Net Zero Emissions in Mining: An Overview

The mining sector is energy-intensive, with significant emissions resulting from the use of fossil fuels for electricity, heat, and transport. Energy consumption is a major contributor to both Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. Coal mining is a major source of methane emissions, which has a higher global warming potential than CO2. Methane is released during the extraction and processing of coal. Emissions from the transportation and processing of mined products contribute significantly to the overall carbon footprint. Key decarbonization strategies include the integration of renewable energy sources, electrification of mining equipment and the development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies. In spite of these initiatives, the industry encounters several obstacles, including high costs, technical limitations and inconsistent regulatory frameworks. This paper details out the challenges and barriers and the strategies for net zero emissions adopted by different mining companies through case studies. This paper is an attempt to assess the emerging technologies and innovations and examine the policy framework and regulations to achieve net zero goal.