Mining for the Climate | Round-up #46
Deep-sea mining code up against July deadline. James Cameron ambushed in Argentina. Sand mining investigations.
Climate technologies require enormous amounts of metal. I’m Ian Morse, and this is Green Rocks, a newsletter that doesn’t want dirty mining to ruin clean energy.
The ISA has said they will begin reviewing seabed mining applications on July 9. That is exactly two years after Nauru alongside its Canadian-owned mining firm triggered the contested rule that obligates the authority to review applications, regardless whether regulations have been written. The Legal and Technical Commission, which oversees the development of rules, will have its last chance to discuss the as-yet-non-existent mining code on July 7.
The ISA will likely not finish the mining code by then. Even if it receives an application on July 10, it will likely be years before an approval is granted and mining begins. In the meantime, here are some recent stories related to deep-sea mining to prepare you.
Norway’s energy ministry is preparing to submit a deep-sea mining proposal that would open up a Germany-sized area within its marine borders to extraction and exploration.
Europe’s top science council doubts that deep-sea minerals are necessary for renewable energy technologies, adding that it supports a call for a moratorium on seabed mining.
See the thousands of new species found in a remote area of the Pacific Ocean (Wall Street Journal)
The Dubious Economics of Deep-Sea Mining (Nautilus)
Is it too late to halt deep-sea mining? Meet the activists trying to save the seabed (The Guardian)
Climate going metal
US legislators introduced a bill to reform the 150-year-old mining law.
The Congolese government temporarily banned mining operations after rains incited flooding that led to deaths and leaking pollution from tailings storage facilities.
Indonesia’s only operating battery nickel plant responded to concerns that its waste was turning the ocean red. It denied there was any pollution into waterways, but also that if it did end up there, it follows the government’s quality standards.
The Business and Human Rights Resource Centre released their 2022 analysis of transition minerals, adding 65 new allegations of human rights abuses, the majority of which involved Indigenous Peoples.
Portugal granted environmental approval to a lithium mine that faced strong opposition, on the condition that it takes actions to reduce vegetation loss now and clean up the mine in the future.
A consortium that includes Glencore and Umicore plans to invest $9 billion in an Indonesian nickel facility that had stalled years ago amid protest.
Glencore plans a $1.5 billion expansion of a Peru copper mine in a mining corridor that has provoked violent protests.
NGOs ranked British Columbia’s most ‘polluting and risky mines’ according to proven and probable impacts.
Rio Tinto’s boron mine in California became the first open-pit mine to begin using biodiesel for its operations, the company said.
BMW lithium suppliers have struck a deal to process lithium in Saudi Arabia.
A gold mine collapse in Venezuela killed 12 workers.
A firm opened what they call the world’s first marketplace for verified recycled materials.
Mexican workers at a Newmont gold mine are striking over disputes regarding a profit-sharing agreement and alleged contract breaches.
Glencore and Volkswagen are among buyers of nickel operations in Brazil, representing one of the largest projects that a carmaker has taken direct control of.
The EU and Argentina agreed to boost cooperation on sustainable clean energy materials like lithium.
Toyota, which has long insisted on hybrids over fully electric cars, finally announced a zero-emission car strategy, adding that they plan to introduce solid-state battery cars by 2027.
Director James Cameron said he was ambushed when he planned to visit a solar installation in Argentina and lithium mining was suddenly added to the agenda. He worried that his image was used to give a positive spin to the mines and said now that he’s aware about local opposition, he’ll begin supporting it.
Citizens of Ghana cautioned the government that mining the Atewa Forest for bauxite will destroy an important source of water, food, medicinal plants, and carbon sequestration.
The US Army Corps of Engineers revoked a permit for a nickel-copper mine in Minnesota, as it couldn’t ensure compliance with water quality standards.
BHP said it underpaid worker across its mines in Australia for 13 years.
A study found that electric SUVs may in fact increase emissions. In the researchers’ models, only less driving led to less emissions.
The US Forest Service paused a land swap for Rio Tinto’s copper mine in Arizona, which would obliterate a sacred Indigenous site.
The Environment Reporting Collaborative has a brilliant, expansive investigation on sand mining across several countries. They documented abuses and pollution across five categories: Environmental Impact, Crime, Gender, Reclamation, and Supply Chain. Definitely check it out.
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EV Makers Confront the ‘Nickel Pickle’ with Video (Wall Street Journal)
The price of plenty: The hunt for rare earth elements (WUSF Public Media)
Marape’s quest to ‘take back’ PNG’s resources (East Asia Forum)
Mining’s changing ESG landscape (Mining.com)
How Tesla’s Quest for Cheaper Batteries Boosts China (Bloomberg)
Replicating Indonesia's success in the nickel sector isn't likely with its bauxite exports: Analyst (CNA)
Germany’s Rush for 'Critical' Minerals is a Human Rights Challenge (Human Rights Watch)
In scramble for EV metals, health threat to workers often goes unaddressed (Washington Post)
China sets sights on overseas alumina projects to unlock bauxite deposits (S&P Global)
VW Is on a Hunt for Resources to Remove China From Its EV Batteries (Wall Street Journal)
Energy decarbonization threatens food security by reducing the availability of cheap sulfur (Nature Comment)
Extracting Justice: The human rights impact of Canadian mining around the world (CBC)
Q&A: Chinese-Dominated EV Supply Chains in Southeast Asia Grapple With Abuses (China Global South Project)
Going back for seconds (CIM Magazine)
The World’s Biggest Gold Miner Bets Big on Copper (Wall Street Journal)