Updates in Mining
Productivity Mega Deduction Makes Canadian Mining More Attractive
The Government of Canada has announced the Productivity Mega Deduction, a move that could see the northern nation become the most competitive mining tax jurisdiction the world has ever seen, according to the Mining Association of Canada (MAC). The Productivity Mega Deduction will allow miners to immediately deduct the full cost of numerous eligible depreciable assets once they are available for use. According to MAC, this will help improve project cash flow, lower the effective cost of investments in equipment and development, and even reduce the investment threshold for some projects.
House Passes the Protecting Domestic Mining Act
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed H.R. 1501, the Protecting Domestic Mining Act of 2025, codifying mining and mineral processing projects as covered under the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. The bill also prohibits implementation of a Biden-era proposed rule that would narrow FAST-41 coverage for mining projects to only critical-mineral mining projects, severely impeding domestic mineral investment and American resource independence.
U.S. DOE to Fund Advancement of Four Mining Technology Projects
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation has announced $73 million in funding through its Mine of the Future initiative for four projects that will advance technology in an effort to secure critical mineral supplies. “Investing in moving cutting-edge mining technologies out of the lab and into the field will help unleash America’s vast mineral resources,” U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said in a press release.
Lithium Carbonate Market to Surge
Research firm Mordor Intelligence has released a new report highlighting a significant anticipated uptick in the lithium carbonate market. According to the firm, the market will see a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22.74% over 2026-2031. Driving factors include automakers moving toward lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathode, as well the rise in energy storage deployments.
Updates in Fertilizer
Fertilizer From Plastic
In an effort to address the growing challenge around mounting plastic waste, researchers out of several universities in Japan have developed a plastic that is not only more flexible, but that can be converted into fertilizer after use. Through ammonia treatment and a specially designed plasticizer, researchers were able to convert both plasticizer and polymer into fertilizer. Read more from Chemical Online >>.
Updates in Chemical
A More Accessible Option to Convert CO2 into CO
Researchers at the University of Mississippi and Texas A&M have found a cheaper way to make a catalyst that turns captured carbon dioxide (CO2) into carbon monoxide (CO), which factories can use to make fuels, plastics, and pharmaceuticals. Instead of the small batches in use today, the new method would produce much larger amounts at once, overcoming the primary barrier to commercial adoption. The process could cost $145 per ton—about $255 less than current methods—with roughly 25% fewer emissions. Read more from Chemical Online >>.
Chemical Giants Focus on Iron Phosphate
Two European specialty chemical firms, Kemira and Lanxess, are separately advancing local production of iron phosphate for use in lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. Iron phosphate is a key ingredient in LFP batteries. LFP’s European market share is expected to jump 40% by 2030, driving new supply chains less reliant on Asian suppliers. Kemira is launching a pilot facility in Sweden, while Lanxess is opening a battery materials lab in Germany.
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