Mining & Critical Metals

The energy transition hinges on critical minerals, but their extraction under the banner of "green mining" raises urgent questions about true sustainability. According to the UNEP-WCMC, global production of 26 key minerals must increase sixfold by 2050 to meet net-zero goals, with demand for graphite, lithium, and cobalt surging nearly 500% . This escalation, driven by renewable technologies, is...

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...

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) holds vast reserves of coltan, essential for tantalum in electronics, yet its eastern provinces remain mired in conflict. Armed groups like M23, allegedly...

The Democratic Republic of Congo holds over 70% of the world's cobalt reserves, essential for electric vehicle batteries, yet its people endure widespread poverty amid foreign-dominated mining. Glencore, a...

  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 Electric scooters have transformed urban mobility since their widespread adoption in the late 2010s, offering a nimble alternative to cars and public transport for short trips. By 2025, shared...

Introduction Norway, long hailed as a leader in ocean conservation, made headlines in January 2024 when its parliament approved exploratory deep-sea mining with an 80-20 vote, targeting a vast 281,000...

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...