• GLOBAL NEWS
Global news
“ Demand for magnesium worldwide is strong ,” said David Paterson , CEO at LMG . “ It has the best strength-to-weight ratio of all common structural metals and is increasingly used in the manufacture of car parts , laptop computers , mobile phones and power tools . Currently , the Latrobe Valley contains 25 million tons inventory of fly ash , that is why it is so important for us to have a reliable partner in this project ”.
AUSTRALIA :
A WORLD FIRST MAGNESIUM EXTRACTION PROCESS
“ Through many years of experience and continuous improvement of the pyro hydrolysis process , Tenova is able to meet specific customer requirements . The positive and constructive cooperation with Latrobe during the development phase of the magnesium production facility was a decisive factor to now deepen this work in the course of realisation ,” stated Gregor Kappacher , branch manager at Tenova Austria , the Competence Center for Spray Roaster Technology . “ The project is of paramount importance for Tenova , because it opens positive future perspectives and is in line with our effort towards achieving a sustainable industry .”
The first magnesium is forecasted to be produced in 2023 .
Source : Tenova
USA :
RENEWABLE ENERGY JOBS HIT 12.7 MILLION GLOBALLY
Supplied Tenova
Tenova was awarded a contract by Latrobe Magnesium Limited .
In September 2022 Tenova , a developer and provider of sustainable solutions for the green transition of the metals industry , was awarded a contract for the engineering , supply , and supervision of a Magnesium Oxide ( MgO ) production plant at Latrobe Valley , Victoria , Australia – a demonstration plant using a world-first process of combined hydromet / thermal reduction – by Latrobe Magnesium Limited ( LMG ).
The Renewable Energy and Jobs : Annual Review 2022 , released in September last year , confirmed that worldwide employment in renewable energy reached 12.7 million in 2021 – a jump of 700 000 new jobs in one year – despite the lingering effects of COVID-19 and the growing energy crisis and it called for targeted industrial strategies to create stable supply chains and ‘ good jobs ’.
Fastest-growing solar energy The report identifies domestic market size as a major factor influencing employment generation in renewables , along with labour and other costs . Solar energy was found to be the fastestgrowing sector . In 2021 it provided 4.3 million jobs , more than a third of the current global workforce in renewable energy .
The new report was published by the International Renewable Energy Agency ( IRENA ) in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation ( ILO ), during the Global Clean Energy Action Forum in Pittsburgh , USA .
As part of the first phase of the project , the company ’ s scope of supply will include a magnesium oxide ( MgO ) plant , with spray roaster technology , with a production capacity of 300kg / h .
The demonstration plant will initially have capacity of 1 000 tonnes of magnesium ( Mg ) metal per year , and in the second stage , LMG intends to develop a commercial scale operation with an envisaged production capacity in the range of 10 000 to 40 000 tons per annum of magnesium metal .
Harvesting magnesium metal from a fly ash resource – a waste stream from brown coal power generation – has been made possible by this world-first patented hydrometallurgical extraction and thermal reduction process . The project is at the forefront of environmental sustainability as it converts nearly 100 % of the resource into valuable commodities . The released CO2 emissions are approximately 50 % less than comparable magnesium production plants .
8 • African Mining • January 2023
Domestic markets are key With rising concerns about climate change , COVID-19 recovery and supply chain disruption , national interest is growing in localising supply chains and creating jobs at home . The report describes how strong domestic markets are key to anchoring a drive toward clean energy industrialisation . Developing renewable technology export capabilities is also dependent on this , it adds .
Francesco La Camera , IRENA ’ s director-general , said , “ In the face of numerous challenges , renewable energy jobs remain resilient , and have been proven to be a reliable job creation engine . My advice to governments around the world is to pursue industrial policies that encourage the expansion of decent renewables jobs at home . Spurring a domestic value chain will not only create business opportunities and new jobs for people and local communities . It also bolsters supply chain reliability and contributes to more energy security overall .” www . africanmining . co . za