Recent mining news: An article to bring you up to speed

UK and Indonesia Sign Critical Minerals Agreement

Mining.com reported on September 18 that the British Embassy in Indonesia has announced a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the UK and Indonesia on critical minerals cooperation. The agreement focuses on fostering policy dialogue, sharing technical expertise, and exchanging professional experience in areas such as the resilience of critical mineral supply chains, sustainable upstream and downstream processing, and crisis management in the mineral sector. Notably, two months ago, the United States announced Indonesia's participation in the Mineral Security Partnership (MSP), aimed at accelerating the development of sustainable critical mineral supply chains. The signing of this MoU marks both nations' commitment to becoming key players in the global critical minerals supply chain.

India Expands Critical Minerals Exploration in Latin America

MiningWeekly reported on September 18 that India's Minister of Mines, V.L. Kansa Rao, stated that the state-owned Coal India Limited is actively exploring critical minerals in Argentina and is in talks with the Chilean government regarding lithium resource cooperation. In June, Coal India began lithium exploration activities in Argentina in collaboration with a U.S. company, as part of India's strategy to secure battery materials within the MSP framework led by the United States. Additionally, the state-owned KABIL (Khanij Bidesh India Limited) is exploring critical minerals in Australia and has received approval to conduct non-invasive, "green" exploration in Argentina.

UN Releases Guidelines on Critical Minerals for Energy Transition

Reuters reported on September 17 that the United Nations has launched its Fair and Just Guidelines for Critical Minerals Driving the Energy Transition. The report outlines pathways to achieve a just and equitable renewable energy revolution, promoting sustainable development, human rights, environmental protection, and prosperity for resource-rich developing nations. In April, UN Secretary-General António Guterres established a special expert group to develop recommendations and guidelines to help governments and mining companies secure energy transition minerals while safeguarding human rights, justice, and fairness. The group recommends establishing a high-level expert advisory panel within the UN to convene stakeholders for policy dialogue on economic issues across the mineral value chain. The guidelines also advocate for a global system of traceability, transparency, and accountability, and propose a fund to address historical environmental issues such as abandoned or orphaned mines. The group further suggests empowering artisanal and small-scale miners to become key contributors to development, environmental governance, and human rights protection, promoting material efficiency and recycling.

Canada Invests Over CAD 8 Million to Boost Critical Minerals Recycling in Ontario

According to the website of the Canadian Ministry of Natural Resources on September 15, the Canadian government has allocated CAD 8.4 million to support critical mineral recycling technologies in Ontario, aiding the electric vehicle supply chain. The funding will promote the development of a circular economy for rare earth elements used in permanent magnets and the recycling of graphite for lithium-ion batteries. Cyclic Materials will receive CAD 4.9 million to build a demonstration plant that will produce high-purity rare earth oxides and cobalt-nickel hydroxide products using recycled materials. Green Graphite Technologies (GGT) will receive CAD 3.5 million to advance its GraphRenew technology, which converts used graphite into reusable material.