Industry: Metals & Mining

Primarily used for aluminum (90%), alumina also finds applications in abrasives, refractories, glass, and ceramics. Extracted from bauxite via the Bayer process, which yields alumina as a white powder, a significant challenge is the environmentally hazardous alkaline by-product, red mud.

The mining industry, historically hesitant to adopt new technologies due to operational scale, complexity, and cost, is now experiencing increased integration of digital technologies and innovations.

Lithium mining, particularly in Argentina and Chile’s salt flats, faces scrutiny due to its water-intensive nature and potential link to increased droughts, raising environmental sustainability concerns. 1 To mitigate “dirty” lithium mining, electric vehicle battery manufacturers need to explore “clean” alternative sourcing methods.  

Concerns over potential supply shortages and price volatility, stemming from China’s significant control over rare earth metal exports (80% in 2019) and historical instances of export restrictions, are prompting governments and private entities to pursue new projects and diversify sourcing to reduce reliance on China. 1  

Nickel is a critical mineral with ~70% of current demand being dominated by stainless steel followed by 25% for manufacture of alloys, special steels, and coatings, and 5% for electric batteries. While demand from stainless steel and alloys will likely remain robust in the medium-term, significant demand growth is expected to arise from nickel’s application […]

The projected surge in clean energy technologies (EVs, batteries, energy storage, and clean power) over the next decade will dramatically increase demand for critical minerals like copper, nickel, cobalt, lithium, manganese, graphite, and REEs, making their adequate supply crucial. The application and demand growth for these minerals will vary across technologies.

Manganese is mainly used in steel production, but its use in EV batteries, especially in cobalt-free designs like LMO (61% cathode) and NMC (20-30% cathode), presents a growth opportunity.

Lithium-ion batteries were the primary driver of cobalt demand in 2020 (57%), with cobalt comprising about one-fifth of a typical cathode due to its benefits in charge rates and corrosion resistance. Despite these advantages, battery manufacturers are seeking to decrease their reliance on cobalt.

In the August 2021 edition of the ADI newsletter, we examined the uncertain future of jet fuel markets amid both immediate setbacks and structural long-term shifts. We also spotlight the growing role of landfill-to-energy projects, particularly renewable natural gas, in the broader energy transition. Finally, we looked at the critical role of copper in supporting […]

Copper is an important metal that we heavily rely on for power, lighting, heating, communications, and more. It conducts both heat and electricity very well, and it can be formed and stretched into complex surfaces without breaking due to its high ductility and malleability. These physical properties make copper highly favorable for electrical equipment and […]

ADI Analytics has launched a multi-client study on Critical Minerals and the Energy Transition, offering insights on supply-demand trends, country-level risks, investment needs, recycling potential, mining innovations, and policy impacts to help stakeholders navigate the growing role of critical minerals in clean energy technologies. Critical minerals are metals and non-metals that are considered vital for […]

October 25, 2016 – Founder and CEO of ADI Analytics, Uday Turaga, was invited to attend and talk at the VACON 3000 Launch Conference held at the Danfoss Research and Development Facility in Raleigh, NC. The product launch included discussing the development of a new medium voltage drive from Danfoss, the VACON 3000. The conference discussed how this new product […]