traditional magnesium production, and LMG is looking to further offset this and produce net-zero CO2 by 2030 through the use of local renewable energy. Downstream the production of valuable by-products such as SCM eliminates any waste streams and enables further lifecycle CO2 benefits.

LMG is developing its plants on an existing, fit for purpose industrial site appropriate for transport of feedstocks, supplies and products.

LMG is committed to transparency and accountability to the Latrobe Valley and wider community. It will report publicly on its performance and continue to hold regular, open community information and consultation for a as it develops and operates its plant.

Community

Building successful relationships and strong partnerships with the communities in which we live and operate is critical to LMG's success. LMG wants to be a responsible member of the communities we are part of and will achieve this through effective engagement with stakeholders, respect for cultural heritage, creating economic opportunities such as jobs, the purchase of local goods & services and investment in community programs.

Questions?

Reach our team by emailing enquire@latrobemagnesium.com or completing our contact form below

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