Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and Threads down in widespread outage

The Associated Press

Users of Meta's Facebook, Instagram, Threads and Messenger platforms are experiencing login issues in what appears to be a widespread outage.

Internet traffic observer Down Detector is reporting vast outages on several Meta platforms Tuesday. The problems are being reported across the world, suggesting that the outage could be global. 

London-based internet monitoring firm Netblocks said on X that four Meta platforms -- Facebook, Instagram, Messenger and Threads -- were “currently experiencing outages related to login sessions in multiple countries.” 

But the firm, which advocates for internet freedom, said there was no sign of “country-level internet disruptions or filtering,” which are typically imposed by governments.

Andy Stone, Meta's head communications, acknowledged the issues on X, formerly known as Twitter, and said the company is “working on this now.”

Facebook and Instagram users report severe

 login and stalling problems

Issues on Meta-owned platforms coincided with login

problems on Google’s sites



Meta updated the entire status page to report 'unknown' status for all services other than Messenger API for Instagram

Tue Mar 5 2024 

Facebook and Instagram are experiencing severe issues, as of Tuesday afternoon Irish time, with the services refusing login attempts and feeds stalling. The outages were first reported at about 3.30pm.

Unusually, the issues have coincided with login problems on Google’s platform, suggesting a common cause between the outages at two tech conglomerates who largely control their own infrastructure.

Meta’s business status page reported a number of disruptions, including “major disruptions” for the group’s admin centre, as well as for Facebook login, the service which allows users to log in to third-party services using their Facebook details. That, in turn, has led to some reporting outages at a variety of other sites.

At 4pm, Meta updated the entire status page to report “unknown” status for all services other than Messenger API for Instagram. Some Meta services, such as WhatsApp and the Facebook Ads Transparency page, were apparently still working. At 4.15pm, the Meta status page stopped working.

Google’s ads status page reports a disruption to the company’s Ad Manager beginning at about 3.30pm GMT. The company said it was investigating reports of other issues. But the company’s hiccups are more contained than those of Meta, with most consumer-facing services, including Search and YouTube, still up without issue. Problems with the company’s login service, however, have affected some business customers, including the Guardian.

A systemic internet issue is likely to be the root cause, with sporadic issues also being reported by users of sites including X and Microsoft’s Teams.

The outages are unlikely to be as severe as Facebook’s 2021 outage, when a configuration error in a little-known protocol called BGP led to the company accidentally deleting its own address from the systems that allow servers to talk to each other on the internet.

Although that error was spotted immediately, it took several hours for the fix to be enacted and take effect – in part because the company’s engineers could no longer gain remote access to their own servers to fix the problem, nor could they use their corporate passes to get through the electronic locks to gain physical access.

Meta and Google have been contacted for comment. – Guardian

Utility solar dethrones coal as the cheapest power source in Asia

Michelle Lewis | 

Photo: China News Service

Renewable energy costs in Asia last year were 13% cheaper than coal and are expected to be 32% cheaper by 2030, according to a new study.

Source: Wood Mackenzie Asia Pacific Power & Renewable Services

According to Wood Mackenzie’s latest analysis of the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for the Asia Pacific (APAC) region, the LCOE from renewables reached a historic low in 2023. This is significant because it marks a shift toward making renewables increasingly competitive with coal, a mainstay in APAC’s energy mix. The driving force behind this trend is the substantial reduction in capital costs for renewable energy projects.

China leads the pack with a 40-70% cost reduction in utility-scale solar, onshore wind, and offshore wind compared to other Asia Pacific markets. China is expected to maintain a 50% cost advantage in renewable energy up to 2050.
Solar is cheapest and falling

The significant drop in solar power costs, by 23% in 2023, signals the end of supply chain disruptions and inflationary pressures. As a result, utility solar is now the cheapest power source in 11 out of 15 APAC countries. New-build solar project costs are expected to fall by another 20% by 2030 due to lower module prices and an oversupply from China.

This drop in solar costs, particularly in 2023-24, puts pressure on coal and gas and highlights a 23% decrease in LCOE for utility PV across the Asia Pacific, driven by a 29% decline in capital costs.

Distributed solar, such as residential rooftop solar, saw a 26% decrease in 2023. This makes distributed solar 12% cheaper on average than residential power prices, unlocking substantial potential for rooftop solar.

Distributed solar is becoming increasingly enticing for customers in many Asia Pacific markets, with costs now 30% below rising residential tariffs in countries like China and Australia. However, markets with subsidized residential power tariffs, such as India, might have to wait until 2030 or later to see competitive prices for distributed solar.
Wind power isn’t far behind

While solar is surging ahead in terms of cost-effectiveness, onshore wind isn’t far behind despite costs being 38% more than solar in 2023. With a forecasted 30% cost reduction by 2030 as cheaper Chinese turbines gain market share, Australia and Southeast Asia stand to benefit from low-cost wind power equipment imports.

However, there will be less of an impact on markets with limited uptake of Chinese turbines such as Japan and South Korea, which focus more on domestic supply chains.

WoodMac also underscores the growing competitiveness of offshore wind with fossil fuels in APAC. With an 11% cost reduction in 2023, offshore wind costs are now competitive with coal along China’s coast and are expected to undercut gas in Japan and the Taiwan region by 2027 and 2028, respectively. Falling capital costs and tech improvements are opening up new markets for offshore wind in India, Southeast Asia, and Australia over the next five to 10 years.

In contrast with falling renewables costs, coal and gas generation expenses have increased by 12% since 2020 and are projected to rise through 2050, primarily due to carbon pricing mechanisms.

While developed APAC markets anticipate a significant hike in carbon prices, reaching US$20-55/tonne by 2030, Southeast Asia and India are expected to see lower carbon prices.

This trend suggests that gas power, with costs remaining above US$100/MWh on average until 2050, will gradually lose its cost competitiveness with offshore wind over the next decade.

Alex Whitworth, vice president, head of Asia Pacific Power Research at Wood Mackenzie, concluded:

Solar power costs have reached an historic low in the Asia Pacific region in 2023, reversing fears of permanent cost inflation. But while low costs support a continued boom in renewables investments, there is concern among investors on profitability, grid integration, backup, and energy storage.

Government policies will play a crucial role going forward to support upgrading grid reliability, transmission capacity, and promoting battery storage to manage the intermittent nature of renewables.

CORNWALL

South Crofty tin mine project advances with early shaft refurbishment

Story by Hannah Baker

 • 

Cornish Metals drilling at South Crofty in Cornwall© www.cornishmetals.com

Mining exploration company Cornish Metals will bring forward its plans to refurbish a mine shaft at its South Crofty tin project.

The AIM-listed firm, which is working to revive production at the mine in Pool near Redruth, said on Monday (March 4) that after an assessment of the timbers in New Cooks Kitchen (NCK) shaft it had decided to start refurbishment ahead of schedule.

Cash raised from an offering completed in May 2022 will be re-allocated to fund the works on the NCK shaft, the firm added.

Cornish Metals said the refurbishment would “significantly improve” the functionality of NCK shaft and mean larger equipment would be able to access the mine at an earlier stage in its redevelopment. It also said it would ensure the safety of the mine as the company regained access to the underground workings.

Under the plans, the rate of mine dewatering has been reduced - with the water level being maintained - to allow shaft refurbishment and dewatering to proceed at the same time. Shaft refurbishment and mine dewatering are now expected to complete by the third quarter of 2025.

Cornish Metals said the cost saving of around £4m from reducing the rate of dewatering will cover the cost of shaft refurbishment during 2024.

Cornish Metals is funded for the remainder of 2024 and has said there is “no anticipated impact” on the overall cost of re-opening South Crofty arising from the re-phasing.

Richard Williams, chief executive and director of Cornish Metals, said: “Cornish Metals is committed to safe, efficient and cost-effective work practises and has, accordingly, brought forward the refurbishment of NCK shaft.

"This is a key milestone for the project and demonstrates the confidence both we as a company and our largest shareholders have in the future of South Crofty. Importantly, management believes the project remains on track for production by the end of 2026.”

Cornish Metals is looking to restart tin production at the mine, which closed in 1998 after 400 years of continuous production, by 2026.

Draslovka and Barrick Gold Revolutionize Mining with Glycine Leaching Technology, Slash Cyanide Use by 80%

Draslovka's GlyCat technology, implemented at Barrick Gold's Bulyanhulu mine, offers a sustainable and cost-effective solution for gold mining, reducing cyanide consumption by 80% while maintaining high recovery rates. This strategic partnership sets new standards for responsible mining practices worldwide.

Ebenezer Mensah
29 Feb 2024


Draslovka, a pioneer in sustainability-driven technologies, has initiated the commercial deployment of its groundbreaking Glycine Leaching Technology (GlyCat) at Barrick Gold Corporation's Bulyanhulu mine in Tanzania. This landmark move is part of a broader strategic alliance aimed at enhancing mining sustainability and efficiency across the globe.

Revolutionizing Gold Mining with GlyCat

The adoption of GlyCat technology at the Bulyanhulu Gold Mine signifies a monumental shift towards more sustainable and cost-effective mining practices. Glycine Leaching Technology (GLT), leveraging glycine, a non-toxic and biodegradable amino acid, promises a substantial reduction in cyanide consumption by 80% without compromising gold recovery rates. This innovation not only aligns with the industry's growing emphasis on environmental responsibility but also presents significant economic advantages by lowering detoxification requirements and expenses. Read more about the GlyCat technology and its benefits.

Strategic Partnership for a Sustainable Future

The collaboration between Draslovka and Barrick Gold Corporation extends beyond the implementation of GlyCat. It encompasses a comprehensive testing program slated for 2024 across various mining sites. This partnership reflects both entities' dedication to setting new benchmarks for responsible mining practices worldwide. Barrick Gold's commitment to environmental sustainability and operational efficiency is well-documented, with the company posting positive earnings and achieving a production record in 2022. Furthermore, it has recently entered into a significant agreement with federal and Balochistan governments for a new mining project, underscoring its leadership in the global mining sector. Discover more about Barrick Gold's recent achievements and future plans.

Implications for the Mining Industry

The successful application of GlyCat technology at Bulyanhulu and the subsequent expansion of its use across Barrick’s operations could potentially set a new industry standard for gold and metal recovery processes. By demonstrating that it is possible to maintain high recovery rates while significantly reducing the environmental impact and operational costs, Draslovka and Barrick are leading the way toward a more sustainable and economically viable mining future. This partnership not only highlights the practical benefits of Glycine Leaching Technology but also reinforces the mining industry's capacity for innovation and adaptability in response to global sustainability challenges.

As the mining industry continues to evolve, the integration of environmentally friendly technologies like GlyCat could play a pivotal role in shaping its future. The collaboration between Draslovka and Barrick Gold Corporation exemplifies the potential for strategic partnerships to drive significant progress in operational efficiency, cost reduction, and environmental stewardship. As such, this development is not just a win for the involved companies but a beacon of hope for the broader mining sector striving towards sustainability and responsible resource extraction.

Draslovka and Barrick Gold Commence Commercial Use of Glycine Leaching Technology for Gold Mining

• Commercial use of GlyCat™ at Barrick’s Buylanhulu operation in Tanzania

• 80% reduction in cyanide consumption with no change to recoveries

• Strategic partnership to include broader testing programme spanning
•  multiple sites

February 29, 2024 09:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

PRAGUE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Draslovka a.s ("Draslovka"), a provider of sustainability-led technologies, reagents and services for mining and the energy transition, has progressed its previously announced partnership with Barrick Gold Corporation ("Barrick") and today announces the start of commercial use of its revolutionary glycine leaching technology for gold, GlyCat™ (“GlyCat”), at Barrick’s Buylanhulu operation in Tanzania. In addition, Draslovka and Barrick’s strategic partnership will now include a broader testing programme in 2024 that will span multiple mining sites.

“The application of GlyCat technology within our operations has significant potential to deliver improved operational efficiencies and cost savings, whilst also improving our environmental legacy. Consequently, we are very pleased to embark upon this strategic partnership with Draslovka to take advantage of this innovative technology across our global operations.”

Post this

At Bulyanhulu Gold Mine, the GlyCat pilot programme has led to an 80% reduction in cyanide consumption while achieving gold recoveries that are comparable to traditional cyanidation. With GlyCat as part of the process, the mine’s tailings show undetectable levels of WAD and are free of cyanide, thereby reducing detoxification requirements and costs.

Pavel Bruzek Jr, CEO of Draslovka, commented: “This licensing agreement follows a highly successful pilot programme that proved the major benefits GlyCat offers to the gold mining industry. GlyCat provides significant economic and sustainability benefits at a time when the future of mining is conditional on cost savings, sustainable operations and securing social license to operate. I look forward to continuing to work with Barrick and am confident others in the sector will soon see that GlyCat is revolutionary and its development will enable a major shift for the gold mining industry through massive economic and environmental benefits. Barrick was the first major mining company to recognise the potential glycine leaching offers and it is a pleasure and honour to work with the team on its commitment to sustainable operations.”

Simon Bottoms, Barrick Mineral Resource Management & Evaluations Executive, added: “The application of GlyCat technology within our operations has significant potential to deliver improved operational efficiencies and cost savings, whilst also improving our environmental legacy. Consequently, we are very pleased to embark upon this strategic partnership with Draslovka to take advantage of this innovative technology across our global operations.”

About Draslovka

Draslovka a.s. (“Draslovka”) is a chemical technologies, products and services company creating value and improving sustainability in several industries, including mining, agriculture and manufacturing. Today, Draslovka is best known as the world’s largest producer of sodium cyanide, a chemical vital for gold mining however its most important contribution to the sector is its Glycine Leaching Technology (“GLT”), the company’s proprietary technology that leaches metals (including gold, copper, nickel and cobalt) in a more sustainable and economic manner. Draslovka also manufactures other specialist chemicals and reagents and provides class-leading chemical application services to the mining and pest control industries as well as AI-enabled support services.

About Glycine Leaching Technology

Glycine Leaching Technology (“GLT”) uses glycine, a non-toxic, recyclable and biodegradable amino acid that is commonly used as a food additive, to recover gold, copper, nickel and cobalt. GLT was inspired by nature when researchers at Curtin University in Perth observed plants absorbing gold and other metals out of the soil through the presence of glycine, which carries those metals through the soil and into the plant.

GLT has the capacity to revolutionise the mining industry and the potential to save mining companies billions of dollars. GLT significantly reduces processing costs, enhances a mine’s sustainability profile and can extend mine life by lowering the cut-off grade or unlocking value hidden in a mine’s tailings. GlyCatTM technology for Gold from the GLT product family dramatically reduces cyanide usage while also lowering or in some cases completely eliminating detoxification measures. In select ores, the process also results in higher recoveries.

In 2023, Barrick Gold rolled out a global testing and implementation programme with the goal of using GlyCatTM to unlock substantive savings and generate value for its operations while also improving its environmental footprint.

About Barrick Gold

Barrick’s mission is to be the world’s most valued gold and copper mining business by finding, developing, and owning the best assets, with the best people, to deliver sustainable returns for our owners and partners.

Barrick is a sector-leading gold and copper producer, operating mines and projects in 18 countries in North and South America, Africa, Papua New Guinea and Saudi Arabia.

Barrick’s portfolio spans the world’s most prolific gold and copper districts and is focused on high-margin, long-life assets, with a highly diversified workforce drawn almost entirely from host nations and equipped with world-class skills.

The company’s shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol GOLD, and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol ABX.

Fleet Space joins Stanford Mineral-X program

March 4, 2024
Staff reporter



New research focused on improving mineral drill targeting using satellite connectivity and space-enabled geophysical sensors will be conducted at Stanford University in California, USA, under a collaboration with Australia’s Fleet Space Technologies.

Fleet Space, a privately-owned Adelaide firm, says it has worked with at least 35 mining and exploration companies, including Rio Tinto and Barrick Gold, on sub-surface surveys on five continents. It describes itself as a leader in space-enabled mineral exploration, with rapid relaying of results from its ExoSphere ambient noise tomography surveys enabled by its growing satellite constellation.

ExoSphere could deliver 3D subsurface models in days, rather than months with other methods.

The company has been named as an industrial affiliate of Stanford’s Mineral-X program.

“By engaging with Stanford University’s faculty and scientists at Mineral-X, Fleet Space will engage in joint research on technological innovation to accelerate sustainable mineral discovery in support of the global clean energy transition,” the company said.

Fleet Space chief scientist Gerrit Olivier said scalable 3D geophysical methods stood out as “the cornerstone for breakthroughs in exploration efficiency” in an era marked by declining mineral exploration success rates and rising demand for raw materials.

“These methods provide a vital foundation for multi-physics and ML technologies to enhance exploration success,” Olivier said.

Dr Jef Caers, professor of earth sciences at Stanford and founder of Mineral-X, said the university was “thrilled to work with Fleet Space to accelerate the development of a resilient supply chain for the minerals needed for clean energy innovation globally”.

“The technology developed by Fleet Space provides critical innovations in geophysical imaging needed to map orebodies with an accuracy not possible with current airborne and surface methods.”

As well as its terrestrial activities, Fleet Space said last November a variant of its ExoSphere technology, called SPIDER, would be deployed on the Moon as part of a NASA Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative to search for water ice deposits and deliver subsurface insight about the lunar regolith in 2026.

Recharge buys ‘highly sought-after’ Newnham Lake uranium project

4TH MARCH 2024 BY: CREAMER MEDIA REPORTER

Australia-listed Recharge Metals on Monday announced a binding agreement to acquire 100% of Newnham Lake uranium project in the Athabasca basin of Canada.

“The ongoing collaboration between Recharge and DGRM, which vended our Express lithium project, has forged a strong working relationship over the last year, resulting in the valuable opportunity for Recharge to successfully bid for the highly sought after Newnham Lake uranium project in the Athabasca basin,” commented Recharge MD Felicity Repacholi.

Historical drilling at Newnham Lake has confirmed the presence of uranium inthe system. However, drilling has only focused on the shallow Athabasca basin unconformity, with minimal drilling done in the underlying basement rocks.

“Advancements in the understanding of basement-hosted mineralisation has helped uncover some spectacular deposits, such as NexGen’s Arrow deposit. This basement-hosted geological model adds weight to the prospectivity of Newnham
Lake, as does the scale of the coincident low resistivity anomaly which is analogous to Arrow, and will be Recharge’s primary target,” said Repacholi.

Newnham Lake is near the north-east margin of the Athabasca basin and is about 56 km north-west of TSX-V-listed IsoEnergy’s Hurricane deposit, which has an indicated resource of 48.6-million pounds of uranium oxide (U3O8), based on 63 800 t grading 34.5% U3O8.

Recharge has received firm commitments for a A$1.44-million share placement to fund the acquisition and accelerate exploration activities at Newnham Lake project, with an additional A$50 000 to be placed to directors, subject to shareholder approval.

Complaint by Ecuadorian Indigenous Nation Asks British Columbia Securities Commission to Investigate Solaris Resources


Indigenous Organizations Unite Against Controversial Amazon Copper Mining Project

SUCÚA, Ecuador, OTTAWA, ON and OAKLAND, Calif., Feb. 29, 2024 /CNW/ - Today, the Shuar Arutam People (PSHA) filed a complaint against Solaris Resources Inc. (TSX: SLS) before the British Columbia Securities Commission over its failure to continuously disclose material information to shareholders regarding its Warintza mining project which overlaps PSHA's titled territory. In spite of PSHA´s explicit and continuous rejection of the Warintza project, Vancouver-based Solaris has kept moving forward with its mining plans in the Amazon, one of the most biodiverse areas on the planet. The complaint comes just days before the biggest mining conference in the world, the annual trade show of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) to be held March 3-6 in Toronto. Solaris, in the past, has used PDAC to showcase its "Warintza model" of community engagement as industry best practice.

Source: Government Council of the Shuar Arutam People (PSHA), Amazon Watch, MiningWatch Canada, WITNESS. (CNW Group/MiningWatch Canada)

The global rush for critical minerals to meet rising demand of the energy transition away from fossil fuels has seen mining companies rebrand themselves as a sustainable 'green' industry and allies in mitigating climate change. But, much like the legacy of oil extraction, mining projects continue to violate human rights, disrespect the rule of law, contribute to climate change, and threaten important ecosystems and biodiversity, particularly in places like the Amazon basin, which is at a dangerous tipping point of collapse.

According to the complaint, the company has been disclosing partial information regarding its relationships with Indigenous communities opposing the project, and fails in its obligation to regularly disclose Ecuador's political and legal risks that may impede development of mining activities. The complaint also shows Solaris' failure to formally disclose material risks indicates a lack of compliance with its obligations, and may mislead current and prospective investors, which warrants a deeper investigation.

As recognized by the Ecuadorian government, PSHA is the legal representative body of 47 communities with collective land title and ancestral possession of 232,500 hectares of territory in the Cordillera del Condor region of Ecuador's Amazon, and site of Solaris' flagship Warintza copper-gold project. PSHA has repeatedly expressed its opposition to the project. The government has failed to consult them as required by the Ecuadorian constitution and international Indigenous Rights obligations, nor has their consent for the project been obtained.

Instead of addressing the full scope of its legal Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) obligations, Solaris Resources has chosen to emphasize a "Strategic Alliance" with just two communities in the area, Yawi and Warintz, causing division and internal conflicts. However, it's important to note that neither of these communities can enter into a process of consultation or provide consent for land that is part of the collective PSHA territory. This has led to misleading implications for investors, suggesting that the company has secured the necessary "social license" to operate. This lack of FPIC puts the viability of the project at risk and opens the door to future litigation, similar to legal injunctions that have paralyzed neighboring mining projects.

The complaint arises as Chinese mining company Zijin Mining Group Co Ltd., along with its wholly-owned indirect subsidiary, Jinlong (Singapore) Mining Pte. Ltd. awaits approval from the TSX and Canadian securities regulators over its private placement of approximately 15% of Solaris' shares. According to financial analysts, this sale will trigger the Investment Canada Act, and could contradict Ottawa's policy of preventing Chinese companies from investing in Canadian-owned critical minerals projects.

Solaris also intends to list on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in 2024, where it could face a similar complaint as the one presented to the British Columbia Securities Commission.

The complaint also shows that Solaris' positive country outlook is unsupported. The company does not disclose growing anti-extraction sentiment throughout Ecuador, where twelve mining projects are paralyzed due to opposition and legal actions. Recent plebiscites have restricted mining in several provinces, as well as one Ecuador's largest oil reserves under Yasuni National Park. Indigenous and anti-mining civil society organizations have also threatened new protests.

A growing coalition of Indigenous organizations and civil society groups including the regional confederation of Amazonian indigenous peoples of Ecuador's Amazon - CONFENIAE, Amazon Watch, Mining Watch, Witness, and Nia Tero are joining PSHA in their demand that Solaris Resources cancel the Warintza project and the Ecuadorian government revoke all mining concessions on its territory.

This story reflects a pervasive trend of conflict between Canadian mining companies and Indigenous communities, exacerbated by a history of environmental and social harm documented in the recent report Unmasking Canada: Rights Violations Across Latin America. The complaint against Solaris Resources Inc. by the PSHA exemplifies the ongoing struggle for Indigenous rights and environmental justice, amidst a backdrop of increasing resistance to mining projects in Ecuador and beyond. As Indigenous groups mobilize against extractive industries, supported by civil society organizations, it underscores the urgent need to hold mining companies accountable for their actions and prioritize Indigenous rights and environmental protection over corporate interests.

Jaime Palomino, President of PSHA, elaborates: "The Shuar Arutam people have rejected the Warintza project for many years. Despite this, the company insists on promoting the project by dividing the communities and trying to reach agreements with other Indigenous organizations. Both the company and the Ecuadorian government should respect our own government structure and our autonomy. Therefore, we are unaware of and reject any agreement that is or has been signed on our behalf."

"Solaris is misleading existing and future investors about the Warintza project. The reality on the ground is far different than the rosy outlook the company paints in its disclosures and CSR presentations. No legally binding consultation for the project has been conducted. Solaris has merely deployed a divide and conquer strategy in an attempt to manufacture consent. Solaris continues to keep its shareholders in the dark that there is steadfast opposition to this project that puts its viability at risk" said Mary Mijares, Fossil Finance Campaigner at Amazon Watch.

"The Shuar have repeatedly asserted there exists no social license for Solaris Resources' flagship Warintza project, even as the Canadian company downplays strong and consistent opposition. Today's complaint filed with the BC Securities Commission by the Shuar Arutam People and allied organizations is one more avenue to have their voices heard, as Ecuadorian communities increasingly succeed in stopping projects they see as socially and environmentally harmful" says Viviana Herrera, the Latin America Coordinator for MiningWatch Canada.

BACKGROUND:

For over two decades, the Shuar Arutam People (PSHA), Southwest Ecuador, in the Amazonian province of Morona Santiago, in the Cordillera del Cóndor, have firmly expressed their opposition to extractive megaprojects, including mining in their territory. In 2019, they declared their lands "a territory of life (TICCA)" and launched an international campaign "The Shuar Have Already Decided: No Mining!" In January 2021, PSHA's Governing Council, together with Public Services International (PSI), filed a complaint with the ILO against the Ecuadorian government for violation of ILO Convention 169 and for violating their collective rights and not consulting them on projects being carried out on our territory.

In 2019, Solaris Resources acquired Lowell Mineral Exploration and the controversial Warintza Project, which has remained dormant since 2006 after PSHA evicted Lowell Mineral Exploration.

SOURCE MiningWatch Canada

CNW Group
Thu, February 29, 2024 

As batteries demand more cobalt, scientists figure out how to use less for blue pigments

Staff Writer | March 3, 2024

Claude Monet’s Water Lilies from his private collection.

 (Image in the public domain retrieved from Wikimedia Commons.)

Researchers have discovered a new cobalt-doped barium aluminosilicate colourant that withstands the high temperatures found in a kiln and provides a bright colour to glazed tiles.


In a paper published in the journal ACS Applied Optical Materials, the scientists point out that many brilliant blue pigments—like those in antique Chinese porcelain or works by Claude Monet—make use of cobalt-based compounds, including the famous “cobalt blue.”

In mineral form, the metal has high chemical and thermal stability, and those properties make cobalt aluminate one of the only pigments suitable for high-temperature applications, including pottery glazes.

Tiles produced bright colors when glazed with a new blue pigment (right row) or an acidified version of the pigment powder (left row). (Image by adapted from ACS Applied Optical Materials.)

Today, cobalt is used in lithium-ion batteries, and demand for the metal ore will likely increase as the need for battery power grows. As a result, scientists, including Peng Jiang and colleagues, are searching for alternative pigments that require fewer cobalt ions and still maintain a bright blue hue.

The team based their new pigment on a barium feldspar mineral (BaAl2Si2O8), which also features high temperature and chemical stability. Compounds containing barium, aluminum, silicon and cobalt were ground together, pressed into a sheet, then heated to above 2550 degrees Fahrenheit to form the pigment.

Then, the researchers mixed the powder into a ceramic glaze, sprayed it onto tiles, and fired them to produce glazed pieces of pottery.

The pigment was stable at temperatures up to 3200 degrees—well above the typical firing temperature of a pottery kiln—and only experienced slight colour changes when exposed to either acidic or alkaline solutions, demonstrating the compound’s stability.

Tiles sprayed with the pigmented glaze maintained a smooth, bright surface that deepened in colour as the cobalt concentration in the pigment increased.

The researchers say this new powder substantially reduces the amount of cobalt needed, resulting in a cheaper, easier-to-produce blue ceramic pigment.

Huayou Cobalt chief proposes battery material policy to tackle overcapacity

Reuters | March 4, 2024 | 

Credit: Huayou Cobalt

China should adopt measures to tackle overcapacity in the lithium battery material industry, the chairman of Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt proposed ahead of the country’s annual parliamentary meeting, state media reported on Monday.


Overinvestment led to “severe overcapacity” in the last year, said Chen Xuehua, who is a delegate to China’s National People’s Congress (NPC), which gathers in Beijing from Tuesday.

Chen cited “significant declines” in industry capacity utilisation.

“Some companies’ operations are facing great difficulties, there are suspended operations, falling prices, idled equipment and staff layoffs,” Chen said, according to a report by Shanghai Securities News.

China’s lithium iron phosphate capacity will reach 5.75 million metric tons in 2025, while global demand for the cathode material widely used in batteries is pegged at about 2.67 million tons that year, he added, citing industry data.

Chen, whose company is a major producer of battery materials nickel and cobalt, proposed that the government publish timely industry information, establish an alerting system to flag mismatch of resources, capacity and demand, and provide guidance on investment and development.

Regulations in Europe and the United States have made it harder to source waste batteries and recycled raw materials, posing challenges to China’s leading role in the lithium battery chain, said Chen, whose company recycles used batteries.

China should encourage more imports of used battery materials, especially hydroxide intermediate made from waste lithium batteries, including by lowering tariffs, he said.

China bans imports of used lithium batteries and black mass, the shredded material which comes from used batteries, which can include lithium, cobalt and nickel. These metals can then be extracted and used to make new batteries.

(By Siyi Liu and Emily Chow; Editing by Tony Munroe and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)

SASKATCHEWAN

BHP inks tentative sales deals for giant Jansen potash project

Staff Writer | March 4, 2024 |

The Jansen potash project. (Image courtesy of BHP.)

BHP (ASX: BHP) has signed non-binding sales agreements for all potash production from both phases of its giant Jansen potash project in Canada, as reported by Reuters.


The company aims to convert these agreements into firm offtakes within the next 12 to 18 months, according to BHP’s chief commercial officer Ragnar Udd.


In October, BHP announced a $4.9 billion investment in Stage 2 of its potash project in Saskatchewan to double capacity by the end of the decade.

This investment adds to the $5.7 billion that the world’s largest miner is already pouring into Stage 1 of Jansen, along with an initial investment of $4.5 billion before the project’s first phase was even approved.

BHP expects potash demand to increase by 15 million tonnes to roughly 105 million tonnes by 2040, representing a growth rate of 1.5% to 3% annually.

Jansen is expected to begin production in late 2026, ramping up to 4.35 million tonnes annually.

BHP anticipates Jansen becoming one of the world’s largest potash mines, doubling production capacity to approximately 8.5 million tonnes per year by late fiscal 2029.

The world’s biggest miner reported that the first stage of the project is 32% complete and progressing as scheduled. The second stage is expected to take six years and produce about 4.36 million tonnes a year at a capital intensity of about $1,050 per tonne.

BHP plans to sell potash to distributors, rather than directly to companies that re-sell the fertilizer to farmers, Udd said.

“Our opening (sales) approach doesn’t take us as far down the supply chain as potentially others do, which actually allows BHP to specialize in where we actually excel, in the rock production of resources,” Udd said.

Frontier Lithium, Mitsubishi form JV for Canadian lithium operations

Reuters | March 4, 2024 | 

The PAK lithium project in Ontario. Credit: Frontier Lithium

Canadian miner Frontier Lithium said on Monday it is forming a joint venture with Japanese trading house Mitsubishi to help advance lithium mining and processing in Ontario.


Frontier aims to become a major supplier of the commodity, a key mineral used in batteries for electric vehicles, to the North American supply chain.


The partnership will help finance Frontier’s PAK lithium project mine in Ontario and a planned lithium chemicals conversion facility, Frontier said.

As per the terms of the agreement signed last week, Mitsubishi would buy a 7.5% stake in the project for C$25 million ($18.44 million), with an option to increase it to 25%.

The PAK Lithium project encompasses about 27,000 hectares of land in Ontario, with two spodumene-bearing lithium deposits delineated since 2013. Spodumene concentrate is a type of lithium mineral ore.

($1 = 1.3560 Canadian dollars)

(By Kabir Dweit; Editing by Saumyadeb Chakrabarty)