July 2021

Batteries News

Scientists have made significant progress in developing battery cathodes using a new class of materials that provide batteries with the same if not higher energy density than conventional lithium-ion batteries but can be made of inexpensive and abundant metals.

Biofuels Digest

In Indonesia, Platts reports the FAO and OECD’s most recent joint Agricultural Outlook 2021-2030 report says the agencies believe Indonesia will drive palm oil use as biodiesel feedstock throughout the rest of the decade because of its B30 blending mandate. The report attributes 2/3 of the 7% anticipated increase in biodiesel consumption through 2030 to Indonesia’s biofuel policy, growing 23.2% to 7.9 million metric tons.

Mining Technology

Production from the world’s top ten copper mining companies decreased, albeit by a marginal 0.2% to 11.76 million tonnes (Mt) in 2020. The initial impact of the pandemic on the mining operations was immense, but six of the ten largest producers succeeded in increasing output in the year.

MINING.com

French advanced materials company Arkema announced that it is targeting the lithium-ion battery market with a newly developed polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) range with 100% renewable attributed carbon derived from crude tall oil bio-feedstock. PVDF is the second-largest fluoropolymer sector after polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and is used as a binder in the production of electrodes for lithium-ion and lithium metal polymer batteries and as a separator coating.

Filtration + Separation

Germany’s largest biogas plant for bio-LNG production, operated by EnviTec Biogas, is using Evonik’s SEPURAN Green membrane technology for its biogas upgrading.Biogas can be upgraded to biomethane and used locally in liquid (bio-LNG) form as a climate-friendly fuel. The decentralised provision of bio-LNG shortens the transport distances of the fuel and reduces transport costs.

Biofuels Digest

In the Philippines, the Business Mirror reports that a USDA Gain report says the Philippine government is seeking public comment on potentially doubling its biodiesel blending mandate to 4% from the current 2% by evaluating fuel standards for B3 and B4. The coconut industry has been urging a push to 5% blending for some time to help support the domestic market. B2 has been the standard for the past 15 years and is considered stagnant.

In Indonesia, Platts reports that in line with market expectations, the government has decided to cut the export levy on palm oil to $175 per metric ton from the current $255/mt if the price of palm oil goes over $1,000/ton. A date has not yet been set for the new policy, but expectations are that it will be implemented by the end of the month.

In China, for more than 60 years, algae have been studied as a potential feedstock for biofuel production, but the cellulose in their cell wall makes it hard to access the critical molecules inside and convert them to biogas.

THE DEPARTMENT of Energy (DoE) needs to expand its moratorium on coal-fired power plants to include more facilities, including those that have secured prior approval and those that are under construction, an environment policy expert said. In October, Energy Secretary Alfonso G. Cusi announced a halt on greenfield or new coal-fired power plants to make way for a more flexible power supply mix.

Channel NewsAsia

Indonesia’s biggest coal-producing province of East Kalimantan has recorded a spike in coronavirus cases, with miners among those infected, but so far there has been no disruption to coal operations, a local official said. The Southeast Asian country is the world’s biggest thermal coal.

Filtration + Separation

NX Filtrations membrane modules at a previous project for PT. Bayu for the production of drinking water for the city of Dumai in Indonesia. NX Filtration has been chosen by PT. Bayu, an Indonesian specialist in the construction of water and wastewater treatment plants, to supply its hollow fibre nanofiltration membranes for potable water production at Rumah Sakit Cipto Mangunkusomo, Indonesia’s biggest state owned hospital in Jakarta.

LNG industry

Gavin Thompson, Vice Chair, Wood Mackenzie Asia Pacific spoke to Xueke Wang from the company’s Asia Pacific Gas Research team to find out more about China’s surging LNG market.

Mining Technology

China-based battery maker EVE Energy is reportedly planning to acquire a 28.1% stake in lithium producer Jinkulun Lithium Industry. The two firms are also planning to establish a Qinghai-based joint venture (JV) to build a lithium chemicals project with an estimated investment of up to $277.8m (CNY1.8bn), reported Reuters.

Mining Technology

PT Vale Indonesia (PTVI) has partnered with Taiyuan Iron & Steel Group (TISCO), a subsidiary of China Baowu Steel Group (Baowu), and Shandong Xinhai Technology (Xinhai) to produce stainless-steel raw material nickel pig iron (NPI) in Indonesia. The firms have signed a cooperation framework agreement to construct and operate the Bahodopi processing facility.

MINING.com

China consumes as much industrial metals and battery minerals as the rest of the world combined, purchases more than 70% of seaborne iron ore, and is also the top user of gold. S&P Global Market Intelligence put together a set of charts showing China’s mining sector’s ambitions overseas to meet rising domestic demand and make the country less dependent on imports — particularly from Latin America and Australia.

Rigzone.com

China is gaining LNG and pipeline gas import alternatives, with no respite for European importers.

The Jakarta Post

Extending the ban on new plantations will help improve the commodity’s sustainability and smallholders’ livelihoods, farmers and environmentalists say.

The Jakarta Post

Plans to develop a downstream mining industry in Indonesia to adapt to a long-term global shift in ore demand away from coal toward metals may also weigh on coal prices and demand over the decade.