In a surprising twist, a Darjeeling-based company, Alt Carbon, is turning mining dust into a climate-friendly solution.With $500,000 in investments from carbon-credit companies, Alt Carbon is utilising a geo-chemical process known as enhanced rock weathering to tackle atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2).
Understanding Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW)
Natural Process
- Rocks naturally disintegrate over thousands of years, primarily due to rainfall and heat.
- This disintegration results in the formation of bicarbonates, which are the result of chemical reactions between atmospheric CO2 and minerals.
Carbon Sequestration
- It is a process that helps capture and store CO2 from the atmosphere, thereby achieving the goal of mitigating climate change.
Accelerating Carbon Removal
- There is an urgent need to reduce atmospheric CO2 levels in the fight against climate change. Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) offers an important solution in this direction.
Importance of ERW
- Meaning: This process accelerates natural weathering, thereby removing CO2 from the atmosphere.
Advantages
- Carbon sequestration: Aids in removing CO2 from the atmosphere.
- Improved Soil: Improves soil pH, nutrient absorption, and fertility.
- Reduction of ocean acidification: Helps in reducing acidity in the oceans.
Challenges
- High energy consumption in the mining and transportation processes.
- Requirement of large land areas for effective advanced weathering.
Innovative approach of Alt Carbon
Use of basalt rock
- Basalt rocks are rich in minerals required for carbon absorption.
- Crushed basalt is used in tea plantations in Darjeeling, improving soil fertility and carbon absorption.
- Alt Carbon has used around 500 tonnes of basalt dust and aims to store 50,000 tonnes of CO2.