Betolar Plc has entered the Australian mining market through the signing of a commercial agreement to develop a cementless rockfill solution for the Mandalay Resources-owned Costerfield gold-antimony mine in the country.
Betolar’s solution, leveraging on its unique expertise on industrial sidestreams, will replace conventional cement in rockfill solutions in a cost-efficient and CO₂-reducing way, it says. The companies aim to commercialise the solution by early 2026, based on the results of a techno-commercial study and piloting.
Jyri Talja, Betolar’s Chief Growth Officer, said: “With Mandalay Resources, we can demonstrate the added value of our cementless rock filling solution in one of the world’s leading mining markets with particularly high requirements. Our solution enables up to 80% lower carbon dioxide emissions compared to a traditional cement-based solution.”
Dylan Goldhahn, Technical Services Superintendent at Mandalay Resources, added: “Mandalay Resources is committed to operating in an environmentally responsible manner. Betolar’s new innovative rockfill solution aligns well with our sustainability values and offers a cost competitive way for us to lower carbon emissions.”
The collaboration with Mandalay Resources paves the way for Betolar to enter the Australian market and further strengthens its recognition among international players in the mining industry. It follows on the heels of an announcement from Betolar that it is commercially collaborating with Anglo American on the use of metal extraction technology and green cement production at the Sakatti copper-nickel multimetallic project in Sodankylä, Finland.
Tuija Kalpala, President and CEO of Betolar, said: “The commercial agreement with Mandalay Resources opens the door to Australia’s leading mining market and strengthens our position as a developer of low-carbon solutions for major mining projects. The mining industry globally seeks low-carbon and cost-effective alternatives to cement, and solutions proven successful in Australia will guide mining industry development worldwide.”
