Mining is more relevant than ever given this global shift and exponential demand for cleaner energy and cleaner technology.
The global shift towards clean energy technologies creates a heavy reliance on critical minerals. Critical minerals are integral for the transition from fossil fuels to modern technology, especially with the advent of electric-powered engines. Critical minerals used in transport technologies include copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, chromium, molybdenum, zinc, silicon, rare earths, and others. Similarly, minerals such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese and graphite are required for energy storage and a variety of batteries.
Green Minerals
Pakistan holds large deposits of copper along with pockets of rare earth metals such as Lithium which hold significance with the global shift towards renewables.
Alternative energy sources create a demand for rare-earth elements such as neodymium, praseodymium, terbium and dysprosium etc. while renewable power networks rely on aluminum and copper.
The quantum of critical minerals required for clean energy technologies is also larger than traditional energy drivers. In the run up to the year 2050 a 500% increase in the demand and production of minerals such as lithium, cobalt and graphite is predicted.
Metallic minerals such as Copper with its superior thermal and electrical conductivity and recyclability makes it a ‘green’ metal – a metal of value as the world turns towards sustainability and renewable energy.
Green Technology
Opportunity to deploy green technology is an attractive proposition for most global players. Since mining is an upcoming sector with a structured growth trajectory many projects offered to investors are Greenfield projects without any obsolete existing systems in place.
Opportunity to harness renewable energy
Apart from the presence of green metals there is tremendous opportunity for mining operators to tap into available renewable resources to fulfil the power demands of project sites and camps. This feeds into global climate change initiatives and makes use of existing wind corridors and solar which are both untapped sources of power for both Green field as well as Brown field projects.
Overview
The global shift towards clean energy technologies creates a heavy reliance on critical minerals. Critical minerals are integral for the transition from fossil fuels to modern technology, especially electric-powered engines. Critical minerals used in transport technologies include copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, chromium, molybdenum, zinc, silicon, rare earths, and others. Similarly, minerals such as lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese and graphite are required for energy storage and a variety of batteries.
Alternative energy sources create a demand for rare-earth elements such as neodymium, praseodymium, terbium and dysprosium etc. while renewable power networks rely on aluminum and copper.
The quantum of critical minerals required for clean energy technologies is also larger than traditional energy drivers. In the run up to the year 2050 a 500% increase in the demand and production of minerals such as lithium, cobalt and graphite is predicted. Mining is more relevant than ever given this global shift and exponential demand for cleaner energy and cleaner technology.