EA: Based on your experience, how is the mining & metals sector evolving to meet the growing demand for critical minerals while balancing sustainability and decarbonization goals? What are the biggest challenges in this transition, and how are these being overcome?

Dr. Mary Lou Lauria: The record level of low carbon energy technology deployment is creating unprecedented growth in the market for critical minerals. In addition to meeting the demand needs, the sector is also under intense pressure to reduce its environmental footprint, decarbonize operations, and improve social and governance practices. Many companies are responding by following the Responsible Mining (ICMM) practices that prioritise environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and ethical governance throughout the mining lifecycle. The sector is also evolving its technology and strategic vision. Companies are expanding exploration into new and underexplored regions, investing in advanced mining and processing techniques which reduce water consumption and emissions. As part of our Worley Consulting strategic focus, we’re moving to create assets of the future with digital enablement, remote operations and site automation.

Some of the biggest challenges in this transition are related to the scale and pace of growth, resulting in challenges around land use, water management, tailings and waste management, geopolitical risk, permitting and regulatory approvals. To achieve the pace, rapid investment and innovation is needed to accelerate and scale how we work. The industry is investing in innovation, forming strategic partnerships and developing new technologies, such as direct lithium extraction, to reduce the environmental footprint of mineral processing.

 

EA: Collaboration is essential for enabling a sustainable energy transition. How can mining & metals companies better align with raw material consumers, financial institutions, and other stakeholders to accelerate progress? Are there existing initiatives driving this? Or who needs to be collaborating and how to drive progress?

Dr. Mary Lou Lauria: Collaboration and partnerships across the entire value chain are critical for accelerating a sustainable energy transition. Not only do countries need to work more closely together, but so too do companies and communities. We need to collaborate, not compete, and in some cases we need to create new partnerships.  Some of these partnerships may also include Indigenous and community ownership to enable large new mines to progress. Aligning more closely with raw material consumers—such as battery manufacturers, automakers, and technology firms— will help to plan for the timely, responsible, and reliable supply of critical minerals. By working closely with downstream users, mining companies can better anticipate demand trends, plan for more sustainable operations, and integrate lifecycle considerations into project development.

Financial institutions play a pivotal role in driving progress. Investors are increasingly channeling capital into projects that meet strong environmental, social, and governance criteria. Mining companies that align their operations with sustainability goals are more likely to access favourable financing terms.

The complexity of the energy transition means that no one can succeed alone. Progress often depends on how diverse stakeholders come together, understanding that Indigenous and community needs are met, aligning incentives, and creating new models of cooperation that reflect the urgency of the need for critical minerals and global decarbonization agenda.

 

EA: What role does project finance play in managing both political and climate risk for mining & metals projects? How is this influencing investment decisions for new and existing operations?

Dr. Mary Lou Lauria: Project finance plays a central role in enabling mining and metals projects to move forward, particularly in times of political volatility and climate-related risks. The investment criteria for project finance is driving mining companies to evaluate risk early and take action to plan for geopolitical and climate-related concerns. Lenders and investors are demanding more precise assessments and management of risks—including those related to governance, environmental impact, and long-term climate exposure—while facilitating access to capital that might otherwise be unavailable.

In regions with elevated political risk, finance structures often include development banks or export credit agencies (ECAs). These institutions not only provide funding but also play a stabilizing role by offering political risk insurance, risk assessments, and compliance to Equator Principles or the IFC Performance Standards. Their involvement signals confidence to private investors and can encourage broader participation in projects that might be deemed too risky.

Climate risk is a major driver shaping how project finance is structured and deployed. Lenders and investors routinely assess a project’s vulnerability to climate change—such as water scarcity, extreme weather events, or carbon policy risk—as part of due diligence. Projects that score poorly on climate resilience or fail to meet decarbonization targets may struggle to secure financing. Conversely, mining operations that demonstrate strong climate adaptation strategies—such as low-carbon energy use, efficient water management, and robust sustainability performance (including social performance)—are viewed more favourably and can attract more competitive terms. The integration of sustainability-linked finance, where lending rates are tied to specific emissions-reduction targets, is becoming more common.

 

EA: What are some of the most promising innovations helping the mining sector reduce its emissions? Where do you see the greatest potential for impact?

Dr. Mary Lou Lauria: Some of the most promising innovations helping the mining sector reduce its emissions are centred on electrification, renewable energy integration, process innovation, and digital optimization. These advances are fundamentally reshaping how mines operate, enabling companies to move toward low-carbon models while also improving efficiency and reducing costs.

A clear area of impact is the electrification of mining fleets and equipment. Traditionally powered by diesel, haul trucks and other heavy machinery are being replaced or retrofitted with electric alternatives. Large Tier 1 companies are piloting battery-electric and hydrogen-powered trucks, which significantly reduce direct emissions.

Many mines are located in remote regions with limited access to power networks, historically relying on diesel generators, are deploying solar, wind, and in some cases small-scale hydropower or battery storage systems, companies are replacing fossil fuels with clean energy sources. Small modular nuclear reactors are also under review.

At Worley we’ve partnered with Nano One, a technology company with patented processes for the sustainable production of lithium-ion battery cathode active materials (CAM), to accelerate commercial scale deployment of its One-Pot process. The process is anticipated to produce high quality cathode materials with a lower environmental impact. It eliminates wastewater and a sodium sulphate waste stream, a major challenge in current cathode material production processes.

Digital technologies and data analytics are enabling smarter, more energy-efficient operations. AI and machine learning are optimizing ore body modeling, equipment use and maintenance schedules, reducing energy consumption and waste. Smart sensors, automation, and remote monitoring not only improve safety but also contribute to emissions reduction by improving operational precision. At Worley we’ve been automating mines for over a decade, and that automation is not only creating safer mines but is allowing significant cost savings making new mines feasible.

 

EA: Looking ahead, how do you see emerging technologies reshaping the mining & metals industry’s approach to decarbonization? What barriers need to be overcome for widespread adoption?

Dr. Mary Lou Lauria: There are so many emerging technologies that are shaping the industry’s approach to decarbonization by enabling cleaner, efficient operations.  Autonomous electric haulage, AI-driven exploration are leading to reduced impacts, and low-carbon low-water mineral processing are redefining how resources are extracted, processed, and delivered with climate considerations in mind.

Several key barriers still exist which is limiting widespread adoption. The most significant is the cost of new technologies and the planning for early integration. Capital intensity and financial risk are major challenges, especially for mid-sized or junior miners. Many decarbonization technologies require significant upfront investment and offer long-term returns, making them harder to finance without strong government incentives or guaranteed offtake.

To overcome these barriers, mining companies need to be willing to change and new systems should be integrated and planned early. At an underground mining project, Worley led a transformation that integrated plant and concentrator automation, safety systems, and autonomous fleet collision awareness. The integration was key as many mining operations face delays and risks when systems operate in isolation. Worley focused on combining different technologies into a simple unified system where we upgraded the mine’s control room with modern tools that guide daily operations, ensuring safety, efficiency and reduced emissions.

When people think about an automated mine, they often picture enormous mining trucks and diggers operating all day and night without a driver. But it’s the telecommunications infrastructure that makes this possible. Our teams use a range of technologies to provide connectivity with the autonomous fleet of equipment, including industrial grade wireless networks, object avoidance and detection systems and global positioning systems (GPS).