Industry: Metals & Mining

In the December 2021 edition of the ADI newsletter, we examined key developments in energy infrastructure, resource flows, and transition-critical materials. We took a closer look at the future of pipeline infrastructure in the Permian Basin as oil prices rebound and capital spending gradually returned. In the Bakken, midstream constraints were driving persistent flaring issues, […]

Silver’s main domestic use in 2020 was electrical and electronics (28%), surpassing jewelry and silverware (26%). Its industrial applications, including pharmaceuticals and solar cells, are driven by its superior conductivity and resistance properties.

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 […]