Latest news with #South32Hermosa
Axios
6 days ago
- Business
- Axios
Axios Event: U.S. needs more critical minerals to compete with China, experts say
WASHINGTON – Competition with China and tariff threats are fueling U.S. efforts to secure more critical minerals used to make semiconductor chips and other defense infrastructure, speakers said at a May 6 Axios event. Why it matters: Critical minerals have become a national security asset and subject of global politics, with the Trump administration recently signing a deal with Ukraine locking in preferential access to strategic elements from that country. Axios' Colin Demarest spoke with Reps. Jack Bergman (R-Mich.) and Jill Tokuda (D-Hawaii), as well as Gracelin Baskaran, critical minerals security program director at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), at the May 6 Axios event, sponsored by South32 Hermosa. Zoom out: China has been building up its technological capabilities for decades under its Belt and Road Initiative, investing in minerals and other critical industries, speakers said – and the U.S. is behind. What they're saying: "Some minerals are here at home, we have good copper reserves … but some minerals we just don't have enough of," Baskaran said. The U.S. Energy Act of 2020 defined"critical minerals" as "any non-fuel mineral, element, substance or material that … has a high risk of supply chain disruption [and] serves an essential function in one or more energy technologies." The list of about 50 such elements includes lithium, nickel, cobalt and graphite. Catch up quick: The U.S. relies on China for many critical minerals, but export controls and tariffs have limited access amid growing trade tensions. China's recent restrictions on rare earth elements and magnets are a "dangerous game," Bergman said. However, removing China suppliers from the critical minerals equation – even with the security risks – wouldn't be realistic, he said. "The attainable goal would be to marginalize their dominance in it, because there's always going to be more than one player." The latest: It's not clear what impact the recent Ukraine minerals deal will have on U.S. supply, speakers said. "We don't know what the outcome is going to be in Ukraine yet, but we do know if we don't establish the relationship at a different level that hasn't been tried … that Ukraine is still vulnerable," Bergman said. "So it's a good thing to have those deals inked." "For me, it doesn't change the needle any," Tokuda said of the deal. Ukraine doesn't process these materials as well as China, where most of the processing also takes place, she said. State of play: "Let's be very honest, right? This is about making sure that we are in a state of readiness, that we're able to deter," Tokuda said. "Right now we have so much vulnerability because of our dependence on these critical and rare earth minerals with China, that we really, we need to start yesterday in terms of really shoring up that supply chain." Content from the sponsored segment: In a View From the Top conversation, Pat Risner, president of South32 Hermosa, said gaps in the zinc supply haven't gotten enough attention in the critical minerals conversation. "Zinc is used to galvanize steel, it's very important for infrastructure, all forms of energy … even battery storage, and other defense applications," Risner said.
E&E News
02-06-2025
- Health
- E&E News
EPA orders revamp to air permit for Arizona mine
EPA is ordering significant changes to the state-issued Clean Air Act permit for the South32 Hermosa mining project in southern Arizona's Patagonia Mountains. In an order signed Friday , EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin directed the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality to rework the permit to address concerns raised by environmental groups about monitoring, particulate matter emission limits and several other requirements for the $2.16 billion undertaking to produce zinc and manganese. The state agency now has 90 days to make the fixes, Jeremy Nichols of the Center for Biological Diversity, said in an interview Monday. The Arizona-based center had the lead in a coalition of a half-dozen groups that sought EPA's intervention in a petition filed last September soon after the state permit was issued. Advertisement 'I hope that Arizona DEQ takes its job to protect clean air and public health more seriously this time around,' said Nichols, a senior advocate.
Axios
29-05-2025
- Business
- Axios
How South32 Hermosa could strengthen the U.S. critical mineral supply
South32's Hermosa project is the country's only advanced mine development designed to produce two minerals essential for powering the nation's energy future. In a recent interview, Pat Risner, president of South32 Hermosa, details the company's plans to help the U.S. compete in the global critical mineral economy. First things first: What is the Hermosa project, and how does it fit into the current administration's emphasis on minerals and domestic mining? Risner: South32 is developing a critical minerals district in southern Arizona's Patagonia Mountains. Our Hermosa project would produce manganese and zinc, which are on the DOI's critical minerals list. The project uses state-of-the-art technology that we believe will be safer, more efficient and less impactful on the environment. In February 2024, our board announced a $2.16 billion investment to take the project into first production of zinc by 2027. We are also the first and currently only covered project under the federal government's FAST-41 permitting program. Why it's important: Why does the project focus on zinc, in particular? Risner: Zinc is a critical mineral that hasn't received enough attention. Zinc is used to galvanize steel, so it's very important for infrastructure and all forms of energy — including battery storage and other defense applications. By 2034, there will be a 4 million-ton gap between global zinc supply and demand. To close the gap, you'd have to develop three projects the size of Hermosa every year between now and 2034. Ours is the world's only zinc discovery of this scale in the last 10 to 15 years. The background: You've said that Hermosa is designed to be a "next-generation" mine. What does this mean? Risner: When we began this project about six years ago, our ambition was to create a mine that sets a new standard for sustainable mining and benefits a socioeconomically disadvantaged region at the same time. We have a road map for Hermosa to be a net-zero mining operation. We've placed the largest order in industry history for battery electric equipment fleets, which will be used underground. We've designed our mine to minimize disturbance, which is often a big challenge for the industry. We will only disturb 750 acres throughout the mine's life; your average open-pit mine spans 10,000-plus acres. We use 90% less water than typical mines in the region around us. We're committed to having 80% of our workforce from the local community. We will also train them. The challenge: How has South32 Hermosa navigated challenges around the permitting process? Risner: The heart of that issue is often around stakeholder and social license issues. Our industry has a history of waiting to engage [local] Tribes for regulatory processes. Long before we filed a permit application, we did cultural work on an area 40 times the size of our footprint and engaged transparently with up to 14 different tribes. We are also developing what we typically call a "good neighbor agreement" — or, a Community Protection and Benefits Agreement with local communities and government to help memorialize long-term social investment. Our goal is to help the area realize its long-term vision beyond mining while committing to environmental protection measures. Here's what else: South32 Hermosa is the first, and currently only, covered project in the federal government's FAST-41 permitting program. How has this affected your initiative? Risner: We're seeing much more improved timelines. The permitting council that oversees FAST-41 projects works to zero in on administrative delays. As a result, there's better inter-agency coordination and more resources. There is a collective will to complete this process within a determined timeline. Also, the Forest Service just published our Draft Environmental Statements (EIS), and we'll have a Final EIS decision next July. This milestone will happen about two years into a process that typically takes six or seven years. Looking ahead: What role can the federal government play in supporting mining projects like South32 Hermosa? Risner: There are a lot of opportunities to [advance] policies around market development and tax incentives. I also believe strengthening relationships with Mexico and Canada is important. Many refining and downstream processing issues can be resolved via partnerships in those countries. Lastly, there's a lot of opportunity around byproducts.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
How can Arizona mines produce key minerals and not harm the environment?
After the U.S. imposed new tariffs, China responded by restricting exports of several rare earth minerals critical to American defense and medical technologies. To protect national security, the U.S. must produce more of these minerals domestically, panelists at the Society of Environmental Journalists said April 25 at their 2025 conference in Tempe. Securing critical minerals like copper, zinc and manganese inside the U.S. is now seen as a top priority, with minerals needed for a vast range of electric devices. While mining is necessary for national security and maintaining domestic supply chains, the panelists said, the mining industry also needs to address environmental concerns and Indigenous rights. Arizona is at the center of America's mineral future. The Hermosa Project, operated by South32 in the Patagonia Mountains southeast of Tucson, is one of the few advanced mining projects in the U.S. focused on critical minerals like manganese and zinc. "What we have is one of the largest undeveloped deposits of zinc in the world, co-located with a high-purity, battery-grade manganese deposit on the same site," said Pat Risner, president of South32 Hermosa, noting some of the project's environmental advantages. "We'll use 90% less water than a typical mining operation.' At the same time, Arizona's heavy legacy from past mining — abandoned mines, contaminated water and damaged ecosystems — remains an important backdrop. Strong environmental protections must guide new projects, said Misael Cabrera, director of the University of Arizona's School of Mining and Mineral Resources. "There are very few countries that have environmental laws, and even fewer that enforce them. But we have environmental laws, and we enforce them," he said. Panelists agreed that developing domestic mines is necessary, but it must not come by weakening environmental laws. Cabrera said delays in mining projects often come from administrative slowdowns, not stricter environmental rules. "Speeding up permitting isn't about skipping protections," he said. "It's about cutting dead time where nothing happens." They also discussed new executive orders from President Donald Trump aimed at fast-tracking mining permits. But panelists warned that even with those orders, companies must still fully build an administrative record that can hold up in court. "No executive order can erase those laws," Cabrera said. "And companies know if they cut corners, they'll be challenged in court." There are concerns from local communities, tribes and conservation groups regarding new mining projects. Water use, endangered species and tribal sovereignty remain big issues. China controls much of the mineral processing needed for clean energy and advanced technologies, panelists said. Melissa Sanderson, director at American Rare Earths, an international mining company, warned that even if the U.S. government tried to fast-track mining through emergency powers, new mines would still take years to build. "Even with all the necessary resources, you don't get a mine overnight," she said, noting that new projects may not be ready until 2029. She called the current situation a "huge window of vulnerability" for the U.S., especially if it fails to coordinate efforts with international partners. She added that the U.S. needs to work with allies like the European Union and Canada to build independent processing capacity. "We can't go it alone, but we can go together with allies and friends," she said. Tribes, opponents vow fight: Trump puts Oak Flat copper mine on permitting fast track Tufan Neupane is a graduate student of journalism at Arizona State University and is part of a student newsroom led by The Arizona Republic. Coverage of the Society of Environmental Journalists conference is supported by Arizona State University's Cronkite School of Journalism, the University of Arizona and the Arizona Media Association. These stories are published open-source for other news outlets and organizations to share and republish, with credit and links to This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Can Arizona mines produce key minerals and not harm the environment?
