Tag Archives: Paul Ward

Anglo American partners with GEM on resource-efficient battery material use R&D

Base metals, Energy minerals, Environmental, Mineral processing, Sustainable mining, , , ,

Anglo American has launched a research and development project in collaboration with GEM, one of China’s largest battery and battery material recyclers, to explore new and more efficient technologies for the use of existing and alternative raw materials to be used in batteries for electric vehicles (EVs).

Paul Ward, Executive Head of Base Metals Marketing for Anglo American, said: “Our diversified portfolio includes a range of products critical to the long-term decarbonisation of transport – a sector estimated to account for over 15% of global emissions. We are collaborating with leaders in the sector to explore new technologies that build on the physical qualities of our portfolio of products to help tackle some of the key challenges facing the industry and contribute to the
sustainable scale-up of EV travel.

“Our work in this space is part of our commitment to supply our customers with products tailored to their specific needs and that capitalise on the opportunities offered by ongoing technological innovation.”

The project will focus on jointly developing metal dissolving technologies, using metals such as nickel, cobalt and manganese, to facilitate a more efficient use of battery materials, from either mined or recycled routes, with the intention of improving existing processes as well as exploring the use of new materials not currently employed in the battery value chain.

China is the world’s largest EV market, with an expected eight million vehicles sold in 2023. GEM is a leading global battery material producer, with pioneering technology and capability to recycle batteries through the extraction of the minerals they contain, Anglo American says.

Professor Xu Kaihua, founder and Chairman of GEM, said: “We have over two decades of experience in recycling batteries and electronics and have invested heavily in understanding the processes needed to recover raw materials essential for the energy transition. This collaboration marks an important step for us, as we seek to drive synergies with industry leaders such as Anglo American that participate in the critical raw materials value chain and share our commitment to advancing technological development to shape a more sustainable future for the transport sector.”

AngloAmerican-copper

Anglo American, Mitsubishi Materials to address copper supply chain traceability

Base metals, Environmental, Mining industry recognition, Sustainable mining, , ,

Anglo American has signed a memorandum of understanding with Mitsubishi Materials Corporation to collaborate on the creation of a copper product offering that, it says, responds to growing demand for metals with demonstrably strong provenance credentials.

The collaboration will focus on driving traceability across copper’s fragmented value chain, with the aim of identifying and measuring sustainability indicators that industry stakeholders and end customers deem most relevant and valuable, Anglo American says. By using technology-driven traceability solutions, the two companies will work together to provide such stakeholders with secure access to relevant product provenance information.

Anglo American and Mitsubishi Materials, a global manufacturer of copper and other non-ferrous metal materials, cemented carbide tools, and electronic components, will also explore decarbonisation opportunities to reduce the overall carbon footprint of the metal provided to customers.

Paul Ward, Executive Head of Base Metals Marketing at Anglo American, said: “We are forging long-term collaborations with customers across key geographies, building on well-established commercial relationships to extend the impact of our commitment to create ethical value chains for our products beyond our own mining operations.

“Consumers around the world are increasingly asking that their purchases come with greater assurance of sustainable production. Our work with Mitsubishi Materials aims to accelerate efforts to increase provenance visibility for materials used in some of the key technologies for modern life and to improve living standards for a growing global population through sustainable socio-economic development.”