transition

Jaén revives his mining past for energy transition

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Spain reappears on the board of critical minerals In full geopolitical struggle Between the United States and China. The Government has published in the BOE The definitive admission of the “Menipe” research permit, which will allow the Australian company Osmond Resources – through its local subsidiary Green Mineral Resources SL – to explore strategic resources in the province of Jaén. Opening the way. The project Orion EU Critical Minerals Project It will cover a total 756 grids (228 km²) among the municipalities of Aldeaquemada, Santisteban del Puerto, Castellar and Montizón. According to the company itselfthe work will focus on a fossilized paleoplace with high heavy mineral content. Surface trials would have revealed “unusually high” concentrations: more than 15% in rutilo and about 10% in Circón, in addition to significant levels of rare earths (neodymium, proseodimium and disposium), essential elements to manufacture permanent magnets used in wind turbines, electric cars and batteries. A long process. It is not to arrive and kiss the saint. According to the technical memory of the PI “Orion”, the investigation is conceived as a three -year plan divided into progressive phases. During the first exercise it is planned to collect historical information, develop geological cartography at 1: 10,000 scale, perform aerial geophysical prospects and take between 80 and 90 samples in streams, in addition to running up to five surveys with witness in areas such as Avellanar. In a second stage, the works will focus on surface geophysics – electrical and magnetotheluric toomography – on the development of a hydrogeological model and on another ten additional polls. Finally, a technical-economic evaluation of the set of results is made, with the possibility of extension if the deadlines were insufficient. The technical document describes mineralized layers between 0.3 and 4 meters (average of 2.5 m), rich in zircon, rutilo, ilmenite and monacite. Besides, According to Osmond Resourcesthe first drilling program includes 15 polls in Avellanar and other objective zones. The company claims to have a listing machine ready and plans to incorporate more teams in October of this year, When the risk of fire goes down. Very quoted materials. The minerals under investigation are in the European list of critical and strategic raw materials. Rare earths such as neodymium or disposium are essential to manufacture permanent magnets used in wind turbines, electric cars and batteries. Rutilo is used in pigments and alloys. The zircon and hafnio have applications in ceramics and nuclear reactors. According to the European Commissionthe new Critical RAW Materials Act set by 2030 that at least 10% of critical subjects are extracted in community territory, 40% are processed in the EU and 25% is recycledwith the aim of reducing the dependence of a single country supplier to a maximum of 65%. Within that framework, projects such as Jaén fit fully into the industrial autonomy strategy of the block. An hUb Mining in boom? The chosen area is not new to mining. The region of Linares – La Carolina was, During the nineteenth and twentieth centuriesone of the most important leading districts in Europe. In the 50s and 60s even Torio and Uranium were sought, without success. Today, that past resurfaces with new protagonists. In addition, Jaén’s case is not isolated. The community concentrates near the 90% of the value of national metal mining and is reactivating dozens of research permits. Even, In Xatakawe have talked about “El Dorado Andaluz”, a region where the global demand for strategic metals and the European bet for new supply chains are crossed. It is not an exploitation license. For the moment. The current permit only authorizes investigation and the Board opened a period of public allegations in the Environmental Processing of Pi “Orion”and it is foreseeable that objections linked to water and biodiversity arise. In Jaén, social sensitivity towards energy projects has already been evident: the massive installation of solar plants has reached courts To stop different photovoltaic projects. Experience in other territories also invites caution. In Matamulas (Ciudad Real), the strong neighborhood and environmental response paralyzed rare earth despite the high geological potential. Jaén can investigate. If the polls confirm the potential and if the project exceeds environmental and social tests, Andalusia could become the European test bank for a new mining of critical minerals. Time will say if Jaén goes from being a line in the BOE to a key actor in Europe’s mineral autonomy. Image | Unspash and Unspash Xataka | Atacama Salar is the key on which the electric car industry pivot. And is starting to dry

In full obsession with rare earths, a fairly common metal has jeopardized the green transition: Copper foul

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The latest report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) on minerals has confirmed which He had been discussed for a long time: Today, the absolute leader is China. It is no novelty, but among all minerals there is one that runs a particular danger, and not precisely because of geopolitical control, but for the real risk of shortage. There is a problem with copper. Of all minerals, copper emerges as one of the biggest challenges. The IEA report He has warned That by 2035 there could be a supply deficit of 30 %, due to the drop in the mineral law, the lack of new discoveries and the high development costs. A set of problems. It can be explained in a very simple way In data: Only in 2024, copper demand grew 3%, mainly driven by investments in electrical networks in China. The growth of mining production has been modest, much lower than other minerals such as lithium or nickel. Further 70% of global capacity Copper processing is in the hands of China. 7% of global copper production is in regions vulnerable to floods and droughts. Is there any solution? According to Fatih Birol, director of the IEA, the challenge is serious but not inevitable. In statements to The Guardianthe need to accelerate permits and reduce bureaucratic obstacles, in addition to implementing public policies that provide guarantees of volume and fiscal incentives, is stressed. Another line of action that They have detailed It is international diversification and cooperation. Some countries have advanced technological abilities and refining experience; Others have abundant mineral resources and great geological potential. In this way, in the report They have underlined That establishing balanced alliances between both realities could unlock new productive capacities, reduce market concentration and strengthen the resilience of the entire supply chain. There are other methods. A complementary route that already begins to take shape is the recycling of copper. As the pressure on primary resources increases, recovering and reusing infrastructure metal and disused devices is outlined as another strategy. In addition, in certain non -critical applications, the partial replacement of copper is studied by other materials, Like aluminum either The Ruthenium. It’s not just about copper. The case of copper reflects a broader pattern: more than 50% of critical minerals are now subject to export restrictions. This includes from lithium to more unknown elements such as Gaul or Telurio. Chinese dominance in refining, higher than 70% in 19 of the 20 key mineralsmakes this country not only the largest producer, but the referee of the global energy future. Time is exhausted. And copper too. The paradox is clear: the more we want to move towards a cleaner and more sustainable future, the more we depend on an infrastructure that we have not yet secured. Copper has become a silent bottleneck, difficult to replace and even more difficult to climb in record time. Image | Joyce Cory and Pexels Xataka | The collapse of the AVE of Seville has shown something more serious: how difficult it is to protect copper in a 15,000 km network

Musk is trying to block Openai’s transition to “for-profit.” A judge just put it very difficult

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Sam Altman wants to make Openai a company with profit (“for-profit”), but the process was notably complicated when Musk offered to buy it for 97.4 billion dollars. The tycoon did not stop there and He also tried to sue A Openai to try to block that transition to For-Profit, but just lost that legal battle. What happened. A federal judge in California has blocked Musk’s legal effort to stop Openai’s transformation to an entity of profit. As indicated In BloombergJudge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers determined that the lawsuit “have not satisfied the probative charge” that would have needed for that demand to prosper. A case that was entangled. In March 2024 Musk He sued Openai for violating their contracts and fiduciary duties. The case He retired of the State Court and was activated in the Federal Court, and that was when Musk expanded the demand indicating that Microsoft and Openai had violated antitrust laws. Openai defended himself from these allegations publishing internal messages of the billionaire, and now the federal judge has made it clear that the evidence and arguments presented by Musk are not enough to avoid that transition sought by Altman. But not everything is lost. The demand contained other Musk requests with respect to OpenAI, although it is not detailed which. Even so, the judge has indicated that these other components of the lawsuit may remain active in the legal process. Sam Altman has it easier now. The Openai Directorate Council declared a few weeks ago that “the hundreds of billions of dollars that large companies are now investing in the development of AI show what is really needed so that Openai continues to pursue the mission.” With the Form-Profit structure, the company can avoid the limitations of investments in your company. Thus, Openai will be able to eliminate that benefit to investors, which can attract even more money for the company. Quick judgment. Rogers added in his sentence that Musk’s complaints are resolved as soon as possible “the public interest in play and potential damage if a transition contrary to the law occurs.” Thus, the judge indicated that he will hold an accelerated trial focusing on the main demand that the Openai conversion plan is illegal and “potentially the interrelated demands based on contracts”. The war between Musk and Altman continues. Openai’s lawyers stood out as Musk’s demand is basically a demand for the competition with the company. “Elon’s own emails,” they explained, “they show that they wanted to merge an openai with profit with Tesla. That would have been great for their personal benefit, but not for our mission or the interests of the US.” Image | Ted | Techcrunch In Xataka | Elon Musk’s continued criticism A OpenAi have a simple explanation: it went too soon

There was a time in which the big oil companies raised “transition” to renewables. BP just kill the plan

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The British giant BP has announced a radical turn in its corporate strategy: from the green commitment to fossil fuels again. Short. A year after be appointed CEO of BPMurray Auchincloss has dismantled the plan to reduce the production of hydrocarbons that had promoted his predecessor, Bernard Looney. Auchincloss described his new strategy as a “fundamental restart” In the company’s plans: to cut the investment in renewable energy to increase the production of oil and natural gas. A turn in the middle of the investment pressure. The latest BP results did not excite their investors. During the fourth quarterthe net profit of the group fell to 1.2 billion dollars, less than half as in the same period of the previous year. With a collection of dividends of just eight cents per share, Elliott Investment Management, which accumulates a participation Of almost 5,000 million dollars in BP, it has intensified the pressure on the group to improve the return of its shareholders. Given this scenario, BP has decided not to get away from fossil fuels, but to enhance its production. When your neighbor’s beards see cut … Shell, Exxonmobil and Totalenergies, three of the main competitors of BP, They have been improving results Thanks to its commitment to the production of hydrocarbons, whose demand continues to increase slightly despite the energy transition. As the divergence in the performance of both strategies became more noticeable, BP shareholders, especially Elliott, have been demanding drastic improvements in the structure and strategy of the company. How this affects renewables. It is not encouraging news. BP plans to increase its investment in hydrocarbons to about 10,000 million dollars annually until 2027, with the aim of produce between 2.3 and 2.5 million barrels Petroleum and natural gas newspapers by 2030. To be able to do this while returning capital to shareholders, BP will substantially reduce spending on less profitable projects, such as renewable energies. The group will adjust its investments in these areas with a very selective approach, prioritizing transition projects that require a lower disbursement. Its Offshore wind division will become independent from the group. Even so… BP says to continue committed to its goal of achieve carbon neutrality by 2050a legal objective established by the United Kingdom government, which was one of the first to formalize and support with legislation the commitment to reduce net greenhouse gases to zero emissions. BP’s change of strategy can help her be more profitable in the near future, but only a transition. It will clearly be inevitable If climatic policies are maintained or become more aggressive. With the improvements in efficiency and safety of nuclear energy, advances in electrification and increasingly cheaper renewables, excuses are over to continue betting on fossil fuels. Image | BP In Xataka | European oil companies readjust their strategy: they leave aside the green transition before market pressures

The electric transition “is not realistic”

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If Europe does not turn back, the combustion car is sentenced by 2035. A year that still sounds distant, but which will be difficult to get with the proposed objectives if the evolution of the electric car continues to progress as until now. On January 30, a series of meetings will begin with car manufacturers. The goal? Explore the current situation and check what can be done to meet the demanding emissions targets imposed by European regulations. A clear request to Europe. In one open letter From Acea its president, Ola Källenius, expresses some of the priorities of the manufacturers when meeting these objectives. The first is that this transition does not carry out through multimillionaire sanctions, but in a “realistic” way. As noted, the costs of making a transition to the CO2 emissions required by EURO6 They are disproportionate for the industry. The cars will continue to rise in price As regulations hardening, causing less and less. “The European Green Pact must be subject to a verification of reality and a realignment, to make it less rigid, more flexible and to convert the decarbonization of the automotive industry into a green and profitable business model. The EU automotive industry follows Committed to the objective of climate neutrality of the EU by 2050, as well as the change towards transport and mobility of zero emissions. “ The summary is clear: manufacturers are willing to electrify 100% and lower emissions, but with more lax deadlines and without the yoke of multimillionaire sanctions. The electricity is not sold enough. According to Acea, the latest figures They reflect a decrease of almost 6% in the new electric cars records in 2024. Its market share has dropped by 1%, making practically impossible that CO2 objectives are ending up for the coming years. Own Tesla sold less in 2024 than in 2023in countries like Germany the total fall in electric vehicles is from 69% after the elimination of aidand groups like Stellantis are in full career To reduce costs anyway. A debate that will mark the future of the industry. The final destination of the automobile industry is inevitable: complete electrification. Despite this, the deadlines will end up making a difference, and are key in the final price of cars in the coming years. Europe is open to debate and, although there will be no reverse with the imposition of the electric vehicle, it is possible changes in fuel engine restrictions, emission limits and aid plans to reverse the current situation. Image | Stellantis In Xataka | “They impose things that we do not want”: the most spectacular electric car is not sold and its manufacturer is clear why

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