By Simon Moores, Managing Director, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence The rise of electric vehicles (EVs) has caused upheaval in the lithium ion battery industry. Before Elon Musk announced Tesla’s intention to build the world’s biggest lithium ion battery plant, The Gigafactory 1, lithium ion batteries were somewhat of a cottage industry geared to supplying a mobile [...]
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Brian O’Connell, long standing friend and expert to the oilfield industry, particularly with respect to barite purchasing at Halliburton. With his joy of life and trademark convivial engagement with his friends and colleagues, Brian gallantly carried on as much as he could in the face [...]
As IMFORMED nears its fourth anniversary, Mike and Ismene would like to thank all our customers, sponsors, friends, and families for their unstinting support during the year. May we take this opportunity to wish all of you a most Happy, Peaceful, and Prosperous New Year, and very much look forward to continuing our business and meeting [...]
It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Jean-Pierre Collart on Wednesday 19 December 2018. He passed away peacefully in his sleep surrounded by his family and friends. Jean-Pierre, or “JP” as he was known, was Managing Director of JPC Minerals SA, based in Belgium, and longstanding friend and business contact to [...]
Heading into 2019, China’s mineral supply squeeze continues to challenge world refractory producers Getting it sorted: workers sift out impure lumps from crude bauxite ore arriving at CMP Guizhou Co. Ltd's new 100,000 tpa calcination plant at Xiuwen, Guizhou, which came on stream in early 2018. A range of factors arising in 2017 [...]
Fluorine Forum 2018 Review The beginning of the year’s final quarter is always a busy time for the fluorspar market, as consumers seek to secure supply for the following year. With prices at six-year highs and availability constrained, negotiations and discussion have been at a higher level of intensity. All of which lent a considerable [...]
Review of China Refractory & Abrasive Minerals Forum 2018 Well, the Chinese Year of the Dog has certainly lived up to its name as suppliers, traders, and consumers of Chinese refractory and abrasive minerals strive to secure supply contracts under challenging circumstances for 2019 as we head into Q4 2018. The continuing tightness in supply [...]
Taking shape: construction at Sepfluor Ltd's Nokeng Fluorspar Project is expected to conclude at the end of October, aiming at 630,000 tpa crude ore, 180,000 tpa acidspar, and 30,000 tpa metspar; initial production targeted for Q1 2019. Courtesy Sepfluor Was 2017 a turning point for the world fluorspar market? Can prices maintain their [...]
China customs sharpens up | Bauxite & magnesite latest | US trade war impact China Minerals Forum 2018 Early Bird Rate ends Friday 3 August Burning bauxite...or not: a calcined bauxite plant in Shanxi province utilising round or down draught kilns (right); the province is enduring another closure of plants owing to environmental inspections. [...]
MagForum 2018 Review The great and the good of the global magnesia business gathered at IMFORMED’s MagForum 2018 conference held 17-20 June, at the Grande Elysée Hotel, Hamburg. And what a superb MagForum it turned out to be, the largest yet with 230 international attendees networking and discussing the key issues influencing the industry, stimulated [...]
