Updates in Mining
Cleveland-Cliffs Assessing Rare Earth Production
Steel producer Cleveland-Cliffs has announced the company could potentially enter the rare earths market. President and CEO, Lourenco Gonclaves commented on the topic in a recent statement: โWe have looked at all of our ore bodies and tailings basins, and two sites in particular, one in Michigan and one in Minnesota, show the most potential. At these two sites, geological surveys show key indicators of rare-earth mineralization. If successful, it would align Cleveland-Cliffs with the broader national strategy for critical material independence, similar to what we achieved in steel. American manufacturing shouldnโt rely on China or any foreign nation for essential minerals, and Cliffs intends to be part of the solution.”
U.S. and Australia Agree on Critical Minerals
The United States and Australia have signed a critical minerals deal in which each nation will contribute $1 billion towards mining projects that will reduce dependence on China – the fruits of a recent White House summit, according to Reuters.
U.S. Copper Smelters Get a Break
The White House has granted a reprieve to the copper industry, exempting facilities subject to a pollution rule known as The Copper Rule that tightened restrictions on smelter emissions, for a two-year period. In the proclamation, President Trump noted: โImposing these requirements on such a limited and already strained domestic industry risks accelerating further closures, weakening the Nationโs industrial base, undermining mineral independence, and increasing reliance on foreign-controlled processing capacity. Preserving all domestic smelting capability is essential to ensuring access to critical minerals in times of crisis.โ
U.S. Signs Deal on Nuclear Reactors
In another move targeting boosting domestic energy production, the U.S. government has signed a deal with Westinghouse Electric owners, Cameco and Brookfield Asset Management. In return for arranging financing and streamlining permitting of Westinghouse reactors, the U.S. government will receive a 20% share of future profits after Westinghouse has paid out profits of $17.5 billion to its owners. The government also has the option of turning that profit into an equity stake of up to 20% and requiring an initial public offering (IPO) by 2029 if Westinghouseโs value tops $30 billion, according to Reuters.
Updates in Fertilizer
Reducing Composting Emissions With Biochar
A meta-analysis of studies and composting trials has revealed that incorporating biochar into compost can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from organic waste recycling. The analysis found that both methane and nitrous oxide emissions were reduced during composting with the addition of biochar. CO2 emissions were unaffected. The study was published in the journal, Nitrogen Cycling.
Senator Baldwin Calls on Administration to Help American Farmers
Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin is calling for the Trump administration to reverse the decision that will see $20 billion in additional financial aid go to Argentina, claiming it prioritizes the needs of a foreign nation over domestic farmers. โInstead of prioritizing U.S. farmers and rural communities, the Administration has doubled down on aiding Argentina when family farmers are running out of time,โ a letter from Baldwin and other lawmakers said. Ongoing trade battles and other factors have already taken a toll on Americaโs competitiveness in key markets. Read more from Fertilizer Daily >>
Updates in Chemical
CO2 Could Serve as a Raw Material
Research published in the Journal of American Chemical Society shows how a new process can use carbon dioxide as a feedstock for producing industrial chemicals and other useful materials. Evonik Oxeno, along with researchers from the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis (LIKAT) and Ruhr University Bochum have developed an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional ester production using a novel catalyst system.
Making Jobs From Waste
The American Chemistry Council (ACC) has issued a press release with the groupโs recent findings around recovering plastics from municipal waste streams. According to ACC, if just 50% of plastics found in the municipal solid waste stream were diverted from landfills and instead recycled, the U.S. could add 173,200 jobs to the economy, as well as an additional $48.7 in annual economic output.
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