In a minerals processing context, sustainability is about using natural resources more efficiently to achieve maximum economic benefits with minimal environmental impacts. It embodies five overarching themes, which the paper will illustrate with practical examples from Australian minerals processing plants. These are: resource utilisation and materials efficiency, process waste reduction and enhancement of co-product values, reduction of water use and impacts, reduction of energy requirements and greenhouse gas emissions, and enhanced control of minor elements and toxic materials._x000D_
Sustainability could be embedded profitably in minerals plant design in three dimensions: 1._x000D_
technology, 2._x000D_
design, and 3._x000D_
operations._x000D_
This presentation discusses a set of principles that could be applied to minerals processing technologies and provides an outline of sustainability assessment and opportunities evaluation tools. The application of the tools is illustrated through a case study by analysing a suite of nickel processing technology routes. The analysis reveals that current generation of nickel processing technologies do possess real potential to emerge as sustainability champions in integrated processing of nickel ores and concentrates, if they are designed, engineered, and operated for sustainability and adapted effectively to site specific constraints and opportunities. The paper will address data gaps and uncertainties regarding the impact of scaling up of pilot-plant performance, and provides strategies to overcome them._x000D_
FORMAL CITATION:Narayanaswamy, V, Pershke, D and Elliott, P, 2006._x000D_
Sustainable plant design, technology and operations - what they are and how to achieve them, in Proceedings Metallurgical Plant Design and Operating Strategies 2006, pp 252-273 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).