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#US, #Philippines Eye Agreement to Cut #China #Nickel Dominance

Posted on May 1, 2024 by Nanthakumar Victor Emmanuel, P.Eng Leave a comment

In this photo released by Xinhua News Agency, visiting Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk, left, meets with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing, Sunday, April 28, 2024. Musk met with a top government leader in the Chinese capital Sunday, just as the nation’s carmakers are showing off their latest electric vehicle models at the Beijing auto show. (Wang Ye/Xinhua via AP)

The U.S. and the Philippines are in discussions over ways to prevent China from dominating nickel processing in the Southeast Asian nation, a key supplier of the metal that’s crucial for electric vehicle batteries.

One measure under consideration is a trilateral arrangement through which the Philippines would supply raw nickel material, the U.S. would provide financing, and a third country such as Japan, South Korea or Australia would offer the technology required for smelting and refining, according to people familiar with the matter.

#India reaches out to critical mineral producers for processing technology

Posted on April 1, 2024 by Nanthakumar Victor Emmanuel, P.Eng Leave a comment

NEW DELHI: India has reached out to key critical mineral producers to bring in processing technology into the country, officials said. The move comes close on the back of the government rolling out auctions of critical mineral mines.

“Talks are on with the United States (US), Australia, and United Kingdom (UK), South Korea, and Japan for processing technology. Brazil and Argentina are also positive about collaborating with India,” a senior mines ministry official told ET.
According to another official aware of the plan, agreements with countries are being lined up and will soon be signed.

While India is going ahead with auction of mines holding critical minerals, there are no facilities for their beneficiation.

“We want to target India’s first critical mineral beneficiation and processing plant in the next 3-5 years,” the official quoted above said. “We want to ensure that development of critical mineral processing and extraction happen in parallel.”

#BBC: #India in undersea race to mine world’s battery metal

Posted on March 21, 2024 by Nanthakumar Victor Emmanuel, P.Eng Leave a comment

India is taking another step in its quest to find valuable minerals hidden in the depths of the ocean which could hold the key to a cleaner future.

The country, which already has two deep-sea exploration licences in the Indian Ocean, has applied for two more amid increasing competition between major global powers to secure critical minerals.

Countries including China, Russia and India are vying to reach the huge deposits of mineral resources – cobalt, nickel, copper, manganese – that lie thousands of metres below the surface of oceans. These are used to produce renewable energy such as solar and wind power, electric vehicles and battery technology needed to battle against climate change.

The UN-affiliated International Seabed Authority (ISA) has issued 31 exploration licences so far, of which 30 are active. Its member countries are meeting in Jamaica this week to discuss regulations around giving out mining licences.

#Canada signs hydrogen deal with #Germany

Posted on March 19, 2024 by Nanthakumar Victor Emmanuel, P.Eng Leave a comment

Canada, citing the need to shun Russian energy, on Monday signed an agreement with Germany that it said would accelerate work towards the commercial-scale trade of clean hydrogen fuel.

The two nations inked a memorandum of understanding that commits them to backing transactions between Canadian

hydrogen producers and Germany’s industrial manufacturing and energy distribution sectors.

“Canada is working with European allies to displace imports of Russian oil and gas and fight climate change with clean Canadian hydrogen. Canada can be a world-leading producer and exporter of clean hydrogen,” the federal natural resources ministry said in a statement.

#Indonesia says #Nickel miner #Vale to build another $2 bln HPAL plant

Posted on March 18, 2024 by Nanthakumar Victor Emmanuel, P.Eng Leave a comment

Nickel miner PT Vale Indonesia (INCO.JK), opens new tab is exploring a potential investment in a high-pressure acid leaching plant in Sulawesi island, with an estimated cost of 30 trillion rupiah ($1.91 billion), its investment ministry said on Monday.

The plant, named “SOA HPAL”, will be the company’s third such project to turn nickel ore into mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP) – a material used to make electric vehicle batteries, according to presentation material shown by Indonesia’s Investment Minister Bahlil Lahadalia.