Mining and Minerals

Recent Articles

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  12.10.2023

  International

  Energy Transition, Minerals and the Circular Economy

  The ongoing energy transition requires a large-scale and accelerated switch to renewable energy generation and the electrification of transportation and industry, in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Those technologies will result in a significant increase in demand for a range of minerals and metals, including copper and aluminium (for electricity transmission), cobalt, nickel, lithium, lead, manganese and graphite (for batteries), rare earths (for permanent magnets used in wind turbines and electric batteries) and even steel (for use in wind turbines). The International Energy Association...

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  05.09.2023

  International

  Deep sea mining: navigating in murky waters

  On 9 July 2023, the latest deadline for finalising the draft exploitation regulations for deep sea mining in international waters expired without agreement.1 This deadline resulted from a letter from the pacific state of Nauru in 2021 stating an intention to apply for approval of a ‘plan of work’ for exploitation of deep sea minerals. The letter triggered a sub-clause within the Agreement relating to the implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982, (“the 1994 Implementing Agreement”) which gave the International...

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  30.08.2023

  International

  CBAM Implementing Regulation and Extensive Additional Reporting Guidance Published

  Earlier this month, the European Commission (“EC”) adopted an Implementing Regulation (“IR”) and released extensive Guidance Documents (“Guidance”) on the practicalities of reporting requirements for the transitional phase of the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (“CBAM”) framework. This first material phase of CBAM will commence on October 1, 2023 (“Transitional Period”). The Guidance complements the IR in providing vital instructions for both installation operators (exporters) outside the EU and importers of CBAM goods within...

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  17.07.2023

  International

  Resource Nationalism in Battery Metals: Risks and Mitigation

  With continued warfare in Ukraine, conflict in Sudan and tensions between the U.S. and China, the state of international relations appears increasingly volatile. This fractious landscape sits abreast two further global challenges: the climate crisis, and the economy. Extreme weather and high inflation in many countries have exacerbated concerns over energy and resource security and supply chain resilience, prompting consumer nations to act to secure supplies of minerals that are essential for the energy transition. Meanwhile, a resurgence of resource nationalism has seen a number of key producing...

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  05.07.2023

  International

  Deep sea mining: a new source of transition minerals

  The energy transition has accelerated demand for a range of minerals required for batteries and renewable energy application, and has heightened global concerns over resource security. Accordingly, accessing the rich abundance of minerals that exist within the deep sea is of increasing interest in ensuring secure mineral supply chains.Growth in deep sea mining remains relatively slow due to technological challenges and critically, legislative gaps, but there have been important recent developments. The International Seabed Authority has published draft Exploitation Regulations which are intended...

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  27.08.2020

  International

  Tailings Management and New Standards of Regulation

  Tailings dam failures have put the mining industry in the headlines for the wrong reasons in recent years. Dam failures can have disastrous consequences in terms of loss of life and environmental damage to surrounding areas. In response to such failures, the mining industry, its stakeholders and regulators have been reviewing how mine tailings are processed and stored. A Global Tailings Review was co-convened by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Principles for Responsible Investment and the International Council on Mining and Metals, which this month culminated in the publication...

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