Latest news with #Imerys
ITV News
10-05-2025
- Business
- ITV News
What is China clay mining? Near £18m investment announced for Cornwall
Aerial footage of Cornish Clay County and diggers at the new site (credit: Cornish Lithium, Imerys). A mineral supplier has announced it will invest nearly £18million in a new china clay plant in Cornwall, which will reduce its electricity use in the Duchy by 10%. Imerys which has been extracting china clay (kaolin) in the county for more than 25 years, will now build a dry mining plant near Roche - where clay will be extracted and processed without significant water usage. It's hoped the facility will be up and running by 2026. What is china clay and how is it mined? China clay is a material known as kaolin, which was first used in China more than 10 thousand years ago to make fine white porcelain. Some of this eventually made its way to Europe. Noticing a gap in the market, a Plymouth apothecary began to research the porcelain-making process and spent several years searching for a material that resembled kaolin. In 1745 he found it, at Tregonning Hill in Cornwall. By the mid 19th century 65,000 tonnes of china clay were being mined from the St Austell area every year by 7,000 workers. Kaolin is traditionally extracted from mines using a hydraulic mining method. This is a wet process where high pressure water washes the clay from the granite - forming a slurry to transport it via pipes to a drying site. A new dry mining technique will be used at Imerys' new site, which expends less water and electricity. This, in short, involves removing topsoil and rock, extracting the clay, and processing it to separate it from other materials. Kaolin is exported around the world from Cornwall for use in ceramics, paints, coatings, plastics and life sciences. More than £2million of funding for the new development in Cornwall is government-granted, through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. What will happen to the existing plant? The relocation of the new facility will also mean that the existing plant is decommissioned, creating access to additional kaolin reserves and extending the life of kaolin operations in Cornwall. Mark Hewson, who leads Imerys in the UK said: "We have been active here for over 25 years, with China clay, or kaolin as it's also known - being mined here for nearly 300 years. "Through direct and indirect employment, we support around 3,500 jobs and in addition spend more than £40 million every year in the local economy. "This investment - which allows the significant update of our facilities - will help us to shore up those jobs and maintain that economic support for many years to come. 'Lithium mining here in the South West is strategically important for the UK as we move forward to net zero, but in parallel to that - kaolin mining has been and will continue to be a mainstay of the Cornish economy. 'This investment is essential as we develop and improve our existing mining infrastructure - as this will facilitate the set up of our lithium project - which is located in an old China clay pit. "The strength of our project is our ability to use our existing China clay assets to minimise the impact on the local area.'
BBC News
10-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Imerys to invest £18m in Cornwall china clay plant
A mineral supplier in Cornwall has announced an investment in its dry mining process worth about £ which extracts china clay (kaolin) in the county, announced the investment after receiving a £2.1m grant from Cornwall Council through the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Good Growth said it would upgrade its clay processing facilities with a dry mining plant to be built in the Karslake area, near Roche. It said the upgrade would also help cut its electricity use in Cornwall by 10%.Mark Hewson, who leads Imerys in the UK, said the firm had mined kaolin in the area for about 300 years and the investment would help "shore up jobs". 'Maintain economic support' Mr Hewson said: "Through direct and indirect employment, we support around 3,500 jobs and in addition spend more than £40m every year in the local economy."This investment - which allows the significant update of our facilities - will help us to shore up those jobs and maintain that economic support for many years to come."He said the project would also help its lithium project, which is located in an old china clay pit."The strength of our project is our ability to use our existing china clay assets to minimise the impact on the local area," Mr Hewson council said the investment would support "hundreds of jobs, improve energy efficiency by cutting electricity use by over seven gigawatts, and boost local and global competitiveness".
News.com.au
29-04-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Andromeda hopes to take a bite out of global kaolin market with its Great White asset
Australia may not be top of mind for kaolin, but Andromeda's Great White deposit in South Australia could change that The project hosts a 15.1Mt ore reserve of particularly high-quality kaolin, enough to fuel a 28-year mine life Ukraine used to be a major supplier but its output has plunged since the war, opening the door for companies like Andromeda to fill the gap Kaolin, an essential yet underrated industrial mineral, is experiencing rising demand throughout Europe, China and the expanding Asia Pacific region – but securing top-grade material remains hard to come by. A closer look at what kaolin is used for shows how indispensable it is – paper, rubber, paint, ceramics, fibreglass, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals are among some notable examples – with about 5kg used in the manufacture of each car. Like many sectors, the kaolin industry has felt the wide-ranging effects of the Russia-Ukraine war from logistical bottlenecks, raised prices and the dismantling of supply chains where Ukraine was once a key player. In 2021, Ukraine was a major supplier of kaolin for European and Asian markets, producing 1.6Mt in 2021 as per the US Geological Survey and ranking number sixth worldwide for global kaolin production. Spain, a major consumer of Ukrainian clay, depended on these exports for more than 26% of its supply, especially for ceramic tile production. But ongoing military activities in the country's Donetsk Oblast region, renowned for its white clay and kaolin deposits, have taken a heavy toll on mining operations, resulting in a 74% drop in Ukraine's kaolin output in 2022 to 600,000t. Several Europe-based companies like Imerys and Sibelco are now working to mitigate the impact by adjusting their operations and are on the lookout for other regions to meet the demand. Development-ready Great White deposit While Australia isn't the first port of call for supplying the soft, naturally occurring clay mineral, this opinion might change given that it is home to Andromeda Metals' (ASX:ADN) development-ready Great White kaolin deposit in South Australia. Backed by 15.1Mt in high-grade ore reserves, this premium Australian product is set to fuel a 28-year mine life – proof that quality runs deep. A 2023 bankable feasibility study estimated CAPEX at $194m for a three-stage development that could supply up to 330,000 wet metric tonnes of product per annum, generating an NPV and IRR of 763m and 43% respectively. Interestingly, it already has customers lined up with 100% of the planned capacity of Stage 1A+ underpinned by four binding offtake agreements covering sales of Great White CRM (a refined, dried and bagged product) and Great White KCM 90 (a semi-refined, high-quality kaolin concentrate) for use by end users in the high-end ceramics market. Some of the customers ADN has already locked in include global trader Traxys, family run company IberoClays based in Spain, Japanese ceramics company Plantan and China-based ceramics company Foshan Goaming. MST Access analyst Michael Bentley reckons Great White is an overlooked quality project, yet within the global kaolin industry there is clear recognition of the projects potential. 'M&A is a clear potential catalyst as larger companies may seek quality Australian-based industrial minerals,' he said. What makes Great White so unique? ADN independent non-executive director Miguel Galindo is the founder and executive director of Galesk Consultancy, an independent business specialised in industrial raw materials for the ceramics, glass, fertilisers and electric batteries' sectors. He told RIU conference goers in Sydney last year that the kaolin found at Great White project boasts unique properties. 'Right now, globally speaking, you can't find a kaolin with that chemistry, that quality and that colour for the applications in high end ceramic and porcelain tiles,' he said. 'We have among the best aluminium-iron ratios in the world, there's colour – we have an L value that when you fire our kaolin it gives you a 97 colour, that's extraordinary, so extraordinary that there is a lot of development work going on currently to see if we can actually replace between 10 to 15% of zircon in a tile body. 'The low iron in our deposit makes it ideal for porcelain tableware … and we have fantastic mechanical strength, that's important when you're making a large tile, you don't want it to fall apart.' Growth trajectory Galindo added that the kaolin market is large and growing but one of the biggest disruptors in the market globally is the situation in Ukraine, creating an interesting opportunity for Andromeda. 'Ukraine had at one time the largest industrial mineral kaolin deposits especially the high-end ones that served the Mediterranean and Spanish markets, it was where the majority of the high-end formulations were made,' he said. 'There is also a very interesting long-term trend both in terms of demand and steady CPI price growth for the last 30 years. 'Our strategy is a value in use strategy, we are positioning our product for the best value in the best end uses with the best customers, we are looking for growth and looking for customers that need that type of value be it in ceramic tiles, frits and glazes or porcelain tableware.' With all key permits in place, an experienced project team and an execution plan in place for implementation, project funding is the next near-term catalyst for a material share price re-rating. Once funded, key catalysts to value creation include starting construction, signing additional offtake agreements for project expansion, commencing production and ramping up to full capacity of 300dmktpa (300,000 dry metric tonnes per annum) of kaolin.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
TotalEnergies ENEOS successfully deployed Imerys' first onsite solar project in Southeast Asia
IPOH, Malaysia, March 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- TotalEnergies ENEOS and Imerys successfully deployed a 1 megawatt-peak (MWp) solar rooftop photovoltaic (PV) system at Imerys' calcium carbonate production facility in Ipoh, Malaysia. This is Imerys' first onsite solar project in Southeast Asia, and follows a similar project deployed in Wuhu, China in December 2024. With nearly 1,800 solar modules installed, the system is set to generate an estimated 1,400 megawatt-hours (MWh) of renewable electricity annually, reducing the annual CO2 emissions by approximately 790 tons. This is equivalent to planting over 11,850 trees. Guillaume Delacroix, Senior Vice President, Imerys Performance Minerals EMEA and APAC said: "Imerys aims to reduce its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 42% in absolute terms by 2030 (from a 2021 baseline), in line with the 1.5°C trajectory. The solar project at Ipoh is one of similar Power Purchasing Agreements at our specialty mineral production sites around the world, and a concrete example of what Imerys is doing to achieve this ambitious goal". Prasanna Karandikar, Industrial Director, Imerys Performance Minerals APAC added, "The partnership with TotalEnergies ENEOS has enabled us to reduce our energy costs without any upfront investment or operational risks, allowing us to maintain our focus on our core business in Malaysia. Imerys intends to step up the energy transition of its specialty minerals business in the Asia Pacific region with similar projects at other sites, including its Wuhu talc and calcium carbonate operations deployed in 2024. Switching to sustainable energy sources such as solar power not only enables us to lower our own carbon footprint, it allows us to offer customers products with an improved eco-profile. At the end of the day, it's a win-win situation for our entire value chain!" Alexandru Buzatu, Director of TotalEnergies ENEOS Renewables Distributed Generation Asia Pacific commented: "We are proud to partner with Imerys on their first onsite solar project in Southeast Asia, supporting their decarbonization journey. This partnership underscores our commitment to providing cost efficient and sustainable energy solutions to our customers. We look forward to a fruitful collaboration with Imerys, paving the way for future initiatives." Under the 25-years Power Purchasing Agreement (PPA), there is no upfront investment required by Imerys, bringing about significant cost savings for the client. TotalEnergies ENEOS fully funded, installed, and will operate and maintain the solar system, while Imerys will purchase the electricity produced for the duration of the PPA. The deployment of the solar system in Malaysia further highlights Imerys' commitment to improve energy efficiency and increase use of renewable electricity at its sites globally. Located northeast of Kuala Lumpur, and operated by Imerys Minerals Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., the Ipoh calcium carbonate mine and its adjacent processing facilities constitute Imerys' largest operation in Southeast Asia. The site produces ground calcium carbonate, sold to diverse markets throughout Asia Pacific. Flagship products include Imerys' FilmLink® brand, an important ingredient in breathable medical gowns and hygiene products, as well as its ImerTouch™ GCC slurry for the latex glove market. As such, the site played a major role in supplying the region with critical ingredients during the recent Covid crisis. Other well-known ranges produced at Ipoh include the highly versatile ImerCarb® brand which is used in a variety of applications such as plastics, rubber, paints and adhesives. To learn more about TotalEnergies ENEOS tailored solar solutions, check out the free brochure, or contact directly for more information. *** About TotalEnergies ENEOS Renewables Distributed Generation Asia Pte. Ltd. The company is a 50/50 joint venture between TotalEnergies and ENEOS to develop onsite B2B solar distributed generation across Asia. It is headquartered in Singapore with a plan to develop 2 GW of decentralized solar capacity over the next five years. TotalEnergies and renewables electricity As part of its ambition to get to net zero by 2050, TotalEnergies is building a world class cost-competitive portfolio combining renewables (solar, onshore and offshore wind) and flexible assets (CCGT, storage) to deliver clean firm power to its customers. By the end of 2024, TotalEnergies' gross renewable electricity generation installed capacity reached over 24 GW. TotalEnergies will continue to expand this business to reach 35 GW in 2025 and more than 100 TWh of net electricity production by 2030. ENEOS Corporation and renewables electricity ENEOS Group operates solar power plants in Japan and is also participating in renewable energy projects in the United States, Australia, Vietnam and Taiwan region. Furthermore, ENEOS is actively engaged in power generation projects using biomass, hydroelectric power, wind power, etc. This joint venture is ENEOS' first overseas renewable energy project using distributed power sources. About TotalEnergies TotalEnergies is a global integrated energy company that produces and markets energies: oil and biofuels, natural gas and green gases, renewables and electricity. Our more than 100,000 employees are committed to provide as many people as possible with energy that is more reliable, more affordable and more sustainable. Active in about 120 countries, TotalEnergies places sustainability at the heart of its strategy, its projects and its operations. X LinkedIn Facebook Instagram About ENEOS Corporation ENEOS Group has developed businesses in the energy and nonferrous metals segments, from upstream to downstream. The Group's envisioned goals for 2040 are: becoming one of the most prominent and internationally competitive energy and materials company groups in Asia, creating value by transforming our current business structure, and contributing to the development of a low-carbon, recycling-oriented society with the pursuit of carbon-neutral status in its own CO2 emissions. ENEOS Corporation, one of the principal operating companies in the Group, is contributing to achievement of the Group's envisioned goals through a broad range of energy businesses. About Imerys Imerys is the world's leading supplier of mineral-based specialty solutions for the industry with €3.8 billion in revenue and 13,700 employees in 54 countries in 2023. The Group offers high value-added and functional solutions to a wide range of industries and fast-growing markets such as solutions for the energy transition and sustainable construction, as well as natural solutions for consumer goods. Imerys draws on its understanding of applications, technological knowledge, and expertise in material science to deliver solutions which contribute essential properties to customers' products and their performance. As part of its commitment to responsible development, Imerys promotes environmentally friendly products and processes in addition to supporting its customers in their decarbonization efforts. Imerys is listed on Euronext Paris (France) with the ticker symbol TotalEnergies ENEOS ContactsMedia Relations: Imerys Contacts:Media Relations: Rebecca Vicente, Communications Manager ( Cautionary Note TotalEnergies The terms "TotalEnergies", "TotalEnergies company" or "Company" in this document are used to designate TotalEnergies SE and the consolidated entities that are directly or indirectly controlled by TotalEnergies SE. Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" may also be used to refer to these entities or to their employees. The entities in which TotalEnergies SE directly or indirectly owns a shareholding are separate legal entities. This document may contain forward-looking information and statements that are based on a number of economic data and assumptions made in a given economic, competitive and regulatory environment. They may prove to be inaccurate in the future and are subject to a number of risk factors. Neither TotalEnergies SE nor any of its subsidiaries assumes any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information or statement, objectives or trends contained in this document whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Information concerning risk factors, that may affect TotalEnergies' financial results or activities is provided in the most recent Registration Document, the French-language version of which is filed by TotalEnergies SE with the French securities regulator Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF), and in the Form 20-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Cautionary Note ENEOS Corporation The terms "ENEOS", "ENEOS Group" in this document are used to designate ENEOS Corporation and the consolidated entities that are directly or indirectly controlled by ENEOS Corporation. This document contains certain forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those reflected in any forward-looking statement due to various factors, which include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) macroeconomic conditions and changes in the competitive environment in the energy, resources, and materials industries; (2) the impact of COVID-19 on economic activity; (3) changes in laws and regulations; and (4) risks related to litigation and other legal proceedings. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE TotalEnergies Renewables Distributed Generation
