MINEX Forum

Region: Europe

  • NickelX is set to explore and develop the large-scale nickel-copper-cobalt mineralisation in Czech Republic

    NickelX is set to explore and develop the large-scale nickel-copper-cobalt mineralisation in Czech Republic

    [vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][distance desktop_type=”30″][lvs][distance desktop_type=”30″][vc_btn title=”Source – proactiveinvestors.com.au” color=”sky” i_type=”material” i_icon_material=”vc-material vc-material-perm_device_information” add_icon=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.proactiveinvestors.com.au%2Fcompanies%2Fnews%2F1019653%2Fnickelx-soars-on-signing-deal-to-acquire-advanced-nickel-and-hard-rock-lithium-projects-in-central-europe-1019653.html|target:_blank”][distance desktop_type=”30″][vc_column_text]NickelX Ltd (ASX:NKL) has struck an exclusive option agreement for the acquisition of advanced nickel and hard rock lithium exploration projects in central Europe, sending its shares skyward.

    Investors have responded positively to the agreement with shares as much as 56.73% higher in morning trade to $0.105.

    Advantageous climate

    NickelX’s move to secure these advanced projects underscores its strategic vision and positions the company to take advantage of the growing demand for nickel, copper, cobalt and lithium, particularly in the context of the planned establishment of 27 lithium battery ‘Gigafactories’ in the region by 2030.

    One of the projects covered by the agreement is the Ransko Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Project in the Czech Republic. The Ransko Permit, spanning an area of 6.93 square kilometres, is known to host significant nickel-copper-cobalt mineralisation.

    While historical mapping, sampling, geophysics and limited drilling have identified the presence of valuable mineral deposits, no modern exploration techniques or resource modelling have been conducted since the mid-1960s.

    Rich historical dataset

    The project benefits from a rich historical dataset derived from seven known sulphide deposits, which demonstrate multiple magma pulses and sulphide events associated with local faults and intrusions.

    This project has also secured funding from the EU’s €7.5 million SEMACRET Project, which aims to support exploration for critical raw materials within the EU market.

    The second project covered under the agreement is the Otov Hard Rock Lithium Project in the west of the Czech Republic near the German border. Encompassing 18.1 square kilometres, the Otov Permit is known for significant lithium (spodumene) mineralisation.

    Historical mining activities targeting feldspar have revealed underground workings at the Otov1 pegmatite, demonstrating the presence of valuable lithium resources.

    Notably, the Otov1 Lithium-Caesium-Tantalum (LCT) pegmatite displays a vertical zoning pattern, with spodumene concentrations increasing with depth. Impressive spodumene crystals, measuring up to 70 centimetres in length, further underscore the project’s potential.

    Despite these promising indicators, the permit area’s 17 additional mapped pegmatites have not been subject to modern exploration techniques, leaving ample room for future discovery and development.

    Project location in the central European country of the Czech Republic.

    “Very excited”

    Managing director Matt Gauci said: “We are very excited to have secured the option to acquire, explore and develop the large-scale nickel-copper-cobalt mineralisation at Ransko, as well as the highly prospective Otov LCT pegmatite, which was historically only mined for feldspar, which is 1 of the 17 known LCT pegmatites, and where large spodumene crystals, up to 70 centimetres, are reported.

    “Should we decide to exercise the option, the company will formalise an existing exploration partnership with Aurum Discovery Limited, a highly respected European-based exploration consultancy, with in-country representation, to ensure efficient operations, ongoing stakeholder engagement and progression of the existing EU Funded SEMACRET Project, which aims to promote exploration for Critical Raw Materials in the EU.”

    Transition to green

    The acquisition option agreement comes at a time when the European Union is placing increased emphasis on the transition to a green economy.

    The EU Critical Raw Materials Act, adopted in March 2023, aims to enhance the EU’s self-reliance on mining essential metals such as nickel, copper, cobalt and lithium.

    The recently adopted EU Green Deal allocates substantial funding, including €1 trillion for combatting climate change and €40 billion for the transition from fossil fuels to green energy.

    These initiatives are expected to drive investments in the very metals that NickelX aims to dig up.

    With the European market poised for significant growth in these critical metals, investors and industry observers eagerly await further developments as NickelX advances its exploration and acquisition efforts in central Europe.

    “Critical minerals well demonstrated”

    “It is an unprecedented time for energy transition in Europe with the passing of the EU Critical Raw Materials (CRM) Act and the adoption of the EU Green Deal, transforming the requirement for and funding of, exploration, development and mining of critical minerals,” Gauci said.

    “These critical minerals are well demonstrated within both the Ransko and Otov projects.

    “The projects are exceptionally well located, almost on the doorsteps of 27 lithium battery ‘Gigafactories’ in Europe planned for 2030. Ransko and Otov are within a c.500 kilometres radius of these Gigafactories and there is also potential for Volkswagen (VW) (and Czech-based subsidiary Skoda Auto) to build a Gigafactory within the Czech Republic.”[/vc_column_text][distance desktop_type=”30”][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section]

  • Wood to design Europe’s largest high-purity manganese processing facility

    Wood to design Europe’s largest high-purity manganese processing facility

    [vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][distance desktop_type=”30″][lvs][distance desktop_type=”30″][vc_btn title=”Source – Global Mining Review” color=”sky” i_type=”material” i_icon_material=”vc-material vc-material-perm_device_information” add_icon=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.globalminingreview.com%2Fmining%2F05072023%2Fwood-to-design-europes-largest-high-purity-manganese-processing-facility%2F|target:_blank”][distance desktop_type=”30″][vc_column_text]

    Wood, a global consulting and engineering company, has been awarded a major award by Euro Manganese to deliver a unique mineral project critical to the energy transition. This cost-reimbursable contract will be delivered by Wood’s Projects business unit and is in line with Wood’s end market growth strategy.

    Wood will deliver front end engineering and design (FEED) and EPCm solutions for Europe’s largest proposed high-purity manganese processing facility as part of the Chvaletice Manganese Project, in the Czech Republic.

    This unique and innovative project involves the processing of historic mine tailings, traditionally a waste product, to extract manganese deposits from a decommissioned mine.

    Manganese is recognised as an essential mineral used in most lithium-ion batteries and the European Commission recently included it on its list of critical minerals. The Chvaletice site is the only significant identified source of manganese in the European Union. Demand for manganese is forecast to increase almost eight-fold over the next ten years in response to the dramatic uptake in electric vehicle adoption making the need for sustainable mining solutions critical.

    Ken Gilmartin, CEO at Wood, said: “This project holds real significance for Wood as we continue to lead the development of critical mineral projects to support the energy transition. We have the mineral project capability and specialist expertise in advanced hydrometallurgy to successfully deliver this innovative project. This is a perfect example of the kind of projects we are passionate about as we continue to design a sustainable future for energy and materials.”

    Dr. Matthew James, President and CEO of Euro Manganese, said: “Awarding the EPCm contract to Wood is the result of an extensive and robust selection process and I am very pleased to be partnering with such a high calibre engineering firm. We look forward to building a world-class facility to produce high-purity manganese, an essential component in most lithium-ion batteries. Together, we are working to advance the global energy transition.”

    The combined FEED and EPCm contract has a duration of approximately four years and will be delivered collaboratively by Wood’s Project teams in Perth, Australia and Milan, Italy.[/vc_column_text][distance desktop_type=”30″][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section]

  • Kazakhstan, EU Explore Opportunities for Critical Minerals Cooperation

    Kazakhstan, EU Explore Opportunities for Critical Minerals Cooperation

    [vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][distance desktop_type=”30″][lvs][distance desktop_type=”30″][vc_btn title=”Source – ASTANA TIMES” color=”sky” i_type=”material” i_icon_material=”vc-material vc-material-perm_device_information” add_icon=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fastanatimes.com%2F2023%2F07%2Fkazakhstan-eu-explore-opportunities-for-critical-minerals-cooperation%2F|target:_blank”][distance desktop_type=”30″][vc_column_text]ASTANA – The Kazakh and European Union (EU) business representatives and officials explored the opportunities and challenges related to establishing cooperation in critical raw materials during a July 4 forum in Astana.

    Speaking about the Kazakh-EU cooperation, Turar Zholmagambetov, deputy chairman of the Industrial Development Committee at the Kazakh Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development, referred to an agreement on raw materials, batteries and renewable hydrogen signed by Kazakh Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in November last year.

    “The interests of business and the Kazakh government align in the field of rare earth metals, adhering to the proposal – raw materials in exchange for technology and competence. Our goal is to both supply raw materials and produce a specific item from our raw materials for finished products, which would create a balanced partnership,” Zholmagambetov said, citing the example of electric car production.

    Kazakh Vice Minister of Industry and Infrastructure Development Ilyas Ospanov focused on the green economy, ecological production, the wider economy and global responsibility, expressing hope that both sides will be able to establish adequate systems and address problems on an individual basis.

    “My vision for the future is that we will establish joint ventures that will be flagships in the development of critical raw materials and will serve as examples for the development of other industries and for other countries,” he said.

    According to the EU Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Kestutis Jankauskas, the EU and Kazakhstan enjoy a good record of cooperation and a reliable trade and investment partnership based on the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. The sides have specific areas of mutual interest, particularly in renewable energy and economic diversification.

    “There are quite big possibilities to develop business in the area of green hydrogen, climate change, digital connectivity, transportation, critical raw materials and agriculture. Some of this is driven by necessity, because we need rare earth metals for the Green Deal. Kazakhstan needs technologies, while the EU needs alternative supply sources,” he said.

    Regarding the challenges, Jankauskas said both sides are interested in a sanctions-free predictable transportation route. It is crucial to ensure a stable, secure and transparent business climate for businesses.  Global competition for investments and the availability of a skilled labor force are two interrelated areas.

    “Today, we need to think about which professions will be needed in four or five years. I believe there should be better cooperation between universities and businesses, because it is also in the mutual interest to teach what is needed in the coming years,” he said.

    Due to cooperation with Kazakhstan, the EU expects a reduction in supplies from China by up to 50%.

    “Dependence of 90% on one source is dependence. It is convenient for us, as consumers, when there is a choice of three or five suppliers. We really hope that Kazakhstan, and Central Asia as a whole, can be one of those regions that will be an alternative supplier. We expect a decrease from 90% to 50% from one source and 15-20% from other sources,” said Jankauskas.

    Addressing the meeting participants, the Director of the Investment Department at the Astana International Financial Centre (AIFC) Marat Birimzhan focused on how the AIFC can help EU partners run and structure their business in Kazakhstan and the region.

    “The AIFC was created to strengthen the rule of law, enhance protection of the investors’ rights, and provide clarity on the regulatory framework based on international standards,” he said.

    The AIFC provides world-class jurisdiction based on the principles of English common law and tax optimization tools, exempting from tax on dividends and tax on capital gains.

    “It provides easy repatriation of profits, no capital gains, no tax on dividends, which further enhances the compelling value proposition that Kazakhstan can offer to the international investor community,” he added.

    According to Birimzhan, the mining industry made up 14.1% of Kazakhstan’s gross domestic product and 17.5% of the country’s exports in 2021, though investments into exploration in the mining sector and cooperation development with the EU and many other partners can double these numbers, he said.

    “Over the last 30 years, Kazakhstan has attracted $380 billion of foreign direct investment, the majority of which is coming from the EU. The influence and the cooperation is massive. However, there is potential to double that cooperation in every sector, particularly in mining,” Birimzhan noted.

    According to the Kazakh Minister of Industry and Infrastructure Development Marat Karabayev, out of 30 rare earth materials crucial for the EU economy, such as titanium, beryllium, tantalum, and niobium, Kazakh companies currently produce 16. Kazakhstan has known deposits of nine additional ones that, too, can be produced with relevant investments in development and production. As for the remaining five, he said, “we are ready to explore them.”

    Karabayev said that approximately 150 Kazakh companies are going to attend the upcoming Raw Materials Week, which will take place on Nov. 13-17 in Brussels, Belgium. Kazakhstan will hold a major event on Nov. 16 to promote Kazakh subsoil companies.[/vc_column_text][distance desktop_type=”30″][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section]

  • Spanish authorities seek damages from a Swedish mining company over a major toxic spill 25 years ago

    Spanish authorities seek damages from a Swedish mining company over a major toxic spill 25 years ago

    [vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][distance desktop_type=”30″][lvs][distance desktop_type=”30″][vc_btn title=”Source – Independent” color=”sky” i_type=”material” i_icon_material=”vc-material vc-material-perm_device_information” add_icon=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.independent.co.uk%2Fnews%2Fap-swedish-spanish-madrid-seville-b2369130.html|target:_blank”][distance desktop_type=”30″][vc_column_text]It is one of the great paradoxes of our time: in order to overcome some of our dependencies and vulnerabilities — revealed in crises like COVID and the war in Ukraine — we risk falling into other dependencies that are no less toxic. The ecological transition, the digitalization of our economy, or increased defense needs, all pose risks to our supply of strategic minerals.

    The European Commission published a plan this week to escape this fate by setting realistic objectives within a relatively short time frame, by the end of this decade.

    This plan goes against the dogmas of globalization of the past 30 or 40 years, which relied on just-in-time supply chains from one end of the planet to the other — and, if we’re being honest, outsourced the least “clean” tasks, such as mining or refining minerals, to countries in the developing world.

    But the pendulum is now swinging in the other direction, if possible under better environmental and social conditions. Will Europe be able to achieve these objectives while remaining within the bounds of both the ecological and digital transitions? That is the challenge.

    EV batteries

    The plan presented Thursday in Brussels lists these critical or strategic minerals, which are found in so-called clean technologies, such as electric vehicle batteries or solar panels, but also in satellites, computer equipment, or weapons. Demand is only growing: for example, lithium for electric vehicle batteries is expected to be multiplied by 12 by 2030, and the rare earths needed for wind turbines are expected to be multiplied by four or five.

    The EU is asking its member states, in order to ensure the sovereignty of the continent, to plan to extract 10% of the needs from European soil by 2030. A lithium mine project is planned in France, after years of the country having abandoned any mining ambitions.

    It is also asking for 15% of needs to be met through recycling, a rapidly growing and virtuous sector. Another objective is to limit the share of a single third country in the supply of a critical mineral to 65%, so as not to end up, as in the case of Russian gas, in the hands of a single supplier.

    Caught between U.S. and China

    We can truly question the ability of the 27 EU countries to succeed in both transitioning their model, creating new supply chains, reintroducing sectors of activity that Europe had turned its back on, and protecting their sovereignty. This is a dizzying challenge.

    China has monopolized a good part of the mining resources in Africa and Latin America.

    This notably involves the relationships that Europe will be able to build with the countries producing these minerals, because the current situation is problematic. First, because China has increasingly monopolized a good part of the mining resources in Africa and Latin America, with a real vision that the West did not have. China has also been willing to pay the price for the degradation of its environment, for example, to exploit rare earths that the rest of the world no longer wanted.

    Europe has faced multiple major challenges in recent months, such as the future plans for electric vehicle batteries plan or semiconductors. Caught between the attractiveness of the United States with their cheaper energy and generous subsidies, and the hegemonic risk posed by China, Europe is also betting on the future in a real way.

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  • Collaboration with Africa’s miners essential to UK’s Critical Minerals Strategy – Minister

    Collaboration with Africa’s miners essential to UK’s Critical Minerals Strategy – Minister

    [vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][distance desktop_type=”30″][lvs][distance desktop_type=”30″][vc_btn title=”Source – Mning Weekly” color=”sky” i_type=”material” i_icon_material=”vc-material vc-material-perm_device_information” add_icon=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.miningweekly.com%2Farticle%2Fcollaboration-with-africas-miners-essential-to-uks-critical-minerals-strategy-minister-2023-07-04|target:_blank”][distance desktop_type=”30″][vc_column_text]

    As the UK works to secure critical minerals supply from around the world, UK Minister of State for Industry in the Department for Business and Trade Nusrat Ghani tells Mining Weekly that the upcoming UK-African Investment Summit in April 2024 will be a good forum for engaging critical mineral-hosting nations on the African continent.

    Ghani this week already met with representatives of the South African High Commission in London at the inaugural London Indaba on June 26 and 27, which focused on resources in Africa.

    Inter-Ministerial groups to help bolster relations between the UK and countries in Africa have also been set up.

    One such inter-Ministerial roundtable, in Canada, had substantial representation from African host countries.

    The UK-African Investment Summit will see political and business leaders from the UK and 24 African countries, as well as international organizations, congregate to strengthen partnerships and explore opportunities.

    Following the UK government’s publishing in July 2022 of a Critical Minerals Strategy, which set out its approach to accelerate the UK’s sourcing and supplying of certain commodities, the country in March released an updated policy paper ‘Critical Minerals Refresh: Delivering Resilience in a Changing Global Environment’.

    The updated document sets out how the UK is delivering the strategy for businesses, in light of a changing global landscape and the sharpening of geopolitical competition.

    Ghani confirms that the country has launched an independent Task & Finish Group on Critical Minerals Resilience to investigate the critical mineral dependencies and vulnerabilities across the country’s industry sectors and opportunities for industry to promote resilience in its supply chains.

    The group will produce a report on its findings and recommendations by the end of the year.

    The group brings together independent experts to advise the government on where dependencies exist in the UK’s critical minerals supply chains, and how industry can protect its supply.

    Some of the task group members include the Critical Minerals Association, the Minor Metals Trade Association, Rolls-Royce, Rio Tinto, Anglo American and Johnson Matthey.

    STRATEGY BACKGROUND

    In the meantime, the UK has been accelerating its collaboration on critical minerals with international partners, including Canada and South Africa, to not only source commodities such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, tin, gallium, rare earths and silicon, but also to collaborate on research and development and provide development assistance.

    Ghani says critical minerals underpin various technologies, particularly those used to mitigate against climate change, with large parts of the UK economy being reliant on access to critical minerals.

    Not only are critical minerals supply chains strained by rising global demand, but the UK strives to strengthen its domestic supply capability, as well as its supply chain farther abroad, to diversify away from the world’s predominant critical minerals producer China and markets such as Russia, which is subject to economic sanctions by Western economies, including the UK, following the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

    Ghani says there is no quick fix to building new production and supply chains for critical minerals, as they are complex and opaque, and often concentrated in specific countries. “We cannot rely on mineral supply chains vulnerable to market shocks, geopolitical events and logistical disruptions, at a time when global demand is rising faster than ever,” she adds.

    Responding to whether the UK will be averse to working with countries that may be supporting the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Ghani says the UK has sanctions against Russian entities, which speaks its priorities in the matter, and that partnerships need to be equitable to both parties.

    The UK’s critical minerals strategy is aimed at improving the resilience of critical minerals supply chains, as well as ensuring that minerals are extracted in responsible ways and are supported by well-functioning and transparent markets.

    In doing that, the UK wants to place itself at the forefront of the green industrial revolution, create opportunities for UK businesses and take opportunities to reduce environmental damage.

    The UK has already greatly influenced global environment, social and governance investment criterion and helped establish safe and responsible mining standards, and will continue to drive these standards across its supply chain and development partners, says Ghani. [/vc_column_text][distance desktop_type=”30″][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section]

  • Imerys aims to be Europe’s top lithium producer with UK project

    Imerys aims to be Europe’s top lithium producer with UK project

    [vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][distance desktop_type=”30″][lvs][distance desktop_type=”30″][vc_btn title=”Source – World Crunch” color=”sky” i_type=”material” i_icon_material=”vc-material vc-material-perm_device_information” add_icon=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fworldcrunch.com%2Fbusiness-finance%2Flithium-mines-in-europe%23toggle-gdpr|target:_blank”][distance desktop_type=”30″][vc_column_text]

    PARIS (Reuters) – French minerals group Imerys on Thursday unveiled plans to mine lithium in the UK, a second lithium project for the firm that it expects to make it Europe’s top producer of the metal that is in hot demand for electric vehicle batteries.

    Imerys aims to produce around 20,0000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent at its mining domain in Cornwall in southwest England in partnership with British Lithium by the end of the decade.

    That would be enough to supply some 500,000 EVs, or two-thirds of the UK’s estimated EV battery demand by 2030, it said.

    The project is expected to cost “hundreds of millions” of euros in investment, CEO Alessandro Dazza said on a call with reporters, adding it was too early to give precise figures.

    The project was smaller than Imerys’ existing plan to mine lithium in central France, where it aims to reach output of around 34,000 tonnes through a 1 billion euro investment, and Dazza said the UK site would have the advantage of being an open pit mine with a nearby processing facility.

    Imerys said UK production could potentially start around the same time as its French output in late 2028, benefitting from synergies between the two projects, he added.

    In its UK partnership, Imerys has taken an 80% stake in British Lithium and will draw on the local firm’s processing technology and existing pilot for battery-grade lithium, the French group said.

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  • Germany Eyes Critical Materials Fund of as Much as $1.1 Billion

    Germany Eyes Critical Materials Fund of as Much as $1.1 Billion

    [vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][distance desktop_type=”30″][lvs][distance desktop_type=”30″][vc_btn title=”Source – Bloomberg” color=”sky” i_type=”material” i_icon_material=”vc-material vc-material-perm_device_information” add_icon=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bloomberg.com%2Fnews%2Farticles%2F2023-06-26%2Fgermany-eyes-critical-materials-fund-of-as-much-as-1-1-billion%23%3A~%3Atext%3DGermany%2520plans%2520to%2520set%2520up%2CEconomy%2520Minister%2520Robert%2520Habeck%2520said|target:_blank”][distance desktop_type=”30″][vc_column_text]Germany plans to set up a state fund worth between €500 million and €1 billion ($546 million to $1.1 billion) to support the mining of raw materials critical to accelerate the country’s green transition, Economy Minister Robert Habeck said.

    The amount is around half that previously being considered, however, reflecting new spending constraints as the government tries to slash its budget for next year. People familiar with the matter told Bloomberg in April it could total as much as €2 billion.

    A Few Countries Dominate Production of Critical Raw Materials

    Top producers of the most production-concentrated critical raw materials

    Source: Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

    Note: *gold, platinum, iridium, osmium, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium | **germanium, vanadium, gallium, hafnium, indium, niobium, rhenium

    Europe wants to reduce its dependence on China for key commodities by diversifying supply chains and working more closely with like-minded partners. The European Union expects its green and digital transitions to lead to exponential demand for critical metals and minerals such as those used in photovoltaic cells, wind turbines and electronic equipment.

    “We’re discussing the option of using equity capital,” Habeck told a news conference in Berlin following a meeting with French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire and Italian Industry Minister Adolfo Urso. Germany’s KfW Development Bank could take part in projects or even take stakes, he said.

    The Economy Ministry has finalized the concept but not yet reached an agreement with other ministries, he added. Finance Minister Christian Lindner wants to cut the 2024 budget by €20 billion, with reductions in expenditure in all departments except defense.

    Habeck said Germany must be able to offer similar financing instruments to those available in France or Italy, warning that “otherwise German companies would be disadvantaged against others.”

    In its Critical Raw Materials Act launched in March, the European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, proposed that member states should extract 10% of the critical raw materials the bloc needs domestically by 2030.

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  • Why a Bosnian silver mine will help the West in metals race

    Why a Bosnian silver mine will help the West in metals race

    [vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][distance desktop_type=”30″][lvs][distance desktop_type=”30″][vc_btn title=”Source – thisismoney.co.uk” color=”sky” i_type=”material” i_icon_material=”vc-material vc-material-perm_device_information” add_icon=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisismoney.co.uk%2Fmoney%2Fmarkets%2Farticle-12253951%2FWhy-Bosnian-silver-help-West-metals-race.html|target:_blank”][distance desktop_type=”30″][vc_column_text]Tucked away in the Bosnian mountains about an hour from the capital Sarajevo, one of the biggest new mining projects in Europe is nearing completion.

    The Vares silver and zinc mine, run by London-listed Adriatic Metals, is due to start production this year.

    It will be one of the few major sites on the Continent developing metals crucial to the green revolution – and, its backers say, is a project desperately needed to stop China from establishing total dominance over increasingly important resources.

    Vares has won support on the ground because it has helped to boost the local economy. But international investors, politicians and manufacturers are championing it because a project like this in Europe could lessen China’s stranglehold on materials needed for the green revolution, even if just a bit.

    Silver, whose conductivity makes it ideal for use in wind turbines, and other traditional metals such as copper will be crucial.

    But so will a group of materials known as ‘critical’ metals and minerals. These include lithium, used in batteries, rare earth minerals used in electric car magnets, cobalt, most notably used in iPhones, and a slew of others. Some senior industry figures fear China’s lead in this sphere is a greater threat to the West than its strides in technology or a possible invasion of Taiwan.

    The world in 2040 is expected to need four times as much of these critical metals as it does today to build green technologies if it is even to come close to meeting net zero carbon targets.

    The UK and the European Union have woken up to how badly the West is lagging in terms of its supply, and of the risks of being dependent on China. Both have scrambled to publish strategies laying out policies and potential funding channels.

    The EU has arguably been more engaged, starting on a strategy more than a decade ago. The UK blueprint, released last year, sketched out plans to turn it into a mining powerhouse, including investing in processing plants, opening mines and setting up factories to recycle green materials. Asked if the UK and Europe should be mining more, Peter Handley, head of the European Commission’s Critical Raw Materials Unit, says: ‘Where better to ensure mining, refining and recycling critical raw materials is done sustainably than on our own territory?

    ‘The green and digital transitions will massively increase our need for these materials, and access is not at all a given. The economies of the future will no longer rely on oil and coal, but on lithium, silicon and rare earth pigments.’

    A strategy is one thing, executing it is another, says George Bennett, head of London-listed Rainbow Rare Earths, adding: ‘The plans are great, but they haven’t materialised yet.’

    Rainbow has a mine in South Africa, and the US government is effectively an investor as it backs one of Rainbow’s major shareholders. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is an investor in Adriatic’s venture. In the UK, a lot of support has been via grants.

    The deposits being evaluated in Britain include lithium in Cornwall, where there could be huge reserves. A new mining era in the county came a step closer last week when start-up British Lithium agreed a deal with a French miner. The project could employ 300 people and produce enough lithium for 500,000 electric cars a year by 2030. A rival, Cornish Lithium, which plans to extract lithium from geothermal waters, needs to raise cash to keep going.

    Unlike in China, opening mines in the UK or EU can be controversial and attract protests, and there is no guarantee projects will win approval. But developing them is ‘absolutely necessary’ to help lessen dependence on China, says Adriatic’s chief executive, Paul Cronin.

    Jeff Townsend, head of the Critical Minerals Association, says: ‘China started its critical mineral strategy in the 1970s. It knows it’s got a diplomatic and economic weapon. At this stage, you cannot stop China dominating the scene – but you can stop it from controlling it.'[/vc_column_text][distance desktop_type=”30″][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section]

  • Korea reacts to nuclear demand with plans for 10 overseas plants

    Korea reacts to nuclear demand with plans for 10 overseas plants

    [vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][distance desktop_type=”30″][lvs][distance desktop_type=”30″][vc_btn title=”Source – Korea JoongAng Daily” color=”sky” i_type=”material” i_icon_material=”vc-material vc-material-perm_device_information” add_icon=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fkoreajoongangdaily.joins.com%2F2023%2F06%2F29%2Fbusiness%2Findustry%2Fnuclear-plant-nuclear-plant-export-KHNP%2F20230629174521090.html|target:_blank”][distance desktop_type=”30″][vc_column_text]Korea is looking to become a powerhouse in nuclear power plant exports with government plans to export 10 nuclear plants by 2030. Poland, the Czech Republic, Turkey and Romania are potential candidates to host Korea’s second-ever nuclear plant export.

    The first nuclear power plant export deal was to construct a plant in Barakah, the United Arab Emirates, which began operations earlier this year. However, Korea is yet to ink its second export deal.

    Separate from these full nuclear power plant export agreements, Korea sealed a 195-million-euro ($212.4 million) nuclear facility deal with Romania Tuesday, securing Korea’s biggest-ever deal for a single nuclear facility and the Yoon Suk Yeol government’s second nuclear facility export following the El-Dabaa project in Egypt from August last year.

    The Patnow nuclear power plant project in Poland is the most likely destination for the second full nuclear power plant export, according to sources from the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and Korea Hydrogen & Nuclear Power (KHNP) Wednesday.

    The Patnow project will build two nuclear plants using the homemade APR1400 reactor technology. KHNP signed a letter of intent with Poland’s Zespol Elektrowni Patnow-Adamov-Konin and state-owned Polska Grupa Energetyczna (PGE) for the 1.4-gigawatt project.

    Korean and Polish officials are undertaking working-level talks to seal a service contract for a feasibility study of the Patnow plant.

    The Czech Republic’s 1.2-gigawatt Dukovany nuclear plant project, a deal estimated to be worth 6 billion euros, is another project the Korean government is eyeing. KHNP submitted its bid in November and is competing with France’s EDF and U.S. Westinghouse. The Eastern European country plans to select the winner by next year.

    Korea Electric Power Corporation in January submitted a preliminary bid to the Turkish government for a $30 billion project building four APR1400 plants, delivering 1.4 gigawatts of electricity apiece, in the northern region of the country. The two parties plan to begin a feasibility study next year, after which a memorandum of understanding to break ground could be signed.

    Romania recently rose as a possible export target following KHNP’s agreement with Romania’s Nuclearelectrica to build a tritium removal facility in Romania.

    Nuclearelectrica CEO Cosmin Ghita said during Tuesday’s signing ceremony in central Seoul that KHNP may be involved in future Romanian projects considering its technology.

    President Yoon has placed nuclear power plant export deals high on his political agenda, making an effort for a comeback from the previous Moon Jae-in administration’s nuclear phase-out scheme.

    Korea will have to overcome some of the variables lying ahead, such as its legal disputes with the United States over nuclear power plant exports.

    Pittsburgh-based Westinghouse filed a lawsuit against KHNP for intellectual property infringement in October claiming that KHNP needs U.S. government approval to sell APR1400 plants overseas because APR1400 reactors are created based on Westinghouse technology.

    KHNP argued that APR1400 is free from U.S. export restrictions because its core technology is domestically developed.

    “The Westinghouse lawsuit is about to obstruct nuclear power plant export plans one after the other […] settling this issue is a top priority,” a source from the nuclear plant industry told the JoongAng Ilbo on condition of anonymity.[/vc_column_text][distance desktop_type=”30″][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section]

  • EU and Germany Join Forces to Boost Rwanda’s Mining Sector

    EU and Germany Join Forces to Boost Rwanda’s Mining Sector

    [vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][distance desktop_type=”30″][lvs][distance desktop_type=”30″][vc_btn title=”Source – European Interest” color=”sky” i_type=”material” i_icon_material=”vc-material vc-material-perm_device_information” add_icon=”true” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.europeaninterest.eu%2Farticle%2Feu-and-germany-join-forces-to-boost-rwandas-mining-sector%2F|target:_blank”][distance desktop_type=”30″][vc_column_text]During the EU-Rwanda Business Forum in Kigali, the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum, and Gas Board (RMB) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH launched the ‘Sustainable Development of the Mining Sector in Rwanda’ project – underscoring their commitment to driving sustainable growth in the country’s mining industry.

    The project launch, officiated by EU Director-General for International Partnerships, Mr. Koen Doens; RMB CEO, Amb. Yamina Karitanyi and GIZ Rwanda Country Director, Mr. Martin Kraft, signifies a significant milestone towards strengthening entrepreneurship, improving the business environment, and enhancing investment attractiveness in Rwanda’s mining sector.

    The project is jointly funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and will be implemented by GIZ in cooperation with RMB. Aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it aims to enhance compliance with international minerals sourcing standards, support sector digitalization, strengthen technical and vocational education and training (TVET) skills in the mining sector, and improve the application of international social and environmental protection standards.

    “This partnership will support Rwanda’s commitment to sustainable and responsible practices in mining, enhance ongoing efforts towards the sector’s professionalisation, compliance and digitalization,” said Amb. Yamina Karitanyi, the Chief Executive Officer of Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board.

    “We are excited to witness today the launch of the project jointly funded by the European Union and the BMZ to support sustainable development of the mining sector in Rwanda. This multi-donor action aims to strengthen the contribution of the mining sector to economic and social development through a holistic, complementary, and demand-oriented capacity development approach. The mining sector in Rwanda has outstanding growth potential. The EU-Rwanda Business Forum seeks to mobilise European investors for consolidating the artisanal mining sector and setting up modern value-additive processing and exploration. Team Europe is here to support Rwanda’s ambition to develop domestic industry into a regional hub for mineral services and promote scale and sustainability,” stressed Belen Calvo Uyarra, Ambassador of the European Union to Rwanda.

    The European Union has been actively engaged in Rwanda, advocating for sustainable development and supporting initiatives that promote economic growth and create opportunities for its citizens. GIZ, commissioned by BMZ, brings its expertise and experience to drive impactful interventions and foster sustainable practices. This collaborative effort between the EU, Germany, and RMB aims to bolster Rwanda’s contribution to the regional, continental and global mining industry.[/vc_column_text][distance desktop_type=”30″][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section]