Mineral carbonation company Arca has announced a strategic partnership to accelerate carbon removal at mine sites across Western Australia.
Arca has joined the Development Partner Institute as an associate partner, ensuring traditional owners and stakeholders are engaged from the outset in designing future carbon removal projects.
Arca’s technology repurposes mine waste for large-scale carbon removal, accelerating the natural geochemical process that transforms atmospheric CO2 into stable carbonate minerals. By working within existing industrial footprints, Arca offers mining companies a viable pathway to decarbonisation.
Australia’s vast mineral resources position it to become a global leader in carbon mineralisation, a process recognised in recent Western Australian policy initiatives, including Premier Roger Cook’s Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage Action Plan and the Minerals Research Institute of WA’s mineral carbonation roadmap.
Arca is also partnering with the Climate Recovery Institute, a not-for-profit working with governments, industry and communities to develop a durable carbon removal industry in Australia.
Additionally, Arca is partnering with Wyloo and a gold producer in WA to assess carbon removal opportunities at their mining operations, using existing tailings streams to capture and store atmospheric CO2.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with forward-thinking partners who recognise the critical role carbon mineralisation can play in decarbonising the mining industry,” said ARCA CEO Paul Needham. “We believe we need to make big, bold moves to stabilise the climate, and this is an important step towards achieving Australia’s climate goals.”
“There is strong alignment between indigenous values of stewardship and environmental restoration and Arca’s mission to stabilise the climate by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere,” said DPI Executive Director Florence Drummond. “We are excited to join Arca’s journey and host the important dialogues that further the mining industry’s position as a true partner in development.”
In addition to the partnerships, Arca has secured USD8 million from investors, including Side Stage Ventures and Saniel Ventures, two leading Australian venture capital firms. The funding will help Arca further scale its impact.
The announcement coincides with the Team Canada Trade Mission (TCTM), led by Mary Ng, Canada’s minister of export promotion, international trade and economic development.
“This is a great example of Canadian and Australian cooperation that involves the exchange of technical, business and social expertise,” said Ng. “Australia is a key Indo-Pacific ally and long-standing partner of Canada’s, and this TCTM will help Canadian and Australian companies explore new markets, establish new connections and support the growth of both countries’ economies.”
This announcement points to a growing coalition of corporations, investors, mining companies, climate technology innovators, governments and indigenous communities that are aligned on practical action to address cooperation on climate change.
