FROM THE EDITOR OCTOBER 2021 Vol. 142 – No. 8
Recycling’s role in the energy transition Alisha Hiyate
T
he transition to a zero carbon economy has begun to accelerate and the mining industry is fortunate to play a starring role in it. This year Canada moved up its zero-emissions target for all new cars and light-duty passenger trucks sold in the country by five years to 2035 – matching the ambitious target set previously by Quebec. The federal government also made the target mandatory, instead of voluntary as it had originally been. Meanwhile, the United States wants 50% of vehicles sold in the country to be zero-emissions by 2030. And like the European Union, both Canada and the U.S. have pledged to reach overall carbon neutrality by 2050. Lithium-ion batteries are a key technology to help achieve these goals. But where will all the lithium, graphite, nickel and cobalt needed to produce them come from? The Global Battery Alliance, a public-private initiative of the World Economic Forum that aims to establish a sustainable and circular battery value chain, projects that global battery demand will grow by 25% annually to reach 2,600 Gwh in 2030. Looking further ahead, business intelligence firm IHS Markit estimates 9.3 million tonnes of lithium, 55 million tonnes of nickel, and 9.8 million tonnes of cobalt will be needed between 2020 and 2050 to meet global demand. The fact is that demand for battery minerals is likely to outstrip supply – especially given the long development time for a new mine. Sustainability and security of supply concerns that are encouraging battery manufacturers to build local supply chains and decrease reliance on China add another layer of complexity to the issue. It’s becoming clearer that to meet the coming demand for battery minerals, we don’t just need more mines. We also need more recycling. Currently, an estimated 1.3 million tonnes per year of raw battery materials is recycled across the globe, according to IHS Markit. But the company projects that market will need to grow to 3.5 million t/year by 2030 to keep up with demand for EV batteries. The good news is a significant portion of future demand can be met through recycling. IHS estimates 48% of lithium demand, 47% of nickel, and 60% of cobalt demand between 2020 and 2050 can be met through recycling. And recycling methods are advancing, with hydrometallurgical processes being used to recover more battery materials. Quebec is emerging as a leader on this front, and in this issue focused on “Clean Mining,” we look at the province’s efforts to establish itself as a North American leader in battery manufacturing and in battery recycling (see page 17). In keeping with the topics of clean mining and innovation, CMJ would like to invite you to our virtual Suppliers Symposium, set for Oct. 13-14. Under the theme “Reimagine Mining,” we’ll be looking at real solutions for the mining industry as it is challenged to deliver more of the minerals the world needs under increasingly high social and environmental standards. We hope to see you there along with keynote speakers Tony Makuch, president and CEO of Kirkland Lake Gold, and George Hemingway, managing partner and head of innovation practice at Stratalis. For more details, visit the Events section of our website. CMJ
4 | CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL
225 Duncan Mill Rd. Suite 320, Toronto, Ontario M3B 3K9 Tel. (416) 510-6789 Fax (416) 510-5138 www.canadianminingjournal.com Editor-in-Chief Alisha Hiyate 416-510-6742 ahiyate@canadianminingjournal.com Twitter: @Cdn_Mining_Jrnl Interim News Editor Marilyn Scales mscales@canadianminingjournal.com Production Manager Jessica Jubb jjubb@glacierbizinfo.com Art Director Barbara Burrows Advisory Board David Brown (Golder Associates) Michael Fox (Indigenous Community Engagement) Scott Hayne (Redpath Canada) Gary Poxleitner (SRK) Manager of Product Distribution Allison Mein 403-209-3515 amein@glacierrig.com Publisher & Sales Robert Seagraves 416-510-6891 rseagraves@canadianminingjournal.com Sales, Western Canada George Agelopoulos 416-510-5104 gagelopoulos@northernminer.com Toll Free Canada & U.S.A.: 1-888-502-3456 ext 2 or 43734 Circulation Toll Free Canada & U.S.A.: 1-888-502-3456 ext 3 Group Publisher Anthony Vaccaro Established 1882
Canadian Mining Journal provides articles and information of practical use to those who work in the technical, administrative
and supervisory aspects of exploration, mining and processing in the Canadian mineral exploration and mining industry. Canadian Mining Journal (ISSN 0008-4492) is published 10 times a year by Glacier Resource Innovation Group (GRIG). GRIG is located at 225 Duncan Mill Rd., Ste. 320, Toronto, ON, M3B 3K9. Phone (416) 510-6891. Legal deposit: National Library, Ottawa. Printed in Canada. All rights reserved. The contents of this magazine are protected by copyright and may be used only for your personal non-commercial purposes. All other rights are reserved and commercial use is prohibited. To make use of any of this material you must first obtain the permission of the owner of the copyright. For further information please contact Robert Seagraves at 416-510-6891. Subscriptions – Canada: $51.95 per year; $81.50 for two years. USA: US$64.95 per year. Foreign: US$77.95 per year. Single copies: Canada $10; USA and foreign: US$10. Canadian subscribers must add HST and Provincial tax where necessary. HST registration # 809744071RT001. From time to time we make our subscription list available to select companies and organizations whose product or service may interest you. If you do not wish your contact information to be made available, please contact us via one of the following methods: Phone: 1-888-502-3456 ext 3; E-mail: amein@glacierrig.com Mail to: Allison Mein, 225 Duncan Mill Rd., Ste 320, Toronto, ON M3B 3K9 We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada.
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