Resource Capital Funds says The Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), Australia’s largest dedicated cleantech investor, has invested $14 million into RCF Jolimont Mining Innovation Fund II (RCF Jolimont Fund II), a private equity fund specialising in mining innovation that, RCF says, strives to make mining safer, better and more efficient.

RCF Jolimont Fund II will invest in growth mining equipment, technology and services (METS) companies with an increasing focus on mining innovation investments that look to support the decarbonisation of the sector and meet the mining industry’s appetite for the clean energy technologies that will seek to accelerate the reduction of emissions across the industry.

Lyle Bruce, Partner, Head of RCF Jolimont, says: “The METS sector is helping to enable the sustainable mining of critical energy transition metals like copper, nickel, lithium and others that the world is demanding. We are proud to have the support of the CEFC to continue investing in emerging mining technologies that are revolutionising how mines operate, and helping reduce the emissions of Australia’s mining operations.”

CEFC Resources Executive Director, Rob Wilson, said: “Reducing emissions in the mining industry is critical to Australia’s push towards net zero emissions and will help position the sector competitively for the future. Our investment in RCF Jolimont II will help tackle what is a traditionally hard-to-abate sector by backing companies that are developing innovative solutions to emissions reduction.

“The RCF team has exceptional experience in mining-focused private equity and specialist expertise in fostering the growth of mining innovation companies. The potential pipeline of investee companies offers an exciting opportunity to recast mining in Australia for the long term as we help solve the challenge of decarbonising mining.”