MINEX Forum

Tag: recycling

  • Qarmet Recycling Launches Aluminium and Metal Recovery Plant in Kazakhstan

    Qarmet Recycling Launches Aluminium and Metal Recovery Plant in Kazakhstan

    Qarmet Recycling, formerly known as Recycling Company, has unveiled plans for a new facility aimed at recycling metals, including aluminium, from old vehicles. Located in the village of Doskey in the Bukhar-Jyrau district of the Karaganda region, the plant is part of Kazakhstan’s industrial and innovative development programme. The facility, which was established on June 15, 2016, has recently undergone ownership changes and is now under the management of Qarmet, which acquired the property in 2024.

    The primary operations of the plant involve the production of cast iron, steel, aluminium, and non-ferrous metal alloys from scrap materials derived from decommissioned vehicles, special machinery, and agricultural equipment. The recycling process includes melting metals and converting waste oils into fuel and gas, as well as processing hydrocarbon-containing waste, such as used tyres, into usable energy sources. This shift in focus comes as the company adapts to new emission standards that were revised following changes in ownership and operational scope.

    With an annual processing capacity of up to 80,000 tonnes of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs), the plant is expected to yield approximately 63,750 tonnes of ferrous scrap and 16,250 tonnes of other materials annually. The facility sources its raw materials through a tendering process involving both individuals and legal entities. However, the actual volume of recycling and the specific client list are contingent upon the outcomes of these competitive procedures.

    In addition to vehicle recycling, the plant has the capability to process up to 14,000 tonnes of oil-containing waste per year, including 7,000 tonnes of used oils and lubricants from its pyrolysis facilities. The facility also handles solid hydrocarbon waste, such as tyres, with a processing capacity of up to 9,000 tonnes annually. The output from these operations includes up to 6,000 tonnes of liquid pyrolysis fuel and between 3,500 to 4,500 tonnes of fuel oil each year, along with 600,000 cubic metres of fuel gas.

    Before recycling, vehicles undergo a preparation process where oils and technical fluids are removed. The vehicles are then compressed into briquettes, which are sorted and processed into different categories of metals and other materials. The plant features advanced shredding and melting equipment, including two induction furnaces capable of producing 2,000 tonnes of metal annually. The melted metal is then cast into moulds for further use.

    Qarmet Recycling is part of the Qarmet group, owned by entrepreneur Andrei Lavrentev, who ranks 11th on Forbes’ list of Kazakhstan’s wealthiest individuals, with a net worth of $877 million.

  • Umicore Advocates for a Comprehensive EU Critical Raw Materials Centre

    Umicore Advocates for a Comprehensive EU Critical Raw Materials Centre

    Umicore has submitted a position paper to the European Commission, advocating for the establishment of a Critical Raw Materials (CRM) Centre in Europe that transcends mere joint purchasing and stockpiling initiatives. The company emphasises the need for the CRM Centre to focus on enhancing Europe’s refining, transformation, and recycling capabilities, which are crucial for the continent’s long-term resilience in the face of global supply chain challenges. The paper outlines key recommendations aimed at ensuring that the CRM Centre effectively addresses the unique characteristics of various critical raw material markets.

    Among the recommendations, Umicore suggests implementing a differentiated approach to joint purchasing and stockpiling, tailored to the specific needs of each CRM market. This approach would allow for more strategic investments through mechanisms such as offtake agreements, take-or-pay contracts, and contracts for difference. Additionally, the company highlights the importance of leveraging digital tools, such as Digital Product Passports, to enhance transparency regarding material flows and stocks within the European economy.

    Furthermore, Umicore calls for the introduction of new ‘anti-leakage’ measures to ensure that critical raw materials already present in Europe are refined and upgraded domestically before being exported. This would not only help retain value within European supply chains but also bolster the continent’s overall economic resilience. The proposed CRM Centre is envisioned as a pivotal entity that will monitor material flows and recommend corrective actions to prevent leakage, thereby reinforcing Europe’s position in the global raw materials market.

  • Nordic Innovation Launches Call for Proposals on Secondary Critical Raw Materials Value Chains

    Nordic Innovation Launches Call for Proposals on Secondary Critical Raw Materials Value Chains

    Nordic Innovation has announced a call for proposals aimed at developing industry-driven value chains for secondary critical raw materials (CRMs) in the Nordic region. With a budget of 10 million NOK ( €915,219.99), the initiative seeks to enhance the recycling and domestic supply of CRMs, which are essential for the green and digital transitions. The deadline for submission is set for 23 September 2026, with project funding ranging from 2 to 5 million NOK per project. The funding decision will be made in November 2026, with projects expected to commence in the fourth quarter of 2026 and run for a maximum of 36 months.

    The call for proposals is part of the Nordic Innovation programme, Innovative Solutions for 2030, which aims to accelerate the introduction of solutions for the green transition. The Nordic region is estimated to have around 900,000 tonnes of CRMs embedded in waste and industrial side streams, highlighting the untapped potential for recycling and resource recovery. However, the lack of functioning value chains poses a significant challenge, as many initiatives fail to progress beyond early-stage development. This funding opportunity aims to address these barriers by supporting projects that validate key assumptions in the value chain and bring together relevant actors across the industry.

    Eligible projects must focus on developing concrete value chains for secondary CRMs, such as those derived from batteries, electronic waste, and construction waste. The evaluation criteria for proposals will consider the project’s impact, relevance to Nordic Innovation’s mission, and the competence of the consortium involved. Strong industrial involvement and access to relevant material streams will be crucial for successful applications. The initiative is expected to contribute to strengthening Nordic competitiveness, resource security, and the development of circular value chains for critical raw materials.

  • Uzbekistan to Establish Project Office to Oversee Steel Industry

    Uzbekistan to Establish Project Office to Oversee Steel Industry

    The Government of Uzbekistan will establish a dedicated project office to oversee the country’s ferrous metallurgy sector, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced during a meeting on the industry’s development.

    The new office is expected to begin operations within one month. In addition, the E-lom electronic platform will be launched in early August to monitor the circulation of ferrous metals across the country.

    The project office will conduct daily analysis of the steel market, monitor supply and demand for raw materials and finished products, and maintain digital passports for steel products. Through the E-lom platform, all transactions involving ferrous metals will be tracked in real time.

    According to the government, the measures are designed to strengthen market oversight, promote fair competition and improve price stability within the sector.

    During the meeting, officials also highlighted the role of the Bekabad Metallurgical Plant, which currently produces around 40% of its rolled steel products using recycled scrap metal, while the remaining 60% is manufactured from imported raw materials.

    The plant receives approximately 700,000 tonnes of ferrous scrap annually. However, authorities estimate that a further 500,000 tonnes of scrap metal remains outside the formal market, underscoring the government’s efforts to improve transparency and bring the sector under greater regulatory control.

  • US DOE Launches $500M Push to Strengthen Critical Minerals and Battery Supply Chains

    US DOE Launches $500M Push to Strengthen Critical Minerals and Battery Supply Chains

    The US Department of Energy (DOE) has announced plans to provide up to $500 million in funding to expand domestic processing, recycling and manufacturing capacity for critical minerals and battery materials.

    The funding initiative, led by the DOE’s Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation (CMEI), is aimed at supporting both demonstration and commercial-scale facilities that process and recycle key materials used in batteries and energy technologies.

    The program targets strategic minerals including lithium, graphite, nickel, copper and aluminum, as well as materials recovered from used battery systems.

    US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said the move is intended to reduce reliance on foreign supply chains, particularly those controlled by geopolitical rivals.

    “For too long, the United States has relied on hostile foreign actors to supply and process the critical materials essential for battery manufacturing,” Wright said.

    The DOE emphasized that strengthening domestic supply chains is critical not only for energy security but also for meeting rising electricity demand linked to artificial intelligence, electrification and clean energy systems.

    ⚙️ Where the money goes
    The funding will support projects across three key areas:

    • Processing of critical minerals from raw feedstocks

    • Recycling of critical materials from end-of-life products

    • Manufacturing of battery materials and components

    This reflects a broader strategy to build resilience across both upstream and midstream segments of the supply chain.

    🌐 Global cooperation still in play
    The announcement comes as US officials engage with international partners at the Indo-Pacific Energy Security Ministerial in Japan.

    Assistant Secretary Audrey Robertson highlighted that while domestic capacity is expanding, collaboration with allies remains essential.

    “Boosting domestic production, including through recycling, will bolster national security and ensure the US and its partners are prepared for future energy challenges,” she said.

    🔋 Strategic context
    The initiative marks the third round of DOE funding focused on battery supply chains. It forms part of a wider effort by Washington to counterbalance global supply concentration, particularly in China, which dominates processing and refining of many critical minerals.

    By investing in processing and recycling infrastructure, the US aims to secure the materials needed for electric vehicles, grid storage systems and next-generation energy technologies — turning supply chains from fragile threads into reinforced cables.

  • Ionic Rare Earths Secures UK Grant Offer for Belfast Magnet Recycling Plant

    Ionic Rare Earths Secures UK Grant Offer for Belfast Magnet Recycling Plant

    Australian-listed Ionic Rare Earths announced on Tuesday that its subsidiary has been offered a £12 million ($16.4 million) capital grant from the UK government to support the development of a rare earth magnet recycling facility in Belfast.

    The funding, offered under the UK’s DRIVE35 programme, would contribute to the capital costs of the plant operated by Ionic Technologies, the company’s recycling arm. The grant remains subject to due diligence and standard funding conditions.

    DRIVE35 is a government-backed initiative aimed at accelerating the industrialisation of zero-emission vehicle technologies and strengthening domestic supply chains for critical materials. The UK, in line with other major economies, is seeking to expand domestic production and recycling of critical minerals as part of its strategy to reduce dependence on overseas suppliers by 2035.

    Once operational, the Belfast facility is expected to produce around 400 tonnes per year of high-purity separated rare earth oxides recovered from end-of-life permanent magnets. The plant will use Ionic Technologies’ proprietary long-loop recycling process, designed to return recycled materials directly into high-value magnet applications.

    Ian Constance, chief executive of the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK, one of the bodies involved in administering DRIVE35 funding, said the project would support the UK’s automotive and advanced manufacturing sectors by strengthening access to strategically important materials.

    Ionic Rare Earths said it continues to engage with multiple potential partners and financiers as it works to secure the remaining funding required for the £85 million project.

  • Mkango opens UK’s first commercial rare earth magnet recycling plant in 25 years

    Mkango opens UK’s first commercial rare earth magnet recycling plant in 25 years

    Canadian rare earths company Mkango Resources has opened Britain’s first commercial facility in a quarter of a century to produce permanent magnets, marking a milestone in efforts to reduce Western dependence on China for critical minerals.

    The new plant, located in Birmingham and operated by Mkango’s subsidiary HyProMag, produces permanent magnets from recycled materials rather than newly mined ore. It uses a hydrogen-based recycling technology developed at the University of Birmingham, which enables rare earth magnets to be recovered from end-of-life products and converted into new magnetic material with significantly lower emissions than traditional mining and refining processes.

    The launch comes as Western governments seek to loosen China’s dominance in the rare earths supply chain. China currently accounts for around 70% of global rare earth mining and about 90% of refining, making alternative supply sources difficult to scale up quickly. Recycling has therefore emerged as one of the fastest ways to expand access to rare earth materials in the near term.

    Speaking to Reuters at the opening, UK Industry Minister Chris McDonald said breaking China’s grip on the supply chain was a strategic priority. The Birmingham plant supports Britain’s critical minerals strategy, which targets meeting 10% of domestic demand through local mining and 20% through recycling by 2035, supported by up to £50 million in government funding.

    The facility has an annual production capacity of 100 to 300 tonnes of permanent magnets, depending on shift patterns. According to Mkango, the plant is already attracting strong interest from automotive manufacturers. The company is also progressing plans to replicate the technology in the United States and Germany, expanding the recycling-based supply of rare earth magnets beyond the UK.

    Britain previously had magnet manufacturing capacity, but this disappeared roughly 25 years ago as production shifted overseas. The opening of the HyProMag plant represents a step toward rebuilding domestic capability in a sector seen as vital for electric vehicles, wind turbines and other clean energy technologies.

  • EU Industry Chief Urges Faster Action and Greater Recycling to Curb Critical Mineral Dependence on China

    EU Industry Chief Urges Faster Action and Greater Recycling to Curb Critical Mineral Dependence on China

    EU industry chief Stéphane Séjourné has warned that the bloc must accelerate its efforts to reduce dependence on Chinese critical raw materials, stressing that large-scale recycling will be essential. Speaking at a conference in Brussels, Séjourné highlighted that under the Critical Raw Materials Act, the EU aims to meet 25% of its demand for key minerals through recycling by 2030 — a major challenge given that less than 1% of rare earths are currently recycled in Europe.

    Séjourné also called for faster deal-making on critical raw materials, arguing that the EU cannot afford to wait for lengthy multi-year trade agreements. He noted that EU production of gallium and rare earth permanent magnets is expected to increase sixfold by 2030, but that progress must speed up across all 17 strategic materials identified by the bloc.

    On regulation, Séjourné acknowledged that overly complex permitting rules have caused too many mining and processing projects to be abandoned, and said simplification is urgently needed. He also cautioned that companies must revisit their procurement strategies, as a recent U.S.–China “stop-the-clock” agreement delaying further export restrictions on rare earths is unlikely to last long. The commissioner is expected to present the EU’s new economic security doctrine and resource package on December 3.

  • EU Urged to Prioritise ESG in Central Asia’s Raw Materials Push

    EU Urged to Prioritise ESG in Central Asia’s Raw Materials Push

    The EU must prioritize Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles in its dealings with Central Asia to secure its access to crucial raw materials, commentators warn.

    The bloc arrived in Samarkand this April with a hefty €13.2 billion Global Gateway package, signaling a desire to move beyond merely buying raw materials from the region. A significant portion, €2.5 billion, is earmarked for new mining and processing projects in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and beyond. This drive is born out of necessity: the EU still relies entirely on China for its heavy rare-earth imports and faces the growing risk of vulnerability.

    While geographically late to the game, Europe has a unique advantage: a reputation for robust ESG practices. Local executives cite European partners as “a sign of quality” due to their unwavering adherence to these standards, something often lacking in Chinese or Russian counterparts. However, this edge relies on Brussels consistently embedding ESG into every euro invested. This means robust monitoring and auditing of remediation plans, transparent royalty structures, and genuine upfront consultation with local communities.

    The EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) sets ambitious goals: attaining 10 percent mining, 40 percent processing, and 25 percent recycling of Europe’s annual CRM demand domestically or in trusted partner states by 2030.

    Realising these goals in Central Asia necessitates investment in sustainable technologies. This includes financing water-efficient processing plants, closed-loop waste systems, and solar-powered smelters, rather than simply opening more exploitative mines.

    The EU’s efforts are beginning to take shape, with the spotlight falling on graphite. Kazakhstan’s Sarytogan deposit has been placed on the EU Commission’s list of “strategic projects” eligible for expedited permits and loan guarantees under the CRMA. Meanwhile, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has taken a significant stake in the mine operator, marking a direct investment in the region’s CRM sector. The EU is now actively seeking downstream investors to refine indigenous graphite into anode-grade product, capturing added value that historically flowed to Chinese refiners.

    Lithium development is following a similar trajectory. A partnership between HMS Bergbau and Kazakhstan’s Creada Corporation aims to unlock the potential of Kazakh spodumene through extraction, processing, and refining into battery-ready lithium hydroxide. This would be a direct response to the EU’s new battery-passport regulations, which require materials of a certain purity.

    However, Europe faces a formidable competitor: China. The PRC Mineral Resources Law mandates environmental remediation planning before mining commences, setting a new baseline for responsible resource extraction. While welcomed, the application details remain vague, lacking guarantees on local community engagement and enforcement mechanisms, potentially creating loopholes for exploitation.

    Adding to the pressure, Chinese capital is expanding downstream. East Hope Group’s landmark $12 billion investment in Kazakh non-ferrous metals signifies a vertical integration approach—from mining and smelting to fabrication and renewable power generation. This $12 billion vertical integration project in Kazakhstan showcases China’s willingness to build a fully controllable supply chain.

    Europe must act strategically to counter these challenges.

    Firstly, financial aid should be contingent on stringent ESG benchmarks. EU financing must go hand-in-hand with clear, enforceable standards – ISO-compliant tailings dams, methane monitoring, gender-balanced workforce plans, and robust penalties for non-compliance.

    Secondly, the EU should focus on fostering value-adding industries beyond mining. This means investing in processing plants and recycling facilities, not just mines. By creating domestic processing hubs for cathode powders or rare-earth magnets, the CRMA’s 40 percent processing target can be achieved, generating jobs, technology transfer, and increased tax revenue for beneficiary countries.

    Finally, the EU must simplify visa requirements for Central Asian technical personnel. A targeted visa-facilitation agreement could allow them to train in Europe and return, strengthening the region’s skilled workforce.

    Securing a stable and sustainable supply of raw materials is a critical challenge for the EU. While China’s economic clout is undeniable, Europe has the opportunity to win this race by leveraging its commitment to ESG principles and building a truly sustainable, transparent, and trust-based partnership with Central Asia.

    Time is of the essence. The next 18 months, before China’s revised mining law takes full effect and East Hope’s megaproject begins construction, provide a crucial window for the EU to demonstrate its commitment to ESG beyond rhetoric. The stakes are high, as the fate of Europe’s essential raw materials supply hangs in the balance.

  • Over 3 Million Tonnes of Secondary Resources Processed in Karaganda

    Over 3 Million Tonnes of Secondary Resources Processed in Karaganda

    In early 2024, Qarmet established a new specialised department—the Recycling Department—with the primary goal of managing the processes of recycling secondary resources.

    As of the end of May 2025, the company has processed over 3.1 million tonnes of secondary raw materials, which is more than three times the figure for the same period last year. Based on these achievements, the forecast for 2025 is 7.6 million tonnes of processed materials, equivalent to a 95.2% increase compared to the results of 2024.

    Significant results have also been achieved in the processing of steelmaking slag. At the beginning of 2024, the monthly output of metallic scrap did not exceed 4,000 tonnes. However, by the third quarter, thanks to the modernisation of equipment operation approaches and improvements in internal processes, this figure increased to 20,000 tonnes per month.

    Additional impetus for the development of steelmaking slag processing came from contracts with subcontractor organisations, which completed commissioning and start-up work by the end of the year and transitioned to industrial operation of the equipment. This not only significantly increased processing volumes but also became a driver for creating new jobs in related industries, ensuring additional employment and the development of production cooperation.

    For Qarmet, the recycling of secondary resources is not just a technological direction but a crucial element of sustainable development.