MINEX Forum

Website: Europe.com

  • Germany Approves Bills to Boost Hydrogen and Carbon Capture Technologies

    Germany Approves Bills to Boost Hydrogen and Carbon Capture Technologies

    The German government has approved two bills to accelerate the integration of hydrogen and carbon capture technologies into the country’s energy and industrial systems, reports Euractiv. These technologies are seen as crucial to Germany’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2045 while maintaining its heavy industry.

    Germany has had limited use of carbon capture and storage (CCS) but now estimates a need to capture 34 to 73 million tons annually by 2045. The new bill allows carbon-intensive industries, excluding coal-fired power plants, to utilize CCS. It also creates a legal framework for developing CO2 pipeline infrastructure. Companies can store carbon at the bottom of the North Sea or domestically, provided federal states permit it. Geologically, Germany has between 1.5 and 8.3 billion tons of CO2 storage capacity under its part of the North Sea and can store up to 20 million tons annually.

    The hydrogen bill will fast-track the construction of infrastructure, import, and production facilities. This infrastructure will be granted the status of “overriding public interest,” prioritizing it in the approval process. Permitting procedures will be simplified and digitized, reducing court challenges to hydrogen projects and environmental impact assessments.

    Germany aims to expand hydrogen use as a future energy source to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from highly polluting industrial sectors, such as steel and chemicals, which cannot be electrified. This shift should also reduce dependence on imported fossil fuels. In April 2024, the German government coalition agreed on a financing mechanism for the future hydrogen network, extending its construction period to 2037 and providing investor protection in case of bankruptcy.

  • Serbia Invests €450 Million in New Equipment at Kolubara Coal Mine

    Serbia Invests €450 Million in New Equipment at Kolubara Coal Mine

    Serbia is investing 450 million euro ($487.5 million) in new equipment at the Kolubara coal mine to boost its production capacity, the energy ministry announced. The investment will also fund the launch of replacement production capacities for coal extraction from surface mines and the construction of two excavators and supporting systems at the Kolubara mine, according to a press release issued by the ministry on Tuesday.

    The introduction of the new systems is expected to increase coal production by an additional 16 to 19 million cubic meters annually, said energy minister Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic. This year, coal production at the Kolubara level has already seen a 3% increase compared to the previous year, she added.

    The Kolubara mining complex contributes to 70% of Serbia’s lignite output, according to the website of the state-owned energy producer Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS).

  • Montenegro Cancels Concession Contract with Tara Resources for Brskovo Mine

    Montenegro Cancels Concession Contract with Tara Resources for Brskovo Mine

    Montenegro has canceled its concession contract with Swiss-based Tara Resources for the geological exploration and exploitation of polymetallic sulphide deposits in the area of the former Brskovo mine, according to local media reports on Thursday. The decision followed the discovery of a problem with a feasibility study that conflicted with the country’s current laws, stated energy minister Sasa Mujovic as quoted by public broadcaster RTCG.

    “We notified the concessionaire and gave a deadline of 30 days to correct the deficiencies. However, that deadline expired on May 25 but we did not receive a response, which means that we have in place the conditions to unilaterally terminate the contract,” Mujovic explained. Tara Resources retains the right to appeal the decision.

    In 2010, the Montenegrin government awarded Australian mining company Sultan Corporation a 25-year exploration and mining lease for the Brskovo lead and zinc complex. By 2011, Sultan announced it had discovered an initial inferred resource of 9.2 million tonnes at Brskovo, with strong potential for further findings. Tara Resources acquired the project in 2018 and has been operating it via its local subsidiary Brskovo Mine.

    Tara Resources reported on its website that it completed a preliminary economic assessment in 2019 and a pre-feasibility study in 2021, demonstrating the strong economics of the project. The construction of the Brskovo mine was projected to involve a capital investment of around 180 million euro ($195 million) and would include two open-pit mines, a processing plant, and an integrated waste management facility.

    In February, local media outlet Vijesti reported that during the first session of the working group formed to examine the project, the state body responsible for protecting property rights and interests in Montenegro asserted that the government had a legal basis to cancel the concession contract with Brskovo Mine due to missed deadlines for receiving urban and technical permits by the concessionaire.

  • Midlands Minerals Corporation Announces Significant Assay Results at Plandiste Prospect

    Midlands Minerals Corporation Announces Significant Assay Results at Plandiste Prospect

    Midlands Minerals Corporation (TSX VENTURE) has reported significant assay results from underground sampling at the Plandiste prospect within its Parlozi project in Serbia. The sampling, which was conducted in a rehabilitated adit, yielded a true width of 6.0 meters grading 670.6 g/t silver, 20.8% lead, 0.13% zinc, and 0.44 g/t gold. A notable highlight within this interval includes 2.4 meters grading 1355.0 g/t silver, 22.9% lead, 0.14% zinc, and 0.25 g/t gold.

    The Plandiste prospect is part of the Parlozi project, recently optioned from Reservoir Minerals (TSX VENTURE). This project, covering 91 square kilometers, is located 35 kilometers south of Belgrade, Serbia. Midlands plans to commence a drill program in May to test the down-dip extension of the mineralized zone.

    The assay results confirm high-grade silver-lead mineralization at relatively shallow depths, reinforcing the potential of the Plandiste prospect. The Company follows stringent QA/QC protocols, including duplicate, blank, and standard samples in all batches. Samples were analyzed at ALS laboratories in Serbia, Romania, Ireland, and Canada.

    Midlands Minerals Corporation is a Canadian resource company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol “MEX.” The Company has entered an Option Agreement with Reservoir Minerals to earn up to a 75% interest in the Parlozi project through staged investments and exploration commitments.

  • Terra Balcanica Resources CEO Updates Exploration Progress in Bosnia-Herzegovina

    Terra Balcanica Resources CEO Updates Exploration Progress in Bosnia-Herzegovina

    Aleksander Miskovic, CEO of Terra Balcanica Resources, spoke with Steve Darling from Proactive to provide an update on the exploration drilling conducted within the Viogor-Zanik project in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The company completed approximately 2,200 meters of drilling, with a focus on a shallow, high-grade, silver-dominated, intermediate sulfidation polymetallic vein system at the Chumavichi locality.

    The maiden drillhole at Chumavichi Ridge yielded promising results, intercepting 824.2 grams per tonne (g/t) of silver equivalent (AgEq) over 4.0 meters from a depth of 29 meters, including 1,634.4 g/t AgEq over 2.0 meters. Another drillhole at Chumavichi Ridge intercepted 816.1 g/t AgEq over 2.0 meters. Additionally, exploration efforts targeted the Brezani area, revealing a surficial auriferous skarn overlaying an Ag-Pb-Zn-Au mineralized, northeast-shallowing structural system, situated above porphyry andesites stock from a depth of 550 meters. Drill testing of the 650-meter-wide conductivity high at Brezani resulted in intersections of 0.61 grams per tonne (g/t) of gold equivalent (AuEq) over 88.0 meters and 0.58 g/t AuEq over 28.6 meters.

    In uranium exploration, Terra Balcanica has acquired licenses on the outskirts of the Athabasca Basin in Saskatchewan. Partnering with Fulcrum Metals PLC, they aim to explore a 600 square kilometer area targeting Beaver Lodge and basement-style uranium mineralization. Initial steps include airborne geophysics and ground truthing, followed by drilling the ranked targets. Mišković expressed excitement about the potential for shear-hosted gold, VMS, nickel, and copper in the portfolio. The company anticipates a robust stream of news releases in the coming months, reflecting ongoing activities in Serbia and Bosnia, amidst favorable market conditions for gold and silver.

  • Poland Ordered to Pay €68 Million in Fines Over Turow Coal Mine

    Poland Ordered to Pay €68 Million in Fines Over Turow Coal Mine

    Poland will have to pay €68 million in EU fines for the continued operation of the Turow coal mine despite court orders to cease operations, according to a ruling by the EU’s lower court on Wednesday, May 29.

    In 2021, the European Commission mandated the closure of the controversial Turow open-cast coal mine, located in the German-Czech-Polish border region, due to concerns that it was endangering Czech groundwater levels. When the Polish government failed to comply, the EU executive began imposing fines of €500,000 per day, deducting the amount from EU funds designated for Poland.

    Although Warsaw and Prague settled the case in February 2022, Poland attempted to retroactively cancel the fines, which had accumulated to €68.5 million, by seeking annulment in the EU’s lower chamber court. However, the court emphasized in a press release that “the removal of the case from the register does not relieve Poland of the obligation to settle the amount payable.”

    Despite the Czechs withdrawing their lawsuit, the court found that fines accrued prior to this could not be annulled to maintain their deterrent effect. The judgement was welcomed in Prague, with Czech news agency CTK quoting Petra Pinter, a lawyer involved in the case, who stated the court “has shown that European law applies equally to all states, and Poland must meet its obligation to pay the sanctions.”

    Germany’s Anna Cavazzini, a Green EU lawmaker from the region, also supported the decision, highlighting Turow’s lack of an environmental impact assessment for continued coal mining, which is planned to run until 2024, as she told public broadcaster mdr.

    Poland may appeal the judgement, potentially escalating the matter to the EU’s highest court of justice. Online platform Money.pl reports that Warsaw has already taken that step.

  • ArcelorMittal Warns of Possible Halt to German Decarbonisation Plans Without Cheap Renewable Energy

    ArcelorMittal Warns of Possible Halt to German Decarbonisation Plans Without Cheap Renewable Energy

    Steelmaker ArcelorMittal has issued a warning that it may not proceed with its plans to decarbonise its steel plants in Germany unless it secures cheap electricity and a sufficient supply of renewables and hydrogen. On Friday, Thomas Buenger, head of the steelmaker’s German division, stated that without internationally competitive energy prices and adequate green electricity and hydrogen, there is an increased risk of industrial production capacity leaving the country.

    Buenger emphasized that these conditions need to be met by mid-2025, the deadline for ArcelorMittal’s final investment decision on its €2.5 billion ($2.7 billion) decarbonisation plan for its German steel mills. Out of this total, around €1.3 billion are expected to be covered by German government subsidies, similar to the decarbonisation projects of peers Thyssenkrupp and Salzgitter, which also rely on public support.

    Buenger mentioned that detailed planning and the review of the economic viability of the transformation plans are currently underway.

  • Australia and EU Sign Agreement to Enhance Supply of Critical Minerals and Technology

    Australia and EU Sign Agreement to Enhance Supply of Critical Minerals and Technology

    A new agreement between Australia and the European Union (EU) aims to bolster the supply of critical minerals and technology, marking a significant step toward comprehensive free trade negotiations. Signed by Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell and Resources Minister Madeleine King, alongside EU Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis and Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton, the memorandum of understanding (MoU) focuses on several key areas of collaboration.

    The agreement outlines the establishment of talks between officials from both sides and enhanced information sharing, with a roadmap to be developed within six months. One of the primary goals is to attract European investment into Australian renewable energy projects. Senator Farrell emphasized the need for international capital to help Australia extract, process, and add value to its mineral resources.

    Key objectives include identifying and developing projects together, enhancing business links in the critical minerals sector, and fostering closer cooperation on research. The partnership is designed to strengthen Australia’s domestic critical mineral sector and help the EU diversify its suppliers for materials necessary for the green and digital transition.

    A significant aspect of the agreement is its aim to reduce over-reliance on China, aligning with broader efforts by the United States, Australia, and Europe to increase domestic manufacturing and reduce dependency on China, which currently dominates the critical minerals supply chain. Critical minerals such as lithium, nickel, and cobalt are essential for producing batteries and renewable energy technologies, crucial for achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. These minerals are also vital for manufacturing microchips and advanced technologies, including defense capabilities.

    Australia holds significant deposits of critical minerals, including 52% of global lithium production, making it a key player in the global supply chain for low-emission technologies.

    The MoU is seen as a positive step towards resuming free trade agreement negotiations, which had stalled over agricultural product discussions. Senator Farrell noted that this agreement reflects the EU’s understanding of the importance of the Australia-Europe relationship, particularly concerning the decarbonization of economies. The agreement underscores the pivotal role of Australia’s critical minerals in the clean energy transition, helping both Australia and its export partners meet climate commitments.

  • Adriatic Metals Raises $50 Million Through Institutional Placement

    Adriatic Metals Raises $50 Million Through Institutional Placement

    UK-based exploration and development company Adriatic Metals has successfully completed an institutional placement, raising approximately A$75.8 million (US$50 million) through the issuance of 18,254,838 CHESS Depositary Interests (CDIs) at A$4.15 per CDI. The company announced that the placement received strong support from both existing shareholders and new institutional investors.

    Simultaneously, OMF Fund III (F), advised by Orion Resource Partners (UK), sold around 12.1 million existing CDIs at the same offer price. Due to strong investor demand, Orion increased the size of its sell-down from eight million CDIs to approximately 12.1 million CDIs. After the completion of the offer, the company will retain around 12.1 million CDIs, representing approximately 3.7% of Adriatic’s issued ordinary share capital.

  • Dutch PM Rutte Offers to Share Green Energy Experience with Kazakhstan

    Dutch PM Rutte Offers to Share Green Energy Experience with Kazakhstan

    Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte expressed his willingness to share experience in green energy with Kazakhstan during a meeting with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana. Rutte praised Kazakhstan’s rapid development and balanced international position, highlighting the potential for collaboration in agriculture, green energy, and water management.