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China Recovers Iron Ore on the High

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The Ultimate Commodity Leader for Commodity Expansion

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Interview with Mr. Ludovic Donati.

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THE LEAD

08 Rio Tinto: The Ultimate Commodity Leader for Commodity Expansion

PROFILES IN MINING

30 Interview with Mr. Ludovic Donati. Group Chief Digital Officer, Eramet

SPECIAL FOCUS

38 Geotechnical Software, Finally a dry solution

26 China Recovers Iron Ore on the High

16 Michael C. Liptak, Co-Founder of ALL, Dies at 91

17 CR Meyer Announces Leadership Succession Plan

STATISTICS

46 May 2022 crude steel production 47 crude steel production December 2020

20 Geotechnical Services in Northeast Florida Boosted

20 UES Equipped with a $5M Contract by Florida Department of Transportation

22 Mining industries in India: India wants to take its metal-based industries to the next level

37 National award for Baltimore emergency repair project: EBA Engineering

UNDERGROUND MINING

18 Mining Equipment Industry Up To $133.2 Billion: 2026 Forecast

19 Wicheeda Rare Earth Ele-

42 USA Rare Earth, Gov’t to Bolster Domestic Mineral, EV Battery Supplies

44 Tennessee Valley Authority completes Boone Dam remediation project

ment Deposit Pit Slope

28 Engineering Projects of the Coming Age, What a Transformation!

SURFACE MINING

05 Palito output has ‘continued to improve,’ according to Serabi Gold

06 Iron Ore Revival 06 Nucor Expanding ON Steel Utility Structures: Acquires Manufacturers www.skillings.net | 3

PUBLISHER

2022 JULY VOL.111.

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Palito output has ‘continued to improve,’ according to Serabi Gold Serabi Gold, a Brazil-focused

miner, claimed "continued progress" in production from its Palito Complex in Brazil's Para State's Tapajos region.

Palito's output has continued to rise, with 2,949 ounces of gold produced in May, the best monthly amount thus far in 2022, according to the AIM-listed company.

"Production at the Palito Complex continues to grow, with 2,949 ounces of

gold produced in May, our best month so far in 2022," stated CEO Mike Hodgson.

"It's encouraging to see that the steps we implemented earlier this year are continuing to yield constant production ounces, and we're working hard to maintain and improve these levels in the months ahead."

www.skillings.net | 5

SURFACE MINING

Nucor Expanding ON Steel Utility Structures: Acquires Manufacturers

Iron Ore Revival With the re-opening of Shanghai and steps by the Chinese government to detail a series of stimulus measures, iron ore prices have regained significance in the eyes of investors.

According to trading on the SGX futures market in Singapore, the price of 62 percent Fe fines shipped to northern China increased by more than 7% last week, ending around $US142 per tonne in the first week of June.

That was an increase from the previous Friday's price of roughly $US131 per tonne.

That's still a long way off from the early-March 2022 high of $US171 a tonne, but it's close to where it was at the start of May. Iron ore prices, according to analysts, have found a floor as a result of increased supply concerns, which might lead to rises as Chinese stimulus measures enhance mood.

6 | SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW July 2022

Summit Utility Structures LLC and its affiliated firm, Sovereign Steel Manufacturing LLC, are producers of metal poles and other steel structures for utility infrastructure and highway signage, according to Nucor Corporation (NYSE: NUE).

These enterprises will become part of Nucor Towers & Structures, a new business entity that will serve the utility, transportation, and telecommunications sectors. While the acquired companies are well-suited to serve the Northeastern United States, Nucor's strategy is to build a nationwide footprint capable of serving all customers across North America.

Due to the replacement of outdated infrastructure, population expansion and migration, a focus on boosting electric grid dependability, and higher penetration of renewable energy and energy storage, the utility infrastructure industry is forecast to enter a phase of fast growth.

Additionally, the switch to 5G and the rise in wireless data consumption promote positive market trends for telecom towers. The highway signage market is also showing signs of strength, and it is likely to benefit as transportation authorities begin to put the recently enacted federal infrastructure package into effect.

THE LEAD

The Ultimate Commodity Leader for Commodity Expansion Rio Tinto provides ideal variety. The materials sector makes up only 2.8 percent of the S&P 500 index, and the metals and mining subsector makes up only 0.3 percent.

In 2021, the company generated $25 billion in cash flow, compared to $6 billion for Salesforce, which is worth 1.5 times Rio. Technology accounts for 27% of the market in the United States.

Rio Tinto is a market leader in iron ore and aluminum, with a top-tier copper growth profile. In the energy revolution, copper could become the "new oil."

Metals are extremely important in the global energy shift. Industrial metals provide one of the most significant development prospects in the future decade, with demand anticipated to put a strain on available supplies.

Rio Tinto provides growth, income (10%+), and diversification for all investors. Rio offers an incredibly asymmetric risk/reward opportunity, with the stock trading just above a strong 10-year support foundation.

Rio Tinto (NYSE:RIO) maintains a favorable risk/reward rating based on its unique portfolio

diversification benefits, leverage to secular growth patterns, and unusually asymmetric risk/reward profile.

Rio has top-tier copper growth potential, industry-leading aluminum profitability, and probably the best iron ore holdings in the world. A nearby technical support base that has evolved over the past 13 years, a discounted valuation, a 10% dividend yield, and a structurally bullish supply and demand balance for industrial metals over the next decade all support the downside.

8 | SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW July 2022

Rio Tinto has a very asymmetric risk/reward profile, with a fundamental upside potential of 104 percent to 161 percent and a present dividend yield of 10% or more. Over the next decade, the global infrastructure and energy transition boom will almost certainly underpin solid industrial metals markets.

www.skillings.net | 9

THE LEAD

Positive Risk/Reward Rating

according to the investment community.

As a result, many active managers use a technique known as "shadow indexing" to ensure that their performance does not stray greatly from their benchmarks.

While a tenfold increase in copper's price and it becoming the "new oil" are both plausible scenarios, it's crucial to consider the source. Goldman Sachs is a sell-side investment firm that specializes in helping companies, notably mines, raise finance.

However, looking ahead a decade, the following comments describe the most likely directional trend for copper, and industrial metals in general. The materials business, particularly the mining and metals industry, appears to be approaching exciting times.

Table 1. Source: State Street.

Diversification Rio Tinto is a global leader in iron ore and aluminum production, with one of the best copper growth profiles among its peers. As a result, Rio Tinto's investment rationale is dependent on global supply and demand for these important industrial commodities, as well as the company's competitive positioning.

The exceptional portfolio diversification that Rio Tinto offers to most of today's investors is an underappreciated feature of the Rio Tinto investment thesis. The increasing dominance of index funds in today's markets is well-known. Furthermore, the vast majority of active portfolio managers now underperform their index,

Rio Tinto is a global leader in iron ore and aluminum production, with one of the best copper growth profiles among its peers.

With the S&P 500 index serving as the barometer of "the stock market" for most professionals and many people's favorite investment vehicle, it's critical to know what "the market" has to offer. Using the holdings of the SPDR S&P 500 Trust ETF, the following table breaks down the sector weightings in the S&P 500 index (SPY). The table 1, published by State Street, shows how the bulk of today's investors have sector exposure in their portfolios.

The materials sector weighting in the U.S. stock market is highlighted in yellow (Rio Tinto is in the materials sector but is not in the S&P 500). With only 2.82 percent of the market, it's safe to say that most investors aren't familiar with the materials sector.

If the secular growth trends in the next decade match the first quotes, index investment is expected to underperform by a significant amount. The period following the 2000 tech boom provides a look into the prospect of long-term negative index performance. It took until 2013 for the S&P 500 to surpass its 2000 high.

When we look at the materials sector more closely, the exposure to the metals and mining business (Rio Tinto's subsector) is even more concerning from a diversification standpoint. The table below, prepared by State Street, lists all of the firms in the materials sector of the S&P 500 index.

The two businesses in the metals and mining subsector, as well as their total weighting in the S&P 500, are highlighted in yellow. Index investors, as

10 | SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW July 2022

well as many investors in portfolios that benchmark to the S&P 500 and similar indices have a 0.3 percent stake in what could be one of the most promising growth possibilities in the next decade.

Furthermore, Freeport-McMoRan (FCX) and Newmont (NEM), two similar businesses, effectively offer exposure to copper and gold. As a result, Rio Tinto provides investors with near-perfect diversification by giving meaningful exposure to iron ore, aluminium, copper, gold, and lithium, among other commodities.

Oyu Tolgoi is expected to produce 1 billion pounds of copper per year at peak stable production through 2041, with the potential to prolong the mine's existence for decades. If copper prices remain in the $4 to $6 range, Rio Tinto's cash flow potential at this level of production may vary from $2 billion to $3.6 billion per year, according to my calculations. This range represents a copper price movement of between -7 and +40 percent from today's pricing. This, in my opinion, is a conservative estimate of copper's future potential over the next decade.

In conclusion, by adding Rio Tinto to their portfolio, the majority of today's investors can attain a more efficient portfolio (the same or better-projected return with lower risk). Rio Tinto is a great way to diversify your portfolio.

The New Oil Is Copper Returning to the Weisenthal statements from earlier, Rio Tinto has a world-class copper portfolio with peer-leading growth potential. Rio offered to buy the entire shares of Turquoise Hill Resources (TRQ) that it did not already own in the first quarter, demonstrating its growth potential.

Turquoise Hill Resources is currently owned by Rio Tinto to the tune of just over 50%. Rio will hold 66 percent of the Oyu Tolgoi mine if the bid is accepted, with the Mongolian government owning the remaining portion.

With the start of the underground expansion, Oyu Tolgoi is now a tier-1 resource that is entering its most valuable phase of development. The underground mine will bring Oyu Tolgoi to its planned output capacity, as it contains far greater grades of copper and gold than the open-pit mine.

Table 2. Source: State Street.

www.skillings.net | 11

THE LEAD

A more positive scenario could emerge as a result of the energy transition, which has resulted in a structurally tight supply situation. If this happens, cash flows would jump from $2 billion to $3.6 billion per year at $4 to $6 copper, according to my calculations. Please note that my cash flow forecast includes Rio Tinto's 66 percent ownership of the Oyu Tolgoi mine and 330,000 ounces of gold production per year. For $2.7 billion, Rio is effectively acquiring 330 million pounds of anticipated and established copper production and 110,000 ounces of annual gold production. This appears to be a fantastic capital allocation decision. A new mine of this size would necessitate a far higher level of capital investment, a significantly longer time frame, and the extreme dangers that all new mine developments entail.

PORTFOLIO OF COPPER

Rio Tinto has built a formidable copper portfolio that includes world-class assets. Rio Tinto, for example, owns a 30% stake in the world's largest copper mine, Escondida in Chile. Rio Tinto owns a 55 percent stake in the Resolution Copper mine in Arizona, which, if fully operational, could supply 25% of the U.S.' annual copper consumption for the next forty years.

Rio will hold 66 percent of the Oyu Tolgoi mine, which is expected to become the world's fourth-largest copper mine, as previously stated. Finally, the firm owns the Kennecott copper mine in Utah, which 12 | SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW July 2022

has been producing since 1906 and is the world's deepest open pit mine. This mine has been renovated to ensure that it can continue to produce for at least another decade.

The price range for Rio Tinto shares is $36 to $89, with $36 to $62 being the most likely scenario several years hence.

Please keep in mind that these per-share valuations solely apply to Rio's copper holdings. With Rio Tinto's stock nearing $74 per share and copper accounting for only 12% of the company's current revenue, the copper analysis shows that Rio Tinto's stock has significant upside potential.

Copper is a worldwide commodity with a fluctuating market price.

Production disruptions in the mining industry are common owing to a variety of natural and recurring events, such as equipment problems, labor strikes, and natural catastrophes.

FORECAST FOR COPPER

In the short term, the global economic downturn, which coincides with new production coming online and production recoveries from the COVID delays, appears to be causing copper supply to exceed demand. Copper inventories, on the other hand, are around 16-year lows.

With copper's growing relevance in the energy transition (see "Global Growth Opportunity" in my previous research), industry and government actors would be wise to restock inventory of a mission vital commodity as soon as possible. As

a result, the price of copper is anticipated to be well-supported near current levels, with the caveat that downside volatility could emerge if the world enters a recession. Regardless, the outlook for copper over the next decade appears to be very positive.

Copper is a worldwide commodity with a fluctuating market price. Production disruptions in the mining industry are common owing to a variety of natural and recurring events, such as equipment problems, labor strikes, and natural catastrophes. As a result, if manufacturing is disrupted, a "little excess" can turn into a material deficit. Copper inventories are reaching 16-year lows, exacerbating the lack of tolerance for a mistake.

While copper is theoretically stretched to the upside in comparison anticipated COVID price decline in the first half of 2020, it has been consolidating sideways for nearly a year. As a result, copper is not technically overextended when measured over a one-year period. Nonetheless, investors should be aware that the $3.50 to $3.90 range could be tested. If this happens, copper stocks will likely see significant downward volatility, providing an attractive entry point for investors eager to accumulate shares.

The possibility of a near-term copper correction, as well as the resulting volatility in copper equities, emphasizes a key pillar of Rio Tinto's investment case: diversity. While a copper bellwether like Freeport McMoRan would certainly see a significant selloff in a near-term copper correction, Rio Tinto's shares should see far less volatility because copper accounts for only 12% of the company's current operations. Rio Tinto's copper case revolves around its long-term growth goals, which are well linked with the possibility of supply shortages by the middle of the decade.

HALCOR PRODUCTS Copper tubes with or without lining or industrial insulation for applications in: • Drinking water and heating networks • Underfloor heating and cooling • Gas and medical distribution networks gases • Cooling and air conditioning systems • Solar energy applications • Various industrial applications

The copper segment of ElvalHalcor S.A. is composed of six subsidiaries and seven associates/joint ventures, based in Greece, Belgium, Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey, while it operates a total of five production plants in Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey.

The copper segment of ElvalHalcor S.A. develops and distributes a wide range of products, including copper and copper-alloy rolled and extruded products with Halcor being the sole producer of

Halcor is the copper tubes division of ElvalHalcor S.A. and together with four more companies form the copper segment of ElvalHalcor S.A. that specializes in the production, processing and marketing of copper and copper alloys products with dynamic commercial presence in the European and global markets. For more than 80 years, Halcor has been offering innovative and added-value solutions that meet contemporary client demands in fields, such as plumbing, HVAC&R, renewable energy, architecture, engineering and industrial production.

copper tubes in Greece. High quality in production is achieved through strict controls applied throughout the production process. With a consistent quality focus, the company implements an ISO 9001:2015 Certified Quality Management System and leverages high technologies and expert staff.

As a result of the Group’s strategic investments in research & development, Halcor is recognized as one of the leading copper producers globally, setting new

standards in copper processing. The company maintains a consistent focus on quality and environmental protection and a strong commitment to the principles of sustainable development. In this context, all production facilities in the Group’s plants leverage advanced technologies to bring in the market innovative products that are energy efficient and environmentally friendly.

For more information, please visit our website www.halcor.com www.skillings.net | 13

THE LEAD

comparable firm for Rio Tinto's aluminum business. Furthermore, the aluminum businesses of Alcoa and Rio Tinto are nearly the same size in terms of sales.

Aluminum Due to the desire for "light weighting" to reduce energy consumption across the global economy, the aluminium industry is likewise undergoing a structurally optimistic transformation. The most significant and positive structural shift, however, is coming from China. As can be seen in the slide below from my last analysis, China has halted aluminum capacity expansion, which has been flat since 2017. This seismic change is transforming the global aluminum market into a more economically stable supply dynamic, which will likely support higher prices in the medium to long term.

One of the most carbon-intensive metals to manufacture is aluminum. Given China's carbon target obligations and global trade tensions, the structural supply limitation is very likely to persist.

Rio Tinto is one of the world's most efficient aluminum industries in terms of carbon footprint. Rio Tinto has a competitive cost advantage as carbon prices rise and carbon becomes more of a cost.

Coal is used to power 60% of the global aluminum industry. Aluminum prices will be pushed up as the cost of these coal operations continues to rise. As a result, Rio Tinto should see much better profit margins.

PROFITABILITY OF ALUMINUM

Rio Tinto is, in fact, the industry leader in terms of profitability. Alcoa (A.A.) is a bellwether in the aluminum industry, similar to Freeport McMoRan in the copper industry, and serves as a good 14 | SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW July 2022

Rio Tinto's aluminum division generated 159 percent of Alcoa's EBITDA in 2021 and nearly twice as much in 2020, on roughly equal sales. Rio Tinto's aluminum business, in comparison to Alcoa and the industry as a whole, clearly warrants a significant premium in terms of valuation.

When discounting the cash flows of each firm, Rio Tinto's aluminum division has a lower discount rate than Alcoa's, which enhances the value premium resulting from Rio's considerably superior profitability.

Ore of Iron Rio Tinto's copper and aluminum divisions are minor in comparison to its iron ore industry. The price of iron ore has risen in recent years, resulting in phenomenal cash flow for Rio Tinto.

Using EBITDA as a cash flow proxy, the iron ore industry earned roughly $28 billion in 2021 alone.

Rio Tinto is currently valued at $124 billion, or 4.5 times its iron ore EBITDA and 3.2 times its total EBITDA for 2021. The market anticipates iron ore prices to trend toward the mid-$80 per tonne level in the next years, which explains the incredibly low valuation. In 2021, the average price will be around $147, while in 2020, it will be around $103.

Going ahead, the central predicted trend toward the mid-$80 range through 2025

appears to be a reasonable baseline assumption. Prior to the recent price rise, this price projection represented the upper end of the iron ore trading range between 2016 and 2020. For iron ore, this is expected to be a strong support zone.

As a result, Rio Tinto's iron ore results from 2018 to 2020 provide a high-confidence projection of long-term iron ore earnings.

Range of Potential Returns Rio Tinto, on the other hand, is currently trading around the $74 level. Much, if not all, of Rio Tinto's present valuation is accounted for by the $74 to $90 valuation projection for the iron industry. When looking out several years, the range of projections for the copper and aluminum businesses was $53, $79, and $106.

It's important to remember that Rio Tinto pays a sizable dividend. At today's pricing, the base dividend for 2021 corresponds to a 10%+ yield. This is a sizable profit in and of itself. Rio has most certainly reached the limit of its payout capabilities for the time being, given the size of the dividend payment. Rio should continue to be a top income producer regardless of the shortterm payout policy.

Lithium Before moving on to a technical analysis and closing remarks, it's worth noting that Rio Tinto is seeking significant growth prospects in the lithium mining industry.

As the automotive sector cranks up E.V. production, lithium costs are soaring.

Lithium prices, for example, increased by 576 percent in Q1 2022 compared to Q1

2021, according to Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM).

The energy shift and tight supply conditions have put a strain on global commodity production capacity, and lithium is an ideal example. In a commodity bull market, it also highlights the very real prospects for other metals. Rio Tinto is developing two big projects, each capable of producing around 50,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium per year.

One project is moving forward, while another is on hold while the Serbian government evaluates it. In the end, lithium

is a fantastic development potential, and Rio Tinto's actions indicate that it aims to be a major player in the industry. Rio Tinto has excellent growth opportunities as the energy shift takes shape.

Technicals The technical backdrop for Rio Tinto is one of extraordinarily strong longterm support with minimal evident resistance. A theoretically asymmetric risk/reward opportunity exists due to the lack of technical overextension, minimal observable resistance, and strong support nearby.

Summary Rio Tinto has a very asymmetric risk/ reward profile, with a fundamental upside potential of 104 percent to 161 percent and a present dividend yield of 10% or more.

Over the next decade, the global infrastructure and energy transition boom will almost certainly underpin solid industrial metals markets. Rio Tinto is a best-in-class blue chip on the verge of a historic boom cycle, providing ideal diversification for all portfolios.

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fryberger.com www.skillings.net | 15

SURFACE MINING

Michael C. Liptak,

Co-Founder of ALL, Dies at 91 The principal architect of the heavy lift equipment rental category and driving force behind The ALL Family of Companies has passed away. Michael C. Liptak was 91.

Together with his wife, Marvine, and brothers Lawrence and Jake, Michael C. Liptak founded ALL Erection & Crane Rental in Cleveland, Ohio, with just a single crane in 1964. Through the decades, it grew into the largest privately held crane rental company in North America, boasting 33 branches across the continent, a fleet of more than 3,500 cranes, and an employee roster totaling more than 1,500.

At the time of ALL’s founding, most contractors had to purchase and maintain their own cranes. Michael and his inner circle saw a customer need, bought their own crane, and began renting it. In the process, they created a new category— crane rental—and backed it with hard work, reliable products, and outstanding customer service. In doing so, they laid the foundation for a company that would stand the test of time.

Michael C. Liptak was a blue-collar guy from a blue-collar city, and he built his business through sweat, time, and a handshake that was his bond. In the world Mike and his brothers grew up in, nothing came easy, but he wanted to make life a little easier for the working people who relied on heavy lift equipment to do their jobs—because he was one of them.

Up until his final days, Mike was still involved in daily life at ALL, visiting branches and offering his advice and 16 | SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW July 2022

broke, and saved enough to buy new ones when they were needed. From that foundation, he built everything we know here at ALL.”

Michael C. Liptak, the Big Mike Known to many as Big Mike, he never stopped being excited about the basics of the business, perhaps best characterized by the kid-like way he felt compelled to go out and operate any new crane the company had acquired. You can’t keep an operator out of the seat, and Mike was an operator at heart.

From his blue-collar beginning to creating a business enterprise, from his charming smile to his ability to raise pulses, Mike was about balance.

If you met him in a restaurant, casino, or auction, you felt his warmth and fun and kindness pour over to you. If you met the man who built the business, you know he was tough and strong and took creating an industry from nothing seriously. He was serious, and he challenged others to take this enterprise as seriously, simply because he knew it mattered.

expertise. He was well known to weigh in on critical—or even seemingly mundane— business issues, because even if he had handed off the mantle of responsibility, he never stopped carrying the weight of his life work. He pushed those around him to be the best they could be. And he could be that type of leader because there wasn’t a thing he hadn’t done.

“Before there was an ALL Crane,” explained Mike’s son, Michael L. Liptak, current CEO and president of the company, “there was a man driving dump trucks in a quarry. He drove truck, operated cranes, fixed cranes when they

“Everything Dad did was for the thousands upon thousands for whom he provided jobs over the years,” said Michael. “That was never lost on me or the rest of the second and now third-generation family working at ALL. We were all lucky to have the shade of his mighty shadow.”

Michael credits his father’s vision for helping to guide the company to its current success. Always about balance, Mike knew that steady growth coupled with impeccable quality were the keys to longevity. His instincts proved correct, as the company he founded approached its 60th year.

CR Meyer Announces Leadership Succession Plan With over 130 years of history and experience, CR Meyer’s mission is to be a trusted expert in industrial contracting; to drive the success of our industry partners in safely visualizing, designing, and building their future. CR Meyer board views succession planning as one of its most important roles in the viability of the company.

CR Meyer announced the following promotions within the senior management team. Fred Pinkerton Jr., currently

Chairman of the Board, has been named Chairman Emeritus. Phillip Martini, currently Chief Executive Officer (CEO), has been named Chairman of the Board.

Darren Lett will continue his role as President and assume the responsibilities of CEO. Effective January 1, 2023, Mark Delvaux, currently Vice President of Design/Build, will assume the responsibilities of President. Larry Brown, Project Director, was promoted to Vice President of Operations.

Greg Jacobsen, General Manager, promoted to Vice President of Preconstruction.

Yates Vanden Heuvel, General Manager of Fabrication, was promoted to Vice President of Fabrication. Adam Swanson, a Senior Structural Engineer, was promoted to General Manager of Design/ Build. Jason Bode, Project Director, was promoted to General Manager of the Byron, Georgia, office. “I am proud of all the accomplishments CR Meyer has seen over the years,” said Martini.

Proud to be your reliable partner.

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www.skillings.net | 17

UNDERGROUND MINING

2 0 2 6 FO R ECAST

Mining Equipment Industry Up To $133.2 Billion During the years 2022-2026, the worldwide mining equipment market is estimated to reach US$133.2 billion, rising at a CAGR of 5.00 percent. Increased coal consumption in China, increased underground copper production, increased mineral fertilizer sales, increased demand for cobalt batteries, and increased usage of electric gear in underground mining will all contribute to the market's growth.

E

xports of secondhand mining machinery to developing countries, on the other hand, would pose a threat to market expansion, as would strict limitations on mining activities. Upsurge in copper consumption in passenger vehicles, accelerating capital spending in the mining industry, using telematics in mining gear, and expanding use of outsourcing equipment are only a few prominent trends.

18 | SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW July 2022

Due to the development of new mining tools and machines, the mining equipment industry is rapidly developing worldwide. As digitization and automation gain traction, technology is becoming a major differentiating feature for manufacturers and mining firms.

Key players are concentrating on lowering extraction and equipment maintenance costs. Furthermore, the sector is seeing the widespread implementation of several

clusters of technologies, such as robots and automation, smart sensors, and 3D printing, to improve operational efficiency, which is significantly fueling market expansion.

The market is examined across Asia-Pacific, North America, Europe, and the Rest of the World. The Asia-Pacific area has the biggest market share for mining equipment, with India, Australia, and China accounting for most of the region's income.

Wicheeda Rare Earth Element Deposit Pit Slope Geotechnical, Resource Delineation, And Exploration To Begin In 2022 Defense Metals

Figure 1. Wicheeda REE Deposit Cross Section and 2021 Drilling Results (CNW Group/Defense Metals Corp.) Figure 2. Wicheeda REE Deposit North Area Cross Section (CNW Group/Defense Metals Corp.)

D

efense Metals Corp. has announced the start of diamond drilling at its Wicheeda Rare Earth Element (REE) discovery.

The Company intends to drill up to 5,000 meters of diamond drilling to further delineate existing resources, assess near-deposit exploration targets, collect geotechnical and hydrogeological drilling for optimization of open pit slope design, and generate additional REE mineralized material for metallurgical testing.

the 2021 drilling (Figure 2). Drill holes WI21-33 and WI21-40 produced 3.79 percent TREO over 150 meters, with 4.77 percent TREO over 60 meters1 extending 80 meters beyond the present mineral resource and 40 meters beyond the restricting pit shell.

Up to 1,500 meters of pit geotechnical and hydrogeological drilling, 1,500 meters of resource delineation and near-resource exploration drilling, and up to 2,000 meters of 8.5 cm diameter PQ core for continued metallurgical testing are expected to be included in the Wicheeda REE diamond drill campaign in 2022.

The drill program for 2022 started from existing drill pads established in the northern part of the Wicheeda REE Deposit in 2021, which yielded some of the greatest grade x width intercepts of www.skillings.net | 19

UNDERGROUND MINING

UES Equipped with a $5M Contract by Florida Department of Transportation GEOTECHNICAL SERVICES IN NORTHEAST FLORIDA BOOSTED Universal Engineering Sciences® (UES), an Orlando-based national leader in geotechnical engineering, construction materials testing, building code compliance, threshold inspections, and environmental consulting, has been awarded a $5 million contract by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to provide geotechnical expertise on transportation projects in District 2, which spans 18 counties in northeast Florida.

This year's services are expected to commence in the third or fourth quarters.

Subsurface exploration, lab testing, geotechnical design services, CADD drafting, Geographic Information System services, 20 | SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW July 2022

dynamic pile testing, and inspection, drilled shaft/auger cast pile testing and review, and emergency sinkhole response are among the services provided by UES' Gainesville and Jacksonville branches.

"As Florida's population continues to grow, this substantial grant allows UES to continue its long history of cooperating with FDOT to expand and enhance the state's infrastructure system," stated UES CEO Dave Witsken. "We are excited to be the geotechnical experts for transportation infrastructure development in District 2 and look forward to getting started on the contract."

UES is currently working for the Florida Department of Transportation on a number of projects, including the design and construction of the new I-275 Howard Frankland Bridge in Tampa, the

Miami Signature Bridge, and I-95/I-595 improvements in Ft. Lauderdale, as well as hundreds of other projects across the country. The I-4 Direct Connect ramps were also recently built by UES. UNIVERSAL ENGINEERING SCIENCES (UES)

Universal Engineering Sciences, based in Orlando, has nearly six decades of experience in geotechnical engineering, construction materials testing, building code compliance, threshold inspections, and environmental consulting.

UES is regarded as an industry pioneer, and it is at the cutting edge of innovative technology, best practices, and relevant

legislation. Projects range from transportation and healthcare to commerce and education and involve both public and private clientele.

Engineers, geologists, certified inspectors, and scientists at UES are committed to excellence and treat each project as an opportunity to build long-term client relationships. The company's principal investor is BDT Capital Partners.

UES has made a commitment to grow organically and through intelligent acquisitions. UES has locations in Texas, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, North and South Carolina, Metro DC, California,

Utah, Nevada, Missouri, Illinois, Kansas, Nebraska, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Arkansas, among other high-growth markets in the South, Midwest, and West.

UES was ranked number one on the Zweig Group Hot Firm List, which recognizes the industry's fastest-growing firms, and number 42 on the ENR Top 500 List.

UES consults on projects of all kinds, with approximately 3,100 professionals spread across 67 locations in nearly 20 states, to assist deliver required infrastructure and creating safe and thriving communities.

SOLVING YOUR MOST COMPLEX CHALLENGES. With SEH, you are a true partner and collaborator.

Engineers | Architects | Planners | Scientists 800.325.2055 | sehinc.com/subscribe

www.skillings.net | 21

UNDERGROUND MINING

Mining industries in India

India wants to take its metal-based industries to the next level India has the world’s fourth greatest coal reserves. In ad-

dition, the country is the world’s second-largest coal importer. Also, India is rich in owning metal-based industries. Mining is one of the key industries that propel an economy forward. It contributes to GDP and serves as a stimulant for expanding other major industries such as power, steel, and cement.

A

s a result, they’re crucial for the economy’s general growth.

According to the findings, a 1% increase in the mining growth rate results in a 1.2–1.4% increase in the expansion of mining industries in India.

India’s GDP is increasing. The majority of minerals are abundant in India. There are 87 minerals produced in the country, including four fuel minerals, ten metallic minerals, 47 non-metallic minerals, three atomic minerals, and 23 minor minerals (including building and other materials).

This means there is a good scope of metal and mining industries in India.

Future of the Mining Industry in India India is the world’s second-fastestgrowing economy despite the global slowdown, trailing only China. Minerals, as well as mining services, are in high 22 | SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW July 2022

demand in the country. It is becoming more organized in India, and firms are beginning to outsource parts of their projects to mining service companies.

Contract mining could prove to be a viable solution to the country’s ongoing coal shortage. Besides this, if someone is looking for a career change or looking for something different, you can enter India’s metal-based industries.

Advantages of the Metal And Mining Industry in India An increase in infrastructural construction is fueling growth. The metal and mining industries in India also benefit from the rise of the power and cement industries. Iron ore exports reached US$ 2.23 billion in FY22 (through August 2021), an increase of 21.8 percent, according to the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence & Statistics, Metal Industries in India, like steel and

alumina, India has a reasonable cost of production and conversion advantage. The number of reporting mining industries in India is expected to be 1,245, including 525 reporting mines for metallic minerals and 720 reporting mines for non-metallic minerals as of FY22.

Size of the Market In Financial Year 2021, the country produced 715.95 million tonnes (MT) of coal. India produced 379.597 million tonnes of coal between April and October 2021. (MT). Metal industries in India are the world’s fourth-largest producer of iron ore. In FY21, iron ore production was 204.48 million tonnes. India produced 204 MT of iron ore from April 2021 to January 2022.

India has a total of 878 steel factories manufacturing crude steel in FY20. In FY21, India produced 103.54 million tonnes of crude steel. According to statistics enthusiasts, India’s crude steel output increased 46.9% yearly to 9.2 million tonnes in May 2021, up from 5.8 million tonnes in May 2020.

India’s steel production will expand by 18% by FY22, reaching 120 million tonnes (MT). In FY21, India produced 102.49 million tonnes (MT) of crude steel, down from 9.5 MT in September 2021. SAIL produced 1.55 MT of hot metal, 1.44 MT of crude steel, and 1.46 MT of saleable steel in September 2021.

In FY21, India’s total aluminium production (primary and secondary) was 4.1 MT, making it the world’s second-largest. Between April 2020 and January 2021, aluminium output was 3,285,186 tonnes. As of 2021, India is the world’s second-largest coal producer. With a production of 99.6 MT in 2020, India would be the world’s second-largest crude steel metal based industry.

FloLevel Technologies www.skillings.net | 23

UNDERGROUND MINING

All About Metal And Mining Industries In India Metal and mining industries in India use many different types of equipment as mining can take place on the surface or underground. The medium and type of material to be extracted determine the form of extraction required and the equipment used. Mining industries in India undergo three main steps of surface and underground mining.

Extraction: It involves blasting, drilling, or digging to remove material from the mine site.

Material handling: This includes sorting and loading materials for delivery to a waste area or a disposal site.

Material processing: The final stage involves crushing, separating, crushing, refining, and smelting the mined ore or other goods in the off-site plant to turn them into finished products.

As aforesaid, mining industries in India do two types of mining, i.e., surface mining and underground mining. This is not only true for mining industries in India but also true for metal based industries in India.

So, let’s talk about it part by part.

Surface Mining Surface mining encompasses many techniques and is the most common method for non-combustible minerals, producing 97% of the volume mined.

Miners choose to mine the surface to find ore near the surface.

There are three main ways to mine the surface. These methods include quarrying, strip mining, and surface mining.

In quarries, miners can carve hard rock blocks for ornamental purposes, such as granite for construction. However, quarrying can also refer to the extraction of gravel, crushed stone, and sand using the same techniques as surface mining.

24 | SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW July 2022

Mining Industry in India has the significant potential for a new mining capacity of iron ore, bauxite, and coal and significant opportunities for future underground mining exploration. Infrastructure projects provide lucrative business opportunities for metal industries in India, like steel, zinc, and aluminum.

The third type of surface mining is surface mining, which mainly mines thin layers of coal near the surface. Another technique is underground silver mining. Sometimes removing the top of a hill with dynamite to reveal the rock material underneath is the first step in creating an open-pit mine.

The rotary drill creates holes used to introduce explosives for this process.

Underground Mining India is one of the leading countries in the production of metals and minerals.

The country has a significant share in metal-based industries, such as copper, iron ore, and zinc. The underground metal industries in India are worth over $1 billion. The sector employs more than 800,000 people and contributes to nearly 1% of the country’s GDP. Minerals, ores, metals, or other deep underground assets require different mining techniques. Mining can involve hard rock or soft rock, requiring specific tools to extract the material. For example, tools used to excavate soft material may

not provide enough power to cut through hard rock. The use of mining equipment for underground mining includes process automation and zero-emissions facilities to keep miners safe.

Retreat Mining: This type follows the mining of rooms and turrets until the end of mining in the room. This method removes the pillars for their ore content for maximum material recovery.

Types of underground mining include:

Explosive Mining: Explosive mining uses explosives to loosen rock and open up mining space, especially to remove hard rock from underground or surface mines.

Room and Pillar Mining: Miners create ore columns to support the ceiling as they mine the rest of the desired material from space. The system can also use a continuous extraction system to extract materials instead of labor.

and significant opportunities for future underground mining exploration.

Infrastructure projects provide lucrative business opportunities for metal industries in India, like steel, zinc, and aluminum.

Iron and steel are essential components of the real estate sector. Demand for these metal and mining industries in India will increase due to strong growth expectations in the commercial and residential construction sectors. So, if you like to be a part of the mining industry in India, contact skillings.net to get the best deal.

Conclusion Mining Industry in India has the significant potential for a new mining capacity of iron ore, bauxite, and coal

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SPECIAL FOCUS

China's Slow Return to Recovery Due to a new COVID-19 epidemic, Chinese manufacturing activity has been on the decline in the first half of 2022.

However, the market has exhibited indications of revival since mid-May, particularly in Shanghai, the country's economic capital. Steel demand, however, is expected to stay low until manufacturing production returns to normal in June, according to experts.

China's manufacturing production index for steel consumption declined by 28 points from 2021 and 16 points in 2020, according to S&P Global Commodity Insights. These aren't exactly encouraging data, and despite the stimulus package, economists are concerned about the pace of recovery.

China Recovers Iron Ore on the High China's industrial industry has been hit hard by the country's restrictions and lockdowns this year.

Chinese steel mills are increasing production now that the country is beginning to open up its economy.

Iron ore prices are rising, but some analysts say it's merely a dead cat bounce.

Despite the first signs of a prospective manufacturing revival,

China's steel sector is still on the verge of collapse. Last Monday, though, benchmark iron ore prices in the country rose by a surprise 7%. This is the highest daily gain in over two months. Is this an indication that we should be more optimistic, or is it just a dead cat bounce!

26 | SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW July 2022

India Tariffs are being Fought Hard The 7% increase in iron ore futures indicated earlier is perplexing. To begin with, it follows India's decision to raise export tariffs on several commodities to reduce inflationary pressures. The country raised tariffs on iron ore and steel intermediates in particular.

This includes increasing the taxes on new iron ores and concentrates from 30% to 50%. Pellet tariffs, on the other hand, increased from zero to 45 percent. Tariffs on coking coal and coke were eliminated entirely, according to research.

The most actively traded iron ore futures on the Dalian Commodity Exchange (for September delivery) were up 4.4 percent in the first week of June, trading at $129.18 (864 yuan) per tonne.

This came after a 6.9% increase, which was the largest since May 6. According to some experts, India's decision may not have as great of an impact on China's iron

ore inventories as previously assumed.

After all, in 2021, it only accounted for approximately 3% of China's overall imports. The same can be said for this year's first four months. Due to rising demand in India and declining iron ore prices, Chain's buy rate from the subcontinent has remained low.

Despite this, China's iron ore prices are rising.

Iron ore prices are expected to rise again, according to recent reports. They mentioned the Chinese government's surprisingly large drop in the benchmark interest rate for mortgages as an example.

Indeed, the stock market reacted rapidly to the news.

On May 20, spot 62 percent iron ore for delivery to north China was up to $135.90 a tonne, according to a report. That's a 5.7 percent gain from the day before and the best close since May 6. The Dalian Commodity Exchange's domestic iron ore futures were also higher. On May 20, they increased by a far more moderate 3.4 percent to $123.62 (827 yuan) per tonne.

more, preliminary indications suggest that China was already on its way to raising steel output following the lifting of some COVID-19 restrictions and the phasing down of winter pollution curbs.

Overall, output increased 5.1 percent from the previous month to 92.78 million tonnes in April. It's worth noting, though, that this was 5.2 percent lower than April 2021's figures. If we truly want to understand where Chinese iron ore and steel prices are headed, we'll have to wait until June.

China Making Supply-Side Moves Meanwhile, it was claimed that the Cameroonian government had agreed to a $676 million deal with Sinosteel Corporation Limited to harvest high-

grade iron ore (420 billion CFA francs). It's part of that country's effort to locate new supplies of the steel-making component.

Sinosteel Cam S.A., a Cameroonian subsidiary of state-owned Chinese mining giant Sinosteel, will develop the Lobe iron ore mine under the terms of the 20-year mining deal.

It's part of China's ongoing push to diversify its ore supply outside Australia and Brazil, with whom it is currently at odds.

The agreement would result in the production and shipment of 4 million tonnes of ore with a 60% iron content. Higher-grade iron ore would also help China's steel-making process reduce carbon emissions.

China's manufacturing production index for steel consumption declined by 28 points from 2021 and 16 points in 2020, according to S&P Global Commodity Insights.

On May 20, China cut the five-year loan prime rate by 15 basis points to 4.45 percent. This was the greatest drop since the country's interest rate structure was overhauled in 2019. Analysts believe that this new step is primarily intended to support the property and construction industries.

These industries account for nearly a quarter of the country's GDP. In addition, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang stated that Beijing would accelerate policy changes to restore "normal development" to the world's second-largest economy.

Iron ore prices are expected to rise, according to some analysts. After all, such policies have clear repercussions for the demand for iron ore and steel. Furtherwww.skillings.net | 27

SPECIAL FOCUS

One Za’abeel project – the twin-tower development near Dubai World Trade Centre on Sheikh Zayed Road

Engineering Projects of the Coming Age What a Transformation!

One Za'abeel, located in the heart of Dubai next to the World Trade Centre, is an ode to a city that has been pushing the frontiers of engineering to bring bold leadership ideals to life.

The most prominent element of One Za'abeel is the 'The Link' structure that unites the two buildings, adding to Dubai's already magnificent skyline.

W

The Link structure is almost as long as the London Bridge at 230 meters and weighs over 23,000 tonnes after fit-outs, with structural steel alone weighing more than the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

SP, one of the world's leading engineering consultancy services businesses, has been collaborating with various stakeholders to bring this project to fruition.

"In addition to being the Architect of Record, our role in One Za'abeel includes design and supervision services for geo28 | SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW July 2022

technical engineering, building structures, building services, specialist services, sustainability, vertical transportation, roads, and infrastructure," says Dr. Mohamed Hegazy, Senior Technical Director of WSP's Middle East business, who is responsible for the delivery of the One Za'abeel development, leading the WSP and Nikken Sekkei integrated multi-disciplinary team.

This distinctive feature is an engineering marvel, with all of the hurdles surmounted as a monument to the WSP Middle East team's engineering prowess.

The Link uses a diagrid tube construction to counteract the effects of twist and vertical deflection while also allowing for a column-free area. All of these design considerations were considered throughout the building stage of The Link bridge's lift.

"The Link's construction and lifting to its current location serve as a case study for future engineering initiatives," Dr. Hegazy explains. "Connecting the two vertical skyscrapers with a horizontal one was a tremendous design challenge, especially as The Link rises 87 meters above a four-lane elevated roadway that connects Sheikh Rashid Road and the Dubai Financial Centre District."

The Link was built in sections along the elevated highway above the podium roof and slid in place with the use of a bridge launching device. We then erected a strand jacking mechanism at both towers, which allowed us to pull The Link into place, which was a huge accomplishment in itself. We overcame the obstacles by following a strict design and construction schedule.

Our cutting-edge design techniques and engineering solutions allowed us to determine the building's movement, guaranteeing that construction in the towers could continue and The Link could be installed. During the building phase, both towers were erected off-camber. After The Link was hoisted and fully welded into place, the two towers were aligned into their original intended locations.

During the lifting procedure, over 600 sensors were deployed throughout the towers and The Link to assure safety and precision," adds Dr. Hegazy.

The Link's parts are also connected to one other and to the two towers, which is a notable feature. "Bolts were not used to connect The Link. Instead, all of the steel elements are fully welded, with

thicknesses ranging from 10 to 150mm, utilising a deep penetration welding procedure to ensure the structure is completely linked," he says.

The Link will feature four levels when completed, with a 130-meter infinity pool, Michelin-starred restaurants, entertainment events, a 360-degree viewing deck, and the world's longest-occupied cantilevered structure.

WSP Middle East has been collaborating with their global offices as well as over 30 consultants and local governments, including the Dubai Municipality and the Roads and Transport Authority. "The authorities in Dubai have been tremendously helpful and are working with us ahead of schedule to ensure the smooth completion of this historic project," Dr. Hegazy continues.

Features that ensure safety "We have integrated unique solutions for fire and life safety systems, methods of egress, and overall safety measures for guests and occupants of One Za'abeel," Dr. Hegazy said of safety. We've also used high-end materials to ensure the highest level of safety and protection."

During the COVID-19 epidemic, WSP was a strong advocate for health and safety, ensuring that world-class health and safety frameworks were implemented in conformity with local government rules and legislation. This aided in maintaining construction continuity as well as ensuring the safety of everyone involved during the project's completion.

Sustainability Ithra Dubai adhered to the highest worldwide sustainability standards when designing One Za'abeel, which is also in line with WSP's global Strategic Action Plan for assisting customers in

achieving net-zero carbon emissions. One Za'abeel aspires to use natural resources efficiently by pursuing USGBC LEED Gold certification and implementing sustainable practices.

Within the unique design and construction of One Za'abeel, this entails including essential components such as Energy Efficiency, Water Efficiency, Health & well-being, Amenities & Transportation, Operational Excellence, and Green Construction.

"We exceeded the required points for the design phase, and we're now working on the building phase submission to finish the remaining points and get LEED Gold certification for One Za'abeel," adds Dr. Hegazy.

One Za’abeel at a glance One Za’abeel consists of two plots separated by an elevated four-lane highway 7 — Number of basements in each tower 4 — Number of podiums in each tower 67 — Number of floors in Tower A, a mixed-use building with offices, luxury and ultra-luxury hotel components, and branded apartments 57 —Number of floors in Tower B, a residential tower One and Only — The Operator of the luxury and ultra-luxury hotels at Tower A 9,400 tonnes — The weight of ‘The Link’ steel structure that connects the two towers 2 — Number of private electrical substations in each Tower 70 — Elevators within the development, including double-deckers and high-speed Q3 2023 — Time when the development will be fully operational.

www.skillings.net | 29

LUDOVIC DONATI ERAMET GROUP CHIEF DIGITAL OFFICER

30 | SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW July 2022

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profiles in mining

Interview with Mr. Ludovic Donati • Group Chief Digital Officer @ Eramet • Digital Correspondent of the French Mining and Metallurgy Strategic Comittee • Vice Chaiman @ Afnet

Ludovic Donati is a "Normalien" and PhD in chemistry (2007-2010). He joined the research center of Eramet in 2011 as a research engineer to develop of a new metallurgical process on a new Rare Earth ore deposit in Gabon. In 2014 he was appointed at the Eramet CEO’s office as a Strategy & Investor Relation Manager. In 2017 he was appointed Group Chief Digital Officer. He was in charge to define the vision and the strategy of Digital Transformation and then to coordinate the deployment of this transformation.

Eramet is a 4 b€ global mining and metallurgical group employing about 13,000 collaborators with a presence in 20 countries. Since 2018, Ludovic is the Digital Correspondent of the French Mining and Mellurgy Sector and board member of the Afnet association, digital think-tank around the transformation and growth of industrial sectors. Ludovic is also involved in the French Tech Corporate Community network, working on the environmental impact of the digital and data transformation.

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PROFILES IN MINING

Summarize your company business and current projects you are involved in.

Eramet is French mining and metallurgical company with a presence in 20 countries. We are producing Nickel (mines and FeNi plants), Manganese (mines and Mn alloys plants), Zircon, Titanium and high-performance alloys.

I am in charge to implement Digital Transformation: To connect geology to economy To optimize our processes thanks to Big Data and Artificial Intelligence To ensure the traceability and quality of our products.

Tell us a bit about your prestigious company, “Eramet” please.

Eramet is a French mining and metallurgical company with a presence in 20 countries and 13,000 employees. The Group is a key player in the extraction and valorization of metals (nickel, manganese, mineral sands, lithium) and the elaboration and processing of alloys with a high added value (high-speed steels, high-performance steels, superalloys, aluminum and titanium alloys).

We are extracting nickel in New Caledonia and Indonesia, manganese in Gabon (the first worldwide manganese mine), mineral sands in Senegal; we are producing ferronickel in New Caledonia and manganese alloys in Norway, Gabon, the USA and France. Moreover, we are currently developing in Argentina, a lithium extraction process with the objective to produce lithium battery grade in the coming years. We also are a railway company as we are operating the train transportation in Gabon and also in Senegal.

Eramet positions itself as the privileged partner of its customers in sectors that include carbon and stainless steel, 32 | SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW July 2022

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aerospace, pigments, energy, and new battery generations. Last but not least, Corporate Social Responsibility is at the centre of our strategic model to position the Group as a committed and contributive corporate citizen.

What do you think “Digital” means in mining, say when you are operating in the Gabonese rainforest or in an island in Pacific?

This is exactly the 1st question I had to answer when I was appointed as the

Based on this vision we launched Numerous digital transformation projects were performed in order to build the data basements and to transform the way to work on the field: use of drones and IoT for a better environmental footprint monitoring, collision avoidance systems to improve operating safety, fleet and fuel management systems to reduce energy consumption and optimize the ore extraction, topographic measurements by drones, … IT and infrastructure roadmaps were also reviewed in order to support

Digital is a key lever to increase our performance and to rethink the way we are operating. For example, a topographer is becoming a drone pilot, as drone is allowing to cover more than hundreds of surface than with traditional methods. A metallurgist is also becoming a “data-metallurgist” as AI is becoming key in alloys production at Eramet.

Group Chief Digital Officer. I mobilized and worked with the entire business organizations (mines, plants) and support functions (HR, IT, purchasing, sales, HSE …) to define the digital transformation vision and strategy for Eramet.

WE DEFINED A VISION IN 3 AXES:

To connect the geology to economy, in order to ensure a digital continuity on the all-value chain of our metals, from the prospection and the extraction to the selling.

To optimize our processes with Big Data and Artificial Intelligence.

To ensure the traceability of our products from the extraction or elaboration to our clients.

the transformation: move to cloud, digital solutions and agile methodologies, OT standardization, new telecommunication systems.

How can the “Digital” mining process help contribute to metallurgists or geologists, especially the ones from those golden old days?

Digital is a key lever to increase our performance and to re-think the way we are operating. For example, a topographer is becoming a drone pilot, as drone is allowing to cover more than hundreds of surface than with traditional methods. A metallurgist is also becoming a “data-metallurgist” as AI is becoming key in alloys production at Eramet. www.skillings.net | 33

PROFILES IN MINING

Integrated Remote Operations Centers in New Caledonia and Gabon. A strong operational transformation to be ready to provide the metals for the energetical transition!

What are the main Digital Transformation programs that you’ve developed at Eramet or elsewhere and what have been your intention behind each one?

Sure. We structured internally our approach in 3 main programs: Mine 4.0, Plant 4.0 and Logistics 4.0. Our objective is to maximize the roll-out of the digital solutions within all the sites where they could be addressed.

And of-course predictive maintenance and reducing our energy consumption are very important as our ambition to increase our productivity level to serve the energetical transition.

As the understanding of Digital and Data are very important in our operations, we developed specific training programs for our employees from acculturation (e-learning and events) to certification in Data Science. More than 10 people were certified in 2020 in New Caledonia.

How do you think can “Digital” support the ambition of Eramet to turn to the energetical transition?

Eramet is the only European mining entity with world-class mineral deposits in all critical metals for the energy transition: nickel, cobalt and lithium.

To support this transition, we need to increase our productivity and to be the best in class in our CSR policy. And Digital is definitely a strong lever for that. For example, we are currently testing the 34 | SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW July 2022

implementation of the traceability of our metals, especially CSR data, in order to develop the certification and the respect of the “Responsible Mine” label that France and Europe are putting in place.

We also are improving our productivity thanks to digital by implementing

For the Mine 4.0 program, our objective is that all our mines are connected mine with an exemplary CSR approach. Thanks to digital we want to improve Employee Safety, the optimization of operations in the field, the responsible resource management and the real-time supply chain management. The use of drones also enables environmental monitoring and surveillance. Connected trucks improve

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driver safety and industrial performance.

Artificial Intelligence programs developed by the Group's data scientists, in conjunction with start-ups, analyze this data with the aim of creating digital twins of the mines in real time.

Thanks also to drone topography, our objective is to deploy a spatial digital twin of each of our mines. The Plant 4.0 program puts artificial intelligence at the heart of our processes. The diversity of the Eramet Group's operations is reflected in its plants, which face different challenges. Thanks to the use of artificial intelligence, digital transformation is enabling us to rethink the way each production process is conducted.

We also are reducing and optimizing our energy consumption and carbon footprint thanks to dedicated algorithms. To improve the maintenance of our sites is also key through predictive maintenance and remote machine monitoring with IoT. The Logistics 4.0 program is currently mainly focused on the Gabonese railway.

We are operating a single 648-km track

We structured internally our approach in 3 main programs: Mine 4.0, Plant 4.0 and Logistics 4.0. Our objective is to maximize the roll-out of the digital solutions within all the sites where they could be addressed. For the Mine 4.0 program, our objective is that all our mines are connected mine with an exemplary CSR approach. that extends across the equatorial forest, passing through many areas of unstable terrain, with crossings only possible at stations.

The Setrag company is employing digital technology to improve its operations, focusing on 3 key areas: Improving rail traffic management, optimizing the management of rolling stock and infrastructure monitoring and maintenance.

Thanks to our Digital and Data factory, we developed numerous Digital solutions in less than 12 months in order to help the traffic optimization. For example, we developed a dedicated predictive maintenance tool using AI to optimize interventions in risk areas in order to avoid delays.

Do you make use of AI in your programs, and how important or not important do you think it is?

Yes, Data science and AI are a strong part of our Digital Transformation program.

Since 2018 we have appointed a Data Science Team headed by a Chief Data & AI officer. We are developing and operating together with the IT Department new digital and data solutions developed thanks to new methodologies like Design Thinking and Agile methodologies. We are working with best-in-class partners like Capgemini and Microsoft. More than 50 people are involved in our Digital and Data factory.

AI algorithms are connected to our prowww.skillings.net | 35

PROFILES IN MINING

duction of silicomanganese in Norway and Ferronickel in New Caledonia: in real time algorithms are processing data from numerous sensors and data sources to give recommendations to metallurgists.

These recommendation and Data solutions were developed with the metallurgists and based on their knowledges.

We also developed algorithms to optimize the lead time of our high-speed steel production facilities in Sweden and France. In our mines we are working on new geological modelling using AI as in Senegal.

And we now want also to work with our support functions to develop these Data approaches in HR, purchasing, etc.

Centralizing all the data from the different mines is allowing us to re-think the way we are operating: we can optimize in real time the production, be more agile on the short term planification and strongly correlated with the demand of our clients.

The first IROC version was inaugurated in last February 2021.

What have you done to monitor the Global Value Chain at Eramet?

Monitoring our global value chain thanks to Digital and Data is key for us in the coming years. For that we are implementing Integrated Remote Operation Centers in Nickel and 36 | SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW July 2022

Manganese value chains. In New Caledonia we operate 5 Nickel mines spread over the whole territory.

Each mine has a specific chemistry composition and this is a special mix of all the ores that feed our metallurgical facility. Moreover, a part of the ore extracted is directly sold to clients.

This is then a complicated set up to manage. Centralizing all the data from the different mines is allowing us to re-think the way we are operating: we can optimize in real time the production, be more

agile on the short term planification and strongly correlated with the demand of our clients. The first IROC version was inaugurated in last February 2021.

In Gabon, we will fluidify our supply chain (mine, train, port) thanks to the centralization of our data and the way to take the better decision in real time. This is a major transformation based on the 3 pillars: people, process and technology.

Thanks to IROC, Eramet mines will fully be 21st century mines!

National award for Baltimore emergency repair project: EBA Engineering The American Council of Engineering Companies' (ACEC) 2022 Engineering Excellence Awards competition recognized EBA Engineering, Inc.'s (EBA) emergency repair project to rebuild a water main breach under an I-83 bridge in Baltimore with a National Recognition Award.

in Baltimore, the city sought a quick fix.

EBA considered numerous solutions in terms of cost, material availability, accessibility, and building constraints.

EBA advised a carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) liner technology to repair the water main based on the evaluation.

EBA compared numerous construction bids, chose the best one, and provided construction services. Other tasks included replacing a 36-inch valve, designing access ports for pipe inspection and maintenance, obtaining permits, and working closely with city agencies, contractors, and the design team. The pipe was put back into operation the same day it was installed.

EBA began as a modest civil engineering firm in 1981, dedicated to providing outstanding, client-centered services and delivering outcomes. EBA has grown to 170 people in five offices in 41 years, providing a wide range of engineering services to public, quasi-public, and private clients throughout the mid-Atlantic, but its commitment to excellence has remained constant.

EBA president and CEO Rizwan Siddiqi, PE, and senior project manager Khalid Qadwai, PE, PMP, accept a National Recognition Award at the ACEC awards gala May 24 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington.

A

t a banquet on May 24 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Washington, EBA president and CEO Rizwan Siddiqi,

PE, and senior project manager Khalid Qadwai, PE, PMP, won the prize. When a 48-inch PCCP water main was discovered leaking beneath an I-83 bridge

Civil/site, environmental, geotechnical, structural, transportation, water resources, and water systems engineering, construction management and inspection, asset management, surveying and mapping, materials testing, geospatial technologies, and facilities support services are just a few of EBA's professional services. www.skillings.net | 37

SPECIAL FOCUS

Geotechnical Software

Finally a dry solution CGL developed an innovative design solution to overcome groundwater challenges on a shopping centre lift pit excavation.

O

n a shopping centre lift pit excavation, CGL created a unique design approach to tackle groundwater concerns.

Contractors working on a lift pit at Woking's Peacocks shopping center in 2020 faced significant challenges due to groundwater.

Peacocks Centre Ltd hired Mace to build two two-story scenic feature elevators in the shopping center's food court. The initial plan called for punching a 10.6m long, 6.5m wide, and 1.5m deep hole through the building's 1.3m thick reinforced concrete foundation slab to create the lift pit.

The contractor's construction crew was then to excavate beneath the slab's base to create a new double lift pit with reinforced concrete walls and a reinforced concrete base. A 12m long by 8.5m wide gap in the shopping center's floor was also to be cut to allow the team access to the site.

38 | SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW July 2022

The two-story basement of the 1990s shopping center is 6m below groundwater level, with the slab's foundation 2m lower. As a result, a substantial amount of water pressure was acting on the slab's underside. This meant that any excavation work had to account for the possibility of floods caused by groundwater.

The difficult terrain conditions added to the difficulty. A variable-thickness top layer of created ground surrounds the basement. Within the Bagshot Formation, this is overlain by a varied layer of granular and cohesive earth, followed by mostly granular material.

Dewatering activities may have harmed the integrity of the basement slab, which is mostly made up of granular material.

Mace hired Stuart Wells to create a well-point dewatering system around the perimeter of the proposed new lift pit so that the basement slab could be excavated.

This was done to keep the lift pit excavation dry until the work was completed by lowering the water table. However, as CGL director Mark Creighton describes, the contractor quickly ran into issues.

Geotechnical Analysis and Design CGL, through its structural engineering partner, Walsh, worked collaboratively with the broader Mace project team and supply chain wave to deliver the detailed design solution.

This included a temporary platform over the excavated area to facilitate safely advanced construction of the lift shaft overhead to mitigate

programme delays. CGL combined advanced geotechnical analysis using PLAXIS FE Soil-Structure Interaction modelling with their knowledge of leading innovative and advanced concrete coring/sawing techniques to specify, plan and sequence the excavation of the new pit location as a workable solution.

The collaboration between structural engineers

and geotechnical engineers allowed the residual raft strength to be matched to the dewatering and licensed discharge to drains.

The watertight pit construction was built-out and structurally tied to the existing raft reinforcement.

This allowed the dewatering to be decommissioned without ever having to utilise tankerage and maintaining the raft integrity as a water barrier.

www.skillings.net | 39

SPECIAL FOCUS

"They [Mace and Stuart Wells] couldn't get enough capacity out of the pumping system – which was operating at full throttle – and the existing drainage system where that water would have to go because of the high head of water acting on the slab," he explains.

Mace needed to pump water out at a rate of 15 liters per second, but Thames Water had set a discharge restriction of 6 litres per second because its local sewer system couldn't handle any more.

"The only way they could have physically completed the project as it was," Creighton continues, "was to have 24/7 water tankering - with a continual fleet of tanker lorries." For the duration of the pit's construction, this would have cost the customer around £4.5 million.

The remedy proposed by CGL In May 2020, Mace sought counsel from CGL due to the project's challenging problems. On a shopping center lift pit excavation, CGL created a unique design approach to tackle groundwater concerns.

Contractors working on a lift pit at Woking's Peacocks shopping center in 2020 faced significant challenges due to groundwater. Peacocks Centre Ltd hired Mace to build two two-story scenic feature elevators in the shopping center's food court.

The initial plan called for punching a 10.6m long, 6.5m wide, and 1.5m deep hole through the building's 1.3m thick reinforced concrete foundation slab to create the lift pit.

The contractor's construction crew was then to excavate beneath the slab's base to create a new double lift pit with reinforced concrete walls and a reinforced concrete base. A 12m long by 8.5m wide gap in the shopping center's floor was 40 | SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW July 2022

Contractors working on a lift pit at Woking's Peacocks shopping center in 2020 faced significant challenges due to groundwater. Peacocks Centre Ltd hired Mace to build two two-story scenic feature elevators in the shopping center's food court. also to be cut to allow the team access to the site. The two-story basement of the 1990s shopping centre is 6m below groundwater level, with the slab's foundation 2m lower. As a result, a substantial amount of water pressure was acting on the slab's underside. This meant that any excavation work had to account for the possibility of floods caused by groundwater.

The difficult terrain conditions added to the difficulty. A variable-thickness top layer of created ground surrounds the basement. Within the Bagshot Formation, this is overlain by a varied layer of granular and cohesive earth, followed by mostly granular material.

Dewatering activities may have harmed the integrity of the basement slab, which is mostly made up of granular material.

Mace hired Stuart Wells to create a well-point dewatering system around the perimeter of the proposed new lift pit so that the basement slab could be excavated. This was done to keep the lift pit excavation dry until the work was completed by lowering the water table.

However, as CGL director Mark Creighton describes, the contractor quickly ran into issues.

"They [Mace and Stuart Wells] couldn't get enough capacity out of the pumping system – which was operating at full throttle – and the existing drainage system where that water would have

to go because of the high head of water acting on the slab," he explains.

Mace needed to pump water out at a rate of 15 liters per second, but Thames Water had set a discharge restriction of 6 litres per second because its local sewer system couldn't handle any more.

"The only way they could have physically completed the project as it was," Creighton continues, "was to have 24/7 water tankering - with a continual fleet of tanker lorries."

For the duration of the pit's construction, this would have cost the customer around £4.5 million.

The remedy proposed by CGL In May 2020, Mace sought counsel from CGL due to the project's challenging problems. Mace's team was under pressure to find a new solution as soon as possible, especially since the project was already several months behind schedule.

Mace has already ruled out a variety of other options for keeping the pit dry, including jet grouting, the construction of a secant pile wall, and ground freezing.

Creighton and Nick Langdon, one of CGL's former owners, had a "eureka moment" after being invited to a high-level solution discussion.

Instead of drilling through the basement slab and then excavating the pit, CGL

proposed carving a slot inside the slab to create a shallower pit depth of at least 1.19m from the top of the finished floor level instead of 1.5m, as the original plan proposed. This avoided the requirement for excavation beneath the slab, lowering the amount of groundwater that had to be pumped out.

They determined that there was sufficient space beneath the basement floor for this option.

The shopping center floor has 120mm of finishing on top of a 100mm concrete waterproofing slab atop a rigid hydro duct cavity membrane above the 1.3m thick reinforced basement slab with 130mm of concrete blinding beneath it. This allowed CGL 1.65m of space within the slab to accommodate an absolute minimum pit depth. To create the slot, a specialized diamond wire cutting technique was used to

"slice and dice" the slab to expose the new lift pit's foundation. This approach was chosen over others like drilling because it allowed the building crew to dig the pit without damaging the surrounding concrete.

Following that, a new lift pit was built, with waterproof reinforced concrete walls doweled to the old raft. The pit slab was also built to handle long-term water pressures and permanent structural loads.

The consultant's proposal, according to CGL colleague Joseph Slattery, still included lowering the water table using the existing pumps, but it lowered the demands on them.

"We wanted to reduce the water enough to minimise the upward pressure on the underside of the remaining slab so that it remained structurally sound in the short

term so that the lift pit could be built," he explains. The water table did not have to be dropped as much as it would have under the original concept because of the reduced pit depth.

"After the hole was finished, the dewatering would be switched off, the water table would rise again, and the system would remain structurally sound to handle the existing water pressures," Slattery says.

Slattery and his team began the design process after the idea was conceived.

Commissioning a feasibility study, designing the scheme design, then the detailed design, and ultimately developing a monitoring and contingency plan were all part of this process.

CGL's solution was justified through a more in-depth investigation. Slattery and his team accomplished this by creating a thorough Plaxis 3D finite element soil-structure interaction model of the entire basement.

The software digitally modelled the size of the basement, as well as the raft slab and basement walls. The model also looked at groundwater movement and the dewatering wells that Stuart Wells had built around the intended lift pit shaft.

"We could do this comprehensive integrated study to represent all of the critical constituents in the earth, the structure, and the groundwater behaviour," Slattery explains. This let us figure out or predict what would happen, as well as how much water we could pull down to construct our solution."

The strength, stiffness, and permeability of the surrounding ground were all critical factors for CGL. When it came to forming the lift pit slot, this hampered the contractor's capacity to draw water down through it. www.skillings.net | 41

UNDERGROUND MINING

USA Rare Earth, Gov’t to Bolster Domestic Mineral, EV Battery Supplies USA rare earth pushes for sufficient domestic rare earth supply. Biden administration to fund U.S companies in EV battery manufacturing. U.S. EV battery production to quadruple by 2025

E

xploring means to generate sufficient domestic supply chains for rare earth has become a priority for Western countries like the United States of America (USA) and Canada has been dependent on its supplies from China and other countries for mining and processing of these valuable minerals for a long time.

This big move has been further pushed by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical crises across the globe, which has hampered the delivery of the commodities, further affecting the prices in the market.

USA Rare Earth announced its plans to raise IPO In 2021, USA Rare Earth announced its plans to raise up to $ 500 million in an initial public offering (IPO). Such an offering will be to finance its mining and processing facility in Texas, which is expected to be in operation by 2023.

USA Rare Earth seeks to develop an entirely domestic mine-to-magnet supply chain while partnering with Round Top to manufacture EV battery cells.

Rare earth magnets are necessary for defence, medical, green energy, and electric vehicle production. Currently, US 42 | SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW July 2022

companies get the vast majority of their rare earth materials and magnets from external suppliers. In the same year, the Canadian and U.S Governments reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the North American supply chain for critical minerals – essential to both countries’ national security and economic growth.

Consequently, the company has also commended US President Joe Biden’s Presidential Determination designating domestic mining and critical materials for the production of large-capacity batteries as essential to the national defence under the Defense Production Act of 1950 (DPA).

“We commend President Biden on this important step to support domestic battery mineral production. Establishing a vertically integrated domestic supply chain of these critical materials is necessary for advancing U.S. manufacturing capabilities and increasing national security. USA Rare Earth offers an abundant domestic resource to support the President’s plan for lithium production and processing,” Thayer Smith said in a statement.

The Biden administration recently invoked a Cold War-era law by eyeing to boost the production of minerals used for an electric vehicle (EV) battery cell, including lithium and rare earth, to ensure

robust domestic mining activities and promote cleaner energy sources, taking into account that 27% of greenhouse gasses emitted into the atmosphere comes from the transportation sector.

Under Biden’s order, the Pentagon is now authorized to use allocations from its Defense Production Act to provide capital for a host of mining business activities.

Those activities include paying for feasibility studies to determine the economic viability of a proposed mine or to finance “co-product and byproduct production,” For example, a copper mine that could also produce nickel.

Furthermore, the administration said it will provide $3.1 billion in funding to support efforts to make electric vehicle batteries and components in the country, with an additional $60 million to support the reuse and recycling of used EV batteries.

The US government’s bold support for the auto and mining industry is pushing more manufacturers to likewise evolve and adapt to the policies, especially in the green revolution campaign. Electric vehicle use is about to hit a tipping point.

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UNDERGROUND MINING

Tennessee Valley Authority completes Boone Dam remediation project The Tennessee Valley Authority has reported that the Boone Dam project in Tennessee, United States, was finished on schedule and on budget.

A diagram of the Boone Dam seepage remediation strategy

T

VA discovered seepage beneath the dam in 2014 and rapidly lowered the lake's water level to safeguard public safety, prompting the seven-year dam restoration project to begin in 2015.

The $326 million project comprised the construction of a composite seepage

44 | SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW July 2022

barrier over multiple phases, including a highly visible two-year, round-the-clock underground cutoff wall.

The project, according to TVA Chief Operating Officer Don Moul, is a major geotechnical engineering triumph.

TVA restored the dam's crest to its previous elevation and built a floodwall when the subterranean work was completed.

The project is completed with paving, fence, and site rehabilitation.

"The Tri-Cities region has gotten what TVA promised," he said. "We promised ourselves at the start of this project that we would finish it safely in seven years and that we would do it right the first time

with a high-quality repair.." "The Boone Dam project represents all three pillars of TVA's service purpose," said Jeff Lyash, president and CEO of TVA. "Environmental stewardship by providing a beautiful recreational area for families to picnic, swim, and relax this summer; economic development by providing a lake that helps communities in the Tri-Cities region prosper through fishing tournaments, boating activities, and other activities; and electricity that is clean, reliable, and generated right here at the Boone Dam hydropower facility."

The Boone Unit 1 power plant, which was shut down for construction, will resume normal operations this summer.

TVA honored three partner organizations at the project reopening ceremony in late May: Tennessee Wildlife Resources Association (TWRA), Boone Lake Association, and Boone Dam Repair Coalition.

Planting grasses and shrubs, building fish nurseries, and stocking the lake with F1 largemouth bass were all part of TWRA's collaboration. TVA collaborated

closely with its neighbors, the Boone Lake Association and the Boone Dam Repair Coalition, on community outreach efforts throughout the project. At various events, they reached out to almost 25,000 people.

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www.skillings.net | 45

STATISTICS

MAY 2022 CRUDE STEEL PRODUCTION

W

orld crude steel production for the 64 countries reporting to the World Steel Association (worldsteel) was 169.5 million tonnes (Mt) in May 2022, a 3.5% decrease compared to May 2021.

CRUDE STEEL PRODUCTION BY REGION

Africa produced 1.1 Mt in May 2022, down 18.9% on May 2021. Asia and Oceania produced 126.8 Mt, down 1.7%. The EU (27) produced 12.9 Mt, down 6.8%. Europe, Other produced 4.1 Mt, down 1.7%. The Middle East produced 3.5 Mt, down 10.0%. North America produced 9.9 Mt, down 4.0%. Russia & other CIS + Ukraine produced 7.4 Mt, down 19.1%. South America produced 3.8 Mt, down 2.8%.

The 64 countries included in this table accounted for approximately 98% of total world crude steel production in 2021.

Regions covered by the table: Africa, Asia and Oceania, European Union (27), Europe, Middle East, North America, Russia & other CIS + Ukraine, South America.

TOP 10 STEEL-PRODUCING COUNTRIES

China produced 96.6 Mt in May 2022, down 3.5% on May 2021. India produced 10.6 Mt, up 17.3%. Japan produced 8.1 Mt, down 4.2%. The United States produced 7.2 Mt, down 2.6%. Russia is estimated to have produced 6.4 Mt, down 1.4%.

Table 1. Crude steel production by region

africa

Table 2. Top 10 steel-producing countries

change may 2022 % change jan-may %jan-may (mt) may 22/21 2021 (mt) 22/22 1.1 -18.9 6.1 -7.0 126.8

-1.7

582.0

-6.5

12.9

-6.8

62.3

-4.3

europe, other

4.1

-1.7

20.2

-3.5

middle east

3.5

-10.0

17.0

-6.1

north america

9.9

-4.0

47.5

-2.3

russia & cis + ukraine

7.4

-19.1

38.4

-13.1

south america

3.8

-2.8

18.1

-2.4

169.5

-3.5

791.8

-6.3

asia and oceania eu (27)

total 64 countries

South Korea produced 5.8 Mt, down 1.4%. Germany produced 3.2 Mt, down 11.5%. Turkey produced 3.2 Mt, down 1.4%. Brazil produced 3.0 Mt, down 4.9%.

Iran is estimated to have produced 2.3 Mt, down 17.6%.

may 2022 (mt)

% change may 22/21

% change jan-may 22/21

435.0

-8.7 6.5

china

96.6

india

10.6

17.3

53.2

japan

8.1

-4.2

38.5

-3.5

united states

7.2

-2.6

34.3

-1.6

russia

-3.5

jan-may 22 (mt)

e 6.4

-1.4

31.0

-2.3

south korea

5.8

-1.4

28.2

-3.4

germany

3.2

-11.5

16.4

-4.8

turkey

3.2

-1.4

16.0

-2.8

brazil

3.0

-4.9

14.5

-2.2

e 2.3

-17.6

11.4

-10.8

iran

The 64 countries included in this table accounted for approximately 98% of total world crude steel production in 2020. Regions and countries covered by the table: Africa: Egypt, Libya, South Africa. Asia and Oceania: Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Korea, Taiwan (China), Vietnam. CIS: Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan. European Union (27). Europe, Other: Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Turkey, United Kingdom. Middle East: Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates. North America: Canada, Cuba, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, United States. South America: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela

46 | SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW July 2022

CRUDE STEEL PRODUCTION DECEMBER 2020. Source – World Steel Association COUNTRY

DEC 2020

DEC 2019

%CHANGE DEC-20/19

2020

% CHANGE

COUNTRY

DEC 2020

DEC 2019

%CHANGE DEC-20/19

2020

% CHANGE

Austria

530 e

521

1.7

6 665

-10.2

Mexico

1 550 e

1 361

13.9

16 854

-8.3

Belgium

359

6 434

7 292

-11.8

72 690

-17.2

9 107

9 801

388

326

19.0

3 651

-21.4

2 886

2 462

17.2

30 971

-4.9

505

-28.9

6 119

-21.1

United States

Bulgaria

40 e

43

-6.3

485

-14.3

Croatia

15 e

7

101.9

47

-32.0

North America Argentina

-7.1 101 119 -15.5

Czech Republic

408

359

13.7

4 465

0.6

Finland

339

186

81.8

3 500

0.8

France

1 155

918

25.7

11 596

-19.8

Chile

105 e

109

-3.5

1 165

2.8

Germany

3 137

2 835

10.6

35 658

-10.0

Colombia

110 e

97

13.5

1 126

-15.5

94

17.0

1 430

5.9

Ecuador

50 e

50

0.5

477

-21.5

164

-44.8

1 513

-14.5

Paraguay

3 e

3

-4.4

22

-17.5

1 404

6.9

20 200

-12.9

Peru

105 e

91

15.8

671

-45.4

Uruguay

5 e

5

-7.2

47

-24.6

Venezuela

2 e

0

315.8

29

-43.6

3 654

3 143

16.3

38 158

-8.4

Egypt

994

574

73.0

8 229

13.4

Libya

73

63

16.2

495

-18.4

297

-1.5

3 877

-37.0

934

45.5

2 224

19.6

29 030

13.4

85

186

-54.3

1 218

-52.4

Saudi Arabia

440

664

-33.8

7 775

-5.1

United Arab Emirates

280

297

-5.8

2 722

-18.2

Middle East

3 465

3 371

2.8

40 745

2.7

China

91 252

84 692

7.7 1 052 999

5.2

India

9 796

9 383

4.4

99 570

-10.6

Japan

7 526

7 785

-3.3

83 194

-16.2

South Korea

5 952

5 880

1.2

67 121

-6.0

380 e

261

45.6

3 743

13.3

1 700 e

1 693

0.4

20 570

-6.3

Thailand

410 e

357

14.8

4 420

4.1

Vietnam

1 600 e

1 876

…

19 500

11.6

Greece Hungary Italy

110 e 90 1 500 e

Luxembourg

113

97

17.3

1 886

-11.0

Netherlands

540

521

3.6

6 054

-9.1

Poland

680 e

642

5.9

7 890

-11.9

Slovenia

50 e

34

45.0

570

-8.5

Spain

891

765

16.4

10 934

-19.5

Sweden

410

376

8.9

4 409

-6.6

United Kingdom

710 e

550

29.0

7 185

-0.5

Other E.U. (28) (e)

680 e

642

6.0

8180

-12.1

European Union (28) 11 757

10 665

10.2 138 786 -11.8

Bosnia-Herzegovina

75

70

6.5

759

-5.2

Macedonia

33

24

35.9

180

-24.8

Norway

41

40

3.2

624

0.5

Serbia

119

158

-24.8

1 456

-24.6

Turkey

3 403

2 893

17.7

35 763

6.0

3 671

3 185

15.3

38 782

3.9

Other Europe Byelorussia

200 e

225

-11.2

2 490

-5.0

Kazakhstan

355 e

374

-5.0

3 835

-7.2

45 e

35

28.2

465

18.7

Russia

6 110 e

6 159

-0.8

73 400

2.6

Ukraine

1 906

1 561

22.1

20 616

-1.1

84

-4.8

950

42.6

3.1 101 756

1.5

Moldova

Uzbekistan C.I.S. (6) Canada

80 e 8 696

8 438

1 070 e

1 092

-2.0

11 078

-14.1

20 e

22

-8.5

181

-21.4

El Salvador

8 e

8

-5.7

79

-22.5

Guatemala

25 e

26

-3.9

237

-22.6

Cuba

Brazil

South America

South Africa Africa Iran Qatar

Pakistan Taiwan, China

Asia Australia New Zealand Oceania

292 e 1 359 2 660 e

118 616

111927

12 600 -10.1

6.0 1 351 117

1.6

473

449

5.4

5 490

0.0

59

57

3.8

586

-12.2

506 151 969

5.2

6 076

-1.4

533

Total 64 countries (1) 160 858

5.8 1 829 140 -0.9

(1) - HADEED only. (2) - the 64 countries included in this table accounted for approximately 99% of total world crude steel production in 2019. e - estimated

www.skillings.net | 47