We are in the midst of one of the greatest energy transitions of our lifetime. And it has every industry asking itself: What can we do to promote sustainability and reduce our overall carbon emissions?
Buildings are being electrified and retrofitted with energy saving solutions. The transportation sector is embracing electric vehicles and alternative fuels to reduce emissions on our roadways. And power producers are taking steps to reduce the carbon intensity of the energy they provide to the electrical grid.
The same is true for the mining industry. Right now, mine operators around the world are searching for ways to truly become net zero carbon emitters and reduce their reliance on traditional power sources. This can be a tall order as mines require a significant amount of power to operate. But it is a challenge we must overcome if we hope to reach our sustainability goals by 2050.
Some people may be wondering why we can’t just shut down these mines and cut the associated emissions. But we can’t. Why? Because the precious minerals and metals that we’ll need to get us through the energy transition are still in the ground. They must be mined to produce the green technologies of the future.
Look no further than electric vehicle production as the world moves away from fossil fuels and combustible engines. Compared to a conventional car, building an electric car uses approximately six times the amount of minerals. And whereas conventional cars require mostly copper and manganese, electric vehicles require copper, manganese, nickel, lithium, cobalt, and more. But we also need most of these mined materials for renewable energy production, too. From solar panels to offshore wind turbines, our capacity to produce green energy relies on our ability to mine these materials. It couldn’t be clearer: If we hope to move towards a green and electric future, we’ll need the minerals and metals to do it.
So, we are facing two realities. We must reduce global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. And we must mine for the necessary materials to do that. These two realities must co-exist. So, the question remains: