Similar a Energy transition specialty metals and minerals - Sykes et al - Feb 2017 - Centre for Exploration Targeting / the University of Western Australia(20)
Energy transition specialty metals and minerals - Sykes et al - Feb 2017 - Centre for Exploration Targeting / the University of Western Australia
John Sykes12, Allan Trench134, Dave Stevenson15,
Josh Wright6, Sam Davies17 & Aaron Dixon3
1. Centre for Exploration Targeting, The University of Western Australia
2. Greenfields Research Ltd, United Kingdom
3. Business School, The University of Western Australia
4. CRU Group, United Kingdom
5. Kenorland Minerals, Canada
6. Rowton Ltd, United Kingdom
7. Alto Metals, Australia
PDAC Conference
Toronto, Canada: 7th March 2017
PDAC Conference, Toronto, Canada
The impact of the energy transition on specialty metals and minerals
The impact of the energy transition on specialty metals and mineralsSlide 2 of 35 7 Mar 2017
PDAC Conference, Toronto, Canada
BATTERIES
Power storage/averaging
Portable energy
Rechargeable (reduced
waste & energy efficient)
Image: TonyV3112 / Shutterstock.com
Image: Claudio Divizia / Shutterstock.com
RENEWABLES
Theoretically infinite
Non-carbon emission
generating (at source)
Distributed sources
Increased
energy
demand
Increased
environmental
focus
Increased
transportation
The impact of the energy transition on specialty metals and mineralsSlide 3 of 35 7 Mar 2017
PDAC Conference, Toronto, Canada
Lead-acid Alkaline (zinc-
manganese)
Lithium-ion
Nickel-
cadmium/zinc
Nickel metal (lanthanum-
rare earth) hydride
Vanadium redox
BATTERY METALSRENEWABLES METALS
Uranium
Rare earths
(neodymium,
praseodymium &
dysprosium) – in the
generator magnet
Silicon & germanium;
Gallium-arsenide;
Copper-indium-gallium-selenide (CIGS)
Cadmium-telluride,
The impact of the energy transition on specialty metals and mineralsSlide 4 of 35 7 Mar 2017
PDAC Conference, Toronto, Canada
antimony, arsenic, barium, beryllium,
bismuth, boron, cadmium, chromium,
cobalt, gallium,
germanium, indium,
lithium, magnesium, manganese,
mercury, molybdenum, niobium,
PGMs, rare earths,
rhenium, selenium, silicon, silver,
strontium, tantalum, tellurium,
thorium, tungsten, vanadium
Components of ‘criticality’
Important
uses –
‘economic
paradigm’
Potentially geopolitically
restricted production –
‘strategic resources’
paradigm e.g. USDOE
critical metals reports
Potentially environmentally /
socially restricted production
– ‘sustainable resources’
paradigm e.g. EU critical
metals reports
‘China produces
95% of the rare
earth metals…’
‘The problem
with nuclear
power is not
uranium supply
but waste
disposal…’
The impact of the energy transition on specialty metals and mineralsSlide 5 of 35 7 Mar 2017
PDAC Conference, Toronto, Canada
1 100 10000 1000000 100000000
Gallium
Indium
Lithium
Cobalt
Silicon
Vanadium
Nickel
Rare Earths
Germanium
Copper
Manganese
Zinc
Selenium
Cadmium
Lead
Tellurium
Arsenic
Theoretical Total Available for Recycling (tonnes)
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140
Gallium
Indium
Lithium
Cobalt
Silicon
Vanadium
Nickel
Rare Earths
Germanium
Copper
Manganese
Zinc
Selenium
Cadmium
Lead
Tellurium
Arsenic
Depletion Index for Material Available for Recycling (years)
Data: USGS
The impact of the energy transition on specialty metals and mineralsSlide 6 of 35 7 Mar 2017
PDAC Conference, Toronto, Canada
We mine ‘commodities’ but recycle ‘products’
thus not all commodities are amenable to high
levels of recycling
45%
55%
Lead Production (2012)
Primary Secondary
Landfill ‘mining’ maybe as socially and
environmentally problematic as
conventional mining
Image: Guardian (Javad Tizmaghz)
Source: ILA
Image: C-Battery
37%
33%
10%
5%
5% 1%
9%
Lithium Consumption (2015)
Batteries Ceramics & Glass
Lubrication Purification
Flux Aluminium
Other (inc. pharma)
Source: USGS
The impact of the energy transition on specialty metals and mineralsSlide 7 of 35 7 Mar 2017
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2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Lithium Rare Earths Graphite Lithium (again)
Talison Lithium to
raise $194m in IPO
Business News WA,
24 Nov 2009
RARE EARTHS BECOME
HOT COMMODITIES – US
IPO UP FIVEFOLD IN 10
MONTHS
TheBull.com.au, 06 Jun 2011
Why these graphite
miners have soared
more than 87%
The Motley Fool,
24 Jun 2014
Lithium-ion
battery demand
sends shares in
miners soaring,
but analysts
predict bubble
will burst
ABC, 14 Jun 2016
They’ve got the power:
Battery stocks charging
up, analysts say
The Sydney Morning Herald, 2 Jul 2014
Uranium
Investors put
stock in
uranium
ABC, 24 May 2006
The impact of the energy transition on specialty metals and mineralsSlide 8 of 35 7 Mar 2017
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Molycorp files for
bankruptcy as rare
earth prices drop
- Bloomberg, 25 June 2015
Graphite junior
Triton Minerals in
shock collapse
- The Australian, 4 March 2016
Valence
Industries
enters
voluntary
administration
- Australian Mining, 20
July 2016
Year-end turn in rare
earth prices seen as
Lynas losses near $1b
- The Sydney Morning Herald, 10
March 2016
Integrated
business
still a Galaxy
away
- The Australian
Mining Review, 27
March 2013
RB Energy
shutters Quebec
lithium mine as
financing fails
Financial Post,
8 Oct 2014
Great Western
Minerals is
Bankrupt
- Newswire, 3 Dec 2015
* Galaxy Resources’ Mt Cattlin mine
re-opened in 2017 (Source: ABC)
* Triton Minerals re-listed later in 2016
(Source: Proactive Investors)
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0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
Growth of metal market groups
2005-14 (US$ billions)
Base Metals Precious Metals
Minor Renewables Metals Minor Battery Metals
Minor Critical Metals
Battery Metal
2005-14 Price
Change
Lithium 155%
Rare earths 59%
Manganese 52%
Lead 43%
Zinc 32%
Nickel -5%
Cobalt -25%
Cadmium -51%
Vanadium -72%
Source: USGS (2014)
Renewables
Metal
2005-14 Price
Change
Germanium 138%
Copper 100%
Arsenic 51%
Silicon 46%
Tellurium 2%
Uranium -1%
Indium -38%
Gallium -44%
Selenium -57%
For category definitions see appendices
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The impact of the energy transition on specialty metals and minerals
The impact of the energy transition on specialty metals and mineralsSlide 11 of 35 7 Mar 2017
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0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1900
1909
1918
1927
1936
1945
1954
1963
1972
1981
1990
1999
2008
Growth in market size indices
of copper and aluminium 1900-
2014 (1900 = 1)
Cu Index Al Index
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
1900
1909
1918
1927
1936
1945
1954
1963
1972
1981
1990
1999
2008
Growth in market size indices
of copper and nickel 1900-2013
(1900 = 1)
Cu Index Ni Index
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
1950
1955
1960
1965
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
Growth in market size indices
of copper and uranium 1950-
2013 (1950 = 1)
Cu Index U Index
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Nickel
Discoveries in Sudbury
& New Caledonia
Bulk open pit
mining
Flotation & smelting
advances
Demand for
armour
Ability to handle
radiation
Uranium
Demand for
nuclear weapons
Demand for nuclear
power
Bulk mining for very
low grade radium
Radium-uranium
discoveries in the Congo
Aluminium
Bauxite
discoveries in
North America
Bayer and Hall-
Heroult processes
Aviation
demand
Bulk open pit
mining
Source:
Sykes et
al., 2016b
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The impact of the energy transition on specialty metals and minerals
The impact of the energy transition on specialty metals and mineralsSlide 14 of 35 7 Mar 2017
PDAC Conference, Toronto, Canada
Metals Constraints removed
Copper Dis. Supply Use
Germanium Dis. Sup. Use
Indium Dis. Sup. Use
Tellurium Dis. Sup. Use
Arsenic Discovery S Use
Gallium Dis. Sup. Use
Selenium Dis. Sup. Use
Silicon Dis. Sup. Use
Cobalt Dis. S Use
Lithium D Sup. Use
Nickel Dis. Sup. U
Metals Constraints removed
Vanadium Dis. Sup. U
Lanthanum D S Use
Lead Discovery S
Cadmium Dis. Sup.
Manganese Dis. S U
Zinc Dis. S U
Neodymium D S Use
Praseodymium D S Use
Dysprosium D Use
Uranium D S
For more information: Sykes et al., 2016a
Fullyunconstrained
Fullyunconstrained
Most
constrained
Least
constrained
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Finalmarketsizepotential
Lack of discovery, supply & demand constraints on the market
High potential
Few constraints
Low potential
Few constraints
High potential
Many constraints
Low potential
Many constraints
Co
Li
La
V
Cd
Mn
NiZn
Pb
For more information: Sykes et al., 2016a
Nd
Si
Se
As
Te
Cu
Ga
Ge
In
Pr
DyU
The impact of the energy transition on specialty metals and mineralsSlide 16 of 35 7 Mar 2017
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Energy transition
requires electric
vehicles
Increased mining
of rare earths in
China
Questionable
environmental
and social
impacts
Switch back to
ferric magnets
required?
Electric vehicles
require better
motor magnets
Rare earth
magnets are
technically better
Image:
Reuters
Based on: Widmer et al., 2015
Rare earth magnets case study
The impact of the energy transition on specialty metals and mineralsSlide 17 of 35 7 Mar 2017
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Abilitytoresolveconstraint
Type of market constraints
Resolvable societal
Constraints
e.g. conflict
Unresolvable societal
Constraints
e.g. toxicity
Resolvable technical
Constraints
e.g. processing challenges
Unresolvable technical
Constraints
e.g. geological scarcity
For more information: Sykes et al., 2016a
Co
Li
La
V
Cd
Mn
Ni
Zn
Pb
Pr
USe
Dy
Ga
Si
NdAs
Cu
Te In
Ge
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The impact of the energy transition on specialty metals and minerals
The impact of the energy transition on specialty metals and mineralsSlide 19 of 35 7 Mar 2017
PDAC Conference, Toronto, Canada
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Surface
Mine
UG Mine Mill
Other
Steel
Equipment, Tyres
& Parts
Explosives &
Reagents
Fuel & Electricity
Labour
Data: CostMine, July 2016
Solar power at Sandfire Resources
Degrussa mine, WA
All electric underground mine to be
designed by Goldcorp at Borden, Canada
Wind power for copper mines in Chile
owned by Barrick
‘Flexicycle’ gas, diesel, heavy fuel oil and
biodiesel power at Pueblo Viejo mine,
Dominican Republic, owned by Barrick
The impact of the energy transition on specialty metals and mineralsSlide 20 of 35 7 Mar 2017
PDAC Conference, Toronto, Canada
Movement towards
all electric
underground mines
Focus on
greenhouse
gas reduction
Health concerns
surrounding
diesel
emissions in
confined spaces
Improved
battery
technology
Volkswagen
NOX & SOX
emission
scandal
Movement
towards
underground
mines
Focus on
social &
environmental
footprint of
surface mining
Fewer surface
mineral
deposits
awaiting
discovery
MOVEMENT TOWARDS ALL
RENEWABLE ELECTRIC
UNDERGROUND MINING?
Improved automation
and remote
technology
Safer
underground
mines
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The impact of the energy transition on specialty metals and minerals
The impact of the energy transition on specialty metals and mineralsSlide 22 of 35 7 Mar 2017
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Wonderland
Battlefield
Left behind
High tech
Old
World
NOW
Transition
(An unknown
number of
economic cycles
to come)
Low tech
(Beyond
which is
the
unknown)
‘Economic
paradigm’
‘Sustainability
paradigm’
‘Strategic paradigm’
The impact of the energy transition on specialty metals and mineralsSlide 23 of 35 7 Mar 2017
PDAC Conference, Toronto, Canada
OLD
ECONOMY
STRATEGIC
RESOURCES INEQUITYPROTECTIONI
SM
STRATEGIC
RESOURCES
ISIS
BIG
MINING
ECONOMIC
PARADIGM
COAL
POWER
POLLUTION
WASTE
PETROL
CARS
..with an unknown number of economic cycles to come, so you have to be good at
‘business as usual’
BOOM &
BUST
BIG OIL
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…but into which future?
The impact of the energy transition on specialty metals and mineralsSlide 25 of 35 7 Mar 2017
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WONDERLAND BATTLEFIELD
(common in Eastern culture) (common in Western culture)
Story line references: http://io9.gizmodo.com/the-universal-shapes-of-stories-according-to-kurt-vonn-1526559996
The impact of the energy transition on specialty metals and mineralsSlide 26 of 35 7 Mar 2017
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GREEN
ECONOMY
STRATEGIC
RESOURCES
SILICON
VALLEY
PROTECTIONISM
STRATEGIC
RESOURCES
ISIS
DISRUPTION
SUSTAINABILITY
PARADIGM VOLATILITY
CETA DEAL
INNOVATION
PARIS
AGREEMENT
Geopolitics and conflict forces a government-led energy transition in the fossil-fuel poor
parts of the world
GLOBALISATION TESLA
The impact of the energy transition on specialty metals and mineralsSlide 27 of 35 7 Mar 2017
PDAC Conference, Toronto, Canada
NEW
WORLD
STRATEGIC
RESOURCES
BREXITPROTECTIONISM
STRATEGIC
RESOURCES
ISIS
OLD
WORLD
MILITARY-
INDUSTRIAL
COMPLEX
TRUMP
STRATEGIC
PARADIGM
WARPROTECTIONISM
PUTIN
ISIS
Geopolitics and conflict forces a government-led energy transition in the fossil-fuel poor
parts of the world
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The impact of the energy transition on specialty metals and minerals
The impact of the energy transition on specialty metals and mineralsSlide 29 of 35 7 Mar 2017
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WONDERLAND
Business capabilities
• Spot new technology by working with innovators ‘on
the ground’;
• Understand niche markets before they become the next
big thing;
• Be able to scale globally quickly.
Winners & losers
• In a globalised world only one or two battery
technologies, hybrid car companies, and renewable
energy sources will win, so backing the right idea early
is critical.
• However advantage is only ever temporary, as the next
big thing is already on its way – innovate ruthlessly to
stay on top.
BATTLEFIELD
Business capabilities
• Work closely with government to ensure you understand their needs
and get the big contracts;
• Global scaling is impossible;
• Understand your local market, and what technologies can work in
your part of the world.
Winner & losers
• In a divided world many ‘just good enough’ energy technologies will
exist, supported by government and their geopolitical need, so
picking ‘a winner’ is less important – government relationships are
more important.
• The slow changing nature of government and the focus on defence of
the state means that within each block this is a stable, slow changing
world with long-lasting competitive advantage.
Because it is not possible to see what the world will look like after the energy transition mineral explorers, miners, renewable energy companies, hybrid car
companies, battery makers and other companies affected by the energy transition need to be prepared to thrive in both scenarios:
The impact of the energy transition on specialty metals and mineralsSlide 30 of 35 7 Mar 2017
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• The energy transition will likely have a substantial impact on some currently minor metal markets;
• Some minor metals markets have the potential for transformational growth becoming a major ‘battery metals’ and/or ‘renewables
metals’ industrial sector (together the ‘energy metals’);
• However, of the energy metals some face more severe constraints on geological discovery, technical supply and demand
growth, as well environmental and socio-political constraints;
• The mining industry will therefore have a major impact on which minor metals will become available for mass consumption as
energy metals by renewables and battery companies;
• However, some battery metals such as lithium, vanadium and nickel and renewables metals such as silicon and gallium do seem
to have more potential than the others;
• In turn, as a major energy consumer in remote locations the mining sector will be impacted by and may be a driver of the energy
transition;
• In the end, the socio-political context of the energy transition will determine what sort of future we progress into; with different
implications for the ‘energy metals’ sector in each;
• For the affected businesses navigating the energy transition will be difficult as it is not obvious when it will arrive, or what it will
look like when it does;
• Mining, exploration, renewables and battery companies seeking to capitalise on growth in the ‘energy metals’ sector need to:
– Target those metal markets with the most potential for substantial market growth;
– Approach these metal markets in a holistic manner, removing discovery, supply, demand, technical, environmental and
socio-political constraints;
– Be ready for a three stage approach: survive the present, see the energy transition, and thrive in the future (whatever it is).
The impact of the energy transition on specialty metals and mineralsSlide 31 of 35 7 Mar 2017
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Contact details:
• John Sykes: john.sykes@greenfieldsresearch.com
• Allan Trench: allan.trench@uwa.edu.au
• Dave Stevenson: 20988641@student.uwa.edu.au
• Josh Wright: josh.wright@rowton-ltd.com
• Sam Davies: rhyssamuel.davies@research.uwa.edu.au
• Aaron Dixon: 10502311@student.uwa.edu.au
With thanks to the Centre for Exploration Targeting scenario
planning team:
• John Sykes, Allan Trench, T. Campbell McCuaig, Jonathan
Bell, Jeremie Giraud, Constanza Jara Barra, Ahmad Saleem,
and Jan Tunjic.
• And Heta Lampinen for the Kurt Vonnegan universal
storylines link.
The impact of the energy transition on specialty metals and mineralsSlide 32 of 35 7 Mar 2017
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• Sykes, J. P., Trench, A., Wright, J.P., & McCuaig, T.C.
2017. The impact of the energy transition on specialty
metals and minerals. PDAC Conference, Specialty
Metals and Minerals Technical Session, Toronto,
Canada, 7 March.
• Sykes, J. P., Wright, J. P., Trench, A., & Miller, P.
2016a. An assessment of the potential for
transformational market growth amongst the critical
metals. Applied Earth Science, 125:1, pp21-56.
• Sykes, J. P., Wright, J. P. & Trench, A. 2016b.
Discovery, supply and demand: From Metals of
Antiquity to critical metals. Applied Earth Science,
125:1, pp3-20.
The impact of the energy transition on specialty metals and mineralsSlide 33 of 35 7 Mar 2017
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The energy transition: A mining and exploration industry perspective
The impact of the energy transition on specialty metals and mineralsSlide 34 of 35 7 Mar 2017
PDAC Conference, Toronto, Canada
• Precious metals: gold, platinum groups metals & silver
• Base metals: aluminium, copper, lead, nickel, tin & zinc
• Renewables metals: arsenic, gallium, germanium, indium, rare earths, selenium, silicon, tellurium
& uranium
• Minor battery metals: cadmium, cobalt, lithium, manganese & vanadium
• Other minor critical metals: antimony, barium, beryllium, bismuth, boron, chromium,
magnesium, mercury, molybdenum, niobium, rhenium, strontium, tantalum, thorium, titanium &
tungsten
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