Welcome to the latest edition of The Critical Minerals Pragmatist by Olimpia Pilch, offering fresh insights into the rapidly changing world of critical minerals.
A UK court has declared the approval of a new metallurgical coal mine unlawful. Although I feel that it is necessary to preface this; coal is not a critical mineral for all those numpties lobbying for every single mined product to be considered critical. Why is it worth a mention? Well, because Friends of the Earth (or rather Enemies of Progress) are relentless at stopping any development of any mines regardless of economic benefits. Fighting ideology with facts is no easy task.
In case you’re wondering, yes, the Supreme Court did make a burning of fossil fuels argument…
Britain dropped its defence of the legal challenges after a Supreme Court ruling earlier this year said planning authorities must consider the impact of burning, not just extracting, fossil fuels when deciding whether to approve projects.
Judge David Holgate, however, said in a written ruling on Friday that “the assumption that the proposed mine would not produce a net increase in greenhouse gas emissions, or would be a net zero mine, is legally flawed”.
More nonsense has been seen in Utah, where an Indigenous group is dragging Rio Tinto to the US Supreme Court. If you think the UK has lost the plot, the group attempting to block the copper mine is doing so on religious grounds. Yes, you read that right.
The appeal to the nine justices was delivered in person by a courier after the Apache held a ceremony of prayer and dancing on the court’s steps in Washington, the culmination of a months-long caravan from their Arizona reservation to the capital.
Rain dance.
On a much brighter note, for those interested in pretty maps for various commodities and critical minerals, Our World in Data, has released its interactive “Which countries have the critical minerals needed for the energy transition?” edition.
Metals-rich Kazakhstan seeks niche in battery supply chain
The former Soviet republic promotes itself as a dependable supplier of the majority of critical materials outlined by the European Union, at a time when Russia has threatened to curb exports and China is tightening control over rare earths.
Kazakhstan already mines manganese, but last year it launched processing of manganese sulphate and aims to eventually capture 10% of the global market for the battery material.
It also supplies phosphates for fertilizers and aims to process material needed for LFP (lithium ferro phosphate) batteries that are growing in popularity, he added.
Big dreams for an even bigger market in the East. One quick look at the map, and Kazakhstan isn’t exactly surrounded by friends of the West.
“Building scalable processing of battery grade metals is something we want to expand,” said Sharlapayev, a former banker with Citigroup.
As does every nation. Everyone is preaching about getting the same slice of the same pie.
Kazakhstan is a major global supplier of both uranium and titanium. It also holds 2% of world nickel reserves, but has, for now, a negligible share in its global output.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) said last month it had bought a stake in a firm exploring for graphite in Kazakhstan.
Although Kazakhstan is a member of Russian-led economic and security blocs, it has maintained neutrality in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, promised to abide by Western sanctions against Moscow, and actively participates in the development of cargo transit routes bypassing Russia.
Kazakhstan is attempting to play all sides – the Bear in the north, the Dragon to the East, and the collective West whose money it seeks. Yet, geopolitics are not stacked in the West’s favour.
China nickel tycoon seeks growth in US energy storage market
Chinese billionaire Xiang Guangda’s battery company is hunting for more US investment opportunities despite mounting geopolitical tension between the world’s economic juggernauts.
REPT BATTERO Energy Co., a unit of Xiang’s Tsingshan Holding Group Co., this week opened an office in California, marking its first US outpost.
To be sure, REPT will be going up against heavyweight competitors including a unit of Elon Musk’s Tesla Inc. The Hong Kong-listed company also faces heightened geopolitical risks, with some US lawmakers working to blacklist certain Chinese firms and the Biden administration moving to increase tariffs on batteries, solar cells and other products from China.
To mitigate any potential risks, Cao said REPT is partnering with American companies that handle “sensitive” big-data issues in the energy-storage business. The company hasn’t so far been challenged by the authorities, he noted.
The problems created by today’s thoughtlessness will be keeping us awake for the next few decades. Chinese companies are intent on conquering the US market and are working overtime to circumnavigate any barriers. Each company will have its reasons, whether they see the US as a market ripe for taking, a potential escape route from the clutches of the CCP, or are actively carrying out the CCP’s great outward push to rescue China’s GDP growth. Whatever the case, American companies are ensuring their own downfall.
Bolivian YLB signs contract with Russian Uranium for direct lithium extraction plant
The state-owned company Yacimientos de Litio Bolivianos (YLB) signed this Wednesday a joint venture agreement with the Russian company Uranium One Group for the development of the first direct lithium extraction (DLE) and lithium carbonation plant in the Salar de Uyuni.
“It will have a production capacity of 14,000 metric tons, in a scalable manner. We will have an approximate investment of more than 970 million dollars for the region and for the country,” reported YLB president Omar Alarcón at the event, held in Casa Grande del Pueblo.
This follows on from last year’s deal for $450 million. The Bolivians also selected a CATL-led consortium last year in a whopping $1.4 billion deal.
He said that the technology used by the Russian company does not use aggressive reagents in the production process and ensures maximum recirculation of water flows, thereby promoting the preservation of ecosystems.
Neither the Russians nor the Chinese have a reputation for environmental or social excellence. Seeing how this plays out over the next decade will be interesting.
In this regard, Arce invoked the “patriotism” of the legislators to make the agreement viable: “This is where we hope that patriotism and the determined participation of all national assembly members will prevail so that its approval can be accelerated and benefit our country. Bolivia has clearly and sovereignly decided to enter the stage of industrialization of Bolivian lithium and that all our natural resources will benefit each and every Bolivian,” Arce indicated in his posts on social networks, such as Facebook.
Patriotism and handing over future economic prosperity into the hands of Chinese and Russian companies is an oxymoron. But who can blame the Bolivians for selecting cash-buyers over a few stragglers from the West? Cash is king. Ideology, aligned values, and responsible practices are the follies that developed Western nations indulge in.
