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☆ Ukraine Dam Explosion Shakes Farmers, Pushes Grain Prices Higher
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( Yusuf Khan | Alistair Macdonald | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

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Persons: Dow Jones Locations: ukraine

☆ Commodities Slide as Investors Bet on Economic Slowdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-05 | by ( Yusuf Khan | Joe Wallace | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/commodities-slide-as-investors-bet-on-economic-slowdown-233a6d3

Persons: Dow Jones

☆ A ‘Dirty’ Job That Few Want: Mining Companies Struggle to Hire for the Energy Transition
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-01 | by ( Yusuf Khan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +10 min

Despite their part in the energy transition, mining companies face a perception of being in a “dirty” industry thanks to a legacy of mining disasters and accusations of worker exploitation and sexual assault. Canada’s mining and mineral-engineering enrollment was down 10% in 2020 compared with 2016, according to Canada’s Mining Industry Human Resources Council. SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS What message should mining companies deliver to young workers to attract them to the industry? Mining companies also face accusations of exploitation of local workforces. She hopes that younger workers will help mining companies evolve, taking on more social responsibility and improving their mining practices.

Persons: Lily Dickson, Mawson, ”, Alex Gorman, Peel Hunt, Rohitesh Dhawan, Alex Gorman “, Gorman, “, Haydon Mort, Stacy Hope, Cole Burston, Hope, Codelco, Centamin, Martin Horgan, Mort, Geologize, Jamie Kelsey Fry, Dickson, Yusuf Khan Organizations: University of Leeds, Leeds, Rio Tinto, McKinsey, U.S . National Center for Education Statistics, Canada’s Mining, Resources Council, Peel, International Council, Mining, Metals, Tinto, of Labor Statistics, Australian Bureau, Statistics, Geologize Ltd, BHP, . Workers, Bloomberg, Codelco, Chilean, Walmart, Recruiting, Centamin, Sustainable Business, “ Locations: Finland, Vancouver, Europe, U.S, Australia, Rio, South Africa, Lily Dickson Canada, Botswana, “, Saharan Africa, Ontario, Canada, Chile, Africa, Congo, Ghana, Zimbabwe, yusuf.khan

☆ Pro Take: Can Nickel, Cobalt and Other Battery Metals Be Sourced Sustainably?
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( Yusuf Khan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +6 min

Lockheed Martin and Norway’s Storebrand also have recently sold their interests in deep-sea mining companies. Others including German luxury carmaker BMW have said that, given environmental concerns, they won’t use battery metals sourced from the deep sea. More than a dozen countries are concerned about the environmental impact of the practice and are calling for a moratorium on seabed mining. A nickel mining site on the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia. Proponents of deep-sea mining say the nascent practice is a less harmful way to extract nickel than how the mineral is currently sourced in Indonesia.

The fighting in Sudan has frozen trade of raw gum arabic both within the country and across its borders. Photo: ashraf shazly/Agence France-Presse/Getty ImagesThe conflict in Sudan has disrupted the supply of a little-known but crucial ingredient in soft drinks, chocolate bars, red wine and many other products, sparking concerns over shortages later in the year. The deadly power struggle between the East African nation’s top generals has claimed over 500 lives, left thousands injured and displaced many more. A lesser consequence of the fighting has been to choke the supply of gum arabic—80% of which is produced by Sudan’s acacia trees.

☆ Shipping Giant Maersk Drops Deep Sea Mining Investment
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Yusuf Khan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +4 min

Shipping company A.P. Moller-Maersk is selling its stake in deep-sea mining firm The Metals Company, even as the legal process to allow seabed mining approaches its final stages. The shipping company held more than 9% of TMC in 2021, according to data from FactSet and has been an investor in the company since 2017. TMC is one of the biggest proponents of deep-sea mining and is the most active company within the space, being the first to complete pilot testing. TMC and other deep-sea mining firms have come under fire over worries that the practice will harm the seabed environment.

☆ The U.S. Wants a Rare-Earths Supply Chain. Here’s Why It Won’t Come Easily.
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-25 | by ( Yusuf Khan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +10 min

MP Materials efforts to build a local supply chain demonstrate the challenge for American producers. Challenging China’s dominanceWhile the 60% might not sound that concentrated, the dependence on China is even more pronounced further down the supply chain. James Litinsky, CEO of MP Materials, stands in front of the Mountain Pass mine in 2018. But if you miss one step then you do not have a supply chain that’s secure,” Mr. Litinsky said. Defense Metals’ Ms. Moreno said that little knowledge exists outside of China in building the whole supply chain.

☆ Copper Shortage Threatens Green Transition
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( Yusuf Khan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +5 min

In 2021, refined copper demand stood at 25.3 million tons, according to the International Copper Study Group. Mined output globally in 2022 was 21.8 million tons according to the International Copper Study Group, rising only 1 million tons over the previous three years. According to Congo’s Ministry of Mines, copper metal exports totaled 2.3 million metric tons in 2022, up from 1.8 million metric tons in 2021, less than half of Chile’s output. According to analysts it is more of a “when” not an “if” copper demand is likely to surge. Changes in technology should ease some copper demand pressures.

☆ Sugar Prices Bubble Up to Highest Since 2012
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Yusuf Khan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Sugar prices have shot to their highest level in more than a decade, boosted by disappointing harvests in some of the world’s largest producers and strong demand in China. Prices for raw cane-sugar futures traded in New York, the international benchmark, have jumped this year. In recent sessions they traded above 24 cents a pound, reaching the highest since March 2012.

☆ Increasing Export Restrictions on Critical Minerals Threaten Energy Transition, OECD Says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Yusuf Khan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +3 min

Rising export restrictions on lithium, cobalt and other raw materials critical to the energy transition threaten to slow the move to a greener economy, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. In a new report, the OECD said that over the last decade, export restrictions on critical minerals—usually in the form of taxes—have increased more than fivefold. Now roughly 10% of the global value of critical raw material exports face at least one export restriction measure. These countries hold some of the largest reserves of critical raw materials and account for a significant share of their global production. Despite the additional export controls, demand for these critical materials is increasing as is trade in them, said the OECD.

☆ EU Draft Law Sets Out Moves to Secure Critical Energy Transition Materials
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Yusuf Khan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +5 min

According to draft legislation seen by The Wall Street Journal, the Critical Raw Materials Act aims to set standards and promote policy designed to ensure Europe has the metals and minerals it deems necessary for its energy transition and defense and energy security. The Critical Raw Materials Act will also make it easier to mine and process the materials within the bloc; establish a European Critical Minerals Board; identify strategic projects to mine, process and recycle the materials; and work to ensure those projects have quick permitting and sufficient funding. It also said the EU should be able to extract 10% and process 40% of its strategic raw material needs while also expanding recycling capacity so that 15% of consumption can come from secondary sources by 2030. Other countries such as Japan have put in place similar plans to secure raw materials. Raw materials projects could also be labeled as being in the public interest or as strategic, which could further streamline funding.

☆ EU Draft Law Sets Out Moves to Secure Supply of Critical Energy Transition Materials
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-09 | by ( Yusuf Khan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +5 min

According to draft legislation seen by The Wall Street Journal, the Critical Raw Materials Act aims to set standards and promote policy designed to ensure Europe has the metals and minerals it deems necessary for its energy transition and defense and energy security. The Critical Raw Materials Act will also make it easier to mine and process the materials within the bloc; establish a European Critical Minerals Board; identify strategic projects to mine, process and recycle the materials; and work to ensure those projects have quick permitting and sufficient funding. The purchasing system would negotiate with global sellers but will be structured to comply with EU competition law. Other countries such as Japan have put in place similar plans to secure raw materials. Raw materials projects could also be labeled as being in the public interest or as strategic, which could further streamline funding.

☆ Ukraine Shift on Sunflower-Seed Exports Calms Cooking Oil Market Rocked by Invasion
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Yusuf Khan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Much of Ukraine’s sunflower-seed oil exports remain curtailed by the war, but farmers are sending out the raw seeds instead, stabilizing the global market for cooking oil. In January, Ukraine exported 347,000 tons of sunflower-seed oil, down sharply from the 612,000 tons exported in January 2022 before the war, according to data from Black Sea agricultural consulting firm SovEcon. A sharp drop in exports from Ukraine, the world’s second-largest producer after Russia, sent prices for sunflower-seed oil and other cooking oils soaring in the early days of the Russian invasion as buyers scrambled for alternatives.

☆ Ukraine Shift on Sunflower-Seed Exports Calms Cooking-Oil Market Rocked by War
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-07 | by ( Yusuf Khan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Much of Ukraine’s sunflower-seed oil exports remain curtailed by the war, but farmers are sending out the raw seeds instead, stabilizing the global market for cooking oil. In January, Ukraine exported 347,000 tons of sunflower-seed oil, down sharply from the 612,000 tons exported in January 2022 before the war, according to data from Black Sea agricultural consulting firm SovEcon. A drop in exports from Ukraine, the world’s second-largest producer after Russia, sent prices for sunflower-seed oil and other cooking oils soaring in the early days of the Russian invasion as buyers scrambled for alternatives.

☆ Ukraine Grain Shipments Slow as Export Deal With Russia Nears End
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-22 | by ( Yusuf Khan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

A vessel filled with grain at the port of Chornomorsk, east of Odessa on Ukraine’s Black Sea coast, earlier this month. Grain exports from Ukraine have slowed markedly in recent weeks, pushing up global prices, amid shipping delays and concerns about the looming expiration of a United Nations-backed deal to give food cargoes safe passage. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year had initially trapped shipments of wheat, sunflower oil and other agricultural products, sparking concerns of a global food crisis. Shipments then recovered later in the year to near prewar levels after Moscow and Kyiv agreed to a U.N.-backed pact to resume food exports via Black Sea ports.

☆ Lithium Industry Looks to Australia for Refining, Not Just Mining
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-21 | by ( Yusuf Khan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +4 min

Chinese companies refine it into lithium sulfate and then process it into the lithium hydroxide used to make cathodes for batteries. China plays an outsize role in battery production, accounting for 44% of all lithium refining globally and 70% of battery cell production, according to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. Some companies also are building European facilities for the next stage of the process: refining lithium sulfate into lithium hydroxide. Lithium mining projects in Germany and Portugal have emerged, although the permitting process can be complex, particularly if there is local opposition. In the meantime, new processing facilities can be built in three to five years, creating more opportunities for lithium mining companies.

☆ LG Chem Buys Stake in North Carolina Lithium Miner
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( Yusuf Khan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +3 min

South Korea’s LG Chem will take a stake in Piedmont Lithium Inc., boosting its North American presence and banking on incentives to scale up its role in U.S. electric-vehicle supply chain. LG Chem will commit $75 million to Piedmont in return for a 5.7% stake in the miner, whose shares are listed on the Nasdaq and Australian Securities Exchange. PREVIEWThe U.S. is our key market and by preemptively securing raw materials this deal allows LG Chem to provide North American customers with products that satisfy IRA standards, said Mr. Hak-Cheol Shin, Vice Chairman and CEO of LG Chem in a statement. LG Chem is planning to build a $3 billion cathode plant in Clarksville, Tenn., slated to open in 2027. Already, Piedmont has an existing contract to supply Tesla with 50,000 tons annually until 2025, in addition to its new LG Chem supply deal.

☆ Why Processing Sweden’s Rare-Earth Haul Won’t Be Easy
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Yusuf Khan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +4 min

The find is adjacent to the company’s Kiruna iron-ore mine, an operation that would eventually be expanded to extract the rare earths plus phosphorus, a critical mineral for fertilizers. The company said it would take 10 to 15 years to start recovering the rare earths. LKAB facilities in Kiruna, Sweden. Also, LKAB reported that its find has a total rare-earth oxide level of 0.18%, a low level of concentration. U.K.-based Pensana PLC aims to mine rare-earth concentrates in Angola, before separating and processing them in the north of England.

☆ Investors Push Mining Companies to Adopt Better Sustainability Standards
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Dieter Holger | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +4 min

Investors are pushing miners to adopt tougher sustainability policies amid fears the rush for minerals to expand renewable energy will harm the environment and poor communities. The newly-launched Global Investor Commission on Mining 2030 said it would introduce sustainability standards by next January which will seek to overhaul the mining industry this decade. “We’ll improve the practices and outcomes in the mining industry more quickly,” he said. PREVIEWThe rules will draw on lessons from investors and the mining industry’s development of the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management. The tailings standard came out about two years ago following the 2019 Vale SA Brumadinho disaster in Brazil where a tailings dam collapsed and killed 270 people.

☆ Steelmaking Is Trying to Make Itself Greener and Researchers May Have Found a Way
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Yusuf Khan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +3 min

Steelmaking is one of the most carbon-intensive industries in the world, but researchers may have found a way to make it greener. Newsletter Sign-up WSJ Pro Sustainable Business A weekly look at environmental, social and governance issues and strategies for corporate decision makers. The system essentially creates a closed loop where the carbon split using the perovskite is put back into the system. “After five years, this system would save the U.K. steel industry £1.28 billion [equivalent to $1.57 billion], while reducing UK-wide emissions by 2.9%,” Ms. Kildahl said. For example, H2 Green Steel in Sweden is looking to cut carbon emissions by using hydrogen as a fuel source.

☆ The Latest TikTok Star Is Canned Tuna
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Yusuf Khan | Photographs Kelsey Mcclellan For The Wall Street Journal | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Makers of canned tuna and sardines are taking their products upscale, riding a wave of online popularity among young foodies. U.S. sales of canned seafood rose 9.7% to $2.7 billion in 2022, according to data provider Euromonitor International, with industry executives crediting the increase to a surge in demand from younger shoppers seeking novel but still affordable foods.

☆ EU Delays Labeling Lithium Toxic as Concerns From EV Industry Mount
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( Yusuf Khan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +4 min

Last week, the European Commission was set to give a final ruling on whether lithium, a crucial battery input, should be classified as a toxic substance. Europe’s nascent battery companies are warning that investors may be drawn away from the continent to the U.S. where the IRA has created strong incentives to establish supply chains in the country. So far, within the European battery industry, Sweden’s Northvolt AB has been one of the few victories for the EU. She said the EU should “simplify and adapt” its rules that limit state funding to make it easier for public investments. For those looking to establish European battery production, the EU’s position on electric vehicles remains confusing.

☆ Europe Cold Snap Tests Gas Reserves After Russian Supply Cut
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Yusuf Khan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

LONDON—Frigid temperatures are boosting demand for natural gas in parts of Europe, providing an early test of the continent’s readiness for winter without Russian energy. Gas demand for Europe, including the U.K., was up 44% this week, compared with the middle of last month, according to data from price-reporting agency ICIS. The U.K.’s National Grid PLC, which operates the country’s energy system, said it expects demand in the country to rise to 417 million cubic meters a day by Friday, up 65% from the middle of last month.

☆ Food Commodities Are Getting Cheaper—Unlike Grocery Bills
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Yusuf Khan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Global prices for commodities such as wheat and sugar have fallen back to where they were a year ago, but consumers are still likely to feel the pinch at the checkout. The disconnect is because of extraordinary uncertainty about future production of key foodstuffs such as wheat, and because price pressures elsewhere—including for energy and wages—can have a major impact on grocery bills.

☆ Lack of Wind Pushes Europe’s Power Prices Higher, Just as Cold Sets In
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( Yusuf Khan | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Falling wind speeds in Europe are pushing power and gas prices higher, underscoring the heightened vulnerability of the continent’s energy system to weather conditions this winter. Amid a sharp pivot from its reliance on Russian natural gas, Europe has built up large reserves of stored gas ahead of this year’s heating season. That has helped ease power and gas prices recently. A particularly mild spell of weather across the continent also helped by pushing back gas withdrawals and keeping stockpiles topped off.

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