mining

Scania is electrifying trucks and buses. (Photo from Scania.)

Scania Adds Electric Trucks & Buses to South Australian Fleet

Swedish truck and bus manufacturer Scania has quietly but steadily grown its presence and influence across Australia, especially through its focus on sustainable transport, advanced vehicle technology, and a commitment to road safety. In a press statement, the company announced developments that showcase a multi-faceted approach to the Australian market, … [continued]

ChatGPT generated this image of a strategic stockpile warehouse, illustrating the scale and preparedness required to manage by-product metal shortages in national reserves

How Minor Metals Could Cause Major Electrification Bottlenecks

In the discourse around global electrification, much of the attention is mistakenly drawn to the purported shortages of primary metals such as lithium and cobalt. As I’ve argued extensively elsewhere, including in critiques of the flawed models by Michaux and Cathles, these scenarios vastly overstate scarcity due to extreme and … [continued]

ChatGPT generated panoramic image of a big mine with critical mineral symbols floating in the air overhead

Critical Minerals Global Expert Optimistic About Supply

Late in 2024 I had the privilege of sitting down with one of the world’s leading experts on critical minerals, Gavin Mudd, director of the centre for critical minerals intelligence at the British Geological Survey. The second half of the conversation included a great deal on why we’re both optimistic … [continued]

ChatGPT generated panoramic image of a huge, rusting, filthy, mining truck labeled "H2" abandoned beside an open pit mine

Another Day, Another Hydrogen Transportation Failure — First Mode Edition

In the past few weeks, three hydrogen transportation firms have declared bankruptcy. First in the set of dominos was German firm Quantron, which left IKEA Austria holding a fleet of its hydrogen delivery vans as well as a fleet of its inferior-to-competitors’ vans without warranty, parts, or maintenance. The other … [continued]

Steps to Achieving “Real Zero” at Fortescue

Hot on the heels of his record-breaking purchase of electric mining equipment from Liebherr, Twiggy Forrest has now ordered AUD$400 million of emissions-free heavy mining equipment from China’s Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group Co., Ltd (XCMG) to decarbonise Fortescue’s mining. These extra 100 “pieces of zero emissions Heavy Mobile Equipment” will … [continued]

Rendering of Ioneer lithium mine. Credit: Ioneer

Proposed Lithium Mine Delights EV Enthusiasts But Troubles Some Environmental Groups

It isn’t easy being green. Last year, a study published in the journal Science Advances claimed that there was enough lithium — as much as 40 million metric tons — in the McDermitt Caldera, a volcanic area on the border between Nevada and Oregon, to make enough lithium-ion batteries to … [continued]

Real Zero at Fortescue

Fortescue has been in the news a lot recently. Just a few weeks ago, at a United Nations roundtable, Fortescue Executive Chairman Dr Andrew Forrest AO unveiled a plan to move mining operations from “net zero” to “real zero.” “The detailed timeline shows how Fortescue will eliminate Scope 1 and … [continued]