CEEC - Eco-Efficient Comminution Strategies: Key Resource Data, Reviews of Industry Publications and Global Industry Contacts

The Coalition for Eco-Efficient Comminution (CEEC) has collated for the first time, the most outstanding collection of technical papers, presentations, publications and press articles related to leading beneficial comminution strategies from around the world.

CEEC was established by a group of mining industry leaders who, having had first-hand experience of the sector, realised the need for a focused platform on eco-efficient comminution for the industry. CEEC communicates the latest technical findings on a wide range of beneficial strategies, including energy efficiency, case studies, grinding, crushing, sorting, flow sheets, modelling and simulation.

CEEC's vision is to accelerate the implementation of eco-efficient comminution practices through promotion of supporting data and industry benefits. Independently run, CEEC is a not-for-profit corporation led by a board of directors, and enjoys the patronage of industry luminaries.

Strategies to improve mining project earnings

The vast majority of existing comminution circuits feature tumbling mills, SAG/AG and ball mills. The nature of size reduction in such devices is haphazard, leading to the generation of excessive mechanical energy and heat. So much so, that less than 5% of the energy consumed by tumbling mills is used in ore size reduction.

Widespread research and improved engineering design demonstrate a range of improved blasting, sorting, crushing and grinding techniques lower project costs, also reducing the project's carbon footprint. These techniques include relatively straight forward strategies such as removing waste material before size reduction, a better combination of grinding technologies and targeting larger grind sizes where mineralogy permits.

Online research tools for the mining sector

The CEEC website lists a range of key research papers and profiles consultants and researchers who specialise in the field of comminution flow sheet design and operation. The CEEC site continues to be populated with additional data and information as it is published.

CEEC also encourages debate and discussion of comminution within mining companies; across Boards, senior management, and technical teams, through regular presentations at global industry meetings, and the use of online discussion groups.