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https://news.yahoo.com/facing-increasing-pressure-customers-miners-012256599.html>
"SOROWAKO, Indonesia (AP) — Red hot sparks fly through the air as a worker in a
heat-resistant suit pokes a long metal rod into a nickel smelter, coaxing the
molten metal from a crucible at a processing facility on the Indonesian island
of Sulawesi.
The smelter run by global mining firm Vale and powered by electricity from
three dams churns out 75,000 tons of nickel a year for use in batteries,
electric vehicles, appliances and many other products.
While the smelting creates heavy emissions of greenhouse gases, the power used
is relatively clean. Such possible reductions in emissions come as demand for
critical minerals like nickel and cobalt is surging as climate change hastens a
transition to renewable energy.
Mining operations account for some 4%-7% of global greenhouse gas emissions,
according to global consulting firm McKinsey & Company. But some miners are
moving to reduce use of fossil fuels in extracting and refining, partly due to
pressure from downstream customers that want more sustainable supply chains.
Located beside a crystal-blue lake in the lush jungle of Sorowako, South
Sulawesi, Vale Indonesia — a subsidiary of Vale international — runs its
smelters entirely from hydroelectricity. Vale says that can reduce its
emissions by over 1.115 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent a year,
compared to using diesel. Vale claims it has reduced its greenhouse gas
emissions nearly a fifth since 2017.
As demand for materials needed for batteries, solar panels and other components
vital for cutting global emissions rises, carbon emissions by miners and
refiners will likewise rise unless companies actively work to decarbonize.
Experts say improved technology, pressure from customers and enforcement of
clean energy policies all are needed to keep moving toward more sustainable
mining and refining practices while raising output to keep pace with global
needs for pivoting away from reliance on polluting fossil fuels."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
