Biotechnological mining is more suitable and environment-friendly for extraction of valuable minerals and metals than traditional mining methods, which emit greenhouse gases, pollute water and soil and devastate natural habitats. Muhammad Yaqub, former GM at Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation (PMDC), said this while talking to WealthPK “Microorganisms or metabolites work wonders to extract valuable metals or minerals from ores and tailings. Bio-oxidation, bio-floatation, bioleaching, and bioremediation are a few examples of biomining applications. These processes are best for extracting low-grade minerals and secondary resources. They help reduce and stabilize the use of different toxic chemicals, such as sulfuric acid and cyanide.

“Traditional mining methods, such as smelting and open pit mining, cause both environmental and source destruction, including greenhouse gas emissions, water and soil pollution, and natural habitat devastation. Biomining improves the recovery rate of metals and minerals from mined ores, reduces capital costs, increases mine life, and is suitable for application in remote mining locations. Compared to conventional mining, bio-mining is energy-saving as well,” he said.

“If we consider biomining in a vast scenario, it includes a multitude of scientific activities with both economic and environmental significance, such as the scientific process of excavation, controlled treatment, isolation, and profitable exploitation of aged municipal waste. Despite the high initial cost of establishing the microbial cultivation system/ or bioreactor, it reduces the operational cost in the long run.

“Pakistan can get a multitude of economic benefits from this sustainable and eco-friendly processing method. It can prove as a cost-effective and efficient method for extraction of valuable minerals and metals like copper, gold, silver, iron among scores of others. Using the method, high quantities of metals and minerals can be extracted even from a low-grade ore through biomining,” Yaqoob added.

Concluding the discussion, he said substantial deposits of low-grade ores occur in Pakistan, but it becomes challenging and sometimes impossible to process and extract any mineral or metal through the conventional ways. Less-generated mining waste by using biomining not only helps mitigate the environmental impact but also cuts the cost of disposal liabilities. Bio mining is expected to grow to US$3,600 million by the year 2027 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13% from US$1500 million during the challenging environment after the COVID-19 outbreak.

Bio-mining is a promising solution for the mining industry if it is established by taking all safety measures, such as appropriate planning, to avoid every type of leaking, proper treatment of metal-rich and acidic solutions created by microbes. Despite gradual processing, biomining is the best option to address environmental contamination by remediation of abandoned mining sites and tailing heaps. So, it is important for Pakistan to develop a framework for adoption and application of biomining techniques.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)