Extraction & Refinement Processes

The Ambatovy mine, located near Moramanga and spanning 1,600 hectares of lateritic deposits, has been Madagascar's mining powerhouse since operations began in 2007. With depths of 20-100 meters, it extracts nickel and cobalt, transporting ore via a 220 km slurry pipeline to Toamasina for refining into 99.9% pure briquettes . Employing 10,000 people—90% Malagasy—it contributes significantly to the economy,...

The DRC’s mining industry is central to its economy, as mineral exports account for over 95% of revenues. Dominated by copper, cobalt, and gold, it attracts major players like Glencore, which produces 39,000 tons of cobalt annually—about one-third of global output—and plans a 67% increase . Chinese investments like the $7.8 billion Sicomines joint venture underline foreign dominance, with local...

Introduction Gyrotrons, once confined to scientific labs, are now pivotal in addressing humanity's dual challenges of energy security and resource sustainability. By generating high-power electromagnetic waves, they facilitate plasma heating...

Deep-sea mining targets polymetallic nodules and other resources on the ocean floor, essential for batteries and renewables, but at a potential cost to biodiversity. As of mid-2025, the ISA...

  Deep-sea mining targets polymetallic nodules on the ocean floor, rich in metals essential for electric vehicles and solar panels. Amid escalating demand, proponents hail it as a solution to...

Deep-sea mining has emerged as a flashpoint in global environmental discourse, driven by the demand for metals like nickel, cobalt, and manganese crucial for batteries and renewable technologies. Glencore,...

The deep sea, covering over half the world's ocean floor, holds immense ecological value as a carbon sink and biodiversity hotspot, yet it faces unprecedented threats from mining for...

Introduction Deep-sea mining involves extracting polymetallic nodules from ocean floors deeper than 4,000 meters, targeting metals like cobalt and nickel essential for batteries and tech. Proponents argue it's necessary to...

Deep-sea mining involves extracting polymetallic nodules, sulfides, and crusts from ocean floors deeper than 200 meters, targeting metals essential for batteries and clean tech. The International Seabed Authority (ISA)...

Introduction In recent years, the world has witnessed an intensifying scramble to secure resources essential for renewable energy technologies, particularly metals like cobalt, nickel, and copper, which are pivotal for...

Introduction As the International Seabed Authority (ISA) stands at the helm, tasked with navigating the murky waters of seabed resource management, its dual role of advancing commercial interests while safeguarding...