Blackstone Minerals Limited

Electrification represents a significant step towards more sustainable and efficient mining operations, contributing to both economic and environmental benefits.

Over the last four years, Electric Mine Consortium members have worked together to build a comprehensive picture of the value of mine electrification.

🎥 Watch EMC facilitator, Simon Prebble, IGO Senior Decarbonisation Advisor, Tess Lewis, and our Executive - Engineering & Projects, Graham Rigo discuss the value they found through the EMC.
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Clean energy technologies – from wind turbines and solar panels to electric vehicles and battery storage – require a wide range of minerals1 and metals. The type and volume of mineral needs vary widely across the spectrum of clean energy technologies, and even within a certain technology (e.g. EV battery chemistries).

The growth in EV sales is pushing up demand for batteries, continuing the upward trend of recent years. Demand for EV batteries reached more than 750 GWh in 2023, up 40% relative to 2022, though the annual growth rate slowed slightly compared to in 2021‑2022. Electric cars account for 95% of this growth. Globally, 95% of the growth in battery demand related to EVs was a result of higher EV sales, while about 5% came from larger average battery size due to the increasing share of SUVs within electric car sales.

Blackstone Minerals Limited is committed to nickel in Vietnam and Managing Director Scott Williamson joined the podcast to share valuable insights into the company's operations, market conditions, why Vietnam and much more!

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Vietnam's automotive industry has grown rapidly in recent years, establishing itself as a significant player despite a later start compared to neighboring countries.
Its expanding manufacturing capabilities and FTAs with many countries are opening the door for the country to become a regional or even global EV powerhouse.

Read more: https://loom.ly/dX7DZqM

Our team helping local people and school clean up the mud after last storm.

Younger customers, who are accounting for more than 50% of Vietnam current population, are more likely to own an EV.
In the latest research undertaken by KPMG and Chợ Tốt about EV landscape in Vietnam, participants from early Gen Z and Millennials (aged 25-44), with greater financial independence, are more receptive to new and emerging technologies such as full EVs or hybrid vehicles. In contrast, older generations and the youngest group tend to prefer traditional ICE vehicles.

Kỷ niệm 95 năm ngày thành lập Công đoàn Việt Nam (28/7/1929 – 28/7/2024). Ngày 09, 10/8/2024 Công đoàn ngành Công thương tỉnh Sơn La tổ chức Giải thể thao Ngành Công thương Sơn La lần thứ IX, năm 2024.
Công đoàn cơ sở Công ty TNHH Mỏ Nikel Bản Phúc tham gia thi đấu ở nội dung môn bóng đá nam và đã xuất sắc giành chức vô địch.
Giải đấu là dịp để các công nhân, viên chức, người lao động có cơ hội giao lưu, gặp gỡ, thắt chặt tình đoàn kết giữa các công đoàn cơ sở của các công ty thuộc Ngành Công thương Sơn La.
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Celebrating the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam Trade Union (July 28, 1929 - July 28, 2024).
On August 9 and 10, 2024, the Son La Provincial Trade Union organized the 9th Son La Trade Union Sports Tournament in 2024.
The Trade Union of Ban P**c Nickel Mines participated in the male football competition and won the championship.
This tournament is an opportunity for workers, local officers, and employees to meet, exchange experiences and strengthen solidarity between the Trade unions of companies in the Son La Trade Union.

Vietnam is planning to subsidize electricity prices for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations, as part of its efforts to promote the use of EVs and meet its energy transition commitments.
The subsidy scheme is due to be submitted to the central government by mid-September for approval, mainly focusing on accommodating electric prices and incentives for EV production and imports, and for users to switch from ICE vehicles to EVs.

Read more: https://loom.ly/slEWQC8

Vietnam is emerging as a promising market for electric vehicles (EVs), with growing demand attracting substantial interest from both local and international EV manufacturers.
According to the latest research in navigating the EV landscape in Vietnam undertaken by KPMG and Chợ Tốt, approximately 36% of surveyed participants expressed interests in purchasing a full EV, and 31% preferred a hybrid vehicle.

The PDP VIII lays out targets for newer technologies mainly focusing on battery storage, biomass energy and green ammonia in Vietnam’s market, aiming to provide a vision for potential investors and developers to introduce and expand these technologies in Vietnam’s context.
Battery storage is crucial for Vietnam's renewable energy expansion, with targets of 300 MWh by 2030 and 26 GWh by 2050. With many proposed solar and wind projects lacking storage solutions, BESS could play a key role in integrating these renewable sources.
With the focus on sustainable development and green energy, Vietnam also utilize biomass energy from wood pellets and green ammonia and green hydrogen to decrease CO2 from coal plants.
The country is ambitious to become an energy hub and attract private investment to meet its 2050 net-zero targets and lead in sustainable fuel production.

Will you be in Kalgoorlie for Diggers & Dealers Mining Forum from 5-7 August 2024?

Come to see us at Booth # FC10

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Vietnam aims for widespread access to modern, sustainable, and reliable energy services by 2030, building on its achievements in electricity access by 2020. The strategy focuses on developing renewable energy sources like traditional hydropower and biomass to support environmental sustainability and economic growth.

Under the latest Renewable Energy Development Plan, Vietnam aims to phase out coal completely and achieves total solar and wind power capacity of over 300 GW by 2025. This effort will bolster national energy security while significantly reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Locating on the Indochina peninsula with total coastline length of 3.444km, Vietnam is unique among its peers around Southeast Asia with respect to its physical potential to generate renewable energy, especially wind and solar energy.
To reach net-zero emissions by 2050, Vietnam would have to pivot the bulk of its power generation capacity to wind and solar, installing about 150 GW of wind capacity and about 70 GW of solar capacity. While this is an ambitious target for renewables, it captures only a fraction of the nation’s overall renewable-power potential.

Vietnam's power mix has the largest share of coal-fired power and hydropower at 34% and 30% respectively, gas turbine and oil-fired thermoelectric power at 15%, solar (including rooftop solar) at 24%, wind power at 1%, biomass power at about 1%, and hydropower imported from Laos at 1%.

The total number of operating power plants in Vietnam is about 162 (excluding small hydropower plants and renewable energy). the maximum load capacity of the power system in 2020 is about 38.7 GW, and the crude reserve ratio of the power system (excluding wind and solar) is 34.3%.

It is expected that in the next few years, Vietnam will gradually reduce the proportion of thermal power generation while Vietnam will work to accelerate the development of renewable energy (hydropower, wind, solar, biomass, etc.). With this transition, BSX will be able to access to completely renewable power for its project operation, align with its green strategy.

One of maintenance work at our BPNM site!

Our team is repairing collapsed gabion wall to ensure safety at plant area.

Although many believe that aviation is the main perpetrator of transportation sector in increasing CO2 emissions, in fact, road-travel is the biggest contributor that accounts for about three-quarters of transport emissions (~14% of global GHG in 2022). Most of this comes from light duty vehicles and heavy trucks.

According to data released by IEA, CO2 emissions from road vehicles (5.87 Gt) are 7.5 times higher than those from aviation (0.78 Gt) in 2022. In other words, reducing emissions from road vehicles by 13% is equivalent to reducing emissions from all airplanes all over the world.

It has been a roadblock for the industry to use electric batteries to replace diesel for airplanes so far, but it is completely feasible for E2W, car and truck to use battery as a replacement of diesel.
There is still a lot of controversy surrounding this initiative, but it is surely potential as at lease we found a remedy with motor vehicles.

The power industry is the largest contributor to global carbon dioxide emissions by far. In 2022, global power industry emissions increased by one percent from 2021 levels to reach a record high of 14.7 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide (GtCO₂). This accounted for roughly 38% of global CO₂ emissions.
Taking up 2nd position is transportation with almost 20% of global CO₂.

Read more: https://loom.ly/ryYVx68

🌍 Did you know? The latest data from NOAA’s Global Monitoring Lab shows that global average atmospheric carbon dioxide reached a record high of 426.91 parts per million (ppm) in Jun 2024, marking a concerning trend in our planet's carbon levels. This increase of 2.8 ppm from the previous year continues a troubling pattern where CO₂ concentrations have risen by more than 2 ppm annually for the past 12 years.

According to experts, an ideal CO₂ level for human life is around 280 ppm, fostering comfortable climate conditions for civilization to thrive.
With current CO₂ level of about 420 ppm, even if we halted emissions today, the impact on climate would persist for centuries or even millennia.

Understanding these figures underscores the urgent need for global action to mitigate carbon dioxide emissions and address climate change challenges. Of course, we can't stop driving and the industrial plants can't stop operating today to eliminate CO₂ emission, but we can start raising our awareness and try from our smallest effort.

A journey of a thousand miles starts with the first step! 🌿

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On July 18, the Trade Union of Ban P**c Nickel Mine (Company) coordinated with the Trade Union of Son La province to organize the "Trade Union Lunch" Program 2024.

This is an activity organized on the occasion of the 95th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam Trade Union (July 28, 1929 - July 28, 2024); creating opportunity for workers, trade union organizations and Company leaders to share their thoughts, enhance solidarity and understanding, thereby building trust and attachment between workers, Trade Unions and the Company.

The program was organized with the participation of 160 people who were trade union representatives, Company leaders, union members, and workers in difficult circumstances... At the program, representatives of the Trade Union of Industry and Trade of Son province La gave gifts to Union members and workers in particularly difficult circumstances of the Company as an encouragement and gave birthday gifts to Union members whose birthdays were in July.
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Ngày 18/7 vừa qua, Công đoàn Công ty Mỏ Niken Bản Phúc đã phối hợp với Công đoàn ngành Công thương tỉnh Sơn La cùng tổ chức Chương trình "Bữa ăn Công đoàn" năm 2024.

Đây là hoạt động tổ chức nhân dịp kỷ niệm 95 năm Ngày thành lập Công đoàn Việt Nam (28/7/1929 - 28/7/2024); là dịp để người lao động, tổ chức Công đoàn và lãnh đạo Công ty chia sẻ, tâm tình tạo nên bầu không khí đoàn kết, thấu hiểu, qua đó tạo dựng niềm tin, sự gắn bó của đoàn viên, người lao động đối với tổ chức công đoàn và doanh nghiệp.

Chương trình đã được tổ chức với sự tham gia của 160 người là các đại diện Công đoàn, lãnh đạo công ty cùng các Đoàn viên, CNLĐ có hoàn cảnh khó khăn... Tại đậy, đại diện Công đoàn Ngành Công thương tỉnh Sơn La đã tặng quà động viên cho các Đoàn viên, người lao động có hoàn cảnh đặc biệt khó khăn của Công ty, và tặng quà sinh nhật cho các Đoàn viên có sinh nhật vào tháng 7.

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Click here 👇 if you missed the presentation of Tessa Kutscher yesterday!!!
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To encourage the development of "green cars", the Government of Vietnam has issued a registration fee payment rate of 0% for battery electric cars for 3 years, valid from March 1, 2022. After 3 years, this fee will be only 50% compared to traditional gasoline cars. In addition, the Government also issued a policy to reduce special consumption tax on electric cars to only 1%-3%, applicable until the end of February 2027.
These are considered positive signals, creating development momentum for the domestic electric car market.

Vietnam is a country where the number of motorbikes still dominates the streets, which has pushed the electric motorbike industry to constantly develop.

According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, electric motorbike sales in Vietnam have increased by about 30% - 35% in recent years, making Vietnam the largest electric motorbike market (E2W) in the ASEAN region and the second largest. 2 globally, just behind China

We are excited to attend Noosa Mining Investor Conference, a 'must attend' event in the Australian resources sector, from 17-19 July 2024 at Peppers Noosa Resort in the Sunshine Coast, QLD.
Visit us at booth and make sure you don't miss our presentation presented by Tess Kutscher on Wednesday 17th July at 4:20pm AEST.

To watch online for free, please register here https://loom.ly/tD8EeW0

Vietnam is facing increasing CO2 emissions, primarily from road transport, especially in major urban centers like Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. To combat this, the Government and Ministry of Transport are focusing on reducing emissions by transitioning vehicles from internal combustion engines to electric and other green energy sources. Plans include phased conversion targets for vehicles, with Ho Chi Minh City aiming for all new taxis to be electric or use green energy by 2030, and a broader goal for all buses and taxis to adopt green energy by 2050.
Read more: https://loom.ly/RJvgWWY

There is a critical need to promote the transition to zero-emission vehicles, particularly electric light duty vehicles (LDVs), on a global scale. Using the eMob Calculator, UNEP projects that despite the doubling of the LDV fleet by 2050, maintaining today’s energy use levels and reducing CO2 emissions below 2000 levels is feasible with a 60% adoption of battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, potentially saving over 60 billion tons of CO2 by mid-century.
Read more: https://loom.ly/QRL5JYM

Nickel demand almost doubles over the period to 2050, driven by the rapid deployment of EV batteries.
Subsidies or tax credits could be used to support the production of responsibly sourced nickel, with those provided under existing provisions such as the Inflation Reduction Act given only to producers only greenhouse gas emissions but also other environmental and social impacts across the supply chain.
The European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM), which imposes a carbon tax on imported energy-intensive goods, could be expanded to include other raw materials such as nickel or the embedded emissions in downstream products. Disclosure policies, such as the EU Battery Regulation which by 2025 will mandate battery producers to disclose the complete carbon footprint of EV batteries over their life cycle, could also make it easier for purchasers and consumers to determine the emissions of different nickel sources.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is leading efforts to improve urban air quality by promoting the adoption of zero-emission buses, particularly , in various countries and cities across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. This initiative aims to mitigate significant emissions from urban bus fleets, reduce public health burdens related to air pollution, and achieve substantial CO2 emissions reductions by 2030.
Read more: https://loom.ly/QSU20oM

"Experts agree that two and three-wheelers are the first priority in moving to electric mobility. Scenario calculations using the eMob calculator of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) show that assuming a steep and global shift to 90% battery electric motorcycle sales by 2030 could result in CO2 emissions reductions of about 11 billion tonnes between now and 2050. At the same time, overall monetary savings stemming from lower fuel and maintenance costs and taking into account a higher purchase price of electric motorcycles could amount to about US $350 billion by 2050."
Read more: https://loom.ly/JhIm978

Vietnam’s Accelerating 2024 Economic Growth Could Hit 7%

Vietnam’s economic growth is accelerating and could meet or exceed the government’s 6.5% target this year, according to Planning and Investment Minister Nguyen Chi Dung.

The economy grew by 6.93% in the second quarter, taking half-yearly growth to 6.42%, surpassing all forecasts and giving businesses confidence a strong recovery is in the offing.