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Scientists at KU Leuven, University of Lubumbashi reveal the health risks of cobalt mining in DR Congo

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Around 60% of the world’s cobalt supply comes from the mineral-rich Katanga Copper belt, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Previous research by KU Leuven and the University of Lubumbashi (2009) had already found high concentrations of trace metals in the urine of people living close to mines. —Nkulu et al.

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Study finds cobalt supply can meet demand for EVs and electronics batteries through 2030

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Roughly 60% of mined cobalt is sourced from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The paper is published in the ACS journal Environmental Science & Technology. The element is often recovered as a byproduct from mining copper and nickel, meaning that demand and pricing for those other metals affects the availability of cobalt.

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BMW Group commissions study on sustainable lithium extraction

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The BMW Group has commissioned two US universities to conduct a scientific analysis of water consumption in the lithium extraction process. The aim of the University of Alaska-Anchorage and University of Massachusetts-Amherst study will be to investigate the impacts of lithium extraction on the hydrologic environment in Latin America.

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UCI and national lab researchers use high-entropy doping for cobalt-free cathodes for Li-ion batteries

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Researchers at the University of California, Irvine and four national laboratories have devised a way to make lithium-ion battery cathodes without using cobalt.

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DOE to award $30M for research to secure domestic supply chain of critical elements and minerals

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At present, the US relies on imports from nations such as China and the Democratic Republic of Congo for these critical materials. National laboratories, universities, industry, and nonprofit organizations may apply for the three-year awards, to be selected based on peer review.

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Missouri S&T professor: Green energy increases the need for mining and metals production

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That’s according to Dr. Michael Moats, professor and interim chair of materials science and engineering at Missouri University of Science and Technology, who says reducing carbon emissions from energy systems in the United States will increase the need for metal production by two to six times per kilowatt of energy production.

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GE study finds 5% of worlds natural gas production wasted per year by flaring

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Elsewhere in West Africa, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Congo and Cameroon collectively waste about 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas every year. —David Victor, director of the Laboratory on International Law & Regulation at the University of California San Diego.

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