MINEX Forum

Tag: clean energy transition

  • Mining Turns to Waste Reprocessing, AI, and Bio-Tech to Meet Global Copper and Critical Metal Demand

    Mining Turns to Waste Reprocessing, AI, and Bio-Tech to Meet Global Copper and Critical Metal Demand

    The global pivot away from fossil fuels is creating unprecedented demand for copper and other critical minerals, but the mining industry faces a daunting challenge: falling ore grades, scarce new discoveries, and project timelines that can stretch over a decade. To bridge the gap, miners are reviving old waste, deploying advanced processing technologies, and turning to artificial intelligence.

    Between 1910 and 2010, an estimated 100 million tonnes of copper were discarded into tailings ponds, according to Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute. These legacy deposits are now being seen as a resource. Rio Tinto has already extracted scandium and tellurium from waste streams, while Hudbay Minerals is evaluating re-mining opportunities at its closed Flin Flon mine in Canada. Australia’s Cobalt Blue Holdings is studying pyrite tailings as a potential sulphur source, and India’s Hindustan Zinc has committed $438 million to process 10 million tonnes of tailings per year at its Rampura Agucha mine.

    At the same time, miners are working to reduce waste from new operations. Glencore’s ISAMill and Albion Process are enabling higher recovery rates with lower water use, while US bio-tech firm Allonnia has developed D-Solve, a microbial process that removes impurities like magnesium. At the Eagle nickel mine in the US, Allonnia is piloting a system that boosts nickel grades by 18% while cutting impurities by 40%.

    Artificial intelligence is becoming a central driver of efficiency. BHP uses generative AI and digital twin technology at its Escondida copper mine in Chile to optimize blasting, blending, and mill performance. Freeport-McMoRan, working with McKinsey, trialed AI at its Baghdad mine in Arizona, achieving a 5–10% increase in copper production. Rolling this out across its US operations could add 90,000 tonnes of copper annually — equivalent to a new $1.5 billion processing plant, but without the decade-long construction timeline.

    The push to reprocess waste, integrate bio-engineering, and apply AI represents a quiet revolution in one of the world’s oldest industries. If successful, it could transform mining from one of the planet’s most polluting activities into a cleaner, more efficient sector — ensuring that the energy transition has the metals it needs.

  • JSW Launches €25.6M METH2GEN Project to Turn Methane Emissions into Clean Hydrogen with EU Support

    JSW Launches €25.6M METH2GEN Project to Turn Methane Emissions into Clean Hydrogen with EU Support

    Jastrzębska Spółka Węglowa (JSW), the EU’s largest coking coal producer, has launched the METH2GEN project—an innovative €25.6 million initiative aimed at curbing methane emissions from mining operations and converting the captured gas into low-cost hydrogen. Over €20 million of the total funding is provided by JSW itself, with additional support from the European Union.

    The project features two primary components. First, it introduces directional drilling technology to improve methane capture from underground geological formations. This is expected to raise methane recovery efficiency to as much as 70% in mining areas like the Budryk mine. JSW highlights that the new technique will not only reduce emissions but also enhance mine safety and lower operational costs.

    “This is an important step towards modern, safe, and environmentally friendly mining,” said Adam Rosmus, JSW’s VP of Technical and Operational Affairs.

    The second part of the project will see the construction of a hydrogen production facility using Steam Methane Reforming (SMR) technology. Captured methane will be converted into hydrogen, and the resulting CO₂ will be reused in fire prevention systems. According to JSW, this method allows for 100% utilization of methane from degassing stations and offers a cheaper alternative to hydrogen produced via electrolysis.

    “This is a breakthrough solution… particularly important in view of the new European methane standards,” said Artur Badylak, Director of JSW’s Degassing and Methane Policy Office.

    Geological surveys are underway to determine the best location for the hydrogen plant, and drilling equipment is already being procured.

    METH2GEN is one of four major EU-supported environmental initiatives undertaken by JSW, with a combined budget of over €63.8 million. Methane currently accounts for 73% of the company’s total carbon footprint, making its reduction central to JSW’s green transition strategy.

    Despite facing geological and operational challenges, JSW remains committed to its environmental goals. In 2024, it reduced coal production by 9.3% and coke output by 8.6% compared to the previous year. However, the company still reported a net loss of PLN 7.3 billion in 2023.

  • Czech Republic Sets Date for Complete Coal Phase-Out and Transition to Nuclear Power

    Czech Republic Sets Date for Complete Coal Phase-Out and Transition to Nuclear Power

    The Czech Republic has announced plans to completely phase out the use of coal by 2033, as part of its updated national energy plan submitted to the European Commission. By 2040, nuclear power is expected to account for 68% of the country’s electricity generation.

    According to the plan, nuclear power will constitute 44% of the electricity generation mix by 2030, with this figure set to increase to 68% following the commissioning of new reactors. Nuclear energy will form the cornerstone of the country’s energy balance.

    In addition to nuclear power, the Czech Republic will also actively develop renewable energy sources. Natural gas will serve as a transitional energy source to ensure stability in the energy system, complementing the more variable output from renewable sources due to its reliability and efficiency.

    This energy strategy aligns with global targets to reduce carbon emissions and decrease dependence on fossil fuels. Similarly, Ukraine is also pursuing a transition to carbon-free energy, with a focus on nuclear generation as part of its strategy up to 2050.

  • Norway Discovers Europe’s Largest Rare Earth Metals Deposit, Boosting Efforts to Reduce China’s Dominance

    Norway Discovers Europe’s Largest Rare Earth Metals Deposit, Boosting Efforts to Reduce China’s Dominance

    Norway has recently announced the discovery of Europe’s largest proven deposit of rare earth metals, a significant development as these 17 elements are essential for a wide range of modern technologies. Despite being termed “rare earth,” these elements are not particularly scarce in the Earth’s crust but are often found in low concentrations, making them difficult to extract and purify.

    According to a CNBC report, this Norwegian deposit is among the few in the world not owned or controlled by China, which currently dominates the global rare earths market. The discovery is seen as a crucial step in Europe’s efforts to reduce its dependence on China for these critical minerals. The demand for rare earth metals is expected to surge in the coming years due to the increasing pace of the clean energy transition.

    Rare earth metals such as Lanthanum, used in batteries and catalytic converters, Cerium, used in polishing compounds and catalytic converters, and Neodymium, known for its powerful magnetic properties, are among those found in the deposit. Other metals include Dysprosium, used in strong magnets and lasers, and Europium, essential for fluorescent lights and color television screens.

    Rare Earths Norway revealed that its Fen Carbonatite Complex in southeastern Norway contains 8.8 million metric tons of total rare earth oxides (TREOs) with a strong potential for economic extraction. Within these TREOs, approximately 1.5 million metric tons are magnet-related rare earths, which are critical for technologies such as electric vehicles and wind turbines. This discovery surpasses a significant rare earths deposit found in Sweden last year.

    Alf Reistad, CEO of Rare Earths Norway, described the discovery at Fen as a “great milestone” for the company and emphasized that there is currently no extraction of rare earth elements in Europe. Meanwhile, China continues to dominate the rare earth metals market, controlling 70 percent of global rare earth ore extraction and 90 percent of ore processing. China’s dominance is attributed to decades of state investment, export controls, cheap labor, and low environmental standards.

    A report from the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies highlights that Western countries are now developing strategies to reduce supply chain risks. These strategies include opening new mines and processing plants, advancing recycling technologies, and fostering international collaboration. However, the report notes that it is unlikely that China’s dominance will be significantly reduced before 2030.