The cobalt mining controversy in Congo represents more than just an environmental crisis. This strategic mineral has become the cornerstone of global technological transformation, powering everything from electric vehicle batteries to renewable energy storage systems. Yet beneath the surface of this green revolution lies a complex web of ethical challenges that extends far beyond African borders, touching the supply chains of major corporations and the lives of millions worldwide. Understanding Critical Mineral Dependencies in Modern Technology The Democratic Republic of Congo’s position in global cobalt production has created unprecedented supply chain vulnerabilities that ripple through multiple industries. Approximately 70% of…
Author: TJ Markle
More than 10,000 feet deep in the ocean, the seafloor is covered with what look like dark, lumpy potatoes. These polymetallic nodules, as they’re known, take millions of years to form, slowly accumulating metals like nickel, cobalt and manganese. That’s made them a target for mining companies, looking to feed the world’s growing hunger for materials that go into advanced batteries and other technologies. On the seafloor, the nodules are vital habitat, part of a fragile ecosystem of marine species that are adapted to the dark, cold environment. With the majority of life in the deep sea still undiscovered by…
Two years into her mandate, the UN special rapporteur on the right to a healthy environment, tells Geneva Solutions about the right’s emerging threats from wars, the latest wave of mining and misinformation. Recognised by an overwhelming majority of countries at the United Nations General Assembly in 2022, the right to a healthy environment emerged from a vast civil society-led coalition that included Indigenous communities, women and youth, explains Astrid Puentes Riaño, the UN expert on the issue. But, she stresses, much still needs to be done by governments and the private sector to keep people safe and healthy. Puentes…
From cattle to copper to corn to crude oil, the global commodity arena has for decades featured a formidable lineup of heavy-hitters. More recently, amid rapid growth in electric vehicles (EVs), a few newer names are muscling into the market spotlight: battery metals. Long-term demand for cobalt, lithium and other battery and minor metals are poised for growth as the world increasingly shifts to EVs and alternative power sources. EV Adoption on the Rise In 2024, sales of EVs surged 25% to 17 million, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Fueled by cheaper minerals, global battery production capacity is…
One of the sectors of the Ukrainian economy most affected by the full-scale war is the mining and metallurgical industry (MMI). Specifically, total steel production over the last four years decreased by 65%, down to seven million tons. Additionally, revenue from exports of MMI products dropped to $6.2B last year from $21.4B in 2021. Iron ore exports fell from 44 million tons in 2021 to 31 million tons last year. Furthermore, since the war began the industry’s capital investment has decreased by 72%, from $1.9B in 2021 to $527M in 2025. Companies are forced to focus on routine repairs and maintaining existing…
A little-known metalloid is attracting outsized attention from investors and policymakers alike. Antimony, a silvery element used in everything from flame retardants to ammunition and semiconductors, is increasingly being viewed as a strategic mineral, one whose supply chain vulnerabilities may shape both industrial policy and commodity markets. The metal’s rising profile reflects a combination of demand growth and concentrated supply. Global consumption has been buoyed by defence applications, electronics manufacturing and safety materials such as flame-retardant plastics. These uses have helped push the antimony market toward an estimated valuation of roughly $4bn. What has sharpened the focus, however, is where…
Introduction: The Essential Role of Neodymium in Modern Life Neodymium (Nd), a critical rare-earth element, is an indispensable component in the development of high-strength magnets used in wind turbines, electric vehicles, and advanced defense technologies. Yet, as neodymium mining pushes deeper to meet the world’s clean energy ambitions, its environmental impacts become ever more significant, especially with global focus converging on sustainability by 2026 and beyond. Beyond discussions centered around mining, metallurgy, and geopolitics, it is crucial to examine the ripple effects of neodymium extraction across agriculture, forestry, water quality, soil health, and regional infrastructure. In this blog, we present a detailed, evidence-based exploration of the environmental impacts of neodymium…
Tantalite prices have surged to their highest level in more than two decades on supply fears following landslides at a major mine in top producer, the Democratic Republic of Congo, while demand for the metal used in electronics and chemical-processing equipment remained robust. Tantalite is the primary source of tantalum, a metal used in capacitors, aerospace components and nuclear technology. European tantalite prices have surged to $200–$210 per pound, a 90% year‑to‑date jump and the highest since the 2000s. Earlier this month, a landslide hit the Rubaya columbite–tantalite mine in eastern Congo. The Rubaya mine is in rebel‑controlled territory and falls outside…
Overview: Why Lead Times Matter for 2026 The world’s increasing demand for copper and silver is reshaping mining, agriculture, forestry, and infrastructure sectors. As we look ahead to 2026, lead times for new primary silver mines and the lead time for new copper mines are crucial for forecasting supply, pricing, and risk management for industries depending on these metals. Understanding the trajectory from exploration to first ore is essential—it is a multi-stage process influenced by geology, permitting, finance, construction cycles, environmental assessments, metal prices, community engagement, and policy frameworks. Copper is the backbone of electrification, renewable energy infrastructure, advanced farm machinery, and smart water management, while silver is embedded in solar panels, medical devices, sensors, electronics, and precision…
North Atlantic Titanium Corp., a Canadian exploration company focused on advancing the Everett titanium project in Quebec, acknowledges the recent launch of Canada’s first Defense Industrial Strategy by Prime Minister Mark Carney to strengthen security, create prosperity, and reinforce strategic autonomy. This is a strategy to transform Canada’s defense industries by prioritizing Canadian suppliers and materials, investing in Canadian innovation and commercialization, and streamlining procurement to give businesses consistent and predictable demand. The Defense Industrial Strategy is an investment of over half a trillion dollars in Canadian security, economic prosperity, and sovereignty.(1) By 2035, the Canadian government aims to invest…