Teck Recognizes the Sustainable Power of Copper

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Copper producer Teck released a Climate Change Outlook Report outlining its commitment to reach net-zero operations by 2050. Teck outlined three phases to achieve its targets, progressively shifting its operations to focus on sustainable metals like copper. In doing so, Teck will not only reduce its own carbon emissions but also help to enable a low-carbon world.

As a 100 percent recyclable material, copper is a sustainable resource that is essential to the green energy transition and is used in everything from renewable energy production and electric vehicles to energy-efficient homes and energy storage. Recognizing copper’s potential as a building block for a greener future, Teck has committed to shifting its portfolio to focus on copper production. By concentrating on low-carbon metals, Teck aims to continue as a partner in the fight against climate change.

“Teck is taking significant steps to address climate change risks because we know all sectors, including mining, need to play an active role in contributing to solving the challenge of climate change.” – Marcia Smith, Senior Vice President, Sustainability and External Affairs at Teck

Teck’s Sustainability Strategy

The Dow Jones Sustainability Indices (DJSI 2020; World and North America) ranked Teck as the top mining company and second in the industry for climate strategy. Since 2011, Teck has already reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 414,000 tonnes across operations. Teck’s Climate Change Outlook report outlines the next steps for the company and how it will employ its climate strategy to meet its net-zero goals.

“As part of an update to our broader sustainability strategy in 2020, we set an ambitious, long-term goal to become a carbon-neutral operator by 2050. To realize this vision, we have set an initial road map with corresponding 2025 and 2030 goals, including procuring 50 percent of our electricity demands in Chile from clean energy by 2025 and 100 percent by 2030.” – Donald R. Lindsay, President and CEO at Teck

Optimizing Operations

Teck’s copper assets also rank in the top 10 percent globally for carbon performance, but to meet its net-zero goals, the company is continuing to optimize ongoing operations to increase the sustainability of its production processes. The Quebrada Blanca (QB2) copper mine project in the Tarapacá Region of northern Chile is set to lead Teck’s portfolio transition to a copper-led strategy. In 2020, Teck’s copper mines in Canada, Chile and Peru, in addition to other development projects in the Americas, produced 276,000 tonnes of copper, accounting for 27 percent of Teck’s revenue and 44 percent of its gross profit. The QB2 project is set to double Teck’s copper production by 2023.

Teck’s commitment to low-carbon processes means a switch to renewables. As an initial step, 50 percent of the energy for the QB2 copper project will be sourced from renewables starting in 2022. Teck has also committed to renewable energy sourcing at its other operations. At the Carmen de Andacollo copper mine in Andacollo, Chile, Teck entered into a long-term agreement to use 100 percent renewable energy sources to power its operations, eliminating nearly 80 percent of the mine’s operating emissions, which will move the mine into the 96th percentile for emissions by 2031. These two changes alone will save one million tonnes of carbon emissions annually—the equivalent of taking 210,000 cars off the road.

Teck has worked to reduce carbon emissions from its mining fleets, particularly its above-ground vehicles that present a more significant challenge due to longer operating times and need greater power. To do so, Teck is looking to electrification. The company continues to participate in the International Council on Mining and Metals’ (ICMM) Innovation for Cleaner, Safer Vehicles Initiative, which partners 28 leading mining companies and 19 equipment manufacturers to develop a technology roadmap for greener mining equipment. A core goal of the initiative is to develop GHG-free surface mining vehicles by 2040.

Teck has already deployed several pilot projects for electric equipment. At its Highland Valley Copper operations in Canada, Teck conducted trials on electric boom trucks for underground operations, proving battery-powered vehicles could be both a sustainable and practical solution to Teck’s low-carbon goals. At the site, the company has also developed an electric concentrate truck to pilot the suitability of replacing concentrate transportation from rail with electric vehicles. Teck has initiated several electric crew bus schemes at various operations and is working to integrate automation into its electrification goals. Through automation of advanced analytics and digital systems connected with electric vehicles, Teck is considering larger fleets of smaller zero-emissions vehicles that to ensure reliable production and reduce emissions. By pairing its electrification goals with a renewable energy supply, the company aims to reduce carbon emissions at its operations, guaranteeing sustainable production.

“We are working to reduce the carbon footprint of our operations, while at the same time rebalancing our portfolio towards copper, which is an essential metal for low-carbon technology and infrastructure.”  – Marcia Smith, Senior Vice President, Sustainability and External Affairs at Teck

Preparing for a Low-Carbon Economy

Teck’s longer-term strategies are focused on enabling the energy transition to a low-carbon world both within and outside of the company. The Climate Change Outlook Report outlines three different scenarios for global climate change developed by the International Energy Agency and Teck’s strategy for adaptation. In every scenario, copper is at the center of Teck’s approach.

Citing copper’s unique properties and essentiality to the energy transition, Teck expects demand for copper to grow. While 30 percent of copper is recycled globally, recycled copper alone will not be enough to meet the demand of an energy-conscious world. More than 65 percent of copper worldwide is used for electrical applications. Copper is also a key part of electrifying transportation, with battery electric vehicles using two to three times more copper than traditional combustion vehicles.

Likewise, this propensity for efficiency makes copper an ideal choice for energy transfer and storage, a key component of renewable energy. Solar and wind power generation also require more copper than traditional thermal power. Teck’s report cites multiple energy generation technologies that require copper, such as wind, solar photovoltaic, concentrated solar power, hydropower, geothermal power, energy storage, carbon capture and storage and many more.

In the long-term, Teck intends to focus on copper production to enable the myriad of opportunities presented by copper’s unique properties. After the QB2 mine doubles Teck’s copper production by 2023, Teck expects the mine to become one of the top 20 global copper producers. The QB2 project is one of the world’s largest underdeveloped copper resources.

With more than ten years of experience in achieving GHG target reduction, Teck is committed to reducing its carbon emissions in line with the 1.5°C goals of the Paris Agreement. The company set benchmarks for 2030, aiming to reduce its carbon emissions by 33 percent below 2020 performance. To achieve this goal, the company aims to procure 50 percent of its electricity demands in Chile from renewables by 2025 and 100 percent by 2030. The company has begun development of a Carbon Reduction Technology Roadmap, which will examine site-level net-zero plans in 2021 and 2022. In addition, Teck aims to adopt zero-emission alternatives for transportation, displacing the equivalent of 1,000 internal combustion engine vehicles by 2025. To do so, Teck purchased electric pit buses, conducted feasibility and scope studies for electric and hydrogen fuel vehicles and engaged with industry partners and manufacturers on developing zero-emission mining fleets.

Teck is committed to promoting its values through its work with its value chain partners. Teck has increased its use of recycled materials and carbon capture technologies and is actively working with the Canadian Carbonization Research Association to reduce carbon emissions in other areas of production, such as steelmaking.

Through its wholistic approach and forward-looking policies, Teck will make a significant contribution to the copper industry with its net-zero commitments. By focusing on copper production and committing to renewable energy and electrification, the company will not only reduce its own carbon emissions but also provide the world with the building blocks of a low-carbon future.

 

About Teck Resources Ltd.

Headquartered in Vancouver, Teck is Canada’s largest diversified resource firm. Dedicated to responsible mining and mineral development across jurisdictions, it has a major focus on copper, in addition to steelmaking coal, zinc and energy. Teck has four operating copper mines in Canada, Chile and Peru, and copper development projects in North and South America.

About the International Copper Association

The International Copper Association (ICA) brings together the global copper industry to develop and defend markets for copper and make a positive contribution to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., ICA has offices in three primary regions: Asia, Europe and North America. ICA and its Copper Alliance® partners are active in more than 60 countries worldwide. 

 

Circular Production Practices Advance Industrial Symbiosis in the Copper Industry

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ICA Members Rio Tinto, Aurubis and Boliden Take the Lead

Industrial symbiosis, the concept of recovering and reusing discarded resources from one industrial operation by another, presents unique opportunities for the copper industry to contribute to the circular economy. Discussion of the circular economy in the copper industry often concentrates on copper’s ability to be recycled over and over again without any loss of properties and the subsequent recovery of end-use products. However, industrial symbiosis focuses on responsible practices further upstream in the value chain, highlighting the unique opportunities that can come from innovative uses of copper byproducts from the production and refining processes and the impact of industry partnerships on sustainable practices.

Three members of the International Copper Association (ICA), Rio Tinto, Aurubis and Boliden, are making strides in their work with copper byproducts and circular industry partnerships. Copper byproducts have applications in numerous other fields, such as construction and infrastructure, and many can be applied to the production processes of other materials such as aggregates, steel making, zinc recovery or as reagents in mining. By exploring the possibilities of copper byproducts, industrial symbiosis can help reduce waste in the copper industry and the use of natural resources in neighboring industries, thereby decreasing carbon emissions and environmental impact.

Rio Tinto Partners with Schneider Electric for Responsible Production

Global copper mining giant Rio Tinto and French electoral equipment group Schneider Electric have signed an historic agreement to partner for a symbiotic use of products and services. This collaboration is the first of its kind to develop a circular and sustainable market ecosystem for both companies and their customers.

Under this new partnership, Rio Tinto will supply responsibly sourced copper to Schneider Electric, which sells products ranging from electrical car chargers to industrial robotics. In return, Schneider Electric will provide energy and industrial services to Rio Tinto as the companies work together to create digital platforms, technologies and solutions across the mining supply chain in pursuit of decarbonization.

“This unique partnership will help accelerate decarbonization and renewable energy solutions by combining low-carbon materials with cutting-edge digital technology. … Working together will allow Rio Tinto and Schneider Electric to pursue opportunities beyond what is possible for either company on its own. This collaboration also opens doors to consider strategic initiatives, such as expanding the use of artificial intelligence and predictive analytics to reduce downtime in our plants, digitization of our supply chains and a host of other transformative technologies.”  – Alf Barrios, Chief Commercial Officer, Rio Tinto

To help meet sustainability goals at Rio Tinto sites, the partnership allows the mining giant to draw on Schneider Electric’s energy expertise.  Through Schneider Electric’s “Energy as a Service” program, Schneider Electric will work with Rio Tinto to evaluate innovative solutions for sustainability, including microgrids, to supply energy from low-carbon sources using artificial intelligence and advanced analytics.

“We are excited to work with Rio Tinto to develop clean and pioneering solutions to meet industrial decarbonization challenges. … As the world’s most sustainable corporation and a manufacturer with a global network of smart factories and smart distribution centers, Schneider Electric is on a mission to make industries of the future eco-efficient, agile, and resilient through open, software-centric industrial automation and sustainable energy solutions. This new partnership demonstrates that Rio Tinto is as passionate as we are about bridging progress and sustainability for all.” – Barbara Frei, Executive Vice-President Industrial Automation at Schneider Electric

Rio Tinto has committed to reaching net-zero emissions across its operations by 2050. This long-term strategic planning is in line with the Paris Agreement on climate change to limit global temperature rise to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius. The collaboration with Schneider Electric is an example of Rio Tinto’s sustainable practices and a model of sustainable partnerships for the copper industry.

Aurubis Innovates with Iron Silicate, a Copper Byproduct

Aurubis conducts copper smelting and refining at their various production sites across Europe. Iron silicate, a copper byproduct, results from processing copper slag, which is produced during the copper smelting and refining process. Iron silicate is a manufactured mineral that is comparable to natural minerals. It can be produced as a stone, similar to igneous rock; as a granulate, similar to a natural volcanic glass; or as a fine powder, similar to mineral flour. It is very durable and extremely strong and hard. Iron silicate is frost and weather resistant, does not absorb water and has an ideal coarseness, shape and density to make it a substitute for scare natural aggregates. Aggregates are the most mined materials in the world, and the reuse of an existing material helps to further conserve this important natural resource. Each cubic meter of iron silicate stone prevents the mining of 1.4m3 of rock. In this way, byproducts of copper slag can help with maximizing mineral extraction from previously used materials and reduce the need for further mining of aggregate products.

Iron silicate has widespread applications in the construction sector, from road construction and asphalts to soil stabilization and hydraulic engineering. With stable physical and chemical properties, iron silicate is compatible with numerous materials, such as limestone, soil, clay, clinker, cement, sand and gravel.

An example of iron silicate’s natural properties can be seen in its applications with cements and concrete. Approximately 170,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent can be saved if iron silicate is used as an iron additive in blended cements, and 116,000 tonnes of CO2 equivalent can be saved if iron silicate is used as a substitute for cement in concrete. It helps make concrete denser and stronger, making it an ideal additive for shielding concrete which is used in structures to help protect against natural disasters, military attacks and radiation in hospitals or laboratories. It is also used in de-icing concrete to help make the concrete electrically conductive and is used to de-ice bridges and sidewalks.

By reusing copper slag, which would otherwise be discarded in a landfill, iron silicate can contribute to reducing waste in the copper industry and saving natural resources in the construction industry. Aurubis is utilizing copper byproducts to promote greener, safer buildings and circular practices through industrial symbiosis.

Boliden Maximizes Copper Byproducts with Advanced Technology

Boliden’s Rönnskär smelter in northern Sweden is one of the world’s largest recycling facilities for metal in electronic material, including copper. Operating since the 1960s, the copper smelter processes 120,000 tonnes of material every year. Several copper byproducts are extracted during the copper smelting process, and Boliden actively promotes the reduction of waste through the application of copper byproducts for other sectors.

Boliden extracts copper sulphate and copper telluride from its smelters in Rönnskär and Harjavalta. Copper sulphate is a blue compound that can be used as a reagent in the mining industry or as an electrolyte in copper refining. However, copper sulphate is most often applied in agriculture as a fungicide and for treating copper-deficient soils. Copper telluride is a black powder used as an alloying substance in the steel industry and in rubber production. Copper telluride is often sold for processing into pure tellurium and selenium. Selenium is used in pharmaceuticals, soil improvement and paint manufacturing and is found in almost all food.

Additionally, Boliden extracts zinc clinker and iron sand from Rönnskär. Zinc clinker is a yellow powder that comes from copper slag. Metallic zinc can be extracted from the powder. Iron sand is a black, coarse powder that has excellent insulation and drainage properties, making it an ideal aggregate in road and building construction. Its high density and angular shape make it effective as a blasting abrasive and aggregate in high-density concrete.

While recycling copper from electronic material already contributes to the circular economy, Boliden’s extensive use of copper byproducts from this process further highlights the potential of industrial symbiosis for the copper industry and the possibilities of reducing waste from the recycling processes themselves.

 

About Rio Tinto

Since its founding in 1873, Rio Tinto Plc has become one of the world’s leading diversified mining multinationals. With headquarters in Melbourne and London, it has 50,000 employees and red metal operations across Australia, Mongolia, Chile, the U.S. and Indonesia.

About Aurubis AG

Aurubis AG is a leading global provider of nonferrous metals and one of the largest copper recyclers worldwide. The company processes complex metal concentrates, scrap metals, organic and inorganic metal-bearing recycling materials, and industrial residues into metals of the highest quality. Aurubis manufactures more than one million tonnes of copper cathodes annually, which are used to produce wire rod, continuous cast shapes, profiles, and flat rolled products. Aurubis produces a number of other metals as well, including precious metals, selenium, lead, nickel, tin, and zinc. The portfolio also includes additional products such as sulfuric acid and iron silicate.

About Boliden AB

Boliden mines and processes base metals and precious metals, principally zinc, copper, lead, nickel, gold and silver. Headquartered in Stockholm, Boliden is also a leading global operator in the recycling of electronics and lead from batteries

About the International Copper Association

The International Copper Association (ICA) brings together the global copper industry to develop and defend markets for copper and make a positive contribution to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., ICA has offices in three primary regions: Asia, Europe and North America. ICA and its Copper Alliance® partners are active in more than 60 countries worldwide. 

 

 

ECI position on CO2 Emission Standards for Heavy Duty Vehicles

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The European Copper Institute (ECI) supports the EU’s climate ambitions for 2030 and
2050. Ambitious policies are needed to increase electrification, the deployment of renewables
and of energy efficiency measures to decarbonise the European economy, and in many
respects the ‘Fit for 55’ package proposals go in the right direction to facilitate this. Copper
makes a significant contribution to the clean energy transition as a sustainable raw
material that is needed to decarbonise the economy.

The fast development of battery technologies for passenger cars is enabling an acceleration in
the decarbonisation of heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs). Given the relatively low margins of HDV
fleet operators (around 3% of revenues), the key driver to shift operators to a zero-emission
(ZE) technology is the total cost of ownership (TCO). Once a ZE technology has a lower TCO
than vehicles fuelled by diesel, demand will pull the transition and OEMs manufacturing HDVs
will follow course. For this reason, in our view the ZE HDV uptake will be steeper than the
one for cars.

Battery technology is ready for this. In most cases, urban and regional HDVs (going back to
base everyday) using smart charging have a lower TCO than vehicles using diesel. This is also
likely to be the case for long-haul vehicles when they arrive on the market by 2024.
To better align the Regulation setting CO2 emission standards for HDVs with this dynamic, ECI
suggests the following changes to the current Regulation:

1. Introduce CO2 reduction targets for lorries and tractors of:

  • 65% by January 2030 compared to 2019 (or 2020 depending when the
    monitoring started) for those lorries and tractors in categories N2 and N3 of the European classification for vehicle categories that are currently included under
    the CO2 monitoring and reporting requirements, and
  • 100% by January 2035 for all new registered lorries and tractors in categories
    N2 and N3.

2. Include a ZEV mandate for busses and coaches of:

  •  50% of new registered busses and coaches in categories M2 and M3 of the
    European classification for vehicle categories to be zero-emission by January
    2027, and
  • 100% of new registered busses and coaches in categories M2 and M3 to be
    zero-emission by January 2030.

3. Mandate the European Commission to present a legislative proposal by December
2026 to set minimum well-to-wheel energy efficiency thresholds for HDVs.

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