News & numbers
“Today, the data shows a looming mismatch between the world’s strengthened climate ambitions and the availability of critical minerals
that are essential to realising those ambitions.” Fatih Birol, International Energy Agency
Rio Tinto and ARENA explore using hydrogen in
alumina refining Rio Tinto and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) are working together to look into replacing natural gas with hydrogen in the calcination process at alumina refineries, with the aim of reducing emissions in the refining stage of the aluminium supply chain.
The assessment involves two main steps. The first is a simulation of the calcination process using a lab scale reactor at Rio Tinto’s Bundoora Technical Development Centre in Melbourne, Victoria. The second is a preliminary engineering and design study at Rio Tinto’s Yarwun alumina refinery in Gladstone, Queensland. The study intends to assess the construction and operational needs of a potential demonstration project. “Exploring these new clean energy technologies and methods is a crucial step towards producing green aluminium. This study will investigate a potential technology that can contribute to the decarbonisation of the Australian alumina industry,” said ARENA CEO Darren Miller. “If successful, the technical and commercial lessons from Rio Tinto’s study could lead to the implementation of hydrogen calcination technology, not only in Australia but also internationally.” Rio Tinto currently contributes to nearly one-third of Australia’s total alumina production capacity. The company has set a 2050 target for achieving net-zero emissions across its operations.
IGO and Tianqi Lithium finalise $1.4bn joint venture
Australian mining company Independence Group (IGO) has completed a $1.4bn joint venture deal with China’s Tianqi Lithium for a stake in the Chinese company’s Australian assets, after signing a binding agreement in December 2020. Under the contract, the two parties established a new globally focused lithium joint venture, with IGO holding a 49% stake and Tianqi the other 51%. The joint venture will initially focus on the existing upstream and downstream lithium assets in Western Australia. It includes a 51% stake in the Greenbushes lithium mine in partnership, with lithium company Albemarle holding the
remaining 49% interest. The joint venture also includes a 100% owned and operated interest in the fully automated Kwinana lithium hydroxide refinery. The refinery will be equipped to produce battery-grade lithium hydroxide from high-quality spodumene concentrate sourced from the Greenbushes mine, and will commence production in the second half of 2021. “Our new joint venture is ideally positioned in this market, with quality upstream and downstream assets capable of generating strong financial returns for both IGO and Tianqi,” said Tianqi founder and chairman Jiang Weiping.
Cornish Lithium and SCI to create ‘trust mark’ for UK lithium
Cornish Lithium has teamed up with the Australia-based Source Certain International (SCI) to identify the origin of UK-mined lithium in lithium-ion batteries. SCI’s ‘trust mark’ technology is designed to trace the origin of lithium within a battery, down to the specific mine site operated by Cornish Lithium. The project is expected to support the UK’s supply strategies related to critical minerals, which are needed for the growing demand for green technology.
“Cornish Lithium and SCI are hopeful their work will form a foundation for developing a transparent and accountable lithium supply chain for batteries in the UK,” said the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), in a press statement.
SCI intends to establish a reference database of all Cornwall-sourced lithium through its scientific provenance verification technology, TSW Trace.
Eight people killed following gas outbursts at two Chinese coal mines
Eight miners were reportedly killed following two separate accidents at coal mines in China.
The first took place on 4 June 2021 at an underground coal mine operated by Henan Hebi Coal and Electricity, and was reportedly caused by a gas outburst. It resulted in the deaths of eight miners. Of the 355 people working at the mine, 347
6
were rescued after search and rescue efforts were launched. In May 2021, Henan’s provincial government reportedly approved the reopening of Hebi’s other coal mine, which was closed on the ground of breaching regulations. The second accident took place at a coal mine in Jixi, north-east Heilongjiang, on 5 June 2021, and was also caused by a coal
and gas outburst. All eight miners who went missing following the accident were rescued on 6 June.
In January 2021, an explosion at the Hushan gold mine in north-east China left 22 miners trapped underground. Days after the accident, 11 miners were rescued to safety at the mine, which is located in eastern Shandong province.
World Mining Frontiers /
www.nsenergybusiness.com
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