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Unlocking Energy and Emissions Opportunities for Australia’s Mining Sector

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Australia’s mining industry is under increasing pressure to manage rising energy costs and meet tightening emissions regulations, while maintaining productivity and profitability. At Northmore Gordon, we help mining companies navigate this evolving landscape — turning energy and emissions challenges into opportunities for savings, compliance, revenue and leadership in sustainability.

Challenges Facing Mining Operations

Mining is among the most energy-intensive industries in Australia. From on-site power generation to heavy processing equipment, diesel in mining fleet, and FIFO workers, every operational aspect contributes to significant energy usage and emissions.

Some of the top challenges mining companies face include:

What Northmore Gordon Offers the Mining Sector

Based on our work with multiple mining sites — including operations in Western Australia, NSW, QLD and Victoria — we deliver an end-to-end service suite that includes:

Energy Efficiency

Environmental Certificates and Carbon Offsets

Safeguard Mechanism and ACCUAn ACCU is a unit issued to a person by the Clean Energy Regulator (Regulator) by making an entry for the unit in an account kept by the person in the electronic [Australian National Registry of Emissions Units] registry. Each ACCU issued represents one tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2-e) stored or avoided by a project. An ACCU can only be issued to a person if the person has a Registry account. Strategy



High emitting facilities are required to reduce their emissions in line with the Safeguard Mechanism, which usually precludes them from generating ACCUs to subsidise their emission saving.

However, using the methodologies that Northmore Gordon lead in, we can produce ACCUs on site – even for Safeguard facilities.



We help you with:

Carbon and Energy Reporting

Options Open to Australian Mining Companies

Mining companies can partner with Northmore Gordon to explore:

Your Energy. Smarter. Cleaner. More Valuable.

By working with Northmore Gordon, mining companies gain more than compliance — they unlock strategic energy and carbon opportunities that drive real business value.

Want to reduce costs and emissions without compromising output?

Talk to Jack Warren – Technical Decarbonisation Methods Lead

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What is the main topic of the Northmore Gordon article on mining?

The article, titled 'Unlocking Energy and Emissions Opportunities for Australia's Mining Sector', discusses how Australia's mining industry faces pressure to manage rising energy costs and meet tightening emissions regulations while maintaining productivity and profitability, and how Northmore Gordon helps mining companies turn these challenges into opportunities for savings, compliance, revenue, and sustainability leadership.

What are the top challenges facing mining operations according to Northmore Gordon?

The top challenges are: Rising Energy Costs (baseline energy use across on-site power, comminution, refrigeration, pumps, compressors, and fans can cost millions and expose mines to price volatility), Emissions Compliance under the Safeguard Mechanism, Data Complexity (needing robust measurement to demonstrate verified savings), and Accessing Incentives and Credits (many mining operations are unaware they can unlock funding via tradeable Environmental Certificates).

What emissions reduction requirement applies to mining sites under the Safeguard Mechanism?

Sites emitting more than 100,000 tonnes CO₂-e annually need to either reduce emissions by 4.9% per year or offset them with ACCUs (Australian Carbon Credit Units) or SMCs (Safeguard Mechanism Credits) at an uncertain future price.

What services does Northmore Gordon offer mining companies in the area of Energy Efficiency?

Northmore Gordon offers comprehensive assessments of whole-of-site operations, energy intensity, and benchmarking; identifies and validates savings from energy and carbon projects; conducts feasibility and options studies to support energy transition and net zero pathways; and helps access grant funding via the Powering the Regions Fund, ARENA, and other federal/state initiatives.

How does Northmore Gordon help mining companies with Environmental Certificates and Carbon Offsets?

Northmore Gordon registers energy and carbon projects for Environmental Certificates, trades certificates for revenue (sometimes yielding millions in financial returns), and manages all aspects of compliance and reporting for certificate projects.

Can Safeguard Mechanism facilities generate ACCUs according to the article?

Yes. Although high emitting facilities under the Safeguard Mechanism usually cannot generate ACCUs to subsidise their emission savings, Northmore Gordon states that using methodologies it leads in, ACCUs can be produced on site even for Safeguard facilities.

What support does Northmore Gordon provide for Safeguard Mechanism and ACCU strategy?

Northmore Gordon helps with emissions reporting and facility baselines under the Safeguard Mechanism, advisory on compliance pathways including ACCU procurement and carbon market navigation, and strategic planning to minimise exposure to future emissions reduction obligations.

What does Northmore Gordon's Carbon and Energy Reporting service include for mining companies?

This service includes full carbon accounting, emissions profiling, and reporting to align with the NGER (National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting) Scheme and ASRS (Australian Sustainability Reporting Standards); advisory on integrating renewables and low-carbon technologies into the mining energy mix; and generation, management, and sale of LGCs (Large-scale Generation Certificates).

What options can mining companies explore by partnering with Northmore Gordon?

Mining companies can explore ACCU and energy efficiency certificate creation from efficiency and carbon reduction projects, Safeguard Mechanism compliance via emissions reductions and ACCU strategy, grant funding via the Powering the Regions Fund, ARENA and other federal/state initiatives, and carbon neutrality pathways including development of internal carbon pricing frameworks.

Who should mining companies contact at Northmore Gordon to discuss reducing costs and emissions?

The article directs mining companies wanting to reduce costs and emissions without compromising output to talk to Jack Warren, Technical Decarbonisation Methods Lead, via email at j.warren@northmoregordon.com.

In which regions has Northmore Gordon worked with mining sites?

Northmore Gordon has worked with multiple mining sites, including operations in Western Australia, NSW, QLD, and Victoria.

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