The Future of Water Sustainability in Energy and Mining

Ricardo’s Associate Director, Chris Hughes, was honoured to join Anya Hart, Principal Co-Design at BHP, and Alec Rolston, Director of the Goyder Institute for Water Research, to explore the critical challenges and opportunities in sustainable water management.

It was a dynamic and thought-provoking discussion, covering key themes such as:

• The increasing importance of social licence in mining, recognising that water holds diverse values for different communities across catchments.
• The need for collaborative data collection and usage to minimise cumulative impacts and drive better decision-making.
• Incorporating difficult-to-quantify water values into pricing models to support long-term sustainability.
• Leveraging emerging technologies to enhance water efficiency, access seawater supplies, and boost recycling efforts in response to accelerating climate challenges.
• Strengthening cross-sector partnerships between industry, academia, government, and local communities.
• The crucial leadership role of government and industry in driving sustainable water practices.

This discussion reinforced the urgency of rethinking how we manage water in energy and mining, ensuring that economic development aligns with environmental responsibility and community needs.

We look forward to continuing these important conversations and working collaboratively toward a more sustainable future.