This week, secure critical mineral supply chains were on the agenda of governments around the globe: The U.S. is funding an Illinois project to extract rare earths from coal mine waste, while Canada invests in infrastructure to facilitate mining projects. Meanwhile, the Philippines and South Korea have elevated relations and will ramp up energy and critical minerals cooperation.
Critical Minerals From Coal Mine Waste: U.S. Government Funds Illinois Project
The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded funding to the Illinois Rare Earth Novel Extract & Supply (IRENES) project that plans to establish a supply chain for rare earths and other critical minerals located entirely within Illinois. The project will recover and concentrate raw materials from coal mine waste and convert other solid waste into building materials.
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Roads and Electricity: Canada Invests in Infrastructure for Critical Mineral Projects
Resource-rich Canada aims to become a leading producer of critical minerals for green and digital technologies. The government has now announced a multimillion-dollar investment to advance the necessary infrastructure. The funding will support several projects focused on extracting lithium and copper.
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UK Government Awards Millions in Funding to Boost Domestic Mining
The United Kingdom aims to boost its domestic mining industry and improve the supply of raw materials for green and digital technologies. To this end, a new Green Economy Centre at the University of Exeter will be funded with roughly $6 million. Industry representatives are also involved in the project.
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Cooperation on Energy, Critical Minerals: Philippines and South Korea Upgrade Ties
The Philippines and South Korea agreed to upgrade their relations to a strategic partnership aiming to deepen cooperation in various high-tech fields, including energy, critical minerals, artificial intelligence, 5G, and the defense sector. South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos signed the agreement in Manila.
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Battery Raw Materials: Associations Call for Strengthening the Circular Economy
End-of-life batteries as a resource: To bolster the supply for the electric vehicle sector, the Association of German Metal Traders and Recyclers (VDM) and the Federal Association of German Steel Recycling and Disposal Companies (BDSV) call for improved conditions for the circular economy. Key points of a new position paper include embedding recyclability in product design, harmonizing regulations, reducing bureaucracy, and increasing processing capacity for Black Mass.
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