SUPPLY CHAINS & OPERATIONS
BIDEN RULING ‘ THREAT TO US COPPER MINING ’
A proposed US government sustainability ruling that will protect a tenth of the country ’ s public land threatens the copper mining industry in North America , a leading mining industry body says .
The US government ’ s recently announced Public Lands Rule ( PLR ) has been welcomed by conservationists . However , the Essential Minerals Association ( EMA ) warns that PLR will harm the critical minerals industry at a time when certain minerals are needed more than ever in the move to clean energy .
In Alaska , for example , the new ruling will prevent the building of a planned 340-km road designed to facilitate mine development in the copperrich Ambler Mining District in north central Alaska .
EMA President Chris Greissing said : “ Our nation is in desperate need of the essential mineral resources that EMA members responsibly extract from federal lands .”
of effects , and the obvious one is the potential for mining sites to have to close .”
There are at least some encouraging signs , with copper mining companies worldwide forging partnerships to bring down costs and boost output .
For example , in Chile the stateowned copper-mining giant Codelco – the world ’ s largest producer of copper – is exploring partnerships with the private sector , as it seeks to recover
74 June 2024