Author: jomi

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US DoD grants $110m to Albemarle and Talon for critical mineral production.

(2023, September 13) US DoD grants $110m to Albemarle and Talon for critical mineral production.

 Retrieved January 28, 2024, 

from US DoD grants $110m for critical mineral production (mining-technology.com)

 

The United States DoD is providing over $110 million to Albemarle and Talon to mine critical minerals like lithium and nickel in the United states. Albemarle will buy mining equipment with its grants to restart a lithium mine in King mountain, expected to restart in 2026. DoD funding to Talin will expand their mining equipment and staff, alongside aiding in the discovery of nickel deposits. All of this funding will go to defense platforms and green energy systems.

 

Government funding for mining companies is a necessary step in the pursuit of green energy. Mining companies have a hard time stepping up mines in the US with regulations and public opposition. The mining industry will need to be subsidized as an incentive to start domestic mining operations. As the world becomes more and more reliant on electronics and green energy systems, the demand for minerals will grow and grow. Domestic production will need to start to keep pace with future growth in demand. The DoD’s funding should be a first step towards more government funding in the domestic mining industry. 

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Gem Hunters Found the Lithium America Needs. Maine Won’t Let Them Dig It Up

Semuels, H/ Cough, K. (2023, July 17) Gem Hunters Found the Lithium America Needs. Maine Won’t Let Them Dig It Up. Retrieved January 26, 2024,

from Maine Has the Lithium America Needs, But Won’t Allow Mining | TIME

 

Maine holds the world richest lithium deposit. By 2040, the world will need at least 1.1 million metric tons of lithium annually, so these deposits are needed. It can jumpstart the current administration’s focus on local mining. As the world moves towards alternative energy, resources like lithium are badly needed. However, Maine has some of the strictest mining and water quality standards in the nation. Many residents are against mining due to negative environmental effects felt during the 1960s. This reflects much skepticism that communities have over mining projects. Strict environmental regulations and pushback from communities keeps mining operations down in the US.

 

This issue represents an issue with us moving towards alternative energy. It is a vital step to secure benefits long term for the entire world. However, this comes at the cost of negative environmental impacts on local ecosystems and communities. We will need to risk the environments of some areas to save them all. However, it is difficult to argue this point to the population at large, as impacts to the local environment will be what is felt by the people in the beginning. Large deposits of vital minerals, such as in maine, will need to be used in the future to keep up with our shift towards alternative energy sources. As a compromise. We might need to start with deposits far away from people as we slowly draw others away from areas rich in minerals.

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US Committee Recommends Royalties on Minerals for EVs In Sweeping Reform Proposal

Groom, N. (2023, September 12) US committee recommends royalties on minerals for EVs in sweeping reform proposal. Retrieved January 28, 2024, 

from US committee recommends royalties on minerals for EVs in sweeping reform proposal – MINING.COM

 

A federal committee recommends for the first time ever to put royalties on hardrock mining within the United States. This is part of recommendations that are intended to expand domestic supply of critical minerals and metals. The committee also recommended federal land to be leased for mining. This is an attempt to speed up mining permitting. However, environmentalists call for a report to look at the safety risks and pollution caused by hardrock mining.

 

This is another important step towards green energy. The US needs a large amount of minerals and metals to support its transition towards clean energy, requiring a large amount of domestic mining operations. However, the main difficulty facing domestic mining is current US regulation facing mining. It takes a long time to get permits to mine and there’s a lot of opposition to any mining project. By changing permitting, it will be easier for mining companies to start extracting mineral deposits across the country and put it into clean energy systems. THe downside is that there will be environmental degradation across the country due to mining. Unfortunately, this is a necessary evil to transition to cleaner energy and save the larger environment. One thing we can do is to account for the local communities, making sure that we can help people that are impacted by these environmental factors.

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U.S. Aims to End Reliance on China for Minerals, But Environmentalists Block Mining on American Soil

Jaramillo, E. (2023, October 2) U.S. aims to end reliance on China for minerals, but environmentalists block mining on American soil. Retrieved January 26, 2024, 

from U.S. aims to end reliance on China for minerals, but environmentalists block mining on American soil – The China Project

 

The world is transitioning from traditional energy towards more renewable energy sources. At the current moment, China has a hold on critical mineral supply chains. The senate held a hearing to find ways to counter this control. The UShas a large demand for minerals and metals that are growing as time moves on. With growing US-China tensions, the US will need to stop reliance on China to get rid of any leverage the People’s Republic of China holds over the US. However, local mining takes years due to strict regulations and environmentalists say that local mining will destroy the environment so they also try to block and stop mining operations. These minerals are critical in a green transition but means we will have to sacrifice the environment for these resources. 

 

Government regulatory systems to protect the environment from mining or logging are great for protecting ecosystems and the environment. However, these systems are also hindering our larger steps from reliance on fossil fuel towards clean, green energy. Right now, the minerals needed in our electronics come largely from Chinese-controlled sources. In our current state, China has a leverage over the US and can hinder new green technologies that are being developed. To protect against this, we will need our own mineral sources that we can rely on more heavily. We will need to sacrifice local environments to mine these resources. Unfortunately, this means that we will need to loosen regulations and restrictions on mining. It risks our own environments, but it is a price we need to pay to save the larger planet. 

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US Inflation Reduction Act Impact Report Lays Bare Critical Mineral Supply Fault Lines

Lazenby, H. (2023, September 1) US Inflation Reduction Act Impact Report Lays Bare Critical Mineral Supply Fault Lines. Retrieved January 26, 2024, 

from US Inflation Reduction Act impact report lays bare critical mineral supply fault lines – MINING.COM

 

The US Inflation Reduction act spends over 500 billion on new energy investments and raises the amount of electric vehicle sales. All of this increases the demand for minerals and metals that contribute to renewable energy sources. However the United States, and other developed countries to an extent, have long and complicated permitting processes. The federal land is becoming increasingly expensive and permitting is full of unpredictability and delays. Permitting remains the biggest hurdle and threatens the effectiveness of the Inflation Reduction Act. 

 

I find it surprising that it is universally agreed that the permitting issue is seen as the biggest hurdle in a transition to more clean energy, but it remains unchanged. To get the US to transition to cleaner energy, there needs to be a change in the permitting process for land. We would need to make the process more efficient so that it becomes faster to get a permit. The issue that would be the effect on the environmental and local communities from mining. To gain an easier transition to green energy, we must, unfortunately, sacrifice a part of these concerns. However, we will still have EPA laws to make sure that the environment is protected as much as possible. We can have investments into local communities to mitigate negative impacts. But to effectively change our energy to more clean sources, we will need to allow environmental degradation to happen in the region.

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Rare Earth Mining: Sacrificing The Environment to Save The Planet?

Foreign Policy In Focus (2023, August 17) Rare Earth Mining: Sacrificing The Environment to Save The Planet? Retrieved August 19, 2023, from 

Rare Earth Mining: Sacrificing the Environment to Save the Planet? – FPIF

In the Southern part of Sweden a picturesque lake surrounded by mountains is home to a large deposit of rare earth minerals. Mining companies have tried to get mining claims to the area but have been blocked by locals and environmentalists worried about the effect on the environment. This highlights the main issue with the green energy transition. To save the planet there’s a need for minerals and traditional mining that threatens to destroy local environments. 

The article shows the conflict of current methods to collect enough resources to fuel the green energy transition. There is a deadly trade off as to save the planet, ecosystems and environments would need to be sacrificed to mining. I’m interested in the articles because they show green energy solutions, despite being the best way forward. Aren’t necessarily perfect as to protect the planet ecosystems and environments are at risk of destruction. It shows that there is still a lot we need to learn if we want to keep our plant and all ecosystems protected. 

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Despite reforms, mining for EV metals in Congo exacts steep cost on workers.

The Washington Post (2023, August 4) Despite reforms, mining for EV metals in Congo exacts steep cost on workers. Retrieved August 20, 2023, from 

Mines for electric car metals in Congo strain workers’ health, families – Washington Post

Cobalt is an essential mineral in batteries that are used in a majority of electrical cars. The main producer of cobalt is the Congo. The mining of cobalt comes at a tremendous human cost. Hand dug mines in the Congo use child laborers in poor working conditions with many facing serious injuries and death. This is not only an issue in hand dug mines. In large industrial mines, miners face similar conditions. They can get seriously injured from mining accidents along with long term impacts caused by the nature of the work. The mines also threaten the local environment.

This is important because it shows that human suffering is still behind our green solutions. I think that it is important to show this issue. As we strive to save the planet our solutions can have real negative effects on local environments and humans to achieve this goal. It is hard to think about. Minerals and metals that are mined in places like the Congo are necessary for our transition to green energy but at the same time it also contributes to hard lives for the people surrounding these mines and working in them. 

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Not Enough Mineral Supply To Meet Looming Energy Demand

Timmins Today (2023, August 19) Not Enough Mineral Supply To Meet Looming Energy Demand: U.S. Report. Retrieved August 19, 2023, from 

Not enough mineral supply to meet looming energy demand: U.S. report – Timmins News (timminstoday.com)

In the US the Inflation Reduction Act has been passed to promote interest in high-tech and green-tech solutions to reach a net zero U.S. economy. The Act increased the demand for important minerals to 23 times higher. There is a sufficient supply of lithium, but Cobalt and nickel are in low supply. There is a large supply of copper in the US largely untapped, but the developments of mines in the US will take a while. This means the US will largely rely on imports from other countries. leading to future competition to secure resources from this country. 

This is an important article because it shows the large steps taken by the US government. We are shown how the US government is giving incentives for people to invest and improve green energy. This is beneficial to the future of green energy, but the resources needed for this endeavor are not fully realized. It shows that there are not enough available minerals and that there are not any mining operations ready for this project, so it shows it will likely take years or decades to fully supply the green transition.  

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‘Green Transition’ Needs Enhanced Action on Sustainable Minerals and Metals

News Wise (2023, August 17) ‘Green Transition’ Needs Enhanced Action on Sustainable Minerals and Metals. Retrieved August 19, 2023, from 

‘Green Transition’ needs enhanced action on sustainable minerals and metals (newswise.com)

Minerals and Metals make up the backbone of major industries. Governments need to be careful how they use these resources to keep long-sustainability in mind. The energy transition requires large amounts of resources as electric cars, wind turbines, and other green energy solutions have led to an increased demand for minerals. Because of the global nature of these resources, their challenges and responsibilities are shared across nations as countries like Switzerland look for increased collaboration. A circular economy is undeveloped but would be perfect for the transition to green energy as an efficient, circular economy allows minerals to replenish. 

I think This is an interesting article. It adds on to the rest of the article by showing the need for international cooperation and the steps that are taken by countries to create a connected world cooperating to gain the same goal. It also, rather than focusing on environmental impacts, looks at the bigger picture, in relation to the large number of resources required to prop up the green energy transition. It also shows the methods being tested by Empa that are delving into ways we can be more efficient for a circular economy to give minerals time to replenish.  

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Europe Is Embarking on a Mining Renaissance. Winning Over Locals Is Proving A Challenge.

The Wall Street Journal (2023, August 10) Europe Is Embarking on a Mining Renaissance. Winning Over Locals Is Proving A Challenge. Retrieved August 19, 2023, from 

Europe Is Embarking on a Mining Renaissance. Winning Over Locals Is Proving a Challenge. -WSJ

In the current era the transition to green energy solutions has increased the demand for minerals and metals such as copper and lithium. This increased demand has led to Governments such as in Europe to loosen their mining regulations and approve mining projects across Europe, leading to a mining renaissance. This however has been met by increased resistance. Locals nearby mining operations or future mining operations have protested these projects. Locals and environmentalists worry about the environmental impacts of mining as past mining disasters have had detrimental effects on local communities and ecosystems.

This article highlights the issues that lead to opposition to current attempts to save the planet. The transition to current green energy solutions leads to an increased need for metals and minerals, requiring more mining. This increased mining potentially threatens the local communities and ecosystems. This leads to many communities protesting mining sites and attempting to halt activity. I like this article as it shows that it is a cut dry solution. The transition to green energy has issues that need to be resolved to stabilize the planet.