Tag: Critical Raw Materials

Ensuring the responsible development of Europe’s mining sector

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Editor Georgie Purcell spoke to Florian Anderhuber, Deputy Director General of Euromines, to discuss Europe’s current potential for mineral development and how its mining sector can be accelerated to meet the demand for critical and strategic raw materials.

Driven by the green and digital transitions, global demand for critical and strategic raw materials is greater than ever at present. This demand places significant pressure on Europe, which has been highly dependent on other countries for its mineral supply for many years. Despite vast potential for mineral exploration and development, only a few EU countries have active mines. In a bid to address domestic supply issues, the European Commission has introduced a series of policies and strategies to accelerate critical mineral development in the EU and establish secure supply chains. Such policies include the Critical Raw Materials Act, the Net Zero Industry Act, and the REPowerEU plan.

Euromines is the recognised representative of the European metals and minerals mining industry and works to promote responsible industry practices and reflect the adequate consideration of mining in EU policy making. Euromines serves as a co-operative network that evaluates the impact of European and international policies and legislations on the mining industry and define common positions and actions. Amongst its work, Euromines has introduced the Sustainable Mining Initiative to help promote its members’ sustainability achievements and implementations in their daily operations. Through the Initiative, Euromines shares best practices in circular economy, decarbonisation, and community.

Editor Georgie Purcell spoke to Florian Anderhuber, Deputy Director General of Euromines, to gain a more in-depth look at Europe’s mining sector and the work of Euromines.

Can you tell us more about Euromines as an organisation and elaborate on your key goals?

Euromines is the business association of the European mining industry. We cover a total of 54 different minerals and metals mined in Europe – from hot commodities such as lithium, to more well-established materials like copper and iron ore and minerals such as potash and magnesite. We also focus on the entire ecosystem of mining, including the technology providers.

Our objectives include positioning and presenting the advantages of a robust license to operate of the European mining industry; demonstrating that we are a responsible player; demonstrating the cutting-edge technologies that we are using and developing in Europe; and highlighting the advantages that mining in Europe can bring for global mining. Our key goal is to have a thriving, innovative, clean, and sustainable mining industry in Europe that is providing the raw materials that we need for our daily life, and particularly for the ‘twin’ digital and green transition.

What is Europe’s current potential for critical raw material development?

There is very large potential for strategic and critical raw materials in Europe. For example, there are several lithium projects in the pipeline currently and we are continuously discovering new deposits for copper, nickel and other materials that are classed as critical or strategic. Europe also has deposits for other essential minerals and materials that underpin a sustainable society and living standard.

One of the larger impediments facing raw materials exploration and development in Europe is the existing geological data. A lot of the data that we have is outdated or superficial. The exploration of the ground has had to go deeper and wider to have a better understanding of what the full potential is. Over the last 30 years, there has been a cutback in precisely this kind of understanding due to a lot of raw materials being imported. This trend is now being reversed, predominantly due to the twin transition and raw material demands.

The current permitting frameworks are also impeding mining: contradictory or overlapping legislation and requirements, and procedures that take up to 15 years or more need to be made leaner and more streamlined to ensure responsible operations to get off the ground in a timely manner.

On the energy side, we would like to replace oil, coal and gas with solar and wind – ramping up the demand for materials such as copper, nickel, and lithium. This places pressure on Europe, given that we have a huge dependency on other countries for a lot of the raw materials needed for clean technologies. For lithium, as an example, there is currently no single operating mine or refinery in Europe and more than 90% of Europe’s lithium supply comes from outside of the continent.

In terms of reducing Europe’s dependencies, the Critical Raw Materials Act, coupled with the Net-Zero Industry Act, is a very important step forward for European thinking. This shows a move away from simply considering raw materials as a good to purchase.

Why is it so important to ensure the responsible development of Europe’s mining sector?

Mining does and will always have an environmental impact because it is dealing with the ground itself. We are taking from the ground, so it is vitally important to consider what we take to the ground, what we give back to society, and how much of it is borrowed in the long term. Unfortunately, this responsible attitude towards mining is not reflected in some other parts of the world, where the ground is being torn up and left.

© shutterstock/FCG

In addition, there is the question of fairness and honesty. We want to have green technology and clean electricity, so the underlying raw material space must be equally clean – otherwise, the calculation simply will not even out and we will not be able to achieve our 2050 objectives or the Sustainable Development Goals. It is essential to have a long-term sustainable vision for infrastructure, jobs, and settlements that occur during the life of a mine.

Can you elaborate more on Euromines’ Sustainable Mining Initiative and how this leads the direction of your work?

The Sustainable Mining Initiative was launched around two years ago to demonstrate best practices in sustainable mining. It aims to bring together the different stakeholders of the mining universe to exchange on and disseminate best practices, as well as enhancing understanding of how mining can contribute to a more sustainable planet. It is driven by the members who have a very strong stake in sustainable mining and mineral production, and it is a vehicle to approach wider society and policymakers with our work.

One thing that became clear was that a lot of our members have amazing projects with very unique setups when it comes to environmental protection, and climate change mitigation. However, this is not well-recognised and it leaves a vacuum that is being filled with very ugly pictures from other parts of the world, where mining is sometimes operating under abysmal circumstances. This is not mining that we want, nor that we wish to compete with. However, the challenge lies with setting a price. This is an issue that the Sustainable Mining Initiative strives to tackle.

How important is innovation in Europe’s mining sector? What is needed to enable innovation and R&D to prosper in this field?

A sustainable mine has a cost. It is not cheap to run or transform a sustainable mine. Our industry is a price taker, meaning that our prices are dictated by global markets. These prices must absorb costs and allow for certain profit in order to attract investment. Achieving this boils down to efficiency, energy, and automation.

Innovation is one of the major factors that can help mining in Europe to be profitable. In the global competition, many mines have a cost structure where, for example, labour costs are insignificant and environmental protection costs are non-existent. To survive amongst this kind of competition, innovative technologies that allow for smarter, cleaner and better mining are hugely important. For example, there are mines using technology to remotely operate heavy machinery, improve efficiency and help to alleviate health and safety obstacles.

There is also the use of digital tools for selective mining. For certain deposits, efficiency can be increased by mining selectively. This reduces the amount of material that has to be transported and means that processing already begins at a greater purity, reducing waste.

Innovation can also play a significant role in decarbonisation. For example, European mines were the first to install trolley lines for electrifying trucks, reducing diesel use and increasing efficiency. Such a truck runs twice as fast as a diesel-powered truck.

We also have very innovative mine suppliers in Europe that continuously work on increasing efficiencies, cleaning up processes, making them carbon neutral, and electrifying. The advantage here in Europe is that these methods can be tested on the mines that are operational already.

It is crucially important to remain innovative in the long run because, in many instances, we don’t know what direction certain chemistries are heading in, or where demand is heading. For example, the International Energy Agency predicts an eightfold growth in lithium demand by 2040. This is very significant given that, just 15 years ago, lithium gained little attention. Being able to maintain a continuous deposit of lithium, for example, requires continuous evaluation of what kind of innovations you can have in the process or how you can adapt them over time. This requires a lot of flexibility and a lot of brain power to move forward. Additionally, not every deposit is the same. In Europe, we have some very complex deposits that need specific technologies, new technologies, or adaptable technologies to allow you to continue operating.

The need to reduce environmental impacts also requires new and innovative technologies. In European mining, given that the legal framework is very strict in terms of mining and permitting, this is incentivising a lot of innovation.

How is Euromines working to promote and support innovation in the mining sector?

The Sustainable Mining Initiative is our main tool to promote and showcase innovation and what is possible.

We also have the Horizon Europe programme. Whilst we are not participating as a member in this, we try to provide input and relay funding calls to our members to encourage them to apply and participate in funding options.

Hydrogen is also a very important topic for us as an alternative energy carrier to natural gas. For the production of heat, it is necessary. We are gathering different projects and pilots from our members that have to adjust their process with an increased share of hydrogen in the gas network.

Please note, this article will also appear in the 20th edition of our quarterly publication.

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December 2, 2024
How can household cables drive down UK copper shortage?
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Becca Kirk, Biogeochemistry Consultant at the Critical Minerals Association (UK), explains how the answer to the UK copper shortage could be in our homes.

Copper (cu) is a versatile metal, abundant in society due to its properties that make it an excellent electronic conductor used in many electronic products.

Copper has been used in electronics, specifically cables, for many years, yielding millions of tons of material into circulation. With difficulties and lack of domestic recycling of these materials, millions of pounds worth of copper is found unused within the average UK household. Recycling alone could not supply enough copper to meet the projected increased demand, however synonymous recirculation of recycled copper alongside mining could prevent copper shortage in the UK and ensure material is available to meet the increased demand expectations.

This article will dive into these lost copper resources, and the value the urban mine could have for recycling efforts within the UK.

Copper and its abundance

Copper is a reddish metal, prevalent in the natural environment. There are over 150 known copper minerals, and it is a trace element essential to many living organisms, humans included.¹ There are currently around ten copper minerals of economic importance, with around half of the world’s copper currently mined from chalcopyrite (CuFeS2).² Copper is generally unreactive, but its chemical properties make it one of the most useful metals for electrical applications.

Copper in the UK household

Copper is an abundant material in the average household. It is present in the home wiring, white goods, small electronics and household cables. It is a highly recyclable material that can be passed through many production chains before any loss of functionality occurs. Copper is not currently considered critical in the UK; it is a strategic critical material in the EU and listed as critical in the US. Its projected demand is anticipated to skyrocket, and the development of a sophisticated recycling chain for portable copper-based products and cables may provide the UK with a stake in the copper market and provide materials for the manufacture of products for the green energy transition. In unused cables and electricals, the UK has huge volumes of recyclable copper. This equates to approximately 39,000 tonnes of copper, which is enough to build more than 1,200 Statues of Liberty³ and enough copper to nearly replace all the necessity for refined copper for two years.

The electrical function of copper

Copper has been fundamental in the electrical industry since the early 19th century, where its development for telegraphy spiralled into widespread use,⁴ due to the material’s high conductivity and low resistivity. The resulting product was a highly functional material that successfully transmits electrical currents with low risk of overheating.

Products containing copper and copper wire have been central in the electrical revolution, only increasing with increased global energy consumption. Except for 2020, global energy consumption has increased by around 0.5-6% yearly for decades.⁵ With that, global copper mining and production has steadily increased to a production of around 22 million metric tonnes in 2023⁶ (Fig. 1). Demand for copper is projected to more than double by 2050 due to renewable technologies such as wind farms, solar PV, heat pumps and electric vehicles requiring high volumes of electrical components. It is believed there could be a 6.5-million-ton gap in production and demand for copper by 2033.⁷

Is copper critical?

Due to the increased demand, the European Union named copper a ‘strategic critical mineral’ in 2023⁷ and the U.S Department of Energy listed it as a ‘critical mineral’.⁸ A strategic critical mineral is defined as a mineral with diplomatic or defence importance, and ‘critical minerals’ as minerals necessary for the industrial objectives of a country or company often with supply chain vulnerabilities.⁹ Currently, the UK does not define copper as a critical mineral.

Copper production and consumption in the UK

Historically, copper has been mined in vast quantities in the UK, with around half the 19th century global output coming from Cornwall. However, British ores no longer contribute to global production. Even still, the UK’s consumption of refined copper remains around 22,000 metric tons annually, despite increasing scrap recycling capabilities over time.¹⁰

Fig. 1: Change in global copper production from 2010-2023 (right), compared to the annual change in global primary energy consumption from 2010-2023 (left). Data from U.S. Energy Information Administration (2023) and USGS Mineral Commodities Survey, Copper, 2024

Copper is one of the most recyclable metals, with the ability to pass through many recycling streams without losing functionality and efficiency. The UK currently has no established recycling chain for copper despite being a significant consumer, and electrical product user. The UK exports between 200,000 and 500,000 tons of scrap copper yearly for recycling,¹¹ and it is believed around 30% of copper in use is now from recycled sources. It is predicted that at least 40% of mined copper is still in circulation.

The household copper mine

Recycling of copper has been ongoing for many years alongside the production of new copper-containing products and refining of copper ore. Global copper production from 2010-2023 alone equated to around 300 million tons. Therefore, vast quantities of copper currently aren’t entering recycling streams. Outside of the 40% still in use, and 30% of recycled material,¹² there is a huge volume of copper missing from these streams. A large volume of copper is sitting in the average household, many of this functional in household wiring and white goods. However, new research states that there are around 1.3 billion unused electrical items stored in the UK household or mismanaged in waste streams, and around 630 million unused copper cables.³

The copper content of the household cable

Generally, all high-quality electrical cables are copper or aluminium based. Cables that transfer power and information contain copper wiring, and lower quality wires sometimes contain aluminium in addition to copper. It is an industrial standard for copper wires to be high quality, and it is a requirement for wires to contain 99.1% minimum pure copper.¹³ This is generally to minimise overheating risk and maximise the function of the electrical product.

The composition of the electrical cable varies depending on function. This affects the number of wires, their gauge (thickness), length and amount of cladding needed for them. For many UK electricals, cables are manufactured to account for the need of the ground, earth and neutral wire for the three-prong plug system in place. However, the number of ‘cores’ (copper wires within a cable) can vary to values of around 7-20 wires for household cables such as some USB cables, fairy lights and extension leads.

The thickness and gauge of copper wire is standardised using the American Wire Gauge size chart as a general convention,¹⁴ and these gauges correlate to the function of the cable the wires are manufactured into. As a rule, the thickness directly relates to the amount of electricity the cables are transferring and a greater thickness makes a higher output, more robust cable set. Therefore, when regarding copper content, it can be said that not all cables are created equally. In terms of copper weight per metre of wire, this can vary from 0.3g to 50g based on the function of the cable. However, factors such as heat output relating to the use of heavy-duty electricals require greater volumes of cladding and insulation for the cables. This increases the overall weight of the cable further alongside the greater masses of copper for these cable types. When considering all factors, it can be estimated that the average proportion of copper in a cable is around 20% to 40% of the total mass of the wire. Factoring this into the 630m unused copper wires estimated in the UK, over 3,000 tons of copper is currently unused and wasted in UK households and waste streams.³

The implications of the forgotten electrical drawer

The growing gap in copper caused by the loss of materials, unused in UK households, has been exacerbated by the lack of publication and knowledge of recycling routes for these materials. While suppliers have been responsible for the return of electrical goods for many years, copper cables have not been included in these rules and recycling campaigns have often been poorly publicised and not widely known.

Fig. 2: Visualisation of the scale of waste copper in the UK household and relative quantities necessary for wind and solar projects in coming years (adapted from: Future of Copper Consumption Report from Material Focus, featuring Bloomberg Intelligence and Royal Society of Chemistry, September 2024.)

Local policy has not always been the most beneficial in the return, reuse and recycle of products containing copper and other metals. However, in recent years, consultations for change have created more sustainable routes for reliable feedstock of recycled metal products. If we laid the UK’s unused cable out, it could be long enough to travel to the moon and back and carry over 3,000 tons of copper. This alone could fulfil the UK’s yearly technological demand for copper and provide 30% of the 347,000 tons of copper needed for the UK’s planned solar and wind energy projects from now to 2030.³ Therefore, it is clear, where the UK copper mining industry has declined, the opportunity for a stake in exportable and re-extractable scrap copper has skyrocketed. With better management of waste streams, and encouragement to clear out the dreaded cable drawers, the UK could contribute more than £200m of copper³ from recycling these products alone, and significantly reduce supply and demand risks for years to come.

Conclusions

An average UK household holds a significant volume of copper in unused cables and portable electronic materials that could help provide the UK with a stake in the copper recycling and production market. Encouraging the population to recycle their unused electricals to specialist recycling centres to enter circular supply chains will provide a reliable feedstock for the long-term recycling industry within the UK. Furthermore, a greater understanding of the composition of copper cables and materials allow for streamlined recycling routes and the reduction of unnecessary loss of materials as currently exhibited with the products.

© shutterstock/Flegere

Pairing this with the contribution of finance into a UK recycling stream through government and private investment would allow the UK to begin to develop a recycling industry for copper within the country and allow the country to directly benefit from the material through profit and use. Investment would be further encouraged through the addition of copper to the UK Critical Minerals list, highlighting the necessity of the material for both national security and green energy technologies.

References
1. Lossin, A. (2001), Copper. Ullmann’s Encyclopaedia of Industrial Chemistry. Available at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/14356007.a07_471/abstract
2. BGS (2007), Commodity profile copper, Available at: https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/7977/1/OR09041.pdf
3. Future of Copper Consumption Report from Material Focus, featuring Bloomberg Intelligence and Royal Society of Chemistry, September 2024.
4. Blake-Coleman, Barrie Charles (1981). The Rise Of Copper Wire, Its Manufacture And Use To 1900: A Case Of Industrial Circumspection.
5. U.S. Energy Information Administration (2023); Energy Institute – Statistical Review of World Energy (2024)
6. USGS Mineral Commodities Survey, Copper, 2024. Available at: https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2024/mcs2024-copper.pdf
7. European Commission, Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, Grohol, M., Veeh, C. (2023) Study on the critical raw materials for the EU 2023: final report.
8. U.S. Department of Energy, Critical Materials Assessment 2023
9. Critical Minerals Association, Defining Criticality – What Makes a Critical Mineral?, 2021. Available at: https://www.criticalmineral.org/post/defining-criticality-what-makes-a-critical-mineral
10. Jaganmohan, M. Approximate unwrought copper consumption volume in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2009 to 2022. Available at: https://www.statista.com/statistics/470246/copper-consumption-in-the-united-kingdom-uk/
11. International Trade Centre. (2020). Annual volume of copper waste and scrap exported by the United Kingdom (UK) from 2010 to 2019 (in metric tons). Statista. Available at: https://www.statista.com/statistics/516013/uk-quantity-of-export-of-copper-waste-and-scrap/
12. International Copper Association, Circular Copper: Building a Culture of Sustainability, 2021. Available at: https://internationalcopper.org/resource/circular-copper-building-a-culture-of-sustainability/
13. Stratton, S.W. Department of Commerce and Labor, Circular Bureau of Standards, Copper Wire Table, 1912.
14. ASTM B258-14. Standard Specification for Standard Nominal Diameters and Cross-Sectional Areas of AWG Sizes of Solid Round Wires Used as Electrical Conductors, 2014. Available at: https://web.archive.org/web/20140722072347/http://www.astm.org/Standards/B258.html
Please note, this article will also appear in the 20th edition of our quarterly publication.
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November 29, 2024
Newfoundland and Labrador’s place in the global landscape

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Honourable Andrew Parsons, Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology for Newfoundland and Labrador, explains how his department is accelerating growth through research and development and innovation.

Situated off the eastern coast of the North American mainland, the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador is ideally situated with great promise for research and development in areas such as critical minerals, sustainable energy, and technology.

The Department of Industry, Energy and Technology (IET) leads innovation, economic development and diversification in the province, with a mission to accelerate growth. The department focuses on creating a competitive environment to support private sector investment and business growth and works closely with key stakeholders to do so. In recent years, the Department has launched a series of programmes and initiatives to support innovation and research and development (R&D) within the province. Such developments include a Critical Minerals Strategy; Innovation and Business Development Fund; Green Transition Fund, and much more.

Georgie Purcell, Editor of The Innovation Platform, spoke to the Honourable Andrew Parsons, Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology, to learn more about the department’s R&D strategies and the innovations coming out of the province.

Can you elaborate on Newfoundland and Labrador’s energy and technology landscape currently? What are your key focuses at present?

Energy and technology are now two of our greatest strengths and we are poised for growth in both sectors, particularly energy.

In recent years, we have focused a lot of attention on creating a world-class green hydrogen industry. We have been working on designing a framework and structuring legislation and policy; ensuring benefits for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians; and focusing on environmental sustainability and job creation. This is also a major step forward in terms of our net zero aspirations and allows us to contribute to global energy security.

We have a wide range of technology innovations spanning across a variety of subsectors, including information and communication, health and biotech, aerospace, defence, and clean tech.

Newfoundland and Labrador is a small province, but we are achieving global recognition for our work in areas such as subsea imaging, fraud detection, collaborative engineering, and energy efficiency. We are also strategically located to be a centre of excellence for marine research, cold ocean research, and development tech commercialisation. Our statement is: “If you can make it work here, it will work anywhere in the world.”

© shutterstock/CPJanes

Can you provide some examples of recent projects or initiatives that you are particularly proud of?

I am just one part of a small but extremely mighty and nimble team. The department is carrying out amazing work.

We have put a lot of work into the area of wind energy, as well as green hydrogen. Currently, we have six projects, at different stages, that are looking to use wind power. We also have an abundance of water to produce green hydrogen. Over the next three to four decades, the overall economic impact of construction, operations and decommissioning on the province is expected to total around C$220bn. With a capital spend of around C$72bn, this is a massive impact.

One standout initiative we launched is the Green Transition Fund. Working with our partners in the offshore oil industry, the fund enables us to support businesses, organisations and academia working towards the transition to a green economy. This is a major ongoing programme and, just last week, we produced six new projects totalling around C$2m of investment.

In July 2024, we officially opened the Co. Innovation Centre – an incubator space for local companies and organisations. It has on-site R&D and testing facilities, co-working spaces, and features the first commercially available 3D metal printer. This was a C$7m investment from our government and the work behind it to bring together the different partners is something that I’m especially proud of. It was a huge lesson in teamwork, persistence and patience, and now we have a positive result.

How is research and innovation helping to accelerate Newfoundland and Labrador’s offerings?

Research is key. Our flagship university, Memorial University of Newfoundland (MUN), has been producing spinout companies from its research for decades. We have a broad range of programming that supports R&D, both for commercial and non-commercial applicants, and we are trying to realise the commercial impact and potential of innovation.

To achieve our goal of long-term economic benefit, it is important that we invest in early-stage R&D and establish close partnerships with academia. We are supporting them to reduce the technical and financial risk of R&D and discover the commercial potential of the products and processes they are developing.

In terms of non-commercial developments, we provide support through non-repayable contributions to groups such as academics or research institutions. If we can support and develop highly qualified people or high-level research and programming, this will have great long-term benefits for our R&D capacity.

We work to build state-of-the-art infrastructure, strengthen our technical expertise, and establish strong partnerships. Partnerships is the mantra here. We work closely with industry and academia, and we are also placing a strong focus on partnerships with our Indigenous communities. Collaboration is a nice buzzword, but I am confident we are practising what we preach here. For example, last year we invested C$6m in carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) to partner researchers working on carbon capture technology.

How important is national and international collaboration for Newfoundland and Labrador’s economic prosperity?

I am a firm believer that our key to survival is not just within Newfoundland and Labrador, or even through Canada or North America – we must be internationally focused. We need to consider international business development to help local companies thrive. We work with local companies to support them in expanding their exports and helping them to compete on a global level. We also determine how we can help them to minimise the risks of expansion and diversify their opportunities. We are always trying to find a way to increase the volume of goods from Newfoundland and Labrador.

We also have programming throughout the department aimed at trying to leverage international relationships. We participate in many trade shows globally, whether it’s through government directly or by funding companies to participate. Through these trade events, we are also trying to interest the world to find partnerships here in Newfoundland and Labrador. From mainland Europe and the United States to Asia, we are getting our feet on the ground everywhere and flying the flag for the province to showcase what we have here and highlight our government’s commitment to developing world-class products. We also use these shows to educate people on why the province is a great place to invest and trade.

I cannot stress enough that we will not survive by simply relying on Newfoundland and Labrador alone – we must be part of the international scene.

Canada officially joined the Horizon Europe programme in July of this year. What impact could this have for local businesses and organisations in the future?

We welcome any investment in R&D. The agreement to join Pillar II of Horizon Europe affords Canadians and Newfoundlanders and Labordorians greater access to the programme, alongside leadership opportunities and the chance to be a part of decision making.

Through Horizon Europe, we hope our R&D and innovation communities will help develop solutions to tackle some of the major global challenges, from health to climate. We want researchers and enterprises in Newfoundland and Labrador to take full advantage of this fantastic opportunity.

Please note, this article will also appear in the 20th edition of our quarterly publication.

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November 15, 2024
Faraday report highlights Africa’s role in the battery supply chain

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The UK Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, has released a pivotal report showcasing Africa’s potential to become a key player in the global battery supply chain.

Unveiled at a growth and renewable energy reception in Lagos, the report –’From Minerals to Manufacturing: Africa’s Competitiveness in Global Battery Supply Chains’ – outlines investment opportunities that could boost Africa’s battery manufacturing sector.

Director for Economic Development and Partnerships at the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, Helen King, commented: “This report shows that investors should give serious consideration to Africa’s potential as a future manufacturer of batteries, not just a buyer.

“The UK Government has a clear mission to support global growth that is inclusive of people and planet, and this sector presents real opportunity for African growth and jobs.

“We look forward to engaging with policymakers and investors on taking forward the outcomes of this report and doing the hard work to realise the opportunity it represents.”

Africa’s competitive edge in battery minerals

Commissioned under the UK’s Manufacturing Africa programme in partnership with the Faraday Institution, the report reveals that refining essential battery minerals such as lithium, nickel, manganese, and copper in Africa could be up to 40% more cost-effective than in other regions by 2030.

This competitive edge could be achieved with the establishment of a single high-quality refinery for each mineral, which would generate approximately $6.8bn in annual revenue and create around 3,500 jobs within Africa’s battery supply chain.

Battery production prospects in Morocco and Tanzania

Beyond mineral refining, the report suggests that certain African nations like Morocco and Tanzania could produce batteries at costs competitive with Europe, especially with strategic support like subsidies.

For example, Morocco’s production costs could reach $72/kWh, while Tanzania’s could achieve $68/kWh, aligning closely with Europe’s $68/kWh rate. These figures underscore Africa’s potential to be a global hub in the battery supply chain.

The CEO of the Faraday Institution, Professor Martin Freer, added: “Given the abundance of critical natural minerals in Africa, African nations could play a significant role in the global battery supply chain if they could overcome investment, infrastructure and workforce challenges.

“The report contains a wealth of information and analysis on the subject that will be valuable to a variety of stakeholders, including potential investors in projects in other parts of the battery value chain beyond mining.”

Strategic partnerships and future initiatives

The Lagos event also highlighted partnerships with UK-based companies, including smart-meter firm SteamaCo and e-waste recycler Hinckley Recycling, both of which have invested in Nigeria’s clean energy sector.

Foreign Secretary Lammy emphasised the UK’s commitment to supporting Africa’s green energy journey, echoing his call for a Global Clean Power Alliance made in a recent address at Kew Gardens.

This report signals a new era of opportunity for Africa’s role in the battery supply chain, setting the stage for economic growth, job creation, and sustainable development in the global renewable energy landscape.

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November 5, 2024
UK approves use of export finance to source critical minerals

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The Chancellor has announced that UK Export Finance (UKEF), the government’s export credit agency, will offer financial support for overseas projects to source critical minerals.

Securing contracts that increase the UK’s ability to source critical minerals will help the UK build economic resilience and lower the risk of supply-chain disruption in major industries like automotive, defence, and aerospace.

Critical minerals are raw materials like lithium, graphite, and cobalt, which are essential to the UK’s largest export sectors.

They are used in emerging and sustainable technologies like electric vehicles, solar panels and wind turbines.

Helping UK exporters source critical minerals through credit guarantees

Financing will be offered through credit guarantees to overseas companies, helping them access debt financing for projects that help UK exporters source critical minerals, including raw and processed materials.

UKEF is expected to work with other ECAs and public financial institutions to finance eligible projects and support investment in new supply routes.

This would make it easier for UK manufacturers to secure contracts with critical mineral suppliers in countries with vast mineral deposits, including Australia, which holds large lithium deposits.

Jonathan Reynolds, Secretary of State for Business and Trade, explained: “As the energy transition pushes demand to new highs, this financing offer will help UK companies to get a seat at the table, build international partnerships and secure critical minerals.

“Helping exporters to access these vital resources will support UK industrial growth and our leadership in emerging technology.”

Building a raw materials supply chain in the UK

The UK government is a founding member of the US-initiated Minerals Security Partnership (MSP), which aims to help member economies source critical minerals.

The new announcement follows the recent launch of an MSP finance network. UKEF works with other export credit agencies and financial bodies to help de-risk and increase financing for critical minerals projects.

UKEF has also used its existing products to support UK capability in critical minerals production. It recently announced a guarantee supporting machinery exports to one of Central Asia’s largest copper-production facilities.

“We welcome the new export finance offering for critical minerals, which supports UK manufacturers and supply chain security,” said Kirsty Benham, Chief Executive Officer of Critical Minerals Association (UK).

“The offer demonstrates the importance of critical minerals to the UK government and showcases the UK’s strengths as a serious buyer of these strategically important materials.”

She concluded: “We look forward to working closely with UKEF and supporting the development of this offer into secure critical mineral supply chains for the UK and MSP partners that are resilient and responsible.”

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October 31, 2024
US injects $5.5m into critical minerals and materials projects
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The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced $5.5m in funding for six innovative projects focused on advancing sustainable and cost-effective processes to produce and refine critical minerals and materials domestically.

This initiative, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, aims to reduce reliance on foreign critical minerals and materials sources by strengthening domestic supply chains while generating jobs and supporting communities historically reliant on mining and energy production.

Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm highlighted the significance of the funding: “Building a clean energy and industrial economy requires strategically tapping into our nation’s own reliable domestic resources to meet this demand and strengthen energy security.

“We are investing in alternative products that will be developed using more abundant and accessible materials, reducing our import dependency while lowering costs, increasing US competitiveness, and enhancing our national security.”

Reducing foreign dependency on critical minerals and materials

The US currently imports over 95% of the rare earth elements needed for various industries. Additionally, more than 50% of the supply for most critical minerals comes from foreign sources, and at least 12 critical minerals are exclusively imported.

The new projects seek to reverse this trend by developing technologies that use abundant domestic resources, thus enhancing US energy security and lowering costs.

Six innovative projects for alternative technologies

The ‘Critical Material Innovation, Efficiency, and Alternatives’ initiative will provide up to $150m in funding over multiple project rounds.

The initial six projects focus on alternative energy technologies using critical minerals and materials sourced domestically.

These projects represent a significant step toward building a more robust supply chain for critical minerals and include:
1. CorePower Magnetics aims to develop and prototype a high-performance electric motor that eliminates the need for rare earth elements. The team will evaluate various rare earth element-free permanent magnet technologies for their performance and production readiness.
2. Giner, Inc. plans to develop lower-cost rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles, using domestically available materials such as manganese, iron, titanium, and magnesium, reducing dependence on critical elements like copper and nickel.
3. Ohio University’s project will focus on creating coal-derived hard carbon anodes for a next-generation sodium-ion battery, offering a lower-cost alternative to lithium-ion batteries that require critical minerals sourced primarily from outside the US.
4. Semplastics will use low-cost coal feedstocks to develop an alternative anode active material that can serve as a graphite substitute in lithium-ion batteries, improving the domestic availability of key components for grid storage batteries.
5. The University of Tennessee will develop a rechargeable alkaline-manganese dioxide battery, focusing on environmentally friendly electrolytes and US-sourced materials as an alternative to lithium-ion technology.
6. Worcester Polytechnic will create a process to convert pure or mixed nickel-lean polycrystal cathode materials into nickel-rich single crystal cathode materials for advanced battery applications.
DOE’s commitment to expanding critical minerals and materials

In addition to these new projects, the DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM) has committed $171m since January 2021 toward supporting critical minerals exploration, production, and processing, particularly in traditional mining and energy-producing regions.

These efforts aim to minimise environmental impacts while supporting the US transition to a net-zero emissions economy.

By investing in innovative approaches to develop and refine critical minerals and materials, the DOE is ensuring a more secure, sustainable energy future for the United States, reducing reliance on foreign resources, and strengthening the domestic economy.
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September 27, 2024
Secure your tickets for The Business Booster 2024

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Innovation News Network is delighted to announce that we are a media partner for The Business Booster.

The Business Booster, hosted by EIT InnoEnergy, is where transactions in sustainable energy happen! The two-day event is your unique opportunity to meet over 150 technologies spanning the entire energy value chain, including the industrial scale-ups driving Europe’s energy transition.

InnoEnergy has been recognised as the most active global energy investor for the third consecutive year. Its portfolio companies have collectively secured over €25bn in investments and are projected to save 2.1 gigatons of CO2e annually by 2030, and now is your chance to meet them!

Taking place in Barcelona on 16 and 17 October, The Business Booster will bring together 1,500+ attendees from over 40 countries, consisting of start-ups, industry representatives, investors, policymakers and regulators.

Attendees will take part in B2B meetings, hear from world‐class speakers, witness live panel debates, hear start‐ups pitch and discover innovations at the exhibition and product display area. Running for over a decade, The Business Booster boasts over 3,200 B2B meetings.

Under the theme ‘Economic growth, geopolitical resilience, clean energy transition – trilemma or opportunity?’ The Business Booster 2024 will focus on sustainable energy innovation, with a particular focus on green industrial policies, industrial unicorns Made in Europe, the reshoring of the photovoltaic industry, the battery value chain, the impact of AI on energy consumption, and the green hydrogen value chain.

We are a proud partner of The Business Booster 2024! As a valued member of our community, secure an exclusive 15% discount on your tickets using the code ([email protected]) when you register: https://tbb.innoenergy.com

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September 27, 2024
Scandium Canada files patent application for aluminium alloys

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Scandium Canada has filed a provisional patent entitled ‘Aluminium alloy powders for additive manufacturing. Methods of producing the same and uses thereof’, to use aluminium scandium alloys for 3D printing.

In addition to advancing its Crater Lake scandium and rare earth project, Scandium Canada has developed two aluminium scandium (Al-Sc) alloys and their powders, specifically for additive manufacturing (3D printing) applications, in collaboration with McMaster University, Ontario, Canada.

This has resulted in a significant body of intellectual property developed over the last three years.

Guy Bourassa, Scandium’s CEO, commented: “We are very excited about this new step in the company’s development. It confirms our objective to be recognised as a leader in the scandium markets, not only by developing the largest hard rock primary scandium project in the world but also by developing applications for scandium.

“Scandium is the metal of the future, and we are deeply engaged in its development and market growth.

“Over the next few months, Scandium Canada will explore options with commercial and research partners in Canada and abroad to monetise its 100% owned intellectual property to generate revenues and offtake agreements separate from its mining activities.”

New possibilities for aluminium scandium alloys

Luc Duchesne, PhD, Chief Science Officer, added: “The commercial emergence of aluminium powders in 3D printing represents a significant advancement in additive manufacturing technology.

“With the filing of patents such as the one by Scandium Canada Ltd., the potential for using aluminium alloy powders for 3D printing applications using aluminium scandium alloys has increased.

“This development creates new possibilities for manufacturing lightweight, high-strength components, particularly in aerospace, automotive, and maritime industries. 3D printing has the potential to revolutionise the way metal components are manufactured, offering greater design flexibility and efficiency in production processes.”

Scandium Canada is thankful for the contribution of multiple collaborators over the last three years, particularly McMaster University.

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September 24, 2024
Cirba Solutions’ lithium-ion battery recycling facility selected for $200m DOE funding

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Cirba Solutions, a leader in battery recycling and materials management, is set to negotiate an award of up to $200m from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

This funding, part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will support the development of a cutting-edge lithium-ion battery recycling facility in Columbia, South Carolina.

The announcement comes from the DOE’s Office of Manufacturing and Energy Supply Chains (MESC) and marks a significant step toward establishing a domestic closed-loop supply chain for electric vehicle (EV) batteries.

Lithium-ion battery recycling facility overview

The new facility will focus on recycling lithium-ion batteries sourced from end-of-life EVs, energy storage systems, and manufacturing scrap.

Once fully operational, the lithium-ion battery recycling plant will have the capacity to process more than 60,000 tonnes of batteries annually, producing battery-grade salts for up to 500,000 EVs per year.

This will play a crucial role in addressing the increasing demand for EV batteries while promoting sustainability through battery recycling.

Beyond the environmental benefits, the 200-acre lithium-ion battery recycling facility is expected to generate over 300 full-time jobs in Columbia, along with 650 construction positions, providing a significant economic boost to the region.

Strengthening US battery supply chains

The Columbia plant is part of a broader national effort to enhance domestic lithium-ion battery recycling capabilities and reduce dependence on foreign supply chains.

Cirba Solutions’ CEO, David Klanecky, emphasised the importance of the project: “This project advances the growth trajectory Cirba Solutions is on, working to expand lithium-ion battery recycling capacity in order to achieve a closed-loop domestic supply chain.

“The funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides us with a vital opportunity to increase capacity through the sourcing and processing of these critical materials in a responsible and sustainable way.

“It will help strengthen our nation’s supply chains, accelerate accessibility to critical battery-grade metals for new battery production and help to establish our country as a true competitor in the global battery industry, all while enhancing energy independence and national security.”

Commitment to community engagement

In addition to its focus on lithium-ion recycling, Cirba Solutions is committed to supporting the Columbia community. The company plans to partner with local schools, host recycling events, and increase access to information about battery recycling.

This South Carolina facility will be Cirba Solutions’ seventh operational site, adding to its extensive North American footprint. With over 30 years of industry experience, the company continues to lead the charge in sustainable battery recycling solutions.

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September 23, 2024
Advanced fine particle filtration for mining operations

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Employing its extensive experience and expertise in fine particle separation, Sofi Filtration aims at boosting recovery and water efficiency at existing concentrators.

With the mining industry looking to ramp up production in response to the increased demand for metals driven by the energy transition and geopolitical tensions, the development of new mines must be accompanied by further efficiency improvements in recovery at existing concentrators.

Up to 40% of valuables are lost in mining and mineral processing, and a mere 5% improvement in existing concentrators would have a major impact: 1.1 million tonnes of copper or 165,000 tonnes of nickel per annum. Whereas the development of new mines is time-consuming and carries major risks over fluctuating metal prices, efficiency investments are possible today.

Navigating challenges in the field

Improving recovery at existing concentrators is not without its difficulties. Valuables are often lost because of fine particles escaping conventional processing.

Fine particle separation in mineral processing is technically and techno-economically challenging: Volumetric flow rates can be high, i.e., hundreds and thousands of cubic meters per hour, particle concentrations are low, and particle size is fine, i.e., in the range of some tens of microns.

All of this is very familiar to Sofi Filtration, which designs and supplies the mining industry with advanced fine filtration technology. CEO, Riina Salmimies explained: “Fine particles in low concentrations are a painful separation to address. The bulk material is already handled by major technology companies. We specialise only in fine particle filtration, understanding that the industry is inevitably headed in that direction, whether it’s boosting recovery or controlling for contaminants in process or discharge water.”

The Sofi Filter® is a compact and self-cleaning clarifying filter

New technology going beyond what has previously been possible is necessary to further improve efficiency in recovery. Particle filtration technology addressing solids in liquids is mature and has seen very little improvement in terms of new technology innovation introduced to the market in the past decades.

Conventional established technologies include disposable filters, such as bags and cartridges, which are costly and inconvenient for the operator; different media filters, which are expensive and have a large footprint; and microfiltration membranes, which are sensitive to different types of contaminants.

Most of these technologies are not designed to recover fine particles but to remove them as unwanted contaminants: Protecting pumps, preventing scaling, and cleaning up process waters.

The Sofi Filter®: Advancing particle filtration technology

The patented Sofi Filter® uses ultrasound and air-assisted backflushing to remove particles from the surface of the medium. This way, the capacity of the medium is restored after particles block the pores of the filter medium. With the system made of stainless steel, including the filter medium, there are very few wearables.

Sofi Filtration provides customers with turnkey systems, including instrumentation and automation. The filtration systems are designed for long life and minimum maintenance, contributing to low opex and increased process and occupational safety compared to conventional clarifying filters.

When asked about scalability, sales representative Toni Nikku said: “Our technology is modular. We can cater from some cubic meters per hour up to thousands of cubic meters per hour. Modularity allows for easier logistics and installation on-site and makes our technology easier to retrofit. Existing plants often struggle with space. We also offer containerised solutions, which are an ideal solution for mining sites.”

The first filter ever delivered by Sofi Filtration was in 2013 to Anglo American in Sakatti, where the filter is used to treat water from drill core sawing. The challenges of fine particle separation are well known for Sofi Filtration, which has worked on them for the past ten years.

Considering technology development, staff scientist Elsi Strand said: “We go beyond market standards in understanding the pore size of our media, how different solid materials behave for our technology and how to manipulate feed conditions to boost performance.”

Potential applications

When looking at applications at existing concentrators, two stand out for Sofi Filtration:

1. Recovery of fine particles to boost overall recovery of valuables.
2. Removal of fine particles from circulation waters to ensure efficient processing of the ore.

Boosting recovery of valuables by the Sofi Filter® can be done particularly at the concentrate thickener or at the final dewatering of the concentrate. These are point sources of losses, and the water streams generated are well-suited for clarifying filtration. With depleting ore grades, it is necessary to grind finer to liberate the target minerals, which leads to an increase in the fraction of fines.

Metal recovery can be boosted by introducing the Sofi Filter® to existing plants

In addition to improving flotation, it is important to ensure that losses are minimised at the thickener and at final dewatering. Furthermore, with an efficient fine filtration solution, chemical dosing at the thickener could be further reduced, which carries both economic and environmental benefits. In a recent trial, 90.5% of fine valuables were captured using the Sofi Filter®.

Salmimies summarised: “We’ve seen high prices for gold, copper and nickel recently. The higher the metal prices, the more money is being bled out with those recovery losses. The time to invest is now.”

As we need to grind finer to liberate valuables, an inevitable spin-off effect arises: Increased concentration of fines in circulation waters. Fines are detrimental to, for example, froth flotation, which is a common unit operation in mineral processing.

Unwanted fines consume chemicals used to separate the target minerals, resulting in the need to increase dosing, which in turn drives up opex. Furthermore, a number of flotation chemicals come with environmental concerns and maximising efficiency by minimising use follows the key principles of risk management.

The Sofi Filter® can be used to separate those fines before further use of process water. In a recent trial, 88% of fines were removed from tailings dam water using the Sofi Filter®. Direct payback is generated through savings in chemical costs, whereas indirect payback comes from securing the performance of primary processing, such as froth flotation.

Salmimies said: “Treating process water from mineral processing to enable re-use is an ideal application for our technology. The particle matter is well-suited for our self-cleaning methodology, and low concentrations and small particle sizes challenge other clarifying filtration technologies.”

A comprehensive, competitive solution

Laboratory testing and piloting are regular parts of the process at Sofi Filtration. This is not because of the novelty of the filtration technology but primarily for the benefit of the customers.

Filtration containers are also available for piloting

Anssi Laiho, senior field service engineer, explained: “We are often trying to accomplish something that has not been done before or that no one else can technically perform, and our customers deserve to have that technical risk managed as well as is practically possible. Testing is an easy way for the customer to get to know us and our technology. Testing can mean anything from point sample testing in the laboratory to filtration containers out on site.”

Sofi Filtration aims to contribute to a 10% increase in the recovery of valuables at existing concentrators while bringing down CO2 emissions per tonne of concentrate.

Furthermore, through research collaboration, a 10% decrease in chemical dosing at the concentrate thickener is targeted.

The total cost of ownership of the Sofi Filter® is estimated to be 40% lower than that of competing technologies. This competitive advantage arises from minimal maintenance needs, not having to exchange the filter medium, and low energy consumption of the filtration units.

The ultimate target, of course, is to contribute to securing sufficient raw materials for the energy transition and making sure the industry can drive water efficiency within plants.

Please note, this article will also appear in the 19th edition of our quarterly publication.

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September 5, 2024