What Are “Critical Minerals” — and Why They Matter

“Critical minerals” are metals and elements that modern technology can’t do without. They are in electric vehicle (EV) batteries, wind turbines, solar panels, phone chips, medical devices, and even defense systems. Examples include lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, rare earth elements, and copper — stuff you rarely think about, but which make high-tech gadgets possible.

Canada recently updated its official list to include 34 critical minerals that it’s especially well-positioned to produce responsibly.

Canada’s Mining Landscape: A Sleeping Giant

Canada already produces more than 60 different minerals. It’s one of the world’s leaders in potash and uranium and ranks high in nickel, aluminum, and other key metals. But that’s only part of the story.

Across provinces and territories — from Quebec and Ontario to the Northwest Territories — there are rich mineral deposits that have barely been explored or developed yet. Some regions, like the Ring of Fire in northern Ontario, contain large deposits of minerals like chromite, which are important for steel and aerospace materials but are still mostly undeveloped.

On top of that, mine tailings — the leftover waste from old mines — might themselves contain recoverable critical minerals worth billions of dollars, offering a new resource without digging fresh holes.

How This Links to Your Daily Life in the Future

You might ask: Why should I care about mining if I don’t live near a drill site?

Here’s how it connects to your future:

• Electric cars and batteries: Minerals like lithium, nickel, and cobalt are needed for EV batteries. As the world shifts away from gasoline, demand for these will skyrocket.

• Cleaner energy: Wind turbines and solar panels use rare earth elements and other metals that are currently in short supply globally. Canada’s resources can help build a more sustainable grid.

• Tech devices: Your phone, laptop, and even future AI hardware need metals like graphite and gallium. Securing a steady supply means cheaper, more reliable technology.

• Jobs and economy: The mining and minerals industry supports hundreds of thousands of jobs and billions in economic activity. In fact, Canada’s critical minerals sector alone contributed about $40 billion to the economy and supported 110,000 jobs recently.

What’s New and Cool About This Right Now

Global Demand Is Exploding

Worldwide demand for critical minerals is expected to double by 2040 — driven by EVs, renewable energy, and digital infrastructure. Canada’s huge reserves mean it could supply a significant portion of what the world needs.

More Money and Better Tech

The Canadian government has launched a Critical Minerals Strategy with billions in funding to accelerate exploration, mining, processing, and even recycling. This means new technology, better jobs, and faster development.

Cleaner Mining Methods

Canada is also pushing more environmentally responsible mining, with lower emissions and stronger social and governance standards than many other countries. That’s good news if you care about both jobs and the planet.

Recycling and Innovation

Old mine waste (called tailings) might become a new source of valuable materials — a rare example where solving an environmental problem also creates economic value.

What This Means for the Future

In the next decade, Canada’s mining sector could help power:

• Your future electric car
• Affordable, reliable renewable energy
• High-speed tech gadgets
• Jobs, research opportunities, and university programs

Mining isn’t just digging holes — it’s about securing the building blocks of tomorrow’s technology.

In Summary

Canada sits on a treasure trove of minerals that the world will need to build cars, clean energy, phones, computers, medical devices, and more. Much of this potential is still untapped, and recent government strategies are unlocking new investment and technology options. For someone entering the workforce, tech fields, energy careers, or even public policy — this is one of the fast-growing industries with real impact on everyday life.

Sources

• 🇨🇦 Government of Canada — Critical Minerals Strategy Progress Update
• 🇨🇦 Government of Canada — Advancing the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy
• 🇨🇦 Government of Canada — The Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy (Overview)
• 🇨🇦 Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy – Annual Report 2024
• Reuters — Canada to accelerate critical mineral projects worth $4.6 billion
• Reuters — Rio Tinto funding for a gallium critical mineral R&D project

#CriticalMinerals #MiningInnovation #FutureTechnology #CleanEnergy #ElectricVehicles #SustainableMining #CanadaMining #ResourceEconomy #GreenTechnology #EmergingTech

Canada is in one of those moments now. What is emerging is not a single opportunity, but a network of them. Energy is evolving. Resources are being revalued. Technology is accelerating. And the global economy is quietly reorganizing around supply, security, and control. Most people will see these as separate conversations. They are not. They are connected.

Because the next phase of Canada’s economy will not be built on one sector alone. It will be built at the intersection of energy, resources, infrastructure, and intelligence. Those who understand how these pieces fit together will not just participate in the future. They will help shape it.

What follows is a map. A map of where momentum is building, where capital is moving, and where long-term opportunity is forming beneath the surface.

In energy and infrastructure, the shift is already underway. The conversation is no longer about choosing between old and new. It is about integration and expansion. From the evolution of oil into broader energy systems, to the rise of small modular reactors, hydrogen development, offshore wind, and battery storage, the direction is clear. Energy is becoming more diversified, more strategic, and more central to economic growth than ever before. At the same time, intelligence is entering the system. AI is beginning to manage grids, optimize performance, and reshape how energy is distributed and consumed. Even the most advanced concepts, like fusion and wireless transmission, are no longer theoretical discussions. They are part of a longer-term trajectory that will redefine how power moves.

Alongside this, resources are taking on new importance. Canada’s position in critical minerals is no longer just an economic advantage. It is a strategic one. Lithium, nickel, cobalt, rare earth elements—these are the materials that sit at the foundation of electrification, technology, and modern industry. But the real opportunity does not stop at extraction. It extends into processing, refinement, and manufacturing. The countries that control those stages will control the value. Gold is also re-emerging, not just as an asset, but as a signal of shifting global confidence. Mining, in all its forms, is moving from background industry to center stage.

Technology is accelerating this entire shift. Data centers are expanding rapidly, driven by AI and digital demand, and they are becoming some of the most energy-intensive assets in the modern economy. Infrastructure is getting smarter. Systems are becoming connected. The line between physical industry and digital intelligence is disappearing. At the same time, something unexpected is happening. After decades of outsourcing and offshoring, there is a return to building, making, and producing. Canada is beginning to reindustrialize. And with that comes a renewed demand for skilled trades, technical expertise, and hands-on capability.

Over all of this sits a broader strategic layer. Energy security is no longer a background issue. It is becoming a defining factor in global stability. The Arctic is gaining attention, not just for its resources, but for its positioning. Nations are thinking differently about supply chains, access, and resilience. And within that shift, there is a need for a different kind of thinking—one that moves beyond short-term decisions and into long-term positioning. This is where the idea of nation-building returns, not as a political slogan, but as an economic necessity.

There are also opportunities that remain underestimated. Water, for example, is often overlooked, yet it may become one of the most valuable resources in the coming decades. Waste is being reimagined as a source of energy and value rather than something to discard. Solar technology is evolving beyond traditional panels into integrated systems. Carbon is being reconsidered, not just as a problem, but as a material that can be captured and repurposed. Even within electrification, there is a deeper question emerging about who actually benefits and where the real value is created.

Taken together, these opportunities form a much larger picture. They point to a Canada that is not limited to one identity or one industry, but capable of leading across multiple fronts at once. A Canada that builds, produces, powers, and innovates. A Canada that understands the importance of control—not just over resources, but over the systems that turn those resources into value. But none of this happens automatically. It requires massive action.

The difference between regions and businesses that rise and those that fall behind will come down to timing, positioning, and the ability to see clearly before something becomes obvious to everyone else. By the time opportunity is widely recognized, it is often already crowded.

The Next 30 Opportunities:

What follows is not just a list of topics. It is a structured view of where momentum is building across Canada’s economy. Each area represents a point of leverage—where industry, capital, and long-term demand are beginning to align.

For years, the conversation around energy has focused on production—oil, gas, electricity. But what is becoming increasingly clear is that the future of energy does not begin at the point of generation. It begins at the point of extraction. Without critical minerals, there are no batteries. Without batteries, there is no large-scale electrification. And without electrification, the entire transition narrative collapses. This is where the opportunity becomes undeniable.

Canada holds significant reserves of many of these critical minerals, particularly in provinces like Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador. The geology is there. The stability is there. The access to global markets is there. What has been missing is urgency and coordination. That is starting to change.

Around the world, nations are waking up to a simple reality. Dependence on external supply chains for critical materials is a strategic risk. The current global system is heavily concentrated, with a small number of countries controlling large portions of mining, processing, and refining. That concentration creates vulnerability. It creates exposure. And it creates a scramble among other nations to secure their own supply. Canada is now part of that shift. But this is not just about mining more materials. That is where many will misunderstand the opportunity. Extraction is only the first layer. The real value, the real leverage, and the real long-term wealth are created further along the chain—in processing, refining, and manufacturing.

Right now, much of the world still ships raw materials out and buys finished products back at a premium. That model benefits those who control the middle and final stages. If Canada simply increases extraction without building out processing capacity, it will capture only a fraction of the value available. The next phase must be different.

The opportunity is to build a full-spectrum ecosystem. Mining, refining, battery production, advanced materials, and recycling. Each layer adds value. Each layer creates jobs. Each layer strengthens economic independence. And each layer reduces reliance on external systems that may not always align with national interests. This is where business opportunity expands rapidly.

Exploration companies will move first, identifying and securing deposits. Mining operations will follow, requiring capital, equipment, engineering, and logistics. But beyond that, there is a much larger wave forming. Processing facilities will be needed to convert raw materials into usable forms. Manufacturing plants will be required to produce battery components and related technologies. Transportation networks will need to adapt to move materials efficiently across regions and toward export points.

And then there is technology.

Modern mining is no longer just physical. It is increasingly driven by data, automation, environmental monitoring, and efficiency systems. Companies that can bring innovation into this space will not only support the industry. They will redefine it. From AI-driven exploration to automated extraction systems, the integration of technology into resource development is becoming a competitive advantage.

There is also a growing emphasis on sustainability, but not in the abstract sense that often dominates public conversation. In practical terms, sustainability is about efficiency, reduced waste, responsible extraction, and long-term viability. Companies that can operate with higher environmental standards while maintaining profitability will be the ones that secure long-term contracts and partnerships. This is not about optics. It is about meeting the expectations of global markets that are becoming more selective about where they source materials.

For Newfoundland and Labrador, the opportunity is particularly compelling. The province already has a strong foundation in resource development and industrial operations. It understands scale. It understands logistics. It understands how to operate in challenging environments. These are not minor advantages. They are exactly the capabilities required to participate in the next phase of mineral development.

But the opportunity is not limited to large corporations. Entrepreneurs, service providers, and smaller firms have a role to play across every stage of the ecosystem. Equipment supply, transportation, environmental services, workforce training, data systems, maintenance, and support operations all represent entry points into a growing industry. The companies that position themselves early, build relationships, and develop specialized capabilities will be the ones that benefit most as the sector expands.

There is also a geopolitical layer that cannot be ignored. Critical minerals are becoming a central component of international strategy. Nations are forming alliances, securing supply agreements, and investing in foreign assets to ensure access. Canada, with its political stability and resource base, is seen as a reliable partner. That creates an opportunity to attract international investment, but it also requires careful thinking about how much control is retained domestically. Because this is not just about economics. It is about sovereignty.

Control over critical minerals means control over the materials that power industries, technologies, and defense systems. It means influence in global negotiations. It means resilience in times of disruption. And it means the ability to shape the future rather than react to it. The mistake would be to treat this as a temporary boom. This is not a cycle. It is a shift.

The demand for these materials is not driven by speculation. It is driven by structural change in how the world builds, powers, and moves. That demand is expected to grow for decades, not years. And the regions that position themselves now will carry that advantage forward over time. The question is not whether Canada has the resources. It does. The question is whether it has the vision to fully develop them. Because there is a difference between participating in a market and leading it. Participation generates revenue. Leadership generates influence, stability, and long-term growth.

Canada has the opportunity to lead. Not by simply extracting more, but by building an integrated system that captures value at every stage. Not by reacting to global demand, but by positioning itself as an essential part of the supply chain. Not by thinking in terms of short-term projects, but by building long-term capability.

This is one of the clearest opportunities of our time. It is not loud. It is not obvious to everyone. But it is already underway. And the ones who understand it early will not just benefit from it. They will help shape it.

Now, under the banner of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, the Rossing uranium mine stands as a beacon of international cooperation, economic revitalization, and women’s empowerment in Namibia. As Chinese and African workers toil under the relentless sun, new stories of opportunity and hope unfold amid the desert’s iconic sand dunes.

A New Chapter: Transforming Lives and Futures

Since the CNNC acquisition, the Rossing mine has not only resumed its position as a vital supplier of natural uranium, contributing roughly 5% of global output, but it has also become a catalyst for change in the local community. This transformation extends beyond economic impact; it’s about empowering individuals, particularly women, to thrive in roles that were once beyond their reach.

Angela Kapapilo, the principal resource geologist at Rossing, is a testament to this shift. Since joining the company in 2010, Kapapilo has witnessed firsthand the evolution of Rossing, particularly after CNNC’s investment. Now leading the Z20 uranium deposit exploration project, she is at the forefront of extending the mine’s life by an additional 20 years. “Being the principal resource geologist is a highlight of my career, thanks to the training provided by CNNC,” Kapapilo said. “This role reflects the value CNNC places on African talent.”

Kapapilo’s story is one of many. Under the new leadership, Rossing has implemented inclusive policies and advanced training programs, empowering local employees—especially women—to climb the professional ladder. The company’s support has even enabled Kapapilo to complete a master’s degree in geology, equipping her with cutting-edge skills in geostatistics and machine learning.

“Chinese enterprises treat every employee equally, providing opportunities to lead and achieve personal ambitions,” she said. “This sense of equality and empowerment is what makes working here so fulfilling.”

Empowering Women and Strengthening Communities

Beyond individual achievements, CNNC’s involvement at Rossing has fostered broader societal benefits. The mine has created thousands of direct and indirect jobs, impacting over 10,000 Namibian lives. Importantly, many of these opportunities have gone to women, elevating their economic and social status.

The commitment to female empowerment is evident in the company’s actions. Since 2019, Rossing has partnered with local organizations to launch female youth entrepreneurship programs, helping young women start their own businesses. Additionally, the Rossing Foundation supports education and health initiatives across Namibia, providing essential resources to schools in rural areas where educational infrastructure is severely lacking.

“The Rossing mine is more than just a workplace; it’s a lifeline for many Namibians,” Kapapilo said. “The benefits of continued operations ripple through our society, touching everything from local businesses to national tax revenue.”

Advancing Sustainability and Innovation

The CNNC’s investment isn’t just revitalizing the mine; it’s also advancing Namibia’s mining industry toward a more sustainable and technologically advanced future. The company’s focus on innovation has introduced new equipment and methodologies, pushing production to new heights while prioritizing environmental considerations.

Kapapilo highlights an instance when Rossing’s partnership with a Chinese institution resulted in a tailored technological solution that wasn’t available on the global market. “This experience underscored the unique value that Chinese companies bring—combining cutting-edge technology with local needs,” she noted.

These innovations extend beyond the mine. During a recent visit to China, Kapapilo was struck by the country’s progress in electric vehicle adoption—a glimpse of a cleaner, carbon-neutral future that she hopes can inspire similar developments in Namibia.

A Partnership for Prosperity

Namibian Minister of Mines and Energy Tom Alweendo praised the impact of Chinese investment, stating that the mining sector contributes significantly to the country’s GDP. “Chinese investment has been instrumental in establishing Namibia as one of the world’s leading uranium producers,” he remarked. Indeed, Namibia’s mining sector contributed 14.4% to the national GDP in 2023, underscoring the economic importance of partnerships like Rossing.

The CNNC’s acquisition of Rossing has not only secured the mine’s future but also set a powerful example of international cooperation and local empowerment. As Chinese and Namibian employees work side by side, they are not just mining uranium—they are building a brighter future for Namibia, where economic opportunity and social progress go hand in hand.

Source:
Global Times

A Visionary Commitment to Saudi Arabia’s Mining Industry

Saudi Arabia’s commitment to transforming its mining sector is a cornerstone of the ambitious Vision 2030. With vast, largely untapped geological resources estimated to exceed a staggering USD 2.5 trillion, the kingdom is poised to become a global mining hub. The discovery of over 48 minerals, including base metals, precious metals, industrial metals, and rare earth elements, underscores the immense potential that lies beneath the desert sands.

The establishment of this cutting-edge laboratory is a direct response to Saudi Arabia’s growing mining ambitions. It aims to ensure that local exploration and mining operators have access to world-class testing services, thereby unlocking the full potential of their mineral deposits. This joint venture will leverage SGS’s extensive analytical expertise and Golden Compass’s proficiency in mining operations and consultancy.

“We are excited to build on SGS’s established presence in Saudi Arabia by adding geochemistry services, especially at a time when there is significant growth in the mining and minerals industry. Together with our joint venture partner, we look forward to helping exploration and mining companies identify, quantify, and realize the full potential of their mineral deposits,” stated Lawrence Ng, Global Vice President of Geochemistry at SGS.

State-of-the-Art Geochemistry Laboratory in Jeddah

The upcoming laboratory in Jeddah, operated by SGS experts, will set a new standard for geochemical analysis in the region. The facility will offer a comprehensive suite of services, including:

• Sample Preparation: Drying, crushing, pulverizing, and sieving.
• Fire Assays: With Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) and gravimetric finish.
• Multi-Element Testing: Utilizing Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS).
• Carbon and Sulfur Analysis.

Equipped with the latest technology and adhering to SGS’s stringent quality assurance and control standards, the Jeddah laboratory will provide reliable and precise analyses that meet global benchmarks.

Meshary AlAli AlDehashi, CEO of Golden Compass, emphasized the significance of this venture: “This investment will contribute to achieving SGS – Golden Compass investment goals to support and enhance local content by localizing some mining services. This will help realize the goals of Saudi Vision 2030, which focuses on transforming the kingdom into a major mining hub.”

Comprehensive Geochemistry Services

SGS’s geochemistry team is prepared to deliver customized solutions that cater to the specific needs of its clients. Upholding SGS’s trusted methodologies and high-quality control standards, the team offers a full spectrum of services. With over 500 commercial, mobile, and onsite laboratories worldwide and a dedicated team of geological and metallurgical experts, SGS ensures that clients maximize the value of their deposits at every stage of the mining lifecycle.

SGS’s Legacy in Saudi Arabia

SGS’s relationship with Saudi Arabia dates back to 1980 when it opened its first office in the country. Today, SGS boasts a robust presence with seven strategically located offices in Jubail, Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Ras Tanura, Yanbu, and Rabigh. These offices are staffed by dedicated teams delivering exceptional services across multiple industries, from oil and gas to agriculture and now, significantly, mining.

This latest venture with Golden Compass is a testament to SGS’s unwavering commitment to supporting Saudi Arabia’s industrial growth and diversification. By providing world-class geochemical services, SGS is poised to play a pivotal role in the kingdom’s journey towards becoming a leading mining powerhouse.

As Saudi Arabia continues to unlock its vast mineral wealth, the new geochemistry laboratory in Jeddah will serve as a beacon of scientific excellence and industry innovation. It represents a significant step forward in the realization of Vision 2030, promising a future where Saudi Arabia stands at the forefront of the global mining industry.

Source: www.sgs.com

A Leap Forward in Energy Conversion Efficiency

The newly developed nuclear battery, which harvests decay energy from radioisotopes, boasts the highest efficiency ever recorded in its field. Dr. Jae W. Kwon, founder and CEO of Infinity Power, stated, “Our new method utilizes a highly effective energy conversion mechanism for strong power generation.” This leap in efficiency is made possible through a novel electrochemical energy conversion approach, diverging from traditional semiconductor-based methods.

Advanced Design Ensures Safety and Longevity

Infinity Power’s battery is encased in a robust metal-encased coin-cell package, ensuring adequate shielding and preventing any leakage of radioactive material. This design guarantees the safety and reliability required for widespread application, addressing one of the major concerns with nuclear power sources.

Versatile Applications and Prolonged Power Supply

This tiny, coin-cell-style battery is not only powerful but also versatile. It can generate tens of milliwatts of power for over a century with just minor adjustments to its design parameters. Its scalability is another remarkable feature, enabling power generation ranges from nanowatts to kilowatts, thereby meeting the demands of various applications from medical devices to deep-sea exploration systems.

The battery’s high efficiency means it requires less radioisotope material to produce the same amount of power compared to other methods. This efficiency opens up a wider selection of radioisotope materials, further enhancing the technology’s versatility.

Transformative Impact on Modern Technology

Portable power sources are indispensable in today’s world, powering everything from medical equipment to mobile electronics and robotics. Traditional power sources often face challenges such as routine refueling and recharging, which can disrupt critical missions. Infinity Power’s new battery technology offers a solution, providing a continuous power supply without the need for external energy sources. This makes it ideal for applications in remote areas, space, and underwater environments, where recharging or refueling is impractical.

Expanding the Horizon of Nuclear Energy Storage

The scalable design and mass producibility of this nuclear battery pave the way for rapid market adoption across various specialized applications. Implantable medical devices, space power systems, and microgrid power systems are just a few of the potential beneficiaries of this technology. Infinity Power is poised to lead a new era in nuclear energy storage, offering reliable, secure, and safe radioisotope power sources.

Dr. Kwon emphasized the significance of this development, stating, “Our goals are to guide this discovery toward a prosperous product launch and begin a new chapter in the history of revolutionary nuclear energy storage solutions.”

A Call for Strategic Collaboration and Investment

Infinity Power is actively seeking strategic partnerships and investment opportunities to bring this revolutionary technology to market. Interested parties are encouraged to visit their website at www.infinitypower.energy for more information and to explore collaboration opportunities.

Infinity Power’s unveiling of this high-efficiency nuclear battery marks a pivotal moment in the advancement of nuclear energy storage. With its potential to provide long-lasting, reliable power across a multitude of applications, this innovation is set to transform the landscape of portable power sources. As the company moves toward commercializing this technology, the world watches with anticipation for the new era of energy solutions that lie ahead.

Source: www.infinitypower.energy

Lithium: The Heart of Electric Vehicle Batteries

Lithium is often dubbed the “white gold” of the renewable energy sector. Its lightweight and highly reactive properties make it ideal for use in rechargeable batteries. Lithium-ion batteries, found in electric cars and portable electronic devices, offer high energy density, long life cycles, and low self-discharge rates.

Electric Cars: Lithium-ion batteries are crucial for electric vehicles (EVs). These batteries provide the energy needed to power the motor, offering a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional internal combustion engines. Companies like Tesla and Nissan rely heavily on lithium to manufacture batteries that deliver extended range and improved performance.

Solar Panels and Batteries: Beyond vehicles, lithium-ion batteries are also integral to solar energy systems. They store excess energy generated by solar panels during the day, which can then be used at night or during periods of low sunlight, ensuring a constant power supply and enhancing grid stability.

Nickel: Enhancing Battery Efficiency

Nickel is another key component in the battery industry, particularly in the production of nickel-cobalt-aluminum (NCA) and nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) batteries. Nickel’s role is to increase the energy density and storage capacity of batteries, making them more efficient.

Electric Cars: Nickel-rich batteries are favored for EVs because they enable longer driving ranges and faster charging times. This is pivotal in reducing range anxiety—a common concern among potential EV buyers. By improving battery efficiency, nickel helps make electric cars more viable and attractive to consumers.

Cobalt: Stabilizing Battery Chemistry

Cobalt, while less abundant, is critical for stabilizing the chemical structure of batteries and extending their life span. Its presence in lithium-ion batteries helps prevent overheating and allows for safer and more reliable performance.

Electric Cars: The stability provided by cobalt ensures that electric vehicle batteries can endure numerous charge and discharge cycles without significant degradation. This is essential for maintaining the long-term health and performance of EVs.

Solar Panels and Batteries: In solar energy storage, cobalt-based batteries offer similar benefits, ensuring that storage systems remain safe and efficient over many years of use.

Copper: Conducting a Renewable Future

Copper’s excellent conductivity and thermal properties make it indispensable in the renewable energy sector. It’s used extensively in electrical wiring, motors, and various components of renewable energy systems.

Electric Cars: Copper is integral to the production of electric motors, inverters, and charging infrastructure for EVs. An electric vehicle contains about three times as much copper as a conventional car, underscoring its importance in the transition to electric mobility.

Solar Panels and Batteries: In solar panels, copper is used in photovoltaic cells and wiring. It helps in efficiently transferring the electricity generated by solar cells to the grid or storage systems, thereby maximizing energy capture and usage.

Rare Earth Metals: Powering Advanced Technologies

Rare earth metals, despite their name, are relatively abundant but challenging to extract. They are critical for manufacturing high-efficiency magnets, which are essential in many advanced renewable technologies.

Electric Cars: Rare earth magnets, such as neodymium magnets, are used in the electric motors of EVs. These magnets significantly enhance motor efficiency, reducing energy loss and improving overall vehicle performance.

Solar Panels and Batteries: Rare earth elements are also used in the production of certain types of solar panels and in wind turbine generators. They help in improving the efficiency and durability of these renewable energy systems, making them more cost-effective over time.

The role of lithium, nickel, cobalt, copper, and rare earth metals in the renewable energy industry cannot be overstated. These minerals are the backbone of the technologies driving the green energy revolution, enabling the production and optimization of electric cars, solar panels, and batteries. As demand for renewable energy continues to rise, the importance of these critical minerals will only grow, underscoring the need for sustainable mining practices and innovative recycling solutions to ensure their availability for future generations.

Uranium, a naturally occurring radioactive element, takes center stage in the quest for sustainable energy. Symbolized as U with an atomic number of 92, this heavy metal is renowned for its ability to undergo nuclear fission, making it a linchpin in the creation of nuclear energy.

The Many Faces of Uranium: Unearthing Its Diverse Applications

What is Uranium Used For?

Beyond its role as a cornerstone in nuclear power generation, uranium boasts versatility across various sectors. From its applications in medicine to its role as a catalyst in industrial processes, uranium’s significance is multifaceted. However, its primary and most impactful use remains in the realm of nuclear energy.

Stallion Uranium Corp.’s Quantum Leap: Illuminating the Path to Sustainable Energy

In the bustling town of Oprah, Stallion Uranium Corp. proudly declares a groundbreaking move, acquiring three new uranium exploration claims in northern Saskatchewan. This strategic endeavor not only solidifies Stallion’s position as a key player in sustainable energy but also expands its land portfolio to a remarkable 313,381 hectares.

Strategic Expansion: Unveiling Stallion’s Vision in the Athabasca Basin

Under the leadership of CEO Drew Zimmerman, Stallion’s strategic move adds over 32,000 acres to its already substantial exploration project in the highly competitive Athabasca Basin. Zimmerman underscores the significance of this addition, aligning with Stallion’s strategy to secure vast, high-potential land packages and enhance the probability of discovering the next significant uranium deposit.

Magnetic Signatures and Exploration Strategy: Darren Slugoski’s Insights

Darren Slugoski, Vice President Exploration, Canada, sheds light on the strategic nature of the newly acquired claims. These claims, strategically staked, host magnetic signatures suggesting potential extensions of structural anomalies. Positioned east of the Arrow uranium deposit, Stallion aims to capitalize on its exploration strategy, covering under-explored zones with state-of-the-art geophysical surveys.

Fueling the Future: Stallion’s Uranium Expansion

Stallion Uranium’s expansion encompasses staking 13,175 hectares contiguous to existing projects in the Western Athabasca Basin. The claims not only bolster the company’s land position but also cover highly prospective areas. Leveraging geophysical surveys, Stallion aims to advance target areas with magnetic lows and conductive geophysical signatures associated with uranium mineralization.

Shaping Tomorrow: Uranium’s Role in the Renewable Energy Sector

How will Uranium Impact the Renewable Energy Sector?

In an era emphasizing sustainable energy, uranium emerges as a pivotal element. Stallion Uranium’s commitment to exploring over 3,000 sq/km in the Athabasca Basin aligns with the global push for low-carbon solutions. Uranium’s significance in clean and efficient nuclear energy positions Stallion as a key contributor to the broader mission of achieving a sustainable and low-carbon energy future.

Charting the Course: Stallion Uranium Corp.’s Dual Focus

Not limited to uranium, Stallion diversifies its portfolio with gold projects in Idaho and Nevada. Positioned adjacent to world-class gold deposits, these projects provide Stallion with optionality and exposure to potential upside from district advancement with limited capital expenditures.

Stallion Uranium Corp.’s Role in Shaping the Energy Landscape

In the vibrant town of Oprah, Stallion Uranium Corp. emerges as a beacon of sustainable energy exploration. With a strategic vision, a vast land portfolio, and a commitment to advancing uranium exploration, Stallion not only shapes its future but also contributes significantly to the global mission of achieving a sustainable and low-carbon energy future.

Deep sea mining involves the extraction of minerals such as copper, cobalt, zinc, and gold from the ocean floor. The vast expanses of the world’s oceans, largely unexplored by humans, contain valuable resources essential for technologies supporting the green economy, ranging from wind turbines to electric vehicle batteries. As countries look to secure these resources, the emergence of deep sea mining has become a global phenomenon.

The Global Landscape: Areas Embracing Deep Sea Mining

Norway’s decision aligns with a broader global movement towards deep sea mining. As countries strive to meet the demands of a growing green economy, areas such as the Clarion-Clipperton Zone in the Pacific Ocean, the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, and now the Arctic seabed between Norway and Greenland have become focal points for exploration. The potential for vast mineral reserves beneath the ocean floor has spurred nations to position themselves at the forefront of this emerging industry.

Driving the Green Transition: Proponents’ Perspective

Advocates for deep sea mining argue that extracting resources from the ocean floor can accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy. They contend that this method could come with a lower environmental cost compared to terrestrial mining, making it an attractive option for countries committed to sustainable development. Norway’s focus on sustainability and responsibility in its exploration underscores the industry’s potential as a driving force for positive environmental change.

The Urgency for a Green Economy: Scientific Insights

While proponents highlight the benefits, scientists express caution, emphasizing the limited understanding of the world’s oceans. The deep ocean in the targeted region is home to diverse marine species, many undiscovered by humans. Despite concerns about potential impacts on ecosystems already affected by pollution and climate change, the Norwegian government maintains that extraction will only proceed if done sustainably and responsibly.

International Perspectives: Caution and Calls for Pause

As Norway forges ahead, other countries, including the United Kingdom, urge caution, with some supporting a moratorium on deep sea mining. Open letters from European politicians and over 800 scientists worldwide emphasize the risks to marine life and the potential acceleration of climate change. The debate intensifies as the International Seabed Authority, responsible for regulating seabed extraction, aims to finalize rules on mining in international waters next year.

Setting High Environmental Standards: Norwegian Assurance

Norwegian politicians, including Baard Ludvig Thorheim, highlight the country’s commitment to setting high environmental standards for deep sea mining. While acknowledging concerns, they believe it could become the international standard for this activity. The assurance resonates with the wider environmental community, ensuring that deep sea mining is conducted responsibly.

A Step-by-Step Approach: Future Challenges and Considerations

Despite the landmark decision, the timeline for the emergence of a deep sea mining industry in Norway remains uncertain. Exploration may commence in a matter of months, but parliament approval for mining licenses and subsequent extraction will require additional votes. Questions linger about the commercial viability of mining in the Arctic, with challenges posed by the difficulty of extracting minerals and the potential delay in contributing to the green economic transition.

Norway’s groundbreaking decision to embrace deep sea mining is a bold step towards securing the resources essential for a sustainable and green future. While environmental concerns persist, the commitment to high standards and responsible practices reflects the nation’s dedication to leading the way in this frontier. As the debate unfolds on the global stage, Norway’s pioneering move may well shape the future of deep sea mining, paving the way for a new era of resource exploration and environmental responsibility.

It has been said that we know more about the moon than the deep sea, and one purpose of Dr. Jamieson’s expedition was to change that. His team deployed cutting-edge mapping technology in this species rich part of the ocean and found a hydrothermal vent ecosystem teeming with life.
 
Among the discoveries were fifteen species previously unknown to the region, including a monoplacophoran mollusk. Monoplacophorans are so rare they were thought to have been extinct for 380 million years, until the 1950s. Their primitive anatomy is considered important in understanding the evolutionary history of animals. The team also found a Pacific white ray nursery, that is only the second documented in the world.

New tech yields new insights

The expedition’s mapping technologies integrated two groundbreaking sonar technologies (named M3 and InSAS). Kraken Robotics, a Mount Pearl-based underwater technology company, initially developed the InSAS technology for defense and offshore commercial uses.
 
Generally speaking, at considerable depths, ship sonar technologies can only create maps with a resolution, at best, of 15-20 meters. Dr. Jamieson’s setup provided a resolution of 3 centimeters. As a result, the expedition has shed new light on our understanding of hydrothermal vent ecosystems. “It’s like returning to the moon after fifty years but with the latest technology of the 21st century,” he says.

Rare expedition for a Canadian marine scientist

It is rare for a Canadian-based scientist to lead an international expedition like this one, on account of Canada’s fleet capacity. This expedition happened aboard a scientific vessel of the Schmidt Ocean Institute, which “aims to catalyze the discoveries necessary to understand our ocean, sustain life, and ensure the health of our planet.”

Hydrothermal vents are prime locations for deep sea mining

Hydrothermal vents, like the one discovered by Dr. Jamieson, eject metal-rich fluids into the ocean. Because of the high concentrations of valuable metals in these deposits, including copper, zinc, gold, and silver, hydrothermal vents are being targeted as sites for deep-sea mining.

Source and Images: Schmidt Ocean Institute

ABB Ability™ Field Information Manager 3.0, the maestro orchestrating a symphony of industrial devices, offering increased connectivity and extended reach across the latest communication protocols. The result? Enhanced operational efficiency that stems from a digital solution designed to facilitate faster, more intuitive configuration, commissioning, diagnostics, and maintenance of devices.

FIM 3.0 takes center stage with its ability to provide performance and diagnostic data collection of device fleets. Leveraging OPC UA and PA-DIM, this upgraded version transports data seamlessly from field devices to cloud-based condition monitoring solutions. This digital leap not only facilitates smarter maintenance but also elevates engineering efficiency, setting the stage for predictive maintenance through new asset management capabilities.

Stefan Basenach, Head of Process Control Platform at ABB, emphasizes the significance of ABB Ability Field Information Manager in the Industry 4.0 era. He notes, “In the era of Industry 4.0, ABB Ability Field Information Manager empowers businesses to embrace digital transformation, ensuring flexibility, efficiency, and competitiveness across their fleet of devices. With its future-proof capabilities, it helps customers enhance operational efficiency while remaining relevant as industry standards evolve.”

FIM 3.0 is not just a tool; it is the bridge that unites Information Technology (IT) and Operational Technology (OT), facilitating data-driven decision-making. This bridge offers a diverse range of connectivity options for ASi-5, PROFINET, PROFIBUS, HART IP, and HART, seamlessly integrating into any existing system landscape and enhancing plant agility. With strengthened Ethernet-APL support, ABB ensures that FIM 3.0 remains not just relevant but indispensable well into the future.

ABB’s Ability™ Edgenius™ Operations Data Manager takes FIM 3.0 to new heights. By enabling the collection and management of data from OPC UA, Edgenius™ Operations Data Manager makes valuable information accessible for edge and cloud-based applications. This expansion of capabilities offers advanced fleet management, simplifying the monitoring and maintenance of field devices across multiple locations.

It is evident that ABB Ability™ Field Information Manager 3.0 is not just an upgrade; it’s a quantum leap into the future of industrial operations. It positions businesses to thrive in the digital transformation era by providing the flexibility, efficiency, and competitiveness required to navigate the evolving landscape of industrial standards.

This is not just about embracing change; it’s about leading it. ABB Ability™ Field Information Manager 3.0 is the maestro conducting the symphony of Industry 4.0, and as the notes of connectivity, efficiency, and future-proofing harmonize, industrial operations find themselves on the cusp of a new era, where innovation is not just an option but a necessity.

At the core of this partnership lies the proprietary technology, DandeLiion, a marvel conceived by the brilliant minds of researchers at the University of Portsmouth and the University of Southampton. This ultra-fast system is a game-changer, designed to simplify and enhance the accuracy of modeling advanced electrochemical battery systems. The collaboration between About:Energy and these academic powerhouses signifies a union of academia and industry, fostering a synergy that promises to redefine the future of energy.

What sets DandeLiion apart is its revolutionary approach to battery modeling, offering an unprecedented level of speed and precision. About:Energy plans to integrate this technology seamlessly into its own software platform, The Voltt, heralding a new era where the intricacies of battery development become more cost-effective and time-efficient. This, in turn, will not only accelerate the pace of innovation but also extend the operational life of batteries in the field.

About:Energy’s roots trace back to Imperial College London and the University of Birmingham, embodying the spirit of innovation that emanates from the heart of academic excellence. The company’s commitment to harnessing cutting-edge research and translating it into real-world applications cements its role as a bridge between academia and industry.

Neil Morris, Chairman and Co-Founder of About:Energy, speaks to the pivotal role the United Kingdom plays in driving research excellence. He emphasizes the need to transform this excellence into tangible industry impacts, turning research investments into catalysts for innovation and economic growth. The collaboration with leading academic institutions like Southampton and Portsmouth underscores this commitment, with a focus on propelling the UK to the forefront of global innovation.

The marriage of About:Energy’s platform, The Voltt, with DandeLiion technology is poised to redefine the landscape of battery modeling. By enhancing the mathematical precision of battery models, this partnership facilitates the broader application of advanced electrochemical models. These models, crucial in cell design and the quest to shorten charging times, offer profound insights into the intricate physical processes within a battery cell, optimizing both performance and efficiency.

Dr. Giles Richardson, Project Manager of DandeLiion, expresses his delight in partnering with About:Energy to bring this revolutionary technology to market. The breakthrough in battery modeling achieved through DandeLiion translates into faster, more accurate simulations with applications extending to cloud and embedded systems. The integration of DandeLiion into About:Energy’s platform is hailed as a catalyst for unprecedented progress in energy storage and management, with far-reaching implications for the automotive and renewable energy sectors.

The roots of DandeLiion delve deep into the realm of research, with Prof. Giles Richardson, Dr. Jamie Foster, Dr. Ivan Korotkin, and Dr. Smita Sahu at the helm. The research, supported by substantial funding from The Faraday Institution amounting to £2 million over five years, stands testament to the commitment to driving innovation in the energy sector.

In expanding its technology licensing portfolio, About:Energy now formally holds licenses from five prestigious universities, a testament to its dedication to identifying and commercializing cutting-edge research. The roster includes renowned institutions such as Cranfield University, Imperial College London, and the University of Birmingham.

As we witness this union between About:Energy and the University of Portsmouth and the University of Southampton, it becomes evident that we stand at the cusp of a transformative era in energy innovation. This collaboration is not merely a convergence of academia and industry; it is the forging of a path toward a sustainable future, one where groundbreaking technologies pave the way for a world powered by efficiency, precision, and a commitment to excellence.

About:Energy and its academic partners play a harmonious tune, creating a melody that resonates with the promise of a brighter, more sustainable tomorrow. The stage is set, the instruments are tuned, and the audience eagerly awaits the crescendo of innovation that will echo through the corridors of time.

EagleView, a leader in aerial insights and corresponding analytics, announces a new standard in the aerial insights market. EagleView will now provide imagery and enhanced property analytics for the top 50 United States metro areas one or more times per year, on top of their current, customer-driven, aerial capture. With more frequent image capture available across these top metros, EagleView will continue to be the leading choice for customers seeking the highest resolution, unrivaled quality, the largest historical library of aerial imagery, and property analytics based on the most comprehensive coverage offered–a combination of features unmatched in the aerial imagery and insights industry today. This enhancement to EagleView’s imagery portfolio and analytics is driven by customer demand across multiple industries.

“Our goal is to make it as easy as possible for customers to get the information they need–when they need it–to make the decisions that matter most,” shared Piers Dormeyer, CEO of EagleView. “We want to make sure our customers have the best and most current aerial imagery on the market, and we can deliver that to them.”

EagleView’s imagery, which includes ultra-high resolution up to 0.75” and derivative analytics solutions, continues to expand and improve due to its investment in advanced capture technologies. Specifically, this announcement benefits insurance carriers, governments, large-scale construction companies, as well as mortgage providers, and REITs, who–with imagery and property analytics of the top 50 markets by population available and updated one or more times per year–will now have the broadest range of imagery and derived property intelligence on the market. 

“We have listened to customer and partner feedback. This expansion in our capture strategy means that we now have the best combination of urban, suburban, and rural coverage on the market,” said David Bairstow, SVP & General Manager, Insurance for EagleView. 

“EagleView is excited to further build upon our more than one billion image database which provides coverage of property of 94% of the U.S. population, with new areas and more frequent captures. This advancement continues to deliver the high-resolution imagery, data, and analytics our customers need to drive greater success in their operations,” said Patrick Gill, SVP & General Manager, Imagery, Infrastructure & Emerging Markets.

About EagleView

EagleView is a leader in geospatial technology, providing solutions that transform the way our customers work. EagleView has the largest geospatial data and imagery library ever assembled, encompassing 94 percent of the U.S. population. EagleView’s unique technology portfolio comprises more than 300 patents, enabling it to offer highly differentiated software, imagery, and analytics products for multiple industries.

ABB has signed a partnership with Canadian-based Computer Modelling Group (CMG) – a global simulation technology company that has been involved in carbon capture for over 20 years – to incorporate subsurface modeling into their existing digital twin technology for commercial carbon capture and storage (CCS) operations.

Being able to simulate scenarios at every stage of the captured carbon dioxide’s journey from surface to underground – whether to subsea or land aquifers – reduces risks and saves costs by allowing operators to test options in a virtual setting.

With this collaboration, ABB will use its Ability™ OPTIMAX® energy management system to integrate above ground digital twin technology with CMG’s subsurface modeling, providing a full end-to-end solution.

“Capturing and storing carbon dioxide underground is a highly technical and challenging process. Being able to deliver proof of concept across the entire CCS process is crucial to accelerate adoption,” said Brandon Spencer, President of ABB Energy Industries. “Without subsurface modeling, the industry simply cannot calculate the cost or manage the risks, which is crucial if we are to scale the CCS market to the extent required to support decarbonization of industry and emissions reductions in line with the Paris Accord.”

Subsurface modeling enables businesses to assess risks against various operating scenarios. These risks include losses or leakage often caused by unexpected physical and chemical reactions underground between the carbon dioxide, water, rocks, and cement, or technical faults such as wellbore failure caused by salt precipitation.

“This partnership brings together two powerful technologies to develop a product to support the intelligent, real-time operational decision-making required to make carbon storage a success at scale,” said Pramod Jain, CEO of CMG. “Advanced subsurface modeling is necessary to assess and monitor risks of CO2 injection against various operating scenarios and is critical to the safety, feasibility, and scaling of carbon capture and storage projects. We are pleased to partner with ABB, a global leader in innovation, to provide our industry-leading, subsurface simulation capabilities to their enhanced digital twin technology.”

In its updated Net Zero Roadmap, the International Energy Agency highlights CCS as a key contributor to reaching net zero emissions targets but stresses that rapid progress is needed. Although the project pipeline offers a positive outlook, with CCS projects tripling in 2021 and nearly doubling again since CCS still represents a small percentage of all decarbonization technologies deployed. For countries to achieve their net-zero commitments, uptake by industry needs to grow 120-fold by 2050 but if successful, CCS alone could be responsible for reducing global industrial carbon emissions by 45 percent, according to McKinsey & Company.

ABB’s Process Automation business automates, electrifies, and digitalizes industrial operations that address a wide range of essential needs – from supplying energy, water, and materials, to producing goods and transporting them to market. With its ~20,000 employees, and leading technology and service expertise, ABB Process Automation helps customers in process, hybrid, and maritime industries improve the performance and safety of operations, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. go.abb/processautomation

ABB is a technology leader in electrification and automation, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. The company’s solutions connect engineering know-how and software to optimize how things are manufactured, moved, powered, and operated. Building on more than 140 years of excellence, ABB’s ~105,000 employees are committed to driving innovations that accelerate industrial transformation. www.abb.com

CMG is a global software and consulting company that combines science and technology with deep industry expertise to solve complex subsurface and surface challenges for the new energy industry around the world. CMG is headquartered in Calgary, with offices in Houston, Oxford, Dubai, Bogota, Rio de Janeiro, Bengaluru, and Kuala Lumpur. www.cmgl.ca

The energy sector must overcome a lack of trust in artificial intelligence (AI) before the technology can be effectively used to accelerate the energy transition, a DNV report has found.  Based on interviews with senior representatives from energy companies across the United Kingdom, DNV’s research determined that while AI is already being used across the sector, companies are largely cautious of its new and unestablished uses. Interviewees include industry personnel from the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation, EnQuest, National Gas, National Grid Electricity System Operator (ESO) and the Net Zero Technology Hub, among other organizations.

‘AI insights: Rising to the challenge across the UK energy system’ outlines how AI can contribute to the energy transition and that an industry-wide approach to standards and best practices is required to unlock its potential.  While AI can be key to advancement and innovation in energy supply chains, the research found that putting in place the foundations for trust in the providers of AI solutions and the outputs of those solutions must be prioritized in light of recent geopolitical events highlighting the need for countries to have energy sustainability, security and affordability – in effect, a parallel trilemma for AI as it is increasingly democratized and utilized.  It was also found that data policies and industry culture present significant barriers to its widespread adoption.  

At the industry level, data sharing has been identified as the area that requires the greatest improvement. In terms of culture, it was found that the engineering community has a high level of risk aversion and low tolerance to error.

Hari Vamadevan, Executive Vice President and Regional Director of UK and Ireland, Energy Systems at DNV said: “To truly harness the benefits of AI in the energy sector, it’s critical this technology is trusted. There are two main challenges in achieving this: information to evaluate the trustworthiness of an AI system, and communication, to relay evidence which allows users to trust the systems.”

DNV has many years of experience in AI and the latest in its suite of ‘digital twins’ recommended practices now covers AI-enabled systems, providing a framework to assure those systems are trustworthy and managed responsibly throughout their entire lifecycle.

Shaun Reardon, Head of Section, Industrial Systems, Cyber Security at DNV said: “Accurate, accessible, reliable, and relevant – digital technologies and AI tools must be all these things if we are to trust them. But they must also be secure. Digital technologies – set to be enhanced by AI – are being connected to control systems and other operational technology in the energy industry, where safety is critical. The industry needs to manage the cyber security risk and build trust in the security of these vital technologies.”

The emergence of artificial intelligence also poses cyber security risks in the sector, with heightened geopolitical tensions and the accelerating adoption of digitally connected infrastructure sparking concern over the industry’s vulnerabilities to cyber threats.

About DNV

DNV is an independent expert in risk management and assurance, operating in more than 100 countries. Through its broad experience and deep expertise DNV advances safety and sustainable performance, sets industry benchmarks, and inspires and invents solutions.

Whether assessing a new ship design, optimizing the performance of a wind farm, analyzing sensor data from a gas pipeline or certifying a food company’s supply chain, DNV enables its customers and their stakeholders to make critical decisions with confidence. 

Driven by its purpose, to safeguard life, property, and the environment, DNV helps tackle the challenges and global transformations facing its customers and the world today and is a trusted voice for many of the world’s most successful and forward-thinking companies.

In the energy industry  

DNV provides assurance to the entire energy value chain through its advisory, monitoring, verification, and certification services. As the world’s leading resource of independent energy experts and technical advisors, the assurance provider helps industries and governments to navigate the many complex, interrelated transitions taking place globally and regionally, in the energy industry. DNV is committed to realizing the goals of the Paris Agreement and supports customers to transition faster to a deeply decarbonized energy system.

Learn more at www.dnv.com

Arbor Metals Corp. announces the creation of a dedicated department focused on fostering strategic alliances with the rapidly expanding electric vehicle (EV) industry in Canada. This initiative comes in response to the growing significance of the EV sector, highlighted by recent high-profile investments such as the joint commitment by the federal government of Canada and the Quebec government to fund Ford Motor Company’s new EV plant in Bécancour, Quebec. As reported by CBC News on August 17th, 2023*, the government investment underscores Canada’s commitment to advancing the electric mobility revolution.

The collaboration between the federal and provincial governments, with a combined investment of $644 million, exemplifies the commitment to fortify Canada’s role in the EV industry. The new Ford plant in Bécancour, Quebec, is set to produce critical battery materials for electric vehicles, reaffirming Canada’s emergence as a global leader in sustainable transportation.

“We’re witnessing a transformative moment in the Canadian automotive landscape, with a strong focus on EV production and the development of a robust supply chain,” said Mark Ferguson, President and CEO of Arbor. “Establishing our Strategic Alliance Department underscores Arbors’ dedication to being at the forefront of this burgeoning industry.”

Arbor recognizes the pivotal role that strategic alliances play in advancing the EV industry’s growth and sustainability. The Company’s newly formed department will work to forge partnerships, collaborations, and joint ventures with key stakeholders across the EV value chain, including automakers, battery manufacturers, and technology innovators.

“We are excited to embark on this journey of collaboration and innovation, leveraging our expertise in mineral resources to contribute to the broader EV ecosystem,” added Ferguson. “As we align our efforts with the evolving needs of the EV industry, we remain committed to sustainable practices and responsible development.”

Arbor will actively seek opportunities to contribute its knowledge, resources, and capabilities to enhance Canada’s position as a global hub for electric mobility. The Company’s dedication to sustainable exploration and responsible resource development aligns with the shared goals of environmental stewardship and technological advancement within the EV industry.

About Arbor Metals Corp.

Arbor Metals Corp. is a mining exploration company focused on developing high-value, geographically significant mineral projects worldwide. Arbor is paving the way for advanced mineral exploration as it oversees world-class mining projects. The Company is confident that combining quality projects with proven strategies and a dedicated team will yield exceptional outcomes.

The Jarnet lithium project, located in the James Bay region of Quebec, comprises 47 map-designated claims, covering an area of approximately 3,759 hectares. The Jarnet project is contiguous to the Corvette-FCI property, where diamond drilling has confirmed significant lithium mineralization representing one of the highest-profile lithium exploration projects in the sector.

For further information, contact Mark Ferguson, Chief Executive Officer, at info@arbormetals.com, or 403.852.4869, or visit the Company’s website at www.arbormetalscorp.com.

SNC-Lavalin, a fully integrated professional services and project management company with offices around the world, has been awarded an initial works contract by EcoProBM, a global leader specializing in cathode materials, to design and build one of Canada’s largest Cathode Active Material plants in Bécancour, Québec. The initial works contract is worth approximately $141 million and represents SNC-Lavalin’s first major mandate in the electric vehicle battery market in Canada.

“With a unique endowment of critical minerals, an established manufacturing and industrial base, and a largely decarbonized and expanding power grid, Canada has an opportunity to establish an end-to-end supply chain that can support growing domestic and international EV demand,” commented Ian L. Edwards, President and Chief Executive Officer, SNC-Lavalin. “SNC-Lavalin is strongly positioned to support governments and manufacturers and deliver on the diverse pipeline of opportunities arising from the EV revolution, both in Canada and around the world, with our unique end-to-end capabilities that span across industries like mining, industrial & manufacturing, and clean power, all of which support the battery and EV markets.”

SNC-Lavalin’s Engineering Services groups will provide EcoProBM with initial concept design, basic design, and project management and delivery related to the establishment of the plant.

Cathode Active Material & EcoProBM’s Plant

For electric vehicles, CAM is a key battery component. It represents about 40 percent of the cost of a battery cell.

“EcoProBM’s team has been working with SNC-Lavalin for over 15 months on previous contracts in a fully collaborative approach. SNC-Lavalin’s project team has demonstrated their know-how, vision and ability to respond & adjust to the requirements of fast-moving project objectives. Our teams collaborated on developing all technical and planning needs for a fast-track design-build full-delivery project. We made an excellent choice in selecting SNC-Lavalin as a preferred partner for our first CAM project in North America, fully entrusting them to deliver the project to our full expectations,” said Mr. Sang-Young OH, Managing Director of Global Strategy & Planning at EcoProBM.

EcoProBM, the global top high nickel cathode active material maker, has formed a joint venture with Ford Motor Co. and the world’s leading cell maker SK On Co., to establish the $1.3 billion dollar CAM plant in the Bécancour Industrial Park, located between Quebec City and Montreal. Canada represents EcoProBM’s second overseas factory. Production of the three lines is expected to begin in April 2026. This plant will have a production capacity of 45,000 tonnes per year.

“EcoProBM has selected us to carry out this initial work because of our demonstrated expertise across numerous disciplines, unique end-to-end service offering, and solid supply chain, all of which we’ve demonstrated via early engagement in this ambitious project,” said Bob Alger, President, Major Projects, SNC-Lavalin. “Via a collaborative contracting agreement, we look forward to helping EcoProBM realize its vision for the future of Canadian automotive manufacturing, and demonstrating that SNC-Lavalin is the partner of choice in establishing battery manufacturing plants and other EV-related facilities.”

About SNC-Lavalin

Founded in 1911, SNC-Lavalin is a fully integrated professional service and project management company with offices around the world dedicated to engineering a better future for our planet and its people. They create sustainable solutions that connect people, technology and data to design, deliver and operate the most complex projects. They deploy global capabilities locally to our clients and deliver unique end-to-end services across the whole life cycle of an asset including consulting, advisory & environmental services, intelligent networks & cybersecurity, design & engineering, procurement, project & construction management, operations & maintenance, decommissioning and capital – and delivered to clients in key strategic sectors such as Engineering Services, Nuclear, Operations & Maintenance and Capital.

News and information are available at snclavalin.com or follow them on LinkedIn and Twitter.

Arbor Metals Corp. commends the Canadian government’s resolve to cement Canada’s status as a global frontrunner in the electric vehicle (EV) supply chain. Arbor acknowledges the recent strides made by the government to back the evolution of the EV industry in Canada, as covered by Reuters on July 5th, aligning the country on the path of enduring growth and accomplishment.

The article highlights the decision by Stellantis-LG Energy Solution (LGES) to resume construction of an electric-vehicle battery plant in Windsor, Ontario, following increased subsidies provided by the federal government and the province of Ontario. This significant development is expected to generate approximately 2,500 new job opportunities and form an annual production volume surpassing 45-gigawatt hours by 2024.

Arbor extends its appreciation to the Canadian government for accommodating the needs of Stellantis-LG Energy Solution by providing significant aid that competes favorably with what’s obtainable under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in the United States. Canada exemplifies its dedication to nurturing a prosperous EV industry and creating a conducive landscape for corporations investing in green technology.

Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland expressed their confidence in the agreement, stating, “This agreement is good for workers, and it is good for Canada. It will create and secure thousands of jobs – both in the auto sector and in related industries across Canada – and will further solidify Canada’s place as a leader in the global electric vehicle supply chain.”

The Canadian government’s commitment to becoming a world leader in the EV sector dovetails perfectly with Arbor’s strategic targets. The Corporation is confident that its Jarnet Lithium project in Quebec holds the potential to be a key lithium supplier to Canada’s surging EV industry. Given the construction of multiple large-scale battery plants in the country, it is apparent that lithium demand will see significant growth. Accordingly, Arbor’s board is intensively examining additional promising lithium projects to complement the potential of the Jarnet project and buttress the Canadian EV industry.

“We are excited about the prospects of our Jarnet Lithium project in Quebec and its ability to support the growing demand for lithium in Canada’s flourishing EV industry,” commented Mark Ferguson, CEO of Arbor. “The Canadian government’s commitment to developing the EV supply chain aligns perfectly with our strategic objectives.”

Arbor is dedicated to responsible resource development and is well-positioned to play a crucial role in supplying the necessary lithium to support the electrification of transportation and the transition to a sustainable future. The company’s focus on sustainable growth, innovation, and strategic partnerships will continue to drive its efforts in meeting the increasing demand for lithium in Canada’s EV industry.

Dr. Peter Born, P.Geo., is the designated qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and is responsible for, and has approved, the technical information contained in this release.

Source & Images:
arbormetalscorp.com

Tel Aviv-based maritime technology company has inked a key partnership agreement with Japan’s Marubeni Corporation for sales of its AI-powered situational awareness platform.

Orca AI, the leading situational awareness solution provider for the commercial shipping industry, announced that it has entered into a worldwide distribution deal with Marubeni, one of Japan’s biggest import and export companies and a comprehensive provider of ship services.

The Japanese conglomerate will also install the Orca AI platform on its vessels, providing use-case insights that the Israeli company can leverage to further enhance the technology.  

Commenting on the deal with Orca AI, Yasutomo Miyake, General Manager, Ship Project Dept. of Marubeni, said: “In line with our commitment to ‘creating value through innovative solutions for our customers and for the world’, we trust that the partnership with Orca AI contributes to the achievement of the SDGs for the entire shipping industry. We appreciate the enthusiasm of the Orca AI team and look forward to productive cooperation on this next-generation platform that promises to significantly enhance navigational decision-making.”

Yarden Gross, Chief Executive Officer and co-founder of Orca AI said: “We are thrilled to be collaborating with Marubeni as an innovation-driven conglomerate whose operations span the entire shipping value chain. Our system benefits stakeholders such as Marubeni by automating watchkeeping, helping to reduce seafarers’ workload while lowering the risk of collisions at sea. 

As well as supporting existing operations, AI and computer vision technologies are also expected to become an enabler of autonomous fleet operations in the coming years.”

Orca AI’s SeaPod™ lookout unit acts as a fully automatic digital watchkeeper, powered by high-sensitivity computer vision and deep-learning algorithms that detect, track, and classify nearby targets that could potentially pose a risk to the vessel. It helps to enhance situational awareness for bridge crews during challenging navigational scenarios such as congested waterways and low-visibility conditions.

Orca AI’s technology, which is operational 24/7, prioritizes risks at sea and presents them via a user-friendly interface onboard. The platform provides real-time monitoring capabilities to the fleet operations teams and actionable insights to improve safety, operations efficiency and performance.

To date, Orca AI has accumulated more than 20 million nautical miles worth of marine visual data from its customers, including NYK, Mediterranean Shipping Co (MSC), and Maran Group.

Gross adds that Orca AI’s automated watchkeeping capabilities can be particularly helpful for Japanese ship owners and operators in view of the ongoing shortage of skilled seafarers amid a fast-aging population and the reluctance of younger generations to pursue demanding careers at sea.

This is not the first time that Orca AI has worked together with an industry-leading Japanese partner. In 2022, Orca AI and NYK Group completed a successful autonomous voyage trial in congested waters off Japan’s east coast through the Designing the Future of Full Autonomous Ships (DFFAS) consortium, which includes 30 Japanese firms.

About Orca AI:

Founded in 2018, Orca AI is the creator of the world’s first-of-its-kind automated situational awareness platform to maximize voyage safety and operational efficiency for ships and fleets.

Powered by maritime purpose-built AI and computer vision technologies, the Orca AI platform empowers crew to make data-driven decisions in congested waters and in low visibility conditions. Additionally, it allows fleet managers and operators to have a better understanding of their fleets’ performance and identify unsafe or risky and inefficient behaviors easily.

In 2022, Orca AI empowered the world’s first commercial autonomous voyage in partnership with Designing the Future of Full Autonomous Ships (DFFAS) and The Nippon Foundation. 

Orca AI’s solution is already utilized by leading shipping companies worldwide, including SeaSpan, NYK, and MSC.

For more information visit https://www.orca-ai.io/

About Marubeni Corporation

Marubeni Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries use their broad business networks, both within Japan and overseas, to conduct importing and exporting (including third-country trading), as well as domestic business, encompassing a diverse range of business activities across wide-ranging fields including lifestyle, IT solutions, food, agri-business, forest products, chemicals, metals & mineral resources, energy, power, infrastructure project, aerospace & ship, finance, leasing & real estate business, construction, industrial machinery & mobility, next generation business development and next generation corporate development. Additionally, the Marubeni Group offers a variety of services, makes internal and external investments, and is involved in resource development throughout all of the above industries.

For more information visit https://www.marubeni.com/en/

The government proposes to open parts of the Norwegian continental shelf for commercial seabed mineral activities. In addition, the government presents a strategy demonstrating how Norway aims to be a global leader in the fact- and knowledge-based management of seabed mineral resources. Environmental considerations will be safeguarded throughout the value chain, and extraction will only be permitted if the industry can demonstrate sustainability and responsible practices.

“We need minerals to succeed in the green transition. Currently, the resources are controlled by a few countries, which makes us vulnerable. Seabed minerals can become a source of access to essential metals, and no other country is better positioned to take the lead in managing such resources sustainably and responsibly. Success will be crucial for the world’s long-term energy transition”, says Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Terje Aasland.

Norway has significant anticipated mineral resources on the seabed. If proven to be profitable and extraction can be done sustainably, seabed mineral activities can contribute to value creation and employment in Norway while ensuring the supply of crucial metals for the global energy transition. The extraction of minerals could become a new and important industry for Norway.

“To acquire more knowledge, we need to gather expertise and open for commercial mapping, exploration and extraction of seabed minerals. Therefore, we are proposing to open an area on the Norwegian continental shelf for mineral activities”, says Aasland.

Seabed mineral extraction holds significant future potential for value creation, and the government aims to facilitate value creation and future job opportunities in the ocean industries. Norway has extensive experience in business operations and sustainable management of ocean areas, along with strong research and technology communities associated with the ocean and its resources. This provides a solid foundation for developing profitable seabed mineral activities.

Existing knowledge indicates that mapping, exploration, and closure have a minimal environmental impact. Any extraction will only be approved if the rights holder’s recovery plan demonstrates that the extraction can occur in a sustainable and responsible manner.

“Seabed mineral activities are a new industry, both globally and in Norway. Currently, we have limited knowledge about the deep-sea areas where the resources are located. I firmly believe that if the industry identifies resources that they consider economically viable to extract, it will be possible to extract these resources sustainably and responsibly. We will proceed step by step, continue building experience, and base our regulatory framework on facts and knowledge. Environmental considerations will weigh heavily throughout the value chain”, says Aasland.

Increased levels of geopolitical conflict have unfortunately made the energy transition more fragmented, driving energy costs higher in many regions of the world. Additionally, positive developments in renewable energy, in many cases, are offset by the negative consequences of energy shortages, cascading into global economies.

With Russian gas supplies to Europe, now close to zero, there is an extreme gas shortage in the region. Germany, Austria, and Italy, which were historically dependent on Russian gas, are dramatically impacted and are forced to find other avenues to acquire reliable, geopolitically stable, clean, energy supplies.

Russia’s attack on Ukraine has raised the risk of violent conflict not only in Ukraine but around the world. Compounding sources of energy insecurity, which are already under pressure because of climate change, exacerbate food insecurity, large-scale human displacement, and the sort of inflationary price spikes that can create social unrest.

Canada: The Key To Global Energy Demand

Countries like Canada will be an imperative solution to political volatility and world energy shortages. Canada is a superpower in the natural resources arena. Canada is well positioned to ship energy resources from the western seaboard of Vancouver to Asia, and from the Eastern seaboard of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia to Europe.

Canada: One Of The World’s Cleanest Energy Grids

Unknown to most of the general public, but commonly known in the energy industry, Canada has one of the world’s cleanest energy grids. 83 percent of Canada’s energy comes from clean sources.
61% – Hydro
15% – Nuclear
5% – Wind
2% – Biomass & Solar

Canada: A Long History With Hydrogen

Uncommonly known by the general public is that Hydrogen has long been produced in Canada for decades. Most hydrogen in Canada is produced by the chemical industry from fossil fuels (53%) and the oil and gas sector (47%). Geographically, most hydrogen is produced in Western Canada (76%), followed by Central Canada (17%) and Atlantic Canada (7%).

Canada already has several green hydrogen projects installed or under construction in Quebec and British Columbia. The country is ready to transition to Hydrogen from wind as the next major play.

Newfoundland: Poised To Be A World Leader In Hydrogen

Because of Europe’s dire need for renewable energy, Newfoundland is well-positioned to be a primary supplier of wind hydrogen energy. Newfoundland is one of the top 5 windiest places on earth, coupled with its proximity to Europe, which will pave the way for renewable Wind/Hydrogen/Ammonia developments that will develop at an exponential rate.

With exciting wind energy mega-projects in the pipeline for development the future of the province is very exciting. For example, Newfoundland just signed off on Canada’s highest renewable investment to date. Pattern Energy has invested $ 4 billion US at the Port of Argentia in Newfoundland, to develop a green hydrogen project. The project will use renewable electricity to produce green hydrogen and convert it into carbon-free ammonia, which can be safely stored and shipped to end-user customers around the world, particularly in Europe.

Necessity: The Mother of Canada’s Intervention

High fossil fuel prices, energy security concerns, and the urgency of climate change underscore the pressing need to move faster to a clean energy world. Canada is ready for the opportunities to transition responsibly into green hydrogen and avail of the economic benefits that come with that adaptation.

As the world starts to wake up to the reality that we must focus on decarbonization and emissions reduction, rather than demonizing energy sources, the countries with the greatest natural resources will save the day. Canada will save the day!

Canada – 4th In The World For The Most Valuable Natural Resources

Canada’s natural resources are unprecedented. Canada ranks number four in the world for most valuable natural resources. Russia is number one in the world for natural resources. Given Russia’s geopolitical instability, the short-term picture for global energy supply is virtually reduced to zero. Next to Russia, natural resource value ranks the USA as the number two and Saudi Arabia as the number three. Then comes Canada.

Evaluating who to do business with globally depends on an array of factors. Energy buyers and consumers around the globe will evaluate carefully where they can gain energy sources based on factors such as:
1. Highest environmental standards
2. Geopolitical stability
3. Energy price
4. Proximity to market
5. Economic factors
6. Sustainable clean energy factors
7. Cultural factors
8. Indigenous people and partnerships
9. Inclusion & diversity
10. Championing human rights
11. Responsible energy development
12. Renewable energy transition
and more…

Canada ticks all the boxes. It is one of the most politically stable countries in the world. It has the 3rd largest crude oil reserves in the world. Crude oil is the world’s main source of fuel and the largest overall source of primary energy. Canada’s hydrogen potential could easily become a world leader and contributor as Canada can produce hydrogen from a diversified mix of sources, including renewable energy. Newfoundland looks like the next big hot spot for wind/hydrogen energy. Overall Canada is a world leader and superpower when it comes to natural resources.

Canada is the key to the energy crisis and the fragmented climate change efforts as a result of the Ukraine war. Canada has nothing but exciting times ahead.

Get revitalized, globalize, and energized. Invest in Canada. It will pay off!

Sources & Images
Natural Resources Canada
WorldExcellence.com
IEA.org
OAS.org

DNV and Siemens Energy are about to take additive manufacturing – also known as 3D printing – into the next stage of maturity. Siemens Energy’s experts in Finspång, Sweden, have developed the first generation of the AM Cockpit platform providing automated, reliable quality control of the 3D metal printing process. In turn, DNV has developed the Independent Quality Monitor platform – a customer portal that continuously quality-assures digital solutions.

By combining these two solutions, DNV can launch a commercial solution for the AM manufacturing industry – ensuring that 3D-printed parts can easily be compared to a so-called approved master print. The combination also makes automated and remote process certification possible.

Successful combination of two platforms

The AM Cockpit collects sensor data streams and powder bed images from the manufacturing process in powder bed fusion 3D printers. The AM Cockpit then generates a digital summary of each printed part, highlighting problematic areas of the print.

In parallel, the IQM has been developed as part of the EU-project InterQ (https://interq-project.eu/), aiming at zero-defect manufacturing. The solution monitors data quality continuously through newly developed algorithms and compliance logic.

“Succeeding in AM industrialization relies on a successful digital transition. The combination of the AM Cockpit and the IQM is a significant step forward for additive manufacturing,” says Klas Bendrik, Chief digital and development officer at DNV.

By industrializing the combined solution, DNV aims to become the global energy sector’s preferred choice for digital risk management.

Senior engineer and AM specialist Stian Gurrik have been central in working with DNV’s recommended practices on additive manufacturing. He sees several benefits of the collaboration between DNV and Siemens Energy.

“The benefits of 3D printing, when used properly, can include reduced material waste, quicker production, cost savings and the ability to produce complex and customized parts,” Gurrik says.

Enabling industry decarbonization

Siemens Energy is leading the way in the energy transition – covering the entire spectrum of energy solutions and supporting its customers’ ambitious decarbonization targets.

As a pioneer in AM, Siemens Energy has been a global front-runner in designing and 3D-printing key gas turbine components that enable power plant owners to increase their plant’s efficiency and significantly reduce carbon emissions today.

“Thanks to its design freedom, AM is the core technology that allows Siemens Energy to develop and modify gas turbines to run on green fuels, such as hydrogen”, says Hans Holmström, CEO of Siemens Energy in Sweden.

“With decades of experience in industrializing additive manufacturing, Siemens Energy is an excellent partner for DNV in advancing quality assurance of additively manufactured parts”, says Manish Kumar, Head of business development, strategy and sales of Siemens Energy Additive Manufacturing Business.

The quality of a printing process can be visualized with the digitalized quality assurance method of the AM Cockpit and the IQM. As a result, the end user can be confident that the process meets the necessary quality standards.

About DNV

DNV is an independent expert in risk management and assurance, operating in more than 100 countries. Through its broad experience and deep expertise DNV advances safety and sustainable performance, sets industry benchmarks, and inspires and invents solutions.

Whether assessing a new ship design, optimizing the performance of a wind farm, analyzing sensor data from a gas pipeline , or certifying a food company’s supply chain, DNV enables its customers and their stakeholders to make critical decisions with confidence.    

Driven by its purpose, to safeguard life, property, and the environment, DNV helps tackle the challenges and global transformations facing its customers and the world today and is a trusted voice for many of the world’s most successful and forward-thinking companies.  

In the energy industry 

DNV provides assurance to the entire energy value chain through its advisory, monitoring, verification, and certification services. As the world’s leading resource of independent energy experts and technical advisors, the assurance provider helps industries and governments to navigate the many complex, interrelated transitions taking place globally and regionally, in the energy industry. DNV is committed to realizing the goals of the Paris Agreement and supports customers to transition faster to a deeply decarbonized energy system.

Learn more at www.dnv.com

About Siemens Energy

Siemens Energy is one of the world’s leading energy technology companies. The company works with its customers and partners on energy systems for the future, thus supporting the transition to a more sustainable world. With its portfolio of products, solutions and services, Siemens Energy covers almost the entire energy value chain – from power generation and transmission to storage. The portfolio includes conventional and renewable energy technology, such as gas and steam turbines, hybrid power plants operated with hydrogen, and power generators and transformers. A majority stake in the wind power subsidiary Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) makes Siemens Energy a global market leader for renewable energies. An estimated one-sixth of the electricity generated worldwide is based on technologies from Siemens Energy. Siemens Energy employs around 92,000 people worldwide in more than 90 countries and generated revenue of €29 billion in fiscal year 2022.

TGT Diagnostics announced it has signed an agreement to build a new technology hub in Abu Dhabi. The category leader in diagnostics for the hydrocarbon energy sector said it will make a significant investment in a new state-of-the-art facility under an agreement with Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi KEZAD Group.

The new UAE facility is a major investment for TGT as it moves to strengthen its ties with customers and partners in the Gulf region and beyond. With the aim of being fully functional by year-end, the new technology hub will be home to TGT’s scientific and engineering resources, research and development, information technology, software and AI development, manufacturing, maintenance, quality assurance, and headquarter functions.

Saad Bargach, TGT’s Chief Executive Officer commented, “At TGT, we provide essential diagnostics that help our customers keep wells safe, clean, and productive. Our new technology hub will, for the first time, bring together our R&D, engineering, manufacturing, and corporate functions under one roof. This will enable several synergies and provide the perfect platform for future growth. With growth plans in mind, we will recruit and develop the best talent at all levels of the organization and continue to develop the category-leading diagnostic systems we are famous for.”

As well as expanding TGT’s network in the region, the new high-tech manufacturing center within the hub will enable the company to meet the ever-growing demand for its unique diagnostic systems and products across the Americas, Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. The company is on target to launch its first full production series of UAE-made diagnostic systems by 2024.

About TGT Diagnostics

TGT Diagnostics creates powerful diagnostics that are essential to the delivery of hydrocarbons and energy. Oil and gas producers globally rely on TGT’s technology and products to help them decarbonize their operations and keep wells safe, clean, and productive. The company is headquartered in the UAE and has offices and operations in multiple locations including Africa, North & South America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

Arbor Metals Corp. is pleased to announce it has received the high-resolution satellite imagery interpretation report for its Jarnet Property, which comprises four separate blocks located in the James Bay region of Quebec. The Jarnet lithium project includes 70 designated map claims, spanning over an estimated 3,759 hectares.

The detailed analysis was conducted by DIRT Exploration, based in Cape Town, South Africa. The study incorporated Long-Wave Infrared (LWIR), Visible Near Infrared (VNIR), Infrared (SWIR), and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery. The report’s findings will be utilized alongside historical assessments and regional data from the Jarnet claim blocks to streamline Arbor Metals’ upcoming summer exploration initiatives.

The Jarnet South block is situated less than two kilometers northwest of the CV-5 pegmatite target owned by Patriot Battery Metals Inc. (“PMET”), where a comprehensive diamond drill program has led to numerous significant discoveries. In their recent press release (PMET, March 29, 2023), PMET unveiled a high-grade extension (Nova Zone) of the CV 5 target, with an average of 3.13% Li2O (lithium oxide) over 87.7 meters, including a 19.8-meter stretch averaging 5.28% Li2O.

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Arbor Metals Corp. is a mining exploration firm dedicated to the evolution of high-value, geographically significant mineral projects worldwide. It stands at the forefront of advanced mineral exploration, managing global mining projects of exceptional caliber. Arbor’s philosophy is centered around blending quality projects with sound strategies and a professional team to yield superior outcomes. The company currently oversees three standout mineral projects.

Located in the James Bay region of Quebec, the Jarnet lithium project comprises 47 map-designated claims, spanning an area of around 3,759 hectares. The project adjoins the Corvette-FCI property, where diamond drilling has confirmed substantial lithium mineralization, making it one of the most high-profile lithium exploration endeavors in the industry.

www.arbormetalscorp.com

Kiplin Metals Inc. is delighted to announce the upcoming launch of its summer geophysical program at the Cluff Lake Road (CLR) uranium project situated in northwestern Saskatchewan, scheduled for June 2023. The Company’s geological team is set to receive the necessary permit by the end of May and aims to mobilize on-site by June.

The CLR property lies in a region with strong prospects for uranium deposits. Kiplin’s summer program will include at least 8 line kilometers of Induced Polarization (IP) resistivity geophysical surveying, running approximately in an east-west orientation. The program’s objective is to generate fresh targets for subsequent drilling and to better delineate the uranium mineralization at the CLR project.

“We are excited to start our exploration program on the CLR uranium project,” said Peter Born, Director of Kiplin. “The region has shown great potential for uranium deposits, and we believe that our summer program will identify new targets for follow-up drilling, adding value for our shareholders.”

The Company’s CLR property is surrounded by F3 Uranium Corp.’s prominent Paterson Lake North (PLN) project, which recently revealed the discovery of the JR high-grade uranium zone in November 2022. F3 announced intersections in drill hole PLN22-038, comprising 11.0 meters averaging 4.20 percent triuranium octoxide, including a 4.5-meter interval averaging 9.8 percent U3O8. This indicates the presence of the latest basement-hosted uranium deposit in Athabasca, akin to Fission Uranium Corp.’s Triple R uranium deposit.

Kiplin will conduct its exploration activities adhering to the highest environmental management standards and maintain close cooperation with local stakeholders, including indigenous communities. The Company will initiate dialogue and consultations with indigenous partners and stakeholders, continuing throughout the permitting, exploration, and closure stages.

The Company will provide updates on the scheduling of its permitting and work program as and when they are available. The Company advises that discoveries and observations on nearby properties do not necessarily imply the existence of similar mineralization or geological features on the Company’s properties.

The Company will release updates regarding its permitting and work program schedules as information becomes available. Kiplin emphasizes that findings and observations on neighboring properties do not necessarily indicate the presence of comparable mineralization or geological characteristics on the Company’s properties.

Dr. Peter Born, PGeo, is the designated qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and is responsible for and has approved the technical information contained in this release.

About Kiplin Metals Inc.

Kiplin Metals Inc. is a mineral exploration company that aims to generate value for its shareholders by identifying and pursuing highly prospective mineral exploration opportunities. Their strategy involves advancing projects from discovery to production through a vertically integrated approach, ensuring exceptional shareholder value is delivered across the entire mining process life cycle.

Cluff Lake Road Uranium Project. Kiplin Metals has the right to earn a one-hundred percent interest in the Cluff Lake Road Uranium Project (the “CLR Project”). The CLR Project covers ~531 ha in the southwestern Athabasca Basin in northern Saskatchewan, where several new discoveries have been made, including the Arrow and Triple R Uranium deposits. The CLR Project is 5 km east of the Cluff Lake Road (Hwy 955), which leads to the historic Cluff Lake Mine, which historically produced approximately 62,000,000 lbs of yellowcake uranium.

Geomega Resources Inc., a developer of clean technologies for the mining, refining, and recycling of rare earth and other critical materials, is pleased to announce that following a thorough review of its current and future projects and operations and an exhaustive research of the industrial real estate market in the Greater Montreal area, the Corporation has decided to combine all its operations into a single larger location in the town of St Hubert, Quebec. In addition, Geomega’s private R&D subsidiary Innord Inc. has been awarded a $493K grant from the Program to Support Research and Development for the Extraction, Transformation and Recycling of Critical and Strategic Metals, administered by Consortium de Recherche et d’innovation en transformation métallique, towards the development of a process for the recycling of hydrochloric acid from several metal chlorides which can be used for rare earth elements and scandium recovery from multiple sources.
Furthermore, we are pleased to provide a technical update on the magnet recycling demonstration plant.

St Hubert centralized location for demonstration plant and R&D

The addition of new R&D projects over the last 24 months, including this HCl recycling process and more projects in the pipeline to expand our technologies to other major applications, has resulted in an increased space requirement for Geomega. On the other hand, the current facilities in Boucherville no longer made it possible to meet these growing needs neither for laboratory space nor for offices necessary to support hiring. With the construction of the magnet recycling demonstration plant starting later this year, the Corporation used the opportunity to relocate all the activities under one roof instead of expanding into a 3^rd facility, incurring extra costs and more delays later on. The St-Hubert facility will meet the current needs while permitting growth and creating synergies between the different departments and projects.

The standalone facility of over 18,000 sq. ft in the Gérard-Leclerc industrial zone of St Hubert, Longueuil, is located less than 8km from our previous location and has all the same location advantages such as less than 30 minutes from Montreal and within 6 hours from major North American cities such as Boston, New York and Toronto with access to several major highways and expressways. Two airports are located within 40 minutes of the location, the Trudeau International Airport in Montreal and the Montreal-Saint-Hubert-Longueuil airport. Most important is the access to major seaways with the Port of Montreal, 20 minutes, which is the largest container transhipment center in the Great Lakes system – Saint Lawrence Seaway and a direct link to Europe and the East coast of the United States, as well as the marine terminal in Contrecoeur which is only 30 minutes away. The availability of outdoor space at the St Hubert facility is another important benefit over the previous location as it allows more flexibility with the utilities that are required to be installed for the operation of the magnet recycling plant.

Administration, engineering, and R&D activities will continue at the Boucherville facility until all the laboratories and offices are built as part of the construction of the demonstration plant.

“With no space for expansion and a potential risk of operating 3 facilities requiring their own analytical laboratories, prep labs and other services and utilities, the timing was right to consolidate all our activities before the construction of the demonstration plant starts. Having all our activities centralized with space to expand our R&D and perform multiple projects at the same time is going to benefit Geomega in the long run. This new R&D facility will be able to accommodate our growing pipeline of projects that are already in the application for funding phase. We are thrilled with this new location as it will allow us to streamline Geomega’s operations in the future and simplify the construction of the demonstration plant.” commented Kiril Mugerman, President & CEO of Geomega.

HCl recycling project funding from CRITM

The HCl recycling research project is expected to be completed over 24 months and will have important synergies with other projects of the Corporation. HCl is a strong leaching reagent that can be used to extract REE, Sc and other metals from various sources such as permanent magnets, monazite, bastnaesite and bauxite residues. Although it has many advantages, its cost compared to sulfuric acid can be prohibitive due to its high consumption by gangue minerals and other major elements (Fe, Al). This often results in important volumes of spent water and solid residues and solutions with only limited efficiency are available today to recycle HCl. The solution being developed by Innord is an alternative method that allows to regenerate HCl from an aqueous solution of metal chlorides without the need for high-temperature treatments. The project will include testing the bench scale HCl recycling process on REE and Sc rich leaching solutions and provide a techno-economical evaluation of the process.

“The team is very excited to start working on this innovative solution. Geomega has worked with HCl as far back as 2013 while developing the Montviel flowsheet but the limitations of HCl recycling have always been a major challenge. The development of this process can open the door to new extraction methods of REE and Sc from various sources across Quebec by lowering the cost of leaching and limiting the chloride effluent or residues in processes that use HCl today. These results could ultimately be applied to other critical and strategic metals such as Co, Ni, Nb, Li and others. Further, this process could help replace sulfuric acid in some processes which will make it more environmentally sustainable and more cost competitive. In other words, the commercial applications to this solution are very wide and favorable for Geomega.” added Kiril Mugerman.

Magnet Recycling Demonstration Plant Update

The search for a new location over the last few months has had an important impact on the engineering of the demonstration plant. The HAZOP study was successfully completed to 90% and modifications are now being made to the process design. Other engineering activities with BBA were postponed in order to avoid incurring the same charges twice. BBA is starting to resume its activities as of May 1st for the peripheral engineering design at the St Hubert facility. The layout is now being adjusted to the new facility and the 3D design will follow accordingly. The in-house engineering team continued discussions with various vendors in preparation for ordering further equipment. Environmental permitting activities have continued as well as they are not impacted by the location change. Municipal permitting started this week as well as some ground preparation work.

Equipment that was ordered in 2022 continued to arrive in St Bruno and will be later moved to St Hubert. The equipment that was expected to be ordered in the last few months has been postponed due to the change of location and is now restarting.

Location search did not impact any of the bench and pilot testwork on either magnet recycling, bauxite residues or any of the other ongoing projects.

About Geomega (www.geomega.ca)

Geomega develops innovative technologies for the extraction and separation of rare earth elements and other critical metals essential for a sustainable future. With a focus on renewable energies, vehicle electrification, automation and reduction in energy usage, rare earth magnets or neo-magnets (NdFeB) are at the center of all these technologies. Geomega’s strategy revolves around gradually de-risking its innovative technology and delivering cash flow and return value to shareholders while working directly with the main players in these industries to recycle the magnets that power all those technologies.

As its technologies are demonstrated on larger scales, Geomega is committed to working with major partners to help extract value from mining feeds, tailings and other industrial residues which contain rare earths and other critical metals. Irrespective of the metal or the source, Geomega adopts a consistent approach to reduce the environmental impact and to contribute to lowering greenhouse gases emissions through recycling the major reagents in the process.

Geomega’s process is based around its proprietary, low-cost, environmentally friendly way to tap into a C$1.5 billion global market to recycle magnet production waste and end of life magnets profitably and safely.

Geomega also owns the Montviel rare earth carbonatite deposit, the largest 43-101 bastnaesite resource estimate in North America and holds over 16.8M shares, representing approximately 14% of the issued and outstanding shares, of Kintavar Exploration Inc. (KTR.V), a mineral exploration company that is exploring for copper projects in Quebec, Canada.

British advanced nuclear technology and energy storage developer MoltexFLEX is a winner of the UK government’s prestigious Green Builders of Tomorrow competition.

As a winner, MoltexFLEX will send a representative to the United Arab Emirates to attend a high-profile program of events in Dubai and Abu Dhabi later this month. During this visit, they will meet a selected group of venture capital investors to seek investment in the next stage of development of the company’s innovative FLEX molten salt reactor technology.

Led by the UK Department for Business and Trade and supported by Octopus Investments, GBOT spotlights early-stage companies that are the best-placed to help the UK boost the green economy and speed up the country’s transition to net zero. After a hugely successful debut in 2022, GBOT is now in its second year.

The investment meetings in UAE align with the country’s role in hosting COP28 later in the year. As part of the UAE-UK Sovereign Investment Partnership, the UAE is investing £10 billion in UK clean energy, technology, life sciences and infrastructure.

A joint UK-UAE panel of industry experts reviewed each applicant, all of which were deemed to be of high quality. MoltexFLEX was selected as the judges agreed that the company’s FLEX modular molten salt reactor and GridReserve storage system were innovative, scalable and have huge market potential in the UAE.

“We are delighted to be named as a GBOT winner for 2023, and to be flying the flag for British clean energy companies in the UAE,” said MoltexFLEX CEO David Landon. “It underscores MoltexFLEX’s mission to create low-cost, carbon-free energy not just in the UK but around the globe.”

About MoltexFLEX

MoltexFLEX is a subsidiary of Moltex Energy Limited, with its headquarters in Warrington, UK. It is developing the FLEX reactor – an advanced nuclear reactor that delivers clean, low-cost and reliable energy that complements renewables such as wind and solar. MoltexFLEX plans to have its first reactor operational by 2029.

For more information, visit www.moltexflex.com.

Introducing the Kemppi AX MIG Welder – a powerful robotic welder with seamless integration, an easy-to-use interface, and the latest welding technology.

The AX MIG Welder was purpose-built for high-intensity, 24/7 automated welding environments. With 400 or 500 A power and a robotic wire feeder, it is engineered to perform difficult tasks and meet demanding production targets. 

Speed is nothing without quality. The AX MIG Welder has fine-tuned ignition and a precise seam tracking signal to ensure repeatable, high-quality welds. For challenging materials, Kemppi MAX or Wise arc performance welding processes can be used to increase speed, lower heat input, and ensure penetration.

With an intuitive user interface and easy-to-use controls, the AX MIG Welder can be operated with basic welding knowledge. Machine controls and real-time performance data can be accessed with a browser on a laptop or mobile phone – the user interface can also be integrated into an existing control system. 

The AX MIG Welder offers easy integration. It maximizes the performance of any welding robot and works seamlessly with all aspects of an automated welding system. 

“AX MIG Welder is a modular system. Modularity enables a cost-effective solution for each application. Ease of use, productivity, and quality are keywords for this system”, summarizes Product Manager Artturi Salmela.

Kemppi in brief

Kemppi is the design leader in the arc welding industry. They are committed to boosting the quality and productivity of welding by continuous development of the welding arc and by working for a greener and more equal world. Kemppi supplies sustainable products, digital solutions, and services for professionals from industrial welding companies to single contractors. The usability and reliability of our products is our guiding principle. They operate with a highly skilled partner network covering over 70 countries to make their expertise locally available. Headquartered in Lahti, Finland, Kemppi employs close to 800 professionals in 16 countries and has a revenue of 195 MEUR in 2022.

Hydro One Inc. announced it has received a letter from the Independent Electricity System Operator confirming the need for clean, reliable electricity in northwest Ontario to support mining operations. The IESO’s updated electricity forecast for the region recommends Phase 2 of the Waasigan Transmission Line, the new single-circuit 230-kilovolt transmission line between Mackenzie Transformer Station in the Town of Atikokan and Dryden TS in the City of Dryden, be in service as soon as practically possible following Phase 1 to support mining operations and Ontario’s clean energy future.

“Hydro One is expanding the clean electricity system to harness the wealth of minerals in the northwest and support the incredible growth in the province,” said David Lebeter, President and CEO of Hydro One. “We will continue to work with Indigenous communities, municipalities, residents and stakeholders to develop and build this critical transmission line and ensure Ontario remains an attractive place to invest, live and work.”

“As demand for electricity is expected to grow by nearly two percent per year for the next 20 years in Ontario, it is absolutely critical that we work together to get the necessary infrastructure built in time to meet those emerging needs. The Waasigan Transmission Line will lay the groundwork so that communities, businesses and Indigenous peoples in the northwest have a reliable supply of electricity that supports economic growth. Projects such as this are key to an orderly energy transition that will meet the needs and objectives of future residents, businesses and institutions across our province,” said Lesley Gallinger, President and CEO of Independent Electricity System Operator.

“We know the demand for reliable, affordable and clean electricity is growing, and we are working with all of our partners, including the IESO, First Nations and Hydro One on meeting that demand. By designating the Waasigan Transmission Line as a priority, we are enabling economic growth and electrification in the North by ensuring the power needed by communities, businesses and Indigenous peoples in the Northwest is there for them,” said Todd Smith, Minister of Energy, Government of Ontario. 

Phase 1 of the Waasigan Transmission Line project is a proposed new double-circuit 230-kilovolt transmission line between Lakehead TS in the Municipality of Shuniah and Mackenzie TS in the Town of Atikokan. In May 2022, the IESO recommended construction of Phase 1 to proceed with an in-service date as close to the end of 2025 as possible. Phase 2 of the project is a proposed new single-circuit 230-kilovolt transmission line between Mackenzie TS and Dryden TS in the City of Dryden.

Hydro One is currently undertaking an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the project under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act. The review helps to identify a final route for the transmission line, predict and assess potential effects, and identify measures to minimize and eliminate potential negative impacts on the environment. This year, Hydro One plans to submit a Leave to Construct (Section 92) application to the Ontario Energy Board (OEB) for both phases of the project. 

Nine First Nations in the region have signed agreements with Hydro One and will have the opportunity to invest in a 50 percent equity stake in the transmission line component of the project. Completion of the line is contingent on stakeholder consultation and regulatory approvals.

Hydro One Limited (TSX: H)

Hydro One Limited, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, is Ontario’s largest electricity transmission and distribution provider with approximately 1.5 million valued customers, approximately $31.5 billion in assets as of December 31, 2022, and annual revenues in 2022 of approximately $7.8 billion.

Their team of approximately 9,300 skilled and dedicated employees proudly builds and maintains a safe and reliable electricity system which is essential to supporting strong and successful communities. In 2022, Hydro One invested approximately $2.1 billion in its transmission and distribution networks and supported the economy by buying approximately $1.9 billion of goods and services.

They are committed to the communities where we live and work through community investment, sustainability and diversity initiatives. We are designated as a Sustainable Electricity Leader™ by Electricity Canada.

Hydro One Limited’s common shares are listed on the TSX and certain of Hydro One Inc.’s medium-term notes are listed on the NYSE.

SOURCE: Hydro One Limited

Arbor Metals Corp. welcomes the news that the Sayona Lithium Mine, located near La Corne in the Abitibi region of Quebec, has started operations as a large-scale lithium mine in North America. Sayona Quebec, a joint venture between Australia’s Sayona Mining Ltd. and North Carolina’s Piedmont Lithium Inc., reopened the North American lithium mine in late March. High-profile end-users such as Tesla Inc. and South Korea’s LG Chem Ltd. are anticipated to purchase lithium from the Sayona operations, representing a significant achievement for Quebec and Canada.

Arbor welcomed the positive announcement by Federal and Provincial leaders on April 20th, 2023, where officials welcomed Volkswagen’s plan to build a large-scale new EV battery plant in St. Thomas, Ontario. Following the news of substantial investment by both Volkswagen and the Canadian government, the Company plans to expedite its exploration plans for its Jarnet lithium project.

“North America plays a key role in our global battery strategy. The region will become PowerCo’s second pillar beside Europe, with battery cells made in North America for North America. Gigafactory St. Thomas opens the door to a key market for e-mobility and battery cell production. We aim to make PowerCo a global player in the battery business and to pave the way for clean, sustainable mobility. Gigafactory St. Thomas is an important milestone in our roadmap,” remarked Thomas Schmall, Volkswagen Group Board Member for Technology.

On April 20th, 2023, the lithium industry was also shaken by the announcement that Chile, the world’s second-largest producer of lithium from brine deposits, intends to nationalize its lithium industry to bolster its economy and safeguard its environment. Arbor expects this move by Chile and Mexico to nationalize their lithium industry will hasten a shift in future investments in lithium projects to other countries recognized as “safe havens” with large lithium resource potential, such as Canada (Quebec and Ontario). Quebec ranks second in Canada and sixth globally in the Fraser Institute’s 2021 top jurisdictions for investment based on the Investment Attractiveness Index.

Arbor believes that the exploration and development of lithium projects in northern Quebec are well-suited to benefit from these recent announcements and eagerly anticipates implementing a strong exploration program for its Jarnet lithium project this summer. Encompassing roughly 3,759 hectares, the Company’s Jarnet lithium project is comprised of 70 map-designated claims. The Jarnet South block is located less than two kilometers northwest of Patriot Battery Metals Inc.’s (“PMET”) CV-5 pegmatite target, where an intensive diamond drill program is currently underway and has led to several noteworthy discoveries.

Note: Company management cautions the discoveries and observations on properties in proximity to the Company’s properties are not necessarily indicative of the presence of similar mineralization or geology on the Company’s properties.

Dr. Peter Born, P.Geo., is the designated qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and is responsible for and has approved the technical information in this release.

Arbor Metals Corp. is a mining exploration company specializing in developing high-value, geographically significant mineral projects worldwide. As an industry leader, it is paving the way for advanced mineral exploration as it oversees world-class mining projects. Arbor believes quality projects, proven strategies, and a professional team will deliver superior results. The company holds three exceptional mineral projects.

The Jarnet lithium project, located in the James Bay region of Quebec, comprises 47 map-designated claims, covering an area of approximately 3,759 hectares. The Jarnet project is contiguous to the Corvette-FCI property, where diamond drilling has confirmed significant lithium mineralization, and represents one of the highest-profile lithium exploration projects in the sector.

“This year we’re excited to have nominees that point the way towards a more sustainable future. In fact, two applications in the field of mechanical batteries showed such innovative use of steel that we couldn’t decide between the two. So we nominated them both,” says Eva Petursson, chair of the Swedish Steel Prize jury and head of SSAB’s research and innovation.

The finalists and the jury’s motivations are:

DigJim from Norway – ultra-fast maintenance system

This user-driven innovation is a patented system designed for the quick exchange of bucket protection parts on-site. This solution is opening up new flexible and sustainable ways of working with maintenance. In addition, by utilizing the strength as well as wear resistance of the material, an extended tooth design for the DigJim system has documented an increase in productivity in use.

For a new ultra-fast maintenance system with a lower cost of ownership and increased productivity DigJim has been nominated for the Swedish Steel Prize 2023.

Gestamp from Spain – front lower control arm

In an application with challenging requirements, Gestamp is pushing material properties for strength and formability. This vital part of the chassis is crucial to everyday operation as well as to safety performance. Utilizing advanced forming technology, this front lower control arm has an optimized single shell design, made possible by introducing a new material strength level.

For an optimized front lower control arm with performance increase, important weight reduction, as well as cost-saving Gestamp has been nominated for the Swedish Steel Prize 2023.

Green Buffers from Sweden – new generation train coupling technology

Green Buffers is introducing high-strength steel for energy absorption between rail wagons for increased train safety. This new generation coupling technology opens up more sophisticated custom design solutions and offers an extended number of well-defined robust force levels for energy absorption. With the possibility of upgrading existing trains, the improved safety for railway transportation has the potential for fast implementation.

With a completely new system supporting their vision – zero uncontrolled derailments related to collisions – Green Buffers has been nominated for the Swedish Steel Prize 2023.

Levistor from the UK and ZOOZ from Israel – mechanical battery for fast charging

These high-power mechanical batteries using a new flywheel steel design are sustainable solutions for a more sustainable world. Mechanical batteries offer increased service life, no degradation and a smaller material footprint compared to chemical batteries. In this upgraded steel solution, a safer operation is also achieved by replacing traditional flywheel designs with layers of high-strength steel, isolating failure and limiting damage.

With a new flywheel steel design for increased safety, extended service life and lower LCC in a 100% recyclable material, Levistor and ZOOZ have been nominated for the Swedish Steel Prize 2023.

World’s most prestigious steel prize

The Swedish Steel Prize celebrates engineering, cooperation and steel innovations that lead to a better and more sustainable world. It inspires engineers, designers and inventors to further explore the unlimited potential of steel.

SSAB is a Nordic and US-based steel company. SSAB offers value added products and services developed in close cooperation with its customers to create a stronger, lighter and more sustainable world. SSAB has employees in over 50 countries. SSAB has production facilities in Sweden, Finland and the US. SSAB is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and has a secondary listing on Nasdaq Helsinki.

www.ssab.com.

Many site management challenges are the same on both sides of the energy transition. Whether your sites are wells, pipelines and tank farms, or turbines, dams and solar farms, managing remote sites is a trade-off between routine windshield time, urgent incident response, and the cost of remote monitoring.

Luau Data Corp is committed to providing project managers and operators with the tools they need to manage remote sites better and at a lower cost. They understand that staff is scarce and incidents are expensive, but practical and relevant on-site information makes staff more effective and incidents less costly.

Eyes On Site™

Eyes On Site is the flagship product of Luau Data Corp. Eyes On Site is a self-organizing network of solar-powered cameras and sensors designed for 24/7/365 outdoor use in Canada. If your site has a few hours of winter sun and fringe cell coverage, Eyes On Site delivers pictures and data to your screen all year-’round.

Eyes On Site provides visibility and history for remote outdoor sites so managers and staff can be more effective. It keeps a history of the project during the construction phase, helps operators with site security, tracks modification and maintenance history, and provides up-to-the-minute remote site status. With no power required on-site, no cables, no batteries, generators, or antennas, Eyes On Site is a unique product that offers a sustainable approach to remote site management.


Luau Data Corp’s product is on-brand for new energy customers as the world shifts towards sustainable energy. The company is providing a solution that aligns with the values and goals of the industry and leading the way in creating a sustainable approach to operating remote sites. With a product that installs in 5 minutes and requires no power on-site, the company is providing a unique solution that empowers managers to travel less and respond faster.

Committed to Sustainability

Luau Data CEO Stuart Lomas is proud of his team’s commitment. “Our team takes a collaborative approach to every project, working closely with our clients to understand their needs. As the product developer, we can deliver customized solutions that address their unique challenges.”

Sustainability is at the core of Luau Data Corp’s approach to business. As the energy world shifts, Luau Data Corp’s off-grid and solar products are appealing to individuals who share the same values as the company. At the same time, Luau Data Corp is leading the way in creating a better approach to operating remote sites. With a solution that reduces routine travel and requires no on-site power, Eyes On Site is helping to pave the way for a cleaner and more sustainable future.

Stuart Lomas says, “We believe that sustainability should be at the forefront of everything we do. With Eyes On Site, we are not only providing an effective solution for operating remote sites, but we are also leading the way in the transition to sustainable energy.”

Luau Data Corp is dedicated to helping businesses succeed. With their cutting-edge technology, personalized approach, and commitment to transparency, they are well-positioned to become a leader in the world of sustainable energy. Luau Data Corp is lighting the way to a cleaner future, one remote site at a time.

First American Uranium Inc. is pleased to provide an overview of the uranium market and the US-specific potential for growth in nuclear power and uranium exploration and mining. Nuclear energy supplies 10% of the world’s power generation and ~20% of America’s electricity. However, to reach global decarbonization targets, the International Energy Agency projects that nuclear power production will have to increase by 80% by 2040. Shawn Balaghi, First American Uranium’s CEO, commented: “Between increasing international investment in nuclear energy and rising uranium spot prices that are helping drive strong and sustainable economics, there are many factors contributing to the positive outlook for uranium. First American Uranium is excited to be working hard to become part of the US domestic supply solution at this time.”

Advantages of Nuclear Energy

• Far lower greenhouse gas emissions than fossil fuels and even lower than solar or wind

• 24/7 energy supply helps stabilize the grid and prevent blackouts
• The highest capacity factor of the different energy production options
• One of the safest sources of energy in the world (0.07 deaths/TWH), on par with solar (0.02) and wind (0.04) while being multiple times lower than coal (24.6), oil (18.4) and natural gas (2.8)
• Supports national energy security by providing electricity that is largely independent of fuel market price fluctuations
• Americans support nuclear energy more than ever (69% say nuclear reduces pollution and keeps America competitive and energy independent)
• The nuclear industry is a “very high performer” from an ESG (environmental, social, and governance) perspective

Turning To Nuclear

Major nations are facing growing electricity demand and aggressive decarbonization targets. In turn, a growing number of countries are looking to nuclear power policies, investments and production as potential solutions to their energy mix.

France recently announced €1 billion to support small nuclear reactors and pledged to construct 14 new generation reactors. South Korea set a target for nuclear to account for 30% of their total power generation. China intends to build 150 nuclear reactors over the next 15 years. Even Japan, despite the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident, recently restarted its nuclear capacity with public support at over 60%.

In America, the Biden administration established a $6-billion fund to keep nuclear plants running. The administration is also providing $2.5 billion for two R&D projects into new nuclear technology and is pushing a $4.3-billion plan to buy enriched uranium from domestic producers to replace Russian imports.

Meanwhile, America’s recent Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) includes ~$369 billion in climate provisions to help ensure energy security and cut US emissions by 40% before the end of the decade. The IRA includes a production tax credit to help preserve the nation’s existing fleet of nuclear plants, several tax incentives for clean energy technologies (including advanced reactors) and invests $700 million to support the development of a domestic supply chain for high-assay low-enriched uranium.

Industry Fundamentals

Uranium spot prices have been steadily trending up for years with little volatility, recently reaching their highest levels in over a decade.

Factors that could add further pressure to uranium going forward include:

• The international expansion of reliance on nuclear energy
• Utilities returning to long-term contracting (uranium contracting by American utilities rose 54% in 2022)
• Uranium purchases by ETF funds, such as the Sprott Physical Uranium Trust held $2.9 billion dollars as uranium as of Q1 2022

When it comes to supply, the US produces just 5% of the uranium it uses as fuel while importing the majority from Kazakhstan (35%), Canada (15%), Australia (14%), Russia (14%) and Namibia (7%). US uranium imports began trending up around 1980 while production dropped sharply. Over the last decade, low uranium prices driven by the reaction in some countries to the 2011 Fukushima nuclear incident in Japan, resulted in further reductions in domestic US production.

Today, uranium production in the US is from just one mill in White Mesa, Utah. America’s declining uranium production and its dependence on foreign imports have left the nation and its nuclear energy sector vulnerable to geopolitical conflicts, such as Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Fortunately, the market’s dynamics have recently shifted:

• Demand for uranium is rising while secondary supplies have declined
• With uranium supplies remaining tight, further price appreciation is expected
• Global mine supply for 2023 is forecast at 143 million pounds U3O8 versus 181 million pounds of demand, leaving a supply shortfall that must be filled by declining secondary supplies
• To maintain supply, further discoveries are required
• M&A activity has increased, with major deals in 2022 including Cameco and Orano acquiring Idemitsu’s stake in Cigar Lake and Uranium Energy Corp’s acquisition of UEX Corporation

In turn, potential opportunities are opening up for US-targeted uranium explorers and domestic miners to help create clean energy, build national security, and meet growing market demand.

About First American Uranium Inc.

First American Uranium Inc. is engaged in the business of mineral exploration and the acquisition of mineral property assets in North America. Its objective is to locate and develop economic precious and base metal properties of merit and to conduct its exploration programs on the Silver Lake and Red Basin properties. The Silver Lake property is situated around Goosly Lake and approximately 30 km southeast of the town of Houston, in the Omineca Mining Division, British Columbia. The Company has acquired a 60% interest in a company that indirectly holds a 100% interest (subject to a 2% NSR) in certain uranium/vanadium mineral claims located in Catron County, New Mexico.

Kongsberg Digital has launched its Industrial Work Surface which aims to fundamentally change how carbon-intensive industries operate by enabling the company’s software users to work within a single digital environment. By providing end-to-end user workflows, Kongsberg Digital’s customers will benefit from cleaner, more efficient and lower-cost operations, reinforcing the company’s proven technology already deployed across the energy and maritime sectors.

Boston Consulting Group research states that as much as 70% of the value of digitalization comes from adopting new ways of working. The Industrial Work Surface will enable users across the energy and maritime industries to capitalize on this value by reducing siloed access to data and achieving better ways of working to facilitate smarter, safer and greener operations.

Using Kongsberg Digital’s proven technology, such as digital twins, data management infrastructure, simulation, visualization and machine learning, the Industrial Work Surface will combine Kongsberg Digital’s domain and technology expertise to create a single end-to-end user surface.

Kongsberg Digital customers can use the Industrial Work Surface throughout the lifespan of projects and assets, seamlessly leveraging data and insights across the company’s suite of technology applications to reduce costs and downtime, while providing faster access to vital information on the status of assets.

Carbon-intensive companies can access and scale everything from carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) facility modeling, predictive maintenance alerts and energy optimization recommendations to ESG reporting, carbon emissions information and performance analytics on critical equipment.

This holistic and intuitive operational view requires no retraining from existing users and places customer experience central to the technology. It streamlines the number of software applications or vendors required to run operations via a single secure login.

Shane McArdle, CEO of Kongsberg Digital, said: “By providing industrial operators and workers with the tools needed to take critical decisions based on all data available, Kongsberg Digital’s Industrial Work Surface aims to redefine how businesses design, operate and maintain their assets. We empower businesses with digital workflows to drive performance as they respond to the energy transition toward net zero, enabling them to work smarter, safer and greener.

“Our vision is to transform global industries by changing and shaping how people work. As an industrial software company, we understand the value of digitalizing carbon-intensive industries by deploying new ways of working. The Industrial Work Surface will transform how these industries operate and help businesses unlock the full potential of digitalization.” 

James Maguire, Business Transformation Manager at Kongsberg Digital customer LNG Canada comments on how the Industrial Work Surface will help streamline the company’s operations: “The Industrial Work Surface will provide our people with the information and data they need at their fingertips to make decisions or troubleshoot problems through a single surface where they can execute project work. 

“This new way of working will enable our teams to learn from past events, predict future events, and prescribe a path forward to optimize production and equipment performance automatically, maintaining safe and energy-efficient operating parameters without manual intervention. The Industrial Work Surface is the cornerstone to our future ambitions.”

Andreas Enger, CEO of Höegh Autoliners, addresses some of the challenges the maritime sector is facing and how adopting new ways of work can help ship owners and operators to meet these demands: “The digital overlay needs to address lots of new demands and opportunities, meaning everything from following the cargo from end-to-end to managing and routing the vessels – but the most important thing is carbon accounting. With our new vessels, we have the opportunity to integrate connectivity by design, making the implementation of technology such as using digital twins possible. We are building dual-fuel vessels and we need to ensure that we can report and allocate the carbon reductions.”

KONGSBERG DIGITAL

Kongsberg Digital is an industrial software company shaping the future of work by changing how businesses design, operate and maintain their assets. Businesses trust us for our innovative carbon capture and storage technology, new energy ventures towards net zero, voyage optimization, emissions reduction, and technology to help balance grids and complex power systems. We are transforming carbon-intensive industries by providing industry-leading solutions that extract value from industrial data. We enable businesses to connect physical assets to an Industrial Work Surface, serving as one common software for decision-making across the value chain.

Follow on: www.kongsberg.com/digital and LinkedIn

Patti Engineering, Inc., a leading control system integrator based in Auburn Hills, MI with offices in Texas and Indiana, announced details of an ongoing project at Kettering University in partnership with BorgWarner to develop an Industry 4.0-enabled collaborative robotic cell for student learning. The lab is designed to help teach engineering and computer science students about real-world situations with manufacturing automation technologies they may experience during their co-ops and future careers.

Providing the highest quality education for its students is a top priority at Kettering University. For the last several years, the University had been developing the concept to create a new classroom lab to bring the latest technology to its students and facilitate cross-curricular collaboration. 

“Patti Engineering has been a longtime supporter of Kettering University and has generously helped us design this new lab and develop related coursework,” said Scott Grasman, Dean of the College of Engineering. “We are thrilled to incorporate real-world applications into a single robotic cell for our students to learn industrial robotics, control systems, the internet of things, wireless communications, and data analytics. Together with our industrial manufacturing, electrical and computer engineering students, computer science students will work side-by-side on the different learning opportunities presented by the robotic cell. We will even integrate our 3D printing course into developing the end-of-arm actuators for the collaborative robot. It’s a comprehensive system designed to be utilized by all of our engineering and computer science programs.”

Patti Engineering’s deep ties to Kettering University began with founder and CEO, Sam Hoff, who graduated with an electrical engineering degree in 1990 and has supported the University in many ways over the years. This, coupled with Patti Engineering’s expansive knowledge base in industrial controls, robotics, and practical application of Industry 4.0 digitalization technologies, has made them a perfect fit for the job.

“We are excited about the opportunity to develop a new lab for the students at Kettering,” said Hoff. “The lab’s real-world challenges of collaboration across all disciplines will provide an excellent space for students to put their classroom knowledge into practice, preparing them for the obstacles they may face in their careers. By solving these challenges while still in school, students will be better equipped to navigate and solve problems in their future endeavors.”

Patti Engineering was involved with the design of the new classroom lab, along with developing the baseline program. The new robotic cell incorporates technology from some of the University’s corporate sponsors including Mitsubishi Electric for the PLC, HMI and collaborative pick-and-place robot, and Keyence for the vision systems and area scanners. 

To facilitate learning and experimentation throughout the semester, the robotic cell was specifically designed to enable students to work with and modify the code. At the end of the term, the staff iresets the code to the baseline program, ensuring the same opportunities for the next group of students. This thoughtful approach ensures that every student who utilizes the robotic cell is able to delve deeply into the material and achieve the cell’s full potential.

Currently, the University has separate labs to correspond with different courses. The new lab will be integrated into existing courses and will be available for use in future courses. The Kettering University faculty is creating additional curricula including capstone experiences centered around the new lab, which is scheduled to open during the summer of 2023.

About Patti Engineering, Inc.

Patti Engineering, Inc. is a CSIA Certified control systems integration company offering high-caliber engineering and software development services. Patti Engineering’s technical expertise in electrical control and information systems provides turnkey control systems integration for design/build, upgrade/retrofit and asset/energy management projects. Industrial automation, production intelligence and shop floor IT solutions services include project management, electrical engineering, hardware design, hardware procurement, software development, installation, calibration, start-up testing, verification, documentation, training and warranty support. Customer satisfaction and project success earned the company placement in the Control Engineering Magazine’s Hall of Fame.

For more information, visit www.pattieng.com.

About Kettering University

Since 1919, Kettering University has pioneered unique educational experiences that blend classroom instruction with real-world wage-paying work at cooperative employer partners. The Flint, Michigan-based private nonprofit university is world-renowned for its engineering, mathematics, business and science programs that produce some of the brightest, most successful entrepreneurs and business innovators. Leaders in the fields of autonomous vehicles and robotics, Kettering is consistently ranked among the country’s best universities for return on investment and career preparation.

Learn more at kettering.edu.

Vital Battery Metals Inc. is pleased to announce that the Company has entered into an agreement to engage Coast Mountain Geological Ltd. for management and ongoing geological services of upcoming exploration activities at the Company’s Sting Copper Project in Newfoundland, Canada.

CMG is a forward-thinking geological consulting firm that offers a full range of services, including highly diversified international expertise in all aspects of the mineral exploration and geotechnical process. For over 30 years, CMG has provided worldwide geological services to clients with a team of geoscience enthusiasts led by a balanced mix of youthful and seasoned industry professionals.

With the Company recently reported assay results of grab samples at its Sting Copper Project including 17% Cu, 11.6% Cu, 14.2% Cu, and 13,9% Cu, with gold values also ranging from 79 ppb to 4105 ppb, as well as 181 ppb to 325 ppb, the Company believes it is now critical to partner with a strong geological consulting firm to help lead the next phases of exploration activities.

Adrian Lamoureux, Chief Executive Officer and President of Vital commented, “Between our pre-existing relationship and their strong track record in leading exploration and drill programs, it is an easy decision for us to partner with CMG for our future work programs at the Sting Copper Project. We were very pleased with our recent assay results of grab samples and look forward to further exploring the area, as we believe there to be significant potential in the area.”

About Vital Battery Metals Inc.

Vital Battery Metals Inc. is a mineral exploration company dedicated to the development of strategic projects comprising battery, base and precious metals in stable jurisdictions. The Company is working to advance its Sting Copper Project and its Vent Copper-Gold project.

The Sting Project covers approximately 127 km² (12,700 ha) and hosts multiple historic Newfoundland and Labrador Government documented mineral occurrences and is located within a 50 km corridor known for significant volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS), copper quartz vein lode and low sulphation epithermal gold showings. The Vent Copper-Gold project covers 1,562 hectares in British Columbia. Vital continues to evaluate value-add assets to bolster its project portfolio.

For More Information Visit www.vitalbatterymetals.com

Cogniteam, recognized as an NVIDIA partner and creator of the Nimbus platform that has been used globally to develop, deploy, manage, and even perform remote updates, has announced a new capability to develop and manage the robot, along with its IoT environment in one platform. This not only means a 60% faster time to prototype, but it allows for more reliable Internet of Robotic Things devices, which have been developed using Nimbus’ library of proven field-deployed software components.

Sectors that have increased their reliance on autonomous robots, such as healthcare facilities, hotels, and sensitive environments, have to consider operational challenges caused by external factors. This can be a human that walks in a robot’s path or an unexpected high-traffic area. To address this, software and hardware engineers code communication protocols and develop standards that can be understood by both IoT and IoRT devices, just not on the same platform. This opens up potential errors due to a misalignment in the various software, or some unknown disturbance between independent development platforms.

While this may be an inconvenience for many, it could be catastrophic for autonomous robots operating in mission-critical roles. In response, Cogniteam has bolstered its Nimbus Robotic Operating System to manage the full lifecycle process for both standalone IoRT devices, IoRT fleets, and IoT devices. The offered software components will now include packets for global IoT leaders along with their communication protocols, all in the drag-and-drop format that Nimbus is known for.

“Successful robot deployments demand a single development platform for both the machine and facility integrations,” Said Dr. Yehuda Elmaliah, Co-Founder & CEO of Cogniteam.
“Bringing both the robotic and environmental IoT device development under one roof opens exciting new opportunities for beginner through advanced developers.” Examples of where we are seeing large-scale adoptions are in medical labs or sensitive facilities. Programmed correctly, sensors can be programmed alongside the robot, allowing it to better sense the autonomous device and clear a path for it to reach its destination.

Supporting the robotics revolution, Cogniteam has advocated for greater robot autonomy, helping lead the Human Robotics Interaction Consortium. “This is a major step in integrating robots in a shared human space,” said Dr. Eliahu Khalastchi, a research scientist at Cogniteam. “We’re training robots to read social cues and act in a more predictable and natural manner when on the street or in a facility, completing its mission while naturally interacting with humans”.

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories, Canada’s premier nuclear science and technology laboratory, and Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, Canada’s nuclear Crown corporation, are pleased to announce that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Western University to pursue collaborative research opportunities. Both CNL and AECL have made it an organizational priority to cultivate closer relationships with Canada’s academic community, and this MOU with Western University represents the fifth agreement with a growing list of universities designed to advance collaborative research in health and environmental sciences, clean energy and nuclear safety.

The agreement includes an extensive list of focus areas where the organizations will collaborate, including imaging and radiopharmaceuticals; cybersecurity; high-performance computing and artificial intelligence; hydrogen; materials science and degradation; decommissioning and waste management; and advanced and small modular reactors, fuels and power grids. The agreement is intended to nurture closer relationships with Western’s research community, enable knowledge mobilization, spur innovation and the development of intellectual property, and provide solutions that address national and industry challenges.

“Last year, CNL released a new corporate strategy, known as Vision 2030, where we announced our plans to pursue closer relationships with Canada’s academic community, including research-oriented universities like Western University,” commented Dr. Jeff Griffin, CNL’s Vice-President of Science and Technology. “A few short months later, we have made incredible progress towards that vision, culminating in this most recent agreement. Overall, there are tremendous advantages to this collaborative approach to research for all parties, whether it is sharing scientific and technical data, leveraging complementary resources, or developing new capabilities, and that is the motivation behind this new partnership with Western University.”

“AECL and CNL are uniquely positioned to bring together the foundational research undertaken at Western University, with private industry needs in innovation,” commented Amy Gottschling, Vice-President, Science, Technology and Commercial Oversight at AECL. “Together, we can leverage our complementary expertise and capabilities to bring technologies to bear to solve our nation’s greatest challenges.”

“This is an exciting new partnership for Western – one that builds on over 20 years of nuclear research across three of our faculties: Engineering, Science, and the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry,” commented Dr. Dave Muir, Associate Vice-President of Innovation and Strategic Partnerships at Western University. “This new partnership will support and provide funding for research projects as well as Chair opportunities in the areas of health, safety, security, energy, and the environment. It also will enable our students to have increased access to experiential learning, through research projects and internship opportunities.”

As one of Canada’s top research-intensive universities, the science carried out at Western University intersects with many of the projects underway at Canada’s national nuclear laboratories. The driving force behind the agreement is the shared interest in exploring collaboration opportunities based on these mutual fields of research, and helping foster the development of highly qualified people here in Canada. By providing better access to the unique facilities that are available at Canada’s national nuclear laboratories, CNL and AECL hope to contribute to the professional development of the next generation of nuclear scientists and engineers and offer these students a more dynamic and rich learning experience.

The MOU with Western University aligns with CNL’s corporate strategy, Vision 2030, which identifies what CNL views as its central role within the future Canadian nuclear landscape. Serving as a national resource to all levels of government, the nuclear industry, the broader private sector and the academic community, CNL aims to work in concert with other organizations to help advance innovative Canadian products and services towards deployment, including carbon-free energy, cancer treatments and other therapies, non-proliferation technologies and waste management solutions.

To learn more about CNL, including its research projects and programs, please visit www.cnl.ca. If you would like to learn more about Vision 2030, please visit www.cnl.ca/vision2030.

About CNL

As Canada’s premier nuclear science and technology laboratory, and working under the direction of AECL, CNL is a world leader in the development of innovative nuclear science and technology products and services. Guided by an ambitious corporate strategy known as Vision 2030, CNL fulfills three strategic priorities of national importance – restoring and protecting the environment, advancing clean energy technologies, and contributing to the health of Canadians.

By leveraging the assets owned by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL), CNL also serves as the nexus between the government, the nuclear industry, the broader private sector and the academic community. CNL works in collaboration with these sectors to advance innovative Canadian products and services towards real-world use, including carbon-free energy, cancer treatments and other therapies, non-proliferation technologies and waste management solutions.

To learn more about CNL, please visit www.cnl.ca.

About AECL

AECL is a federal Crown corporation with a mandate to drive nuclear opportunities for Canada. AECL enables nuclear science and technology, owns the Chalk River Laboratories and other sites, and manages the Government of Canada’s radioactive waste responsibilities. It oversees and evaluates CNL’s work through contracts.

In business since 1952, AECL designed and developed the fleet of CANDU nuclear reactors that serve Canada and five other countries. It also delivered more than one billion isotopes worldwide to detect and treat cancer. Today it delivers value for Canadians through supporting 14 federal departments and agencies, as well as the global nuclear industry.

For more information on AECL, visit www.aecl.ca.

About Western

Western University delivers an academic experience second to none. Since 1878, The Western Experience has combined academic excellence with life-long opportunities for intellectual, social and cultural growth in order to better serve our communities. Our research excellence expands knowledge and drives discovery with real-world applications. Western attracts individuals with a broad worldview, seeking to study, influence and lead in the international community.

Atlas Salt is pleased to announce the results of an independent Preliminary Economic Assessment and updated Mineral Resource estimate prepared by SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd. on its 100%-owned Great Atlantic Salt Project located on the west coast of Newfoundland. Great Atlantic is the premier undeveloped salt deposit situated in the heart of a large regional U.S./Canadian road salt market facing a significant domestic production shortfall.

Highlights

• Pre-tax internal rate of return (IRR) of 22%; NPV(8) of $909 million; payback in 4.2 years after commencement of operations;
• Base case of 2.5 million tonnes per year (Mtpa) production for a 30-year mine life with a mine and processing design to accommodate expansion up to 4 million tonnes per year and capable of extending the mine life beyond the 30-year standard production model;
• Low-cost production – utilizing a Q4 2022 cost basis of $23.81 per tonne FOB;
• Expansion of Mineral Resource estimate including the first-time declaration of Indicated Mineral resources (187 million tonnes @ 96.4% salt) with Inferred Mineral resources of 999 million tonnes @ 95.6% salt;
• State-of-the-art, environmentally friendly design featuring the first major salt mine in North America accessible through declines, providing all the attendant benefits of scalability and economic efficiencies;
• Recently completed drill hole CC-9 collared 250 meters east of hole CC-4 (refer to Jan. 11, 2023 news release), was not incorporated into the PEA. Results from this hole and other data from the 2022 drill campaign will be included in the upcoming Feasibility Study currently being prepared by SLR;
• Further to its news release of May 19, 2022, Atlas has entered into discussions regarding Great Atlantic with interested parties including potential suitors. With an independent PEA now in hand, management expects these discussions to accelerate with a focus on possible outcomes aimed at maximizing shareholder value.

Mr. Rowland Howe, Atlas President, commented: “In my 30+ years in this industry I have not come across a salt project as unique as Great Atlantic given its combination of size, shallowness, and logistical advantages. This robust PEA confirms our vision for the project.”

Mr. Howe added, “Even assuming a conservative flat production rate at 2.5 million tonnes over only 30 years, the cash flow model provides a base case evaluation that is quite compelling. Significant additional value can be attributed to the project given that mine infrastructure is designed for up to 4 million tonnes of production with ample resources to extend production beyond 30 years. Future additional infrastructure could push annual production even higher. Long life cash flow comes at a premium.”

SLR Technical Summary

Overview

The PEA considers developing Great Atlantic into an underground operating mine capable of producing 2.5 Mtpa of rock salt with key mine access and plant infrastructure designed for 4.0 Mtpa. Construction of the mine would occur over three years, with access to the deposit via twin declines. Extraction of rock salt would occur using the room and pillar method, with continuous mining equipment. Salt would be processed to a specific size and grade using a crushing and screening plant located within the mine, and then brought to the surface via conveyor belts. An overland conveyor would transport the rock salt from the mine area to the existing Turf Point port for loading onto ships destined for Canadian and American markets, as well as serve the local Newfoundland market. The PEA is a step towards a Feasibility Study which is currently underway by SLR.

Mineral Resources

Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (CIM (2014) definitions) were used for Mineral Resource classification. The updated Mineral Resource currently includes 187.2 Mt of Indicated material plus 999.4 Mt of Inferred material. Table 1 provides a summary of the Great Atlantic Mineral Resource estimate prepared by SLR, with an effective date of January 6, 2023. The Mineral Resource estimate does not incorporate information from hole CC-9, with salt analysis pending, announced in an Atlas Salt news release dated January 11, 2023.

Notes:

1. CIM (2014) definitions were followed for Mineral Resources.
2. The bulk density is 2.16 t/m³.
3. Mineral Resources that are not Mineral Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability.
4. Reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction were demonstrated by reporting within mineable shapes at a cut-off grade of 90% NaCl resulting in composite resource grades exceeding 95%.

Mining

Mining designs, development plans, and schedules have been prepared for a fully electric, mechanized room and pillar mining operation. Salt will be mined using continuous miners and hauled by truck to a lump breaker and conveyor system to move material to a crushing and screening plant located underground. The PEA is based upon the initial production of 2.5 Mtpa of rock salt product with mine infrastructure capacity to expand to 4.0 Mtpa.

The mining designs contained in the PEA are based, in part, on Inferred Mineral Resources. Approximately 39% of the mine plan is based on Indicated Mineral Resources, with the remainder being Inferred Mineral Resources. Inferred Mineral Resources are considered too geologically speculative to have economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as Mineral Reserves. There is no certainty that the production forecasts on which the PEA is based will be realized.

The mine will be accessed through two declines driven to 250 m below the surface where the plant and related infrastructure will be located. One decline will provide fresh air into the mine and be used for vehicle access, while the other will exhaust air and contain an overhead conveyor to transport finished rock salt product to the surface.  Twin declines will be extended from the 250 Plant Level to the first production level at 300 m below the surface, continuing to the lower levels as required. The primary mine-related infrastructure including maintenance shops, vehicle charging bays, and gear storage will be located on the 300 Level. 

Internal declines will be developed as necessary to sustain the initial production rate of 2.5 Mtpa over an initial 30-year mine life. A total of six production levels supported with six internal declines and level-specific infrastructure will be constructed to support mining activities on each level. Room and pillar production mining will be executed in four cuts of five meters in height, resulting in a maximum room height of 20 m. Rooms will be 16 m wide, separated by 25 m square pillars. The square pillars will be in a regular pattern and overlie one another from level to level. Each mining level will be separated by 20 m thick horizontal sill pillars.

Al major equipment used in the mine will be battery electric or plugged electric, with minimal diesel-powered equipment in the mine.

Processing

Processing of the salt will take place at a crushing and screening plant located within the mine. The rock salt produced will be suitable for use as a deicing product, conforming to specification ASTM-D632, with a minimum NaCl grade of 95%. There are no chemical processes or reagents involved in the production of rock salt, other than an anti-caking agent that is added to the product immediately before shipping. After rock salt has been processed, it will be transported to the surface via conveyor belts. On the surface, a series of conveyor belts will transport the rock salt from the mine site to the port.

Infrastructure

The Great Atlantic operation will include both on and off-site infrastructure.  On-site infrastructure has been configured to minimize the mine site surface footprint.  Components of the on-site infrastructure include:

• Temporary salt storage area
• Decline access area
• Surface buildings such as administration, warehouse, fuel bay, dry facility, maintenance shop
• Salt storage building
• Material handling systems
• Electrical substation and distribution
• Ventilation system for the mine
• Surface water management system
• Gatehouse and fencing

Notably, a tailings management facility is not required for the Project, as all material that is processed will be sold as rock salt.

Off-site infrastructure has been designed to take advantage of some of the existing facilities available in the immediate area, including the port, historical haul road, and an NL Power electrical substation.  Planned off-site infrastructure includes the following:

• Overland conveyor connecting the mine to the port, including:
  • The overall length of approximately two kilometers, with both bridge and tunnel sections accommodating access to existing town infrastructure
  • All sections of the conveyor belt will be covered to minimize noise and dust
• Retrofitting of the existing storage building located at the port to handle rock salt
• Addition of a new building and material handling system at the port to expand the capacity of covered material storage
• Refurbishment of the existing ship loader facility
• Transmission line connection to NL Power’s substation located in the town of St. George’s

Environment and Community Engagement

Environmental baseline studies of the project area have been completed by GEMTEC Consulting Engineers and Scientists Limited (GEMTEC) throughout 2022 in preparation for the registration of the project under the environmental review process. Consultations with the local community and affected groups are ongoing.  Atlas has retained the services of an experienced communications consultant to assist and facilitate informed community input into the project development.

Marketing

As part of the PEA and ongoing Feasibility Study, Atlas and SLR have commissioned independent assessments of marketing and logistics. These independent assessments have formed the basis of the assumptions used in the PEA.  

Rock salt produced from Great Atlantic will initially target the regional deicing markets in eastern Canada and the U.S. East Coast.  It is estimated that this market requires between 11.0 Mtpa and 16.0 Mtpa of rock salt in any given year, sourced from domestic and international suppliers, with the demand highly correlated to weather conditions. The primary customers of rock salt are government entities that use a tender system for the annual supply of deicing salt. Secondary customers include commercial deicing operators. 

Government entities include municipalities, Departments of Transportation (DoT), counties, and other provincial or state entities, while commercial operators may vary from distribution companies for retail purchases or contractors who purchase rock salt for de-icing commercial and private properties.

Cash Flow Model Basis

SLR has prepared a cash flow model that is based on a 30-year mine plan with a production rate of 2.5 Mtpa.  It is noted that the Mineral Resource base will allow for a much longer mine life. The mine schedule includes a three-year ramp-up period, with year one production of 1.5 Mtpa, year two production of 2.0 Mtpa, and year three reaching steady-state production of 2.5 Mtpa. 

The cash flow model comprises estimates of capital costs, operating costs, an assessment of revenue, and an estimate of project economic metrics such as net present value, internal rate of return, and payback period.  Economic metrics were assessed both on a pre and post-tax basis. 

SLR has assumed that construction of the mine would commence in 2025, with salt production commencing in 2028. To bring salt prices to a 2028 base date, SLR has applied a 4.0% annual increase to the price of salt, which is consistent with other publicly available technical reports on existing salt operations in North America.  Beyond 2028, SLR has applied a 2.0% annual increase to the price of salt. In terms of costs, SLR has applied 2.0% annual inflation to capital and operating costs.

Capital Costs

Capital costs for the Project have been estimated based on first principles build-ups, factored estimates, and quotes for major equipment and supplies. The capital cost estimate conforms to an AACE Class 5 estimate, as of the fourth quarter of 2022. Capital costs are divided between pre-production capital (representing years leading up to salt production) and sustaining capital. Costs are divided into areas including mining, processing, infrastructure, off-site infrastructure, indirect costs, owner’s costs, and contingency. The capital cost estimate is presented in Table 2.

Operating Costs

Operating costs for the Project have been estimated based on first principles build-ups, estimations of labor quantities and remuneration, productivity, and consumption assumptions. The operating cost estimate is as of the fourth quarter of 2022. Operating costs are divided into disciplines including mining, processing, general and administration, and port operations. SLR has assumed that the port would be owned and operated by a third party and accessible based on commercial terms. The operating cost estimate is presented in Table 3.

Pricing and Revenue Assumptions

SLR has assumed a weighted average price of rock salt based on a market analysis review completed by a third party, as well as taking into consideration the shipping and logistics costs of getting the salt to destination ports.  SLR’s revenue analysis is based on pricing FOB Turf Point and is based on the fourth quarter of 2022. The Project is subject to a royalty payable to Vulcan Minerals Inc., in the amount of 3% of net production revenue.  A summary of revenue assumptions is presented in Table 4.

Economic Outcomes

The resulting economics of the Project are presented in Table 5.

Next Steps

Upon completion of the PEA, Atlas intends to release a supporting NI 43-101 compliant report posted to SEDAR within 45 days of this news release.  Other ongoing work toward Feasibility Study completion includes the following:

• Geotechnical field program to support key assumptions related to mine access and design
• Updated geological modeling based on the most recent drilling (Drill Hole CC-9), which is not incorporated into the current Mineral Resource estimate
• Continued progress in the areas of environmental baseline monitoring
• Continued stakeholder engagement
• Ongoing work with potential vendors and suppliers
• Targeting completion of the feasibility study in the first half of 2023

Qualified Persons

This news release describes an updated Mineral Resource estimate and a PEA plan and cash flow based upon geological, engineering, technical and cost inputs developed by SLR Consulting (Canada) Ltd. A National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report (NI 43-101) will be filed on SEDAR within 45 days. The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in NI 43-101 and reviewed and approved by EurGeol Dr. John G. Kelly, P.Geo., FIMMM, MIQ, David M. Robson, P.Eng., MBA, Lance Engelbrecht, P.Eng., Derek J. Riehm, M.A.Sc., P.Eng., and Graham G. Clow, P.Eng. each of whom is a “qualified person” under National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”).

The technical information in this news release has been prepared in accordance with the Canadian regulatory requirements set out in National Instrument 43-101 and reviewed on behalf of the company by Patrick J. Laracy, P.Geo., CEO of Atlas Salt and a qualified person.

About Atlas Salt

Bringing the Power of SALT to Investors: Atlas Salt owns 100% of the Great Atlantic salt deposit strategically located in western Newfoundland in the middle of the robust eastern North America road salt market. The project features a large homogeneous high-grade resource located immediately next to a deep-water port. Atlas is also the largest shareholder in Triple Point Resources as it pursues the development of the Fischell’s Brook Salt Dome approximately 15 kilometers south of Great Atlantic in the heart of an emerging Clean Energy Hub.

Atlas Salt Inc. – Atlas Salt

Anfield Energy Inc. is pleased to announce that BRS Engineering has begun a Preliminary Economic Assessment for the Company’s Slick Rock uranium and vanadium project. Slick Rock is located in the prolific Uravan region of Colorado, in close proximity to Anfield’s West Slope uranium and vanadium project. The property holds a historical inferred resource of 2.5 million tons at 0.228% uranium and 1.37% vanadium, returning 11.6 million pounds of uranium and 69.6 million pounds of vanadium* and, between 1957 and 1983, Slick Rock produced 2.2 million pounds of uranium and 13.9 million pounds of vanadium. Finally, in 2014 Uranium Energy Corporation, the previous owner of Slick Rock, issued a PEA which stated a pre-tax project Internal Rate of Return of 33% and a Net Present Value of US$63.5 million, based on a discount rate of 7% and a uranium price of US$60 per pound, along with a vanadium price of US$10 per pound**.

The mineral resource estimates and PEA cited above are based on data and reports prepared by the previous operator of the project. Anfield is treating these reports as historic in nature. Work necessary to independently verify the classification of the mineral resource estimates and the PEA in accordance with National Instrument 43-101, confirmed by a qualified person, and in compliance with CIM standards has not been completed. This historical estimate and PEA should not be relied upon.

Anfield CEO, Corey Dias, stated, “We are excited at the prospect of both confirming, and improving upon, the Slick Rock PEA results previously issued, especially given that the results will consider the use of our wholly-owned conventional mill – Shootaring – for the purpose of producing both uranium and vanadium from Slick Rock ores. We believe that Anfield remains well-positioned to create further shareholder value with regard to its undervalued uranium and vanadium assets through the upgrading of its resource assets. Our two-fold strategy includes a near-term focus on uranium and vanadium production from our primary assets – Velvet-Wood, West Slope and Slick Rock – while our longer-term projects – such as Frank M, Findlay Tank and Artillery Peak – are expected to provide the Company with a secondary production pipeline to be leveraged once our primary mines are depleted.

“Finally, the prospect of Shootaring becoming the next operational conventional uranium and vanadium mill in the United States is significant both economically and with respect to the surety of supply for utilities. The Slick Rock PEA will not only represent a significant milestone for Anfield but will also outline a path towards commercial development of this property, alongside Anfield’s Velvet-Wood and West Slope projects. Anfield is clearly well-positioned to benefit from an improving uranium market”.

Slick Rock Project

Slick Rock is located in a well-known uranium mining region in Colorado, within the historic Uravan Mineral Belt and at the intersection of two major mineral trends. Uranium and vanadium were produced historically at the Burro Mine within the Slick Rock property package between 1957 and 1983, and future exploration targets continue to focus on the down-dip extensions of the Burro and Sunday-Carnation mineral trends. The property was the subject of a preliminary economic assessment in 2014.

* The Slick Rock historical resource estimate is disclosed in “Technical Report, Preliminary Economic Assessment, Slick Rock Project, Uranium/Vanadium Deposit, San Miguel County, Southwest Colorado, USA” prepared for Uranium Energy Corp. by BRS Inc. and dated April 8, 2014. The Company considers the resource estimate relevant as it will drive further development by the Company, and reliable, as it was completed by a competent Qualified Person to the standards of the time. The Slick Rock historical resource estimate is an inferred resource as defined in National Instrument 43-101. The Company is not aware of any more recent resource estimates. The Company will need to have the Technical Report updated by a Qualified Person to bring the historical mineral resource estimate current. The Company has not done sufficient work to classify the historic estimate as a current mineral resource and is not treating the historical estimate as a current mineral resource.

The results of the PEA represent forward-looking information. This economic assessment is preliminary in nature and it includes inferred mineral resources that are considered too speculative, geologically, to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be categorized as mineral reserves. There is no certainty that the preliminary economic assessment will be realized. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves as they do not have demonstrated economic viability.

The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Douglas L. Beahm, a Qualified Person, for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101.

About Anfield

Anfield is a uranium and vanadium development and near-term production company that is committed to becoming a top-tier energy-related fuels supplier by creating value through sustainable, efficient growth in its assets. Anfield is a publicly traded corporation listed on the TSX-Venture Exchange (AEC-V), the OTCQB Marketplace (ANLDF) and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (0AD). Anfield is focused on its conventional asset center, as summarized below:

Arizona/Utah/Colorado – Shootaring Canyon Mill

A key asset in Anfield’s portfolio is the Shootaring Canyon Mill in Garfield County, Utah. The Shootaring Canyon Mill is strategically located within one of the historically most prolific uranium production areas in the United States and is one of only three licensed uranium mills in the United States.

Anfield’s conventional uranium assets consist of mining claims and state leases in southeastern Utah, Colorado, and Arizona, targeting areas where past uranium mining or prospecting occurred. Anfield’s conventional uranium and vanadium assets include the Slick Rock Project, the Velvet-Wood Project, the Frank M Uranium Project, the West Slope Project, the Long Park Project as well as the Findlay Tank breccia pipe. All conventional uranium assets are situated within a 200-mile radius of the Shootaring Mill.

www.anfieldenergy.com

First Tellurium Corp., reports that its Strategic Partner Fenix Advanced Materials has participated in a significant new study on the game-changing potential of tellurium to revolutionize the charging and safety of lithium-ion batteries. The study, reported in the upcoming March edition of the technical journal Nano Energy, notes that tellurium offers “…a promising cathode to achieve long cycle life and high energy density for Li-S batteries.”

The article, titled A high-performance tellurium-sulfur cathode in carbonate-based electrolytes, was co-authored by Fenix Advanced Materials’ founder and CEO Don Freschi.

Freschi stated, “Our latest research on next-generation Lithium-Ion batteries has confirmed that tellurium will be a critical component for safer, quicker-charging, high energy capacity Lithium-Ion batteries for EVs and smaller electronics.”

Tellurium has many advantages when incorporated into Lithium-Ion Battery Cathodes, Freschi noted, due to its high theoretical energy density (longer lasting charge), very good electrical conductivity (much quicker charging), and safety (not volatile).

Fenix Advanced Materials, based in Trail, BC, has partnered with First Tellurium since 2019. Fenix is a clean technology company specializing in the manufacture of ultra-high purity (UHP) metals. They sell a variety of UHP metals for use in solar energy, telecommunications and commercial/military infrared markets and are currently working with UBC Okanagan and European partners to develop a solid-state, next-generation lithium-tellurium battery.

The goal of the FTEL/Fenix Strategic Partnership is to develop potential future tellurium extraction and purification plus other synergies to achieve a vertically integrated enterprise for cleantech metals.

“The work by Fenix reinforces our conviction that tellurium is becoming more and more essential for a green economy,” said First Tellurium President and CEO Tyrone Docherty. “Tellurium is already a crucial component for thin-film solar panels worldwide. New applications like Lithium-ion batteries will add to the metal’s importance as the world shifts away from fossil fuels towards electric vehicles.”

About First Tellurium Corp.

First Tellurium’s unique business model is to generate revenue and value through mineral discovery, project development, project generation and cooperative access to untapped mineral regions in the Indigenous territory with sustainable exploration.

Our polymetallic (tellurium, gold, silver copper, tungsten) Deer Horn Project in British Columbia and Klondike tellurium-gold property in Colorado anchor a diversified search for metals, working in alliance with Indigenous peoples, NGOs, governments and leading metals buyers. This is the future of mineral exploration: generating revenue by exploring responsibly and leveraging diverse partnerships.

First Tellurium proudly adheres to and supports the principles and rights set out in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and in particular the fundamental proposition of free, prior and informed consent.

Skyharbour Resources Ltd. is pleased to announce that the Company has commenced its inaugural winter drill program at the 73,294-hectare Russell Lake Uranium Project strategically located in the central core of the Eastern Athabasca Basin of northern Saskatchewan. Skyharbour is planning a minimum of 10,000 meters of diamond drilling in 18 to 20 drill holes over several phases and is fully funded and permitted for the drilling. The geologists and drilling crews are working out of an exploration camp on the Project located on the highway and within five kilometers of Denison Mines’ Phoenix deposit located on the adjacent Wheeler River Project.

Russell Lake Project Location Map:
http://www.skyharbourltd.com/_resources/images/SKY-RussellLake-20220325-Inset.jpg

Jordan Trimble, President and CEO of Skyharbour, stated: “The commencement of our first diamond drill program at the Russell Lake Uranium Project is a key milestone for Skyharbour and its shareholders. This fully funded 10,000 m drill campaign will provide ample news flow well into the year as we advance the project using systematic and proven exploration methodologies coupled with new geological models and targeting strategies. We are confident in the discovery potential and exploration upside at Russell Lake given the high-grade mineralization in historical drill holes along with the many highly prospective target areas hosting the geology necessary for high-grade uranium deposition.”

“Skyharbour is also excited to have additional news flow and catalysts from its prospect generator business consisting of seven partner companies advancing some of our other projects throughout the Athabasca Basin. Over the next year, the Company is anticipating the largest combined drilling and exploration programs at its primary projects of Russell and Moore, as well as at its partner-funded projects of East Preston, Hook Lake, Mann Lake, Yurchison, South Falcon East, Wallee and Usam.”

Winter Diamond Drilling Program at Russell Lake:

Skyharbour will conduct a first phase of drilling consisting of 3,000 meters to follow up on notable historic exploration and findings, as well as to test additional targets with the potential to generate new discoveries. This phase of drilling will test previously identified prospective target areas, some of which host high-grade uranium mineralization in historical drill holes. Of particular interest for this inaugural drilling program will be the Grayling Zone located nearby the exploration camp and road. This first phase of drilling will then be followed up with several other phases of drilling totaling 10,000 meters in 18 – 20 drill holes.

After extensive compilation and review of the relevant exploration data, special attention has been given to the structural setting of the geological, geochemical and geophysical data at the Grayling Zone for exploration purposes. Wide-spaced drilling at the Grayling Zone encountered an 800 m long discontinuous zone of uranium mineralization in a ~2,200 m section of thrust-faulted conductive basement rocks (i.e. graphitic pelitic gneisses) up to 100 m thick, which lie along the overall >10 km long Grayling-M-Zone conductor trend. Uranium mineralization identified to date includes basement-hosted, unconformity-hosted and perched varieties associated with the nose of a basement thrust wedge (SMDI 2151, 3563, 3564). The best historical drill hole at the Grayling Zone is hole RL-85-07, where a 0.3 m interval grading 3.45% U₃O₈ intersected a depth of 363.2 meters, as well as an interval of 0.09% U3O8 over 0.5 m at a depth of 366.4 meters (SMDI 2151). Additional drill holes containing significant uranium mineralization related to the Grayling thrust fault are located along the >10 km long extension of the Grayling conductor trend, both on-property at the M-Zone Extension (SMDI 5540) and off-property at the M-Zone (SMDI 2139, 3569) on Denison Mines’ adjacent Wheeler River property, further highlighting the potential fertility of this major conductor trend.

Significant structural offsets with the potential to act as major traps for uranium mineralizing fluids have been identified at the Grayling Zone. Traps such as these are the setting for high-grade zones of uranium mineralization at Denison’s adjacent Wheeler River Project (Phoenix and Gryphon deposits) as well as Skyharbour’s adjacent Moore Uranium Project (Maverick and Maverick East Zones). The Company’s initial drill program at the Russell Lake project will be focusing on the large gaps between mineralized holes in order to further define the mineralization and controlling structures at the Grayling Zone, as well as testing the down-dip and down-plunge extensions of the Grayling thrust fault into the basement rocks which have seen limited historical drilling. Logistics for this initial drill program will be facilitated by the proximity of the Grayling Zone to the camp at McGowan Lake.

Russell Lake 2023 Winter Drill Program Drill Targets:
https://skyharbourltd.com/_resources/images/Drill-Targets-2023-Winter-Drill-Program.jpg

The first drill holes will be drilled near RL-00-22A which returned 0.12% U₃O₈ over 2.2 m at 343.3 m depth, including 0.26% U₃O₈ over 0.5 m (Assessment File 74H06-0108), to confirm thrust related uranium mineralization in the southeasternmost part of the Grayling Zone and track it along the strike extent. These initial holes will be drilled to intersect the Grayling thrust fault at depth. Depending on the results additional holes are planned in the approximately 300 m gap in drilling between holes RL-00-22A and RL-07-05 which returned 0.03% U3O8 over 1.0 m at 366.0 m depth and 0.16% U3O8 over 0.5 m at 389.1 m depth (Assessment File 74H06-0134), and hole RL85-07, the best hole on the property which returned 3.45% U3O8 over 0.3 m at 363.2 m depth as well as 0.09% U3O8 over 0.5 meters at 366.4 m depth (Assessment File 74H06-0091/SMDI 2151).

Additional drill holes for this winter’s program are planned along the Grayling thrust near hole RL-00-20 (returned 0.043% U₃O₈ over 0.5 m at 335.2 m depth and 0.038% U₃O₈ over 1.5 m at 336.8 m depth – Assessment File 74H06-0108), hole RL-85-08 (returned 0.7 m of 0.073% U₃O₈ at 323.35 m depth and 1.0 m of 0.32% U₃O₈ at 327.0 m depth – Assessment File 74H06-0091), hole RL-08-16 (returned 0.054% U₃O₈ over 0.9 m at 328.5 m depth and 0.768 % U₃O₈ over 1.0 m at 331.0 m depth – Assessment File 74H11-0126), and hole RL-87-16 (returned 0.40% U₃O₈ over 3.75 m at 327.5 m depth – Assessment File 74H06-0102, SMDI 2151). These drill holes will test the strike extent of the mineralization between previous drill hole fences, as well as test the Grayling thrust fault in the nose of the thrust at the unconformity and in the hanging wall of the fault to further determine the relationship between mineralization and the Grayling thrust fault.

Regional Drill Target Refinement at Russell Lake:

There have been numerous geophysical surveys covering the Russell Lake project throughout its history and Skyharbour has contracted Condor Consulting to conduct geophysical and geological compilation and interpretation work. Historical data is being re-examined using modern processing and modeling techniques in order to generate and optimize regional drill targets for future drill programs on the property. Condor’s extensive knowledge of the uranium deposits of the Athabasca Basin, worldwide experience, broad client base and advanced technical expertise make them the logical candidate to adequately assess the extensive collection of geophysical data on the property.

Condor has been focusing on the Grayling, Grayling East, Grayling West, Fox Lake Trail, and M-Zone Extension areas (i.e. area of interest “AOI”), where previous drilling has intersected prospective mineralization, alteration, structure, and geochemistry. Condor has stitched together magnetic data from several historical magnetic surveys and performed 3D magnetic susceptibility inversion of the data as required. These inversions are being used to generate various mapping products. Conductors are being picked using existing airborne EM data, and Condor will define conductor axes where possible with additional modeling of the available ground EM data to further aid conductor definition. A pair of airborne gravity surveys over the AOI has been merged, and both the airborne and ground gravity data are being used to generate a number of 2D and 3D target models. Additionally, 2D and 3D DC resistivity interpretations generated by the previous operator Rio Tinto have been used in target assessment. The combined results from this compilation and interpretation work are producing geophysical targets for continued drilling at the Project and it is identifying any data gaps where additional surveying may be required.

Russell Lake Uranium Project Overview:

The Russell Lake Project is a large, advanced-stage uranium exploration property totaling 73,294 hectares strategically located between Cameco’s Key Lake and McArthur River Projects and adjoining Denison’s Wheeler River Project to the west and Skyharbour’s Moore Uranium Project to the east. Highway 914, which services the McArthur River mine, runs through the western extent of the Property and greatly enhances accessibility. Similarly, a high-voltage powerline is situated alongside Highway 914. Skyharbour’s acquisition of Russell Lake creates a large, nearly contiguous block of highly prospective uranium claims totaling 108,999 hectares between the Russell Lake and the Moore uranium projects.

There has been a meaningful amount of historical exploration carried out at Russell Lake but most of it was conducted prior to 2010. The Property has been the subject of over 95,000 meters of drilling in over 230 drill holes. The Property’s claims are in good standing for 2-22 years with significant assessment credits built-up from previous exploration programs.

Several notable exploration targets exist on the property including the Grayling Zone, the M-Zone Extension target, the Little Man Lake target, the Christie Lake target, and the Fox Lake Trail target. More than 35 kilometers of largely untested prospective conductors in areas of low magnetic intensity exist on the Property as well.

At the Grayling Zone, drilling in a 2,200 m long section of the >10 km Grayling-M-Zone conductor trend graphitic intersected an 800 meters long discontinuous zone of basement-hosted uranium mineralization with localized perched and unconformity-hosted associated mineralization along a >100 m thick interval of thrust-faulted graphitic pelitic gneisses (SMDI 2151, 3563, 3564). Drill hole RL-85-07 intersected 3.45% U3O8 over 0.3 meters at a depth of 363.2 meters and 0.09% U3O8 over 0.5m at a depth of 366.4 meters (SMDI 2151). This target is prospective for additional high-grade uranium discoveries and is open in several directions.

Historical drilling at neighboring Denison’s M-Zone along the >10km long Grayling conductor trend intersected basement hosted uranium of up to 0.70% U3O8 over 5.8 meters at a depth of 374.0 meters (SMDI 2139, 3569). Like the Grayling Zone, the mineralization is hosted by a graphitic thrust fault. The northeast extension of the M-Zone-Grayling corridor onto the Property, the M-Zone Extension target, has seen limited drilling, but mineralization was intersected in historical drilling, returning 0.7 meters of 0.123% U3O8 at 619.1 meters depth in hole MZE-11-03 (SMDI 5540).

The Little Man Lake Zone target is 500 meters long, 10 to 15 meters thick, and 25 to 35 meters wide, and is a zone of prospective geology associated with an unconformity depression. The last drilling in this area was in 1989, prior to modern uranium exploration models, with historical uranium grades ranging from 0.03% up to 0.1% U3O8 at around 300 meters depth (SMDI 2429).

At the Fox Lake Trail target area, uranium mineralization was intersected in a few historical drill holes. Significant intercepts include 0.0743% U₃O₈ over 1.0 meters at 525.5 meters depth in hole FLT-08-06 (SMDI 3566), and 0.053% U3O8 over 0.3 meters at 516.9 meters depth in hole FLT-11-14 (SMDI 3565). A prospective quartzite ridge runs through the area along with anomalous geochemistry in faulted basement metasediments. Significant sandstone-hosted sulfides are also found in this area.

The Christie Lake target area contains basement-hosted uranium mineralization with historical drill results returning 0.17% U₃O₈ over 0.4 meters at 436.4 meters depth in hole CL-10-03(SMDI 5305). A prospective clay-altered basement fault system runs throughout this area.

In addition to the aforementioned target areas, there are more than 35 kilometers of untested conductors on the Property underlain by rocks of low magnetic intensity, suggestive of prospective graphitic meta-pelitic basement rocks. The Project has seen limited exploration in the previous twelve years, so minimal modern exploration techniques and methods have been used to expand existing zones of mineralization as well as to make new discoveries.

There is a fully permitted exploration camp on the Project suitable for over forty people located on the highway and within 5 kilometers of Denison’s Phoenix deposit. Skyharbour has the option to acquire an initial 51% interest in the project and can acquire up to a 100% interest in the project from Rio Tinto (see news release dated July 19^th, 2022).

About Skyharbour Resources Ltd.:

Skyharbour holds an extensive portfolio of uranium exploration projects in Canada’s Athabasca Basin and is well positioned to benefit from improving uranium market fundamentals with eighteen projects, ten of which are drill-ready, covering over 460,000 hectares of land. Skyharbour has acquired from Denison Mines, a large strategic shareholder of the Company, a 100% interest in the Moore Uranium Project which is located 15 kilometers east of Denison’s Wheeler River project and 39 kilometers south of Cameco’s McArthur River uranium mine. Moore is an advanced-stage uranium exploration property with high-grade uranium mineralization at the Maverick Zone that returned drill results of up to 6.0% U3O8 over 5.9 meters including 20.8% U3O8 over 1.5 meters at a vertical depth of 265 meters. Adjacent to the Moore Uranium Project is Skyharbour’s recently optioned Russell Lake Uranium Project from Rio Tinto, which hosts historical high-grade drill intercepts over a large property area with robust exploration upside potential. The Company is actively advancing these projects through exploration and drill programs.

Skyharbour has a joint venture with industry-leader Orano Canada Inc. at the Preston Project whereby Orano has earned a 51% interest in the project through exploration expenditures and cash payments. Skyharbour now owns a 24.5% interest in the Project. Skyharbour also has a joint venture with Azincourt Energy at the East Preston Project whereby Azincourt has earned a 70% interest in the project through exploration expenditures, cash payments and share issuance. Skyharbour now owns a 15% interest in the Project. Preston and East Preston are large, geologically prospective properties proximal to Fission Uranium’s Triple R deposit as well as NexGen Energy’s Arrow deposit.

Skyharbour has several active option partners including ASX-listed Valor Resources on the Hook Lake Uranium Project, CSE-listed Basin Uranium Corp. on the Mann Lake Uranium Project, and CSE-listed Medaro Mining Corp. on the Yurchison Project. More recently, Skyharbour announced two new earn-in option agreements with Yellow Rocks Energy, a private Australian entity, to option the Wallee and Usam Island projects, and Tisdale Clean Energy at the South Falcon East Project.

Furthermore, the Company owns a 100% interest in the South Falcon Point Uranium Project on the eastern perimeter of the Basin, which contains a NI 43-101 inferred resource totaling 7.0 million pounds of U₃O₈ at 0.03% and 5.3 million pounds of ThO₂ at 0.023%. Skyharbour has recently optioned the South Falcon East Project, a uranium project in the southeast Athabasca Basin that represents a portion of the larger South Falcon Project, to Tisdale Clean Energy whereby Tisdale will fund exploration, pay Skyharbour in cash, and issue shares of the company over a five-year earn-in period.

Collectively, Skyharbour has now signed option agreements with partners that total over $34 million in partner-funded exploration expenditures, over $22 million in stock being issued and just under $15 million in cash payments coming into Skyharbour, assuming that these partner companies earn in the full amount at their respective projects.

Skyharbour’s goal is to maximize shareholder value through new mineral discoveries, committed long-term partnerships, and the advancement of exploration projects in geopolitically favorable jurisdictions.

Skyharbour’s Uranium Project Map in the Athabasca Basin:
http://www.skyharbourltd.com/_resources/images/SKY-SaskProject-Locator-20220324.jpg

To find out more about Skyharbour Resources Ltd. visit the Company’s website at www.skyharbourltd.com.

From mining to manufacturing, to charging, Canadian businesses and workers are attracting historic investments in the electric vehicle supply chain. When electric vehicles are made from Canadian minerals, assembled by Canadian auto workers, and powered at Canadian-made chargers, we secure and create jobs, grow our economy, and keep our air clean now and into the future.

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, met with workers at the Saskatoon facility of Vital Metals, Canada’s first rare earth producer. Rare earth elements are a critical mineral used in clean technology like electric vehicles and wind turbines. The Government of Canada recently announced $5 million in funding to help establish processing and production at this facility, part of a series of federal investments to support jobs and the growth of Canada’s critical minerals sector.

Critical minerals are the building blocks of the clean economy and are in increasing demand globally. Canada’s first Critical Minerals Strategy, released in December 2022, is a roadmap to make Canada a global supplier of choice for critical minerals.

Canadian workers and businesses are already leading in clean energy and technology, and the components that go into it. As demand continues to grow, positioning Canada as a reliable supplier will create even more Canadian jobs, grow our economy, and cut pollution to help fight climate change.

“The world wants clean technology, and Canada has the resources, the expertise, and the skilled workers to meet that demand. By developing and processing our critical minerals here in Canada – the first step in the clean technology supply chain – we can create good middle-class jobs all while keeping our air clean for generations to come.” said The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada

Quick Facts

• Critical minerals are central to major global industries like clean technology, health care, aerospace, and computing. They are used in solar panels, phones, and computers, and are vital to produce electric vehicles. Permanent magnets and rare earth elements are essential inputs into electric vehicle motors and many clean technology applications.
• Canada’s Critical Minerals Strategy is backed by up to $3.8 billion in federal support, announced in Budget 2022. The proposed funding covers the whole critical minerals supply chain, from geoscience and exploration to mineral processing, manufacturing, and recycling applications, including support for research, development, and technological deployment.
• Saskatchewan is a Canadian leader in producing sustainable critical minerals, with a rich supply of uranium. The world’s largest producer of potash, the province is home to the world’s most sustainable potash mine.
• Recent federal investments in the development of critical minerals include a contribution of up to $222 million through the Strategic Innovation Fund to help Rio Tinto Fer et Titane to increase its production of essential minerals and a $27 million contribution to E3 Lithium Ltd. through the Strategic Innovation Fund’s Net Zero Accelerator initiative.
• Canada currently produces 60 minerals and metals at 200 mines.
• Vital Metals is Canada’s first rare earth miner. The company crushes and sorts ore at the Nechalacho mine in the Northwest Territories, before sending the ore to the Saskatoon rare earth extraction plant.

A novel technique called Underground Gravity Energy Storage turns decommissioned mines into long-term energy storage solutions, thereby supporting the sustainable energy transition.

Renewable energy sources are central to the energy transition toward a more sustainable future. However, as sources like sunshine and wind are inherently variable and inconsistent, finding ways to store energy in an accessible and efficient way is crucial. While there are many effective solutions for daily energy storage, the most common being batteries, a cost-effective long-term solution is still lacking.

In a new IIASA-led study, an international team of researchers developed a novel way to store energy by transporting sand into abandoned underground mines. The new technique called Underground Gravity Energy Storage (UGES) proposes an effective long-term energy storage solution while also making use of now-defunct mining sites, which likely number in the millions globally. 

UGES generates electricity when the price is high by lowering sand into an underground mine and converting the potential energy of the sand into electricity via regenerative braking and then lifting the sand from the mine to an upper reservoir using electric motors to store energy when electricity is cheap. The main components of UGES are the shaft, motor/generator, upper and lower storage sites, and mining equipment. The deeper and broader the mineshaft, the more power can be extracted from the plant, and the larger the mine, the higher the plant’s energy storage capacity.

“When a mine closes, it lays off thousands of workers. This devastates communities that rely only on the mine for their economic output. UGES would create a few vacancies as the mine would provide energy storage services after it stops operations,” says Julian Hunt, a researcher in the IIASA Energy, Climate, and Environment Program and the lead author of the study. “Mines already have the basic infrastructure and are connected to the power grid, which significantly reduces the cost and facilitates the implementation of UGES plants.”

Other energy storage methods, like batteries, lose energy via self-discharge over long periods. The energy storage medium of UGES is sand, meaning that there is no energy lost to self-discharge, enabling ultra-long time energy storage ranging from weeks to several years. 

The investment costs of UGES are about 1 to 10 USD/kWh and power capacity costs of 2.000 USD/kW. The technology is estimated to have a global potential of 7 to 70 TWh, with most of this potential concentrated in China, India, Russia, and the USA. 

“To decarbonize the economy, we need to rethink the energy system based on innovative solutions using existing resources. Turning abandoned mines into energy storage is one example of many solutions that exist around us, and we only need to change the way we deploy them,” concludes Behnam Zakeri, study coauthor and a researcher in the IIASA Energy, Climate, and Environment Program.

The International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) is an international scientific institute that conducts research into the critical issues of global environmental, economic, technological, and social change that we face in the twenty-first century. Our findings provide valuable options to policymakers to shape the future of our changing world. IIASA is independent and funded by prestigious research funding agencies in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe.

www.iiasa.ac.at

Following the resolution to grant planning permission by the South Oxfordshire District Council Planning Committee, construction of General Fusion’s demonstration at the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority’s Culham Campus is expected to start this summer.

When construction of the 10,500m² building is complete, General Fusion will lease the building from UKAEA. The company’s fusion machine is expected to be commissioned in 2026 and fully operational by early 2027.

Built to a 70 percent scale of a commercial power plant, the demonstration will create fusion conditions in a power plant-relevant environment, achieving temperatures of over 100 million degrees Celsius. This is a crucial step on the path to eventually powering homes, businesses and industries with zero-carbon fusion energy. The facility itself will not generate power.

Siting the facility at the UKAEA’s Culham Campus, part of the thriving UK Fusion Cluster enables General Fusion to access world-leading science and engineering capabilities, such as knowledge and experience in designing, constructing and operating the record-breaking Joint European Torus. In addition, the company will benefit from the UK’s existing fusion energy supply chains.

“The UK has been a longstanding leader in fusion energy development. We are thrilled to join the Culham Campus and the UK’s Fusion Cluster, and anticipate creating 60 long-term jobs at the site,” said Greg Twinney, CEO of General Fusion. “In addition, we expect the project will generate approximately 200 jobs during construction.”

“The UKAEA welcomes this milestone as it aligns with our strategy to create clusters that accelerate innovation in fusion and related technologies, and support public-private partnerships to thrive,” said Professor Sir Ian Chapman, CEO of UKAEA. “It also builds upon our heritage of hosting major fusion facilities here at our Culham Campus.”

The building was designed by architects, AL_A, led by Stirling Prize winner Amanda Levete and Ove Arup Engineers, and has been developed to exemplary design and sustainability standards.

“Receiving planning permission is a huge milestone and testament to the close collaboration between our team, General Fusion, and the UKAEA. The building will not only be highly efficient but one that also expresses the technological optimism of fusion to solve the energy problems of the world,” said Amanda Levete, founder and principal of AL_A. “The design projects a confident message to the public about the extraordinary potential of this technology. It represents a clear shift in the relationship between environment and industry, moving from one of opposition to one of symbiosis.”

The design of the fusion demonstration facility is intended to enhance the surrounding biodiversity. The building will achieve BREEAM’s excellent accreditation through a mix of strategies that include reusing waste heat, natural ventilation to minimize cooling loads, as well as a large green roof and extensive photovoltaics.

About General Fusion

General Fusion is pursuing a fast and practical approach to commercial fusion energy and is based in Vancouver, Canada, with locations in London, UK, and Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA. The company was established in 2002 and is funded by a global syndicate of leading energy venture capital firms, industry leaders, and technology pioneers.

Learn more at www.generalfusion.com.

About UKAEA

UK Atomic Energy Authority is the national research organization responsible for the development of fusion energy.

Fusion energy has great potential to deliver safe, sustainable, low-carbon energy for generations to come. It is based on the same processes that power the sun and stars and would form part of the world’s future energy mix. Achieving this is a major technical challenge that involves working at the forefront of science, engineering, and technology. 

UKAEA’s programs include the MAST-Upgrade (Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak) fusion experiment and the JET (Joint European Torus) fusion research facility, operated for scientists from around Europe in Culham, Oxford. STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) is UKAEA’s ambitious program to accelerate the delivery of fusion energy, with plans to deliver a prototype powerplant producing net electricity in the 2040s in Nottinghamshire. 

UKAEA also undertakes cutting-edge work with academia, other research organizations and the industrial supply chain in a wide spectrum of areas, including robotics and materials. 

More information: https://www.gov.uk/ukaea. Social Media: @UKAEAofficial

Lomiko Metals Inc. reaffirms its vision to embrace Indigenous people and Indigenous values within our projects, to develop a sustainable approach on our path to critical minerals development, while honoring the lives, memories, and hopes of all seven generations close.

The projects where Lomiko has natural flake graphite claims, namely La Loutre and surrounding claims, are located within the traditional land of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation’s territory. The KZ First Nation is part of the Algonquin Nation and the traditional KZ territory is situated within the Outaouais and Laurentides regions. The Bourier lithium project site is located near Nemaska Lithium and Critical Elements, southeast of the Eeyou Istchee James Bay territory and within the traditional land of the Cree Eeyou Istchee Peoples.

Belinda Labatte, CEO and Director: “Just over twelve months ago, we embarked on our journey to listen and learn from First Nations, and work toward our vision of climate success stories that are inclusive, and respect community values. Our first step was the development of a land acknowledgment, and today we take the opportunity to recognize that we are operating on KZ traditional land, where we retain mineral rights. This distinction, from land ownership, is now reflected in all our materials.

We thank Independent Director Lee Arden Lewis, status member of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory, and Advisor, Anne Chabot, strategic advisor to management on our work with KZ First Nation, for their guidance and support.

Lomiko further recognizes Reconciliation and supports the Canadian Critical Minerals strategy available here: https://www.canada.ca/en/campaign/critical-minerals-in-canada/canadian-critical-minerals-strategy.html#a54). Lomiko commits to Call to Action #92 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, which calls upon the corporate sector to:

• commit to meaningful consultation and seek the free and informed consent of Indigenous peoples prior to any economic development projects;
• ensure equitable access to jobs, education, and training, and ensure that Indigenous communities gain long-term sustainable benefits from economic development projects;
• Educate management and staff on the legacy and history of Indigenous people, and on UNDRIP, treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, human rights, and anti-racism.

In this past year: we have engaged with First Nations leaders and colleagues to better understand how we can do better as we build Lomiko; we held a reception in Montreal, Quebec “Voices at the Table” to talk about critical minerals development from a First Nations perspective; we commissioned artwork from a Mohawk artist to visually show our commitments; and we continue to talk to students and other Canadians about the importance of Indigenous and First Nations-led processes, for the future of our industry.”

The full artist statement can be seen on the company’s website at: https://lomiko.com/la-loutre-community-updates/.

Lomiko has a vision and purpose: we are a people-first company and believe we can manifest a world of abundant renewable energy with Canadian and Quebec critical minerals, for a solution in North America. Lomiko is ECOLOGO certified and seeks to be a responsible operator of choice in Quebec.

About Lomiko Metals Inc.

Lomiko Metals has a new vision and a new strategy for new energy. Lomiko represents a company with a purpose: a people-first company where we can manifest a world of abundant renewable energy with Canadian and Quebec critical minerals for a solution in North America. Our goal is to create a new energy future in Canada where we will grow the critical minerals workforce, become a valued partner and neighbor with the communities in which we operate, and provide a secure and responsibly sourced supply of critical minerals. Lomiko is ECOLOGO certified.

The Company holds mineral interests in its La Loutre graphite development in southern Quebec. The La Loutre project site is located within the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nation territory. The KZA First Nation is part of the Algonquin Nation and the KZA traditional territory is situated within the Outaouais and Laurentides regions.​ Located 180 kilometers northwest of Montreal, the property consists of 1 large, continuous block with 76 mineral claims totaling 4,528 hectares (45.3 km2). Lomiko Metals published a Preliminary Economic Assessment on September 10, 2021, which indicated the project had a 15-year mine life producing per year 100,000 tonnes of graphite concentrate at 95%Cg or a total of 1.5Mt of graphite concentrate. This report was prepared as National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report for Lomiko Metals Inc. by Ausenco Engineering Canada Inc., Hemmera Envirochem Inc., Moose Mountain Technical Services, and Metpro Management Inc., collectively the Report Authors. The Bourier project site is located near Nemaska Lithium and Critical Elements and southeast of the Eeyou Istchee James Bay territory in Quebec and within the traditional land of the Cree Eeyou Istchee Peoples. It consists of 203 claims, for a total ground position of 10,252.20 hectares (102.52 km2), in Canada’s lithium triangle near the James Bay region of Quebec, which has historically housed lithium deposits and mineralization trends.

Mr. Mike Petrina, Project Manager, a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed and approved the technical disclosure in this news release.

For more information on Lomiko Metals, review the website at www.lomiko.com

Critical minerals are an essential component of many renewable energy and clean technology applications and are vital to building Canada’s green and digital economy. That is why the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is joining the Government of Canada in providing support to help the province’s mining sector to grow and meet the increasing global demand for critical minerals.

The Honourable Seamus O’Regan Jr., federal Minister of Labour and MP for St. John’s South-Mount Pearl, announced an investment of $5.2 million over the next three years for the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to deliver two new critical mineral initiatives focused on geoscience and exploration activities. The announcement was made on behalf of the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, federal Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for ACOA.

In addition, the Honourable Andrew Parsons, Minister of Industry, Energy and Technology, confirmed $4.6 million in support through its existing Junior Exploration Assistance program and in-kind support over three years. These investments support an airborne geophysical survey program to help identify areas in the province for potential critical mineral exploration. The surveys will capture data remotely from areas where the geology is not well understood due to poor bedrock exposure. 

The funding will also provide increased support for eligible junior exploration companies searching for critical minerals in Newfoundland and Labrador through a new component of the Provincial Government’s Junior Exploration Assistance Program. Newfoundland and Labrador’s mineral industry continues to be a key economic driver for the province and a focus for investment attraction efforts. The estimated activity for 2022 is projected to result in over $5.4 billion in mineral shipments, $189 million in exploration expenditures, and employment of approximately 8,800 person-years.

Quotes

“The rise of critical minerals presents a real opportunity for Newfoundland and Labrador, given this province’s tremendous critical mineral potential. Support for exploration is necessary to expand our future critical mineral production and our participation in the creation of those products necessary to drive the transition to a green economy,” said Honorable Andrew Parsons, Minister of Industry, Energy, and Technology.

“Newfoundland and Labrador’s remarkable geology has helped us build a strong mining sector that provides thousands of jobs and many benefits for businesses and communities. We know that there is an untapped potential right here to discover more of the critical minerals that Canada and the world need to build a greener economy,” said Honorable Seamus O’Regan Jr., Minister of Labour and MP for St. John’s South-Mount Pearl.

“Atlantic Canada has an important role to play in developing sustainable industries and contributing to the digital economy. This investment will help ensure that more critical mineral exploration and development move forward, which will contribute to clean growth and support this region’s mining industry,” said Honorable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Official Languages and Minister Responsible for ACOA.

“The American Nuclear Society and the Fusion Energy Division of the American Nuclear Society congratulate the National Ignition Facility (NIF) team at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for their achievement in reaching the scientific energy breakeven milestone for fusion ignition.

As announced by the U.S. Department of Energy, on December 5, NIF generated a fusion energy output of 3.15 megajoules (MJ), which exceeded the amount of energy injected by the lasers (2.05 MJ). This is known as scientific energy breakeven. While the experiment required much more energy to generate such a laser and operate the experiment as a whole, this is still an important milestone and a stepping stone to the realization of fusion energy.

The fusion community has spent decades making steady progress towards this achievement, with the aim of generating more energy than was injected to start the fusion process. NIF was designed to achieve this goal and a steady program of experiments, each incorporating feedback from earlier experiments, has allowed these scientists to be first.

This result confirms that breakeven is possible for fusion energy and is encouraging for other efforts in the United States and internationally that seek the same goal through different approaches. Building on this result, a combination of public and private funding over the coming decade will surely move us closer to achieving net-energy production from fusion, and realizing fusion as a substantial source of clean energy.

With many major physics milestones reached by fusion experiments in the last two years, the fusion community is turning its attention to the engineering developments needed to harness this energy source.

The Fusion Energy Division of the American Nuclear Society focuses its activities on overcoming the engineering challenges at the intersection of nuclear engineering, plasma physics, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, material science, and other engineering and scientific fields.”

About:

Established in 1954, the  American Nuclear Society (ANS) is an international professional organization of engineers and scientists devoted to the peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology. Its more than 10,000 members represent government, academia, research laboratories, medical facilities, and private industry. ANS’s mission is to advance, foster, and spur the development and application of nuclear science, engineering, and technology to benefit society.

Belinda Labatte, CEO and Director stated: “We are pleased that these assays further confirm the results of the infill and expansion programs encountered so far. Significant intervals were encountered in the third and last batch of results from the Battery Zone, including 10 holes (LL-22-70 to 79) in the south end of the Battery Zone. The assay results further validate the continuity and quality of the mineralization. The best interval of 10.37% Cg over 64.0m was encountered in hole LL-22-074 including 14.15% Cg over 14.5m. We look forward to receiving the results from the shoulder sampling conducted in November in the EV and Battery Zones, to complete the drill database. The database would be used to start with the NI-43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate.”

Highlights

Assay results from the third and last batch of 10 of 26 holes drilled at Battery Zone:

• Consistent, near-surface graphite mineralization along the southwest margin of the Battery Zone
• Strong graphite values and significant widths in all 10 drill holes
• The best interval of 10.37% Cg over 64.0m from 27.0 to 91.0m in hole LL-22-074 including 14.15% Cg over 14.5m from 45.0 to 90.0m
• The second best interval of 11.42% Cg over 26.5m from 48.0 to 74.5m including 15.01% Cg over 13.5 from 51.0 to 64.5m and 17.16% Cg over 5.5m from 69.0 to 74.5m in hole LL-22-073
• The battery zone remains open on the south end.

The drilling was supervised by Québec-based, independent geological consultant Breakaway Exploration Management Inc. and was operated under ECOLOGO requirements and compliance protocols, as Lomiko is ECOLOGO certified. Please see the press release issued on March 23, 2022, for more details about Lomiko’s ECOLOGO certification.

The drill program at La Loutre was initiated on May 15, 2022, with the goal to further define the deposit, provide the data needed to increase confidence in the mineral resource, and build on the results of the positive Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”) for the La Loutre project as announced in the Company’s July 29, 2021 press release. Lomiko has retained InnovExplo Inc, a Quebec-based independent consulting firm specializing in geology, resource estimation, mining engineering, and sustainable development, to prepare an updated NI 43-101 compliant resource estimate for the La Loutre project following the completion of the 2022 drill program.

The assay results reported in this press release are for the 10 holes drilled at the south end of the Battery Zone. These holes were drilled to confirm the results of the previous drilling and provide better detail in this part of the Battery deposit. Please refer to Table 1 for the weighted averaged graphitic carbon-bearing drill intersections (not true thickness) and Table 2 and Figure 1 for the collar locations referred to in this press release.

Significant intervals of graphite mineralization were intersected in all 10 holes. The best intersection was 10.37 percent graphite (“%Cg”) over 64.0m from 27.0 to 91.0m in hole LL-22-074 including 14.15% Cg over 45m from 45.0 to 90.0m. The second-best interval was 11.42% Cg over 26.5m from 48.0 to 74.5m including 15.01% Cg over 13.5 from 51.0 to 64.5m and 17.16% Cg over 5.5m from 69.0 to 74.5 in hole LL-22-073. These two holes as well as holes LL-22-077, LL-22–078, and LL-22–079 form the southernmost extent of the Battery Zone. The robust dimensions and tenor of the strong intervals intersected in these holes suggest that the intervals continue further to the southeast and that the Battery zone remains open in that direction.

Generally, it was noted that the graphite mineralization intersected in the Battery zone is visually more coarse-grained than the graphite mineralization intersected at the recently drilled EV Zone.

Table 1: Weight averaged graphitic carbon-bearing drill intersections (not true thickness)

Table 2: Drill Hole Collar Locations (UTM NAD 83, Zone 18)

QAQC and Analytical Procedures

The drill core was logged and marked for sampling by a professional geologist. All the core was photographed as part of the logging procedure. Core samples were collected by splitting each sample interval in half lengthwise with a hydraulic core splitter. One-half of the interval was returned to the core box, and the other half was placed in a plastic bag with a tag. The tag number was marked in indelible ink on the outside of the bag, and the bag was sealed with a plastic tie-wrap. One certified reference material standard and one blank were included in each batch of 21 samples. For shipping, samples were placed in rice bags that were individually sealed with numbered, tamper-proof security tags. The rice bags were then placed on wooden pallets, secured with plastic wrapping, and delivered by truck to Manitoulin Transport Inc. for shipping to Activation Laboratories Ltd. (“Actlabs”) in Ancaster, Ontario.

At Actlabs the samples were crushed to 80% passing 2mm and then riffle split to a 250g sub-sample that was pulverized to pulp 95% passing 105μm (Actlabs Code RX1). The sample pulps were then analyzed for graphitic carbon “Cg”) by mild hydrochloric acid digestion followed by combustion in an infrared induction furnace (Actlabs Code 8Cg). Actlabs is accredited under ISO 9001:2015 registration and is independent of the Company.

Qualified Person

The technical content presented in this press release was reviewed by Mark Fekete, P.Geo. who actively participated in the La Loutre drill program as an independent consultant to the Company as the “Qualified Person” as that term is defined under National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About Lomiko Metals Inc.

Lomiko Metals has a new vision and a new strategy for new energy. Lomiko represents a company with a purpose: a people-first company where we can manifest a world of abundant renewable energy with Canadian and Quebec critical minerals for a solution in North America. Our goal is to create a new energy future in Canada where we will grow the critical minerals workforce, become a valued partner and neighbor with the communities in which we operate, and provide a secure and responsibly sourced supply of critical minerals.

In addition to La Loutre, Lomiko is working with Critical Elements Lithium Corporation towards earning its 70% stake in the Bourier Project as per the option agreement announced on April 27^th, 2021. The Bourier project site is located near Nemaska Lithium and Critical Elements south-east of the Eeyou Istchee James Bay territory in Quebec which consists of 203 claims, for a total ground position of 10,252.20 hectares (102.52 km2), in Canada’s lithium triangle near the James Bay region of Quebec that has historically housed lithium deposits and mineralization trends.

About the La Loutre Graphite Project

The Company holds a 100% interest in its La Loutre graphite development project in southern Quebec. The La Loutre project site is located within the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg (KZA) First Nations territory. The KZA First Nations are part of the Algonquin Nation and the KZA territory is situated within the Outaouais and Laurentides regions.​ Located 180 kilometers northwest of Montreal, the property consists of one large, continuous block with 76 mineral claims totaling 4,528 hectares (45.3 km2).

The Property is underlain by rocks belonging to the Grenville Province of the Precambrian Canadian Shield. The Grenville was formed under conditions that were very favorable for the development of coarse-grained, flake-type graphite mineralization from organic-rich material during high-temperature metamorphism.

Lomiko Metals published July 29, 2021, Preliminary Economic Estimate (PEA) which indicated the project had a 15-year mine life producing per year 100,000 tonnes of graphite concentrate at 95% Cg or a total of 1.5Mt of graphite concentrate. This report was prepared as National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report for Lomiko Metals Inc. by Ausenco Engineering Canada Inc., Hemmera Envirochem Inc., Moose Mountain Technical Services, and Metpro Management Inc., collectively the Report Authors.

For more information on Lomiko Metals, review the website at www.lomiko.com

This will be the first-ever roll-out of ESLs at Maxbo stores, and installation is set to start in Q1 2023 and is expected to be completed by end of 2024. The value of the frame agreement is up to 45 MSEK, including the cost of installation and future technical support.

“In light of increasing price competition and customer expectations in our industry, the agreement with StrongPoint is a key enabler for Maxbo’s new pricing strategy, ensuring updated and competitive prices at all times. Furthermore, customers will gain from even better service as automation of tasks frees up valuable time for employees. Throughout the procurement, process StrongPoint has stood out with its flexibility to meet our demands, ability to provide technical and commercial guidance, and proven track record of delivering large-scale rollouts. We look forward to a strong and long-lasting relationship,” said Carl Otto Løvenskiold, CEO of Løvenskiold Handel AS.

“This is especially great news for Pricer and StrongPoint, coming on the back of our recently announced strengthened and expanded partnership. It is also fantastic to see that Maxbo has made a strategic choice to equip the DIY chain with a sustainable, reliable, and high-performance shelf-edge solution that will contribute to their digitalization moving forward,” said Magnus Larsson, acting CEO, of Pricer.

“We are extremely proud to have signed an agreement with one of the major players in the Norwegian DIY market in a competitive tender. This is a perfect example of the spill-over opportunities of our strategy to first focus on the grocery segment and then expand. Our winning bid is a testament to our outstanding reputation for customer service and as a trusted long-term partner for retailers,” said Jacob Tveraabak, CEO of StrongPoint ASA. 

About Pricer

Pricer is a leading global technology company serving the rapidly growing smart retail market with in-store digital solutions that enhance both store performance and the shopping experience. Through electronic shelf labels, advanced technology, such as optical wireless communication and AI, and continuous innovation, Pricer offers the foundation for in-store communication and efficiency. The industry-leading Pricer platform delivers benefits from 30 years of deployment experience and is fast, robust, interconnectable, and scalable. Pricer was founded in Sweden in 1991 and is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. 

For further information, please visit  www.pricer.com

To do this, a refinery’s onsite QA lab must constantly analyze samples of pretreated materials, production, and blending, and ultimately verify the quality of their products prior to distribution. The lab ensures the product is not out of compliance by being below spec or incurring unnecessary waste by being over a target spec. The tests are well established through the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) and other standards, with long-established requirements for how the tests are conducted.

However, onsite refinery labs are still looking for tools that allow them to perform tests more quickly, optimally in minutes rather than hours, to verify the quality of products at key stages in the process. By optimizing efficiencies in onsite QA in this way, labs can have a significant impact on the speed gasoline can be brought to market.

With this in mind, refinery labs are increasingly turning to advanced Raman spectroscopy analyzers that can produce highly reliable and accurate results in less than a minute. The equipment, which is more compact and affordable than Raman systems of the past, accelerates the verification of certified products and enables the refinery to expedite processing and distribution with the highest degree of confidence in the results.

Certifying a blend

For refineries, certification of a gasoline blend is a multi-step process. After an operations crew completes the physical blending, the onsite lab receives samples to ensure the blend is homogeneous. Once the fuel from the blend tank is verified, the product goes through the traditional certification practices according to ASTM specification standard D-4814.

Traditionally, a lab uses an octane engine test to analyze the blend. A one-cylinder engine is used to combust the fuel. Two fuel samples are taken to identify and bracket the octane level, which is then compared to a known standard that has been blended by a third-party laboratory for verification. This analysis typically takes several hours. The gasoline is then transferred to a rack distribution tank and all lines are closed to protect the integrity of the blend.

At this point, the lab will test a sample from the rack tank to verify the blend’s Research Octane Number (RON), American Petroleum Institute’s (API) gravity, and Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) to ensure it matches what was certified in the blending tank. When the product is deemed “of like kind,” it is ready to be released for distribution via the refinery’s truck rack.

To expedite this verification, refineries like U.S. Oil & Refining in Tacoma, Washington are increasingly turning to advanced Raman spectroscopy analyzers that can produce results in less than a minute using established models, instead of the two to three hours using an Octane engine.

“We wanted to find a technology that could improve laboratory efficiency and expedite our logistics so we can get our gasoline to the customer faster,” says Christopher Sticka, Lab Manager at U.S. Oil & Refining. “So, we purchased a Raman analyzer at the beginning of 2022 and began building the associated models for octane.”

Expediting QA with Raman spectroscopy

Raman spectroscopy is a laser-based optical analysis technique for measuring compositions through the vibrational properties of molecules. Since its discovery in the 1920s, Raman spectroscopy has revolutionized process analysis with its non-destructive mode of operation.

For many years Raman equipment has had a reputation for being expensive, cumbersome, and difficult to use. Now advancements in the stability and portability of solid-state Raman systems and technological improvements in lasers, optics, and detectors have made the technique faster and more accessible for real-time inline analysis.

With spectroscopy, samples of the gasoline blend are collected using a 785nm excitation laser and a non-contact probe through the sample container that produces a unique spectral fingerprint identifying the chemical composition and molecular structure of the gasoline. The distribution of the spectral peaks describes the molecules’ composition while the signal intensity correlates linearly with concentration.

“U.S. Oil has always been interested in [Raman spectroscopy] but the price point ten years ago was close to three-quarters of a million dollars,” says Sticka. “It is hard to find an instrument that you could potentially buy for a laboratory in that context.”

Over time, Sticka continued to monitor the development of Raman spectroscopy, and in 2022 selected a commercial technology from Seattle-based MarqMetrix. Founded by scientists from the University of Washington, the company specializes in compositional analysis utilizing Raman spectroscopy and has pioneered advancements in Raman for use in process analysis.

The MarqMetrix All-in-One that U.S. Oil purchased is designed to produce identical and repeatable results from unit to unit, in a package 80% smaller than previous Raman instruments. Each device is nearly an exact copy so common mathematical models can be applied across systems to produce consistent results.

To date, results from the Raman spectroscopy analyzer have matched U.S. Oil’s expectations and now their onsite lab is using the unit to additionally analyze the refinery’s naphtha pretreats to identify various compositions on the front end before it goes through the reforming process.  They are also using spectroscopy to measure the net difference conversion as those molecules get reformed.

According to Sticka, there are other potential advantages. With a Raman system, the contact probe can be placed directly into the process stream without having to collect the gas sample, take it offline, or analyze the sample by gas chromatography. Raman’s direct measurement produces readings every few seconds as compared to traditional GC techniques. Online continuous measurement also eliminates a potential safety risk from taking samples directly from the processing line to the lab.

“The analyzer can be used to identify sulfur peaks online without having to collect samples,” adds Sticka.

Similarly, spectroscopy can be modeled to identify concentrations of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, oxygen level, and hydrogen sulfide ratios.

Raman spectroscopy is quickly gaining traction as a highly efficient, accurate, and reliable solution offering the potential to transform the speed and logistics of sampling gasoline blends so that refineries can get their product to market faster.

For more information on Raman solutions, visit the MarqMetrix website at www.marqmetrix.com or call 206.971.3625.

The Tiger XT line-up retains all of the attributes of the well-established and trusted Tiger range including the award-winning MiniPID 2 sensor with its patented fence electrode technology, in an even stronger exterior molding. This makes it even more suitable for use in the most demanding environments.

The new range comprises three models: the entry-level Tiger XTL Portable VOC Gas Detector; the Tiger XT Handheld VOC Detector; and the Tiger XT Select Benzene Gas Detector, which incorporates a 10.0 eV lamp within the MiniPID 2 sensor capable of detecting total aromatic compounds including benzene down to concentrations as low as 1 ppb.

Each Tiger XT product has a humidity-resistant, anti-contamination design and an exterior semi-conductive thermoplastic elastomer outer molding, making it intrinsically safe. ETL, KGS, IECEx, and ATEX certified*, the range also boasts an ingress protection rating of IP65 – meaning it can withstand dusty environments and heavy rainfall.

The range uses the very latest photoionization detection (PID) sensor technology, enabling a T90 response time of fewer than two seconds, putting it among the fastest and most accurate on the market. It can detect gases at levels as low as 1 ppb and can detect up to 20,000 ppm, giving it the broadest measurement range of any VOC detector on the market today.

The new Tiger XT instrument range incorporates a push-to-release button for the rechargeable battery, allowing for a rapid, easy and secure connection. The charger cradle can typically charge the li-ion battery in 8 hours and can be mounted to the wall.

Meanwhile, the integrated Tiger PC software enables users to configure the Tiger XT instrument to their precise needs while also setting calibration and bump test reminders.

There is an extensive choice of accessories to accompany the range. These include car charger leads and flexi probes, enabling greater flexibility for VOC detection in hard-to-access places. An extended warranty of up to five years is also available, while an additional option is a specialist Fire Investigation Kit, for fire and arson investigators.

Applications for the range are vast and include environmental and air quality monitoring; soil head space analysis; ground remediation; occupational health; emergency and hazardous material response; medical gases; fugitive emissions/leak detection and plant maintenance.

ION Science Ltd Managing Director Duncan Johns explained: “Effective VOC detection is intrinsic to the safety of workers in a host of applications. It is vital that the equipment used has the best possible sensing technology, and ensures optimum, long-term, accurate performance.

“Once again built around our independently acclaimed MiniPID 2 sensor, the new Tiger XT line-up offers the perfect solution for all budgets.

“It delivers unrivaled performance in even the harshest environments through its technologically advanced sensor technology and the use of carefully selected materials delivering protection to internationally recognized standards.”

President & Director Rowland Howe will provide an in-depth update on the Company at 11:40 a.m. ET, November 22, 2022. RMEC is an interactive experience for featured companies and investors. Companies will have 20 minutes to outline their investment opportunity before investors get the ability to engage in a real-time Q&A with management after the presentation.

About Atlas Salt

Atlas Salt owns 100% of the Great Atlantic salt deposit strategically located in western Newfoundland in the middle of the robust eastern North America road salt market. The project features a large homogeneous high-grade resource located immediately next to a deep water port. Atlas is also the largest shareholder in Triple Point Resources as it pursues the development of Fischell’s Brook Salt Dome in the heart of an emerging Clean Energy Hub on the west coast of Newfoundland.

About RMEC

RMEC (Resource Mining & Exploration Conference) is a unique virtual investor conference. The goal is to expose new investors, as well as our global network of retail and institutional investors, to vet Exploration & Mining opportunities. The number of companies is limited, and the content is curated with investor time and interest is paramount. While not exhaustive by design, the REMC aims to present potential investments to new and seasoned resource investors by presenting highlights for further research.
 
Each participating company hosts a live presentation followed by a Q&A period within approximately a 35-minute slot. The goal is to help investors learn about the junior companies that are shaping the future of the Global Resource Sector within a responsive and pressure-free environment.
 
RMEC will present up to six junior exploration companies, as they seek to discover the next world-class mines.

Investors can get more detail about RMEC at www.rmeconferences.com.

Nick Houghton, President and CEO comments, “We have been very encouraged by the initial results from the first phase of our exploration on the Blue Cove Property. The project has proven its merit to the Company though it has only seen limited work historically. Given our early findings of high-grade copper, additional work is deemed necessary to advance this project to the next level in a diligent and cost-effective manner.”

First-phase reconnaissance exploration efforts on the Property have identified four key areas of interest with other new targets recently identified. The results of the 2022 exploration work can be found in Press Releases dated August 02, 2022, and September 28, 2022. The main targets currently under priority investigation include:

• Blue Cove – Significant outcrop showing high-grade copper up to 3.56% Cu assayed. Copper sulfides occur as chalcocite, bornite, and chalcopyrite, Notable silver, and zinc assays are also present.
• Hilltop– Newly identified multi-element soil geochemical anomaly with a coincident magnetic low feature where historical drilling has intersected individual intersections within a 5-foot interval assaying up to 0.49% Cu, 2.0% Pb, and 1.9% Zn.
• Yellow Cove – Large alteration zone with multi-element soil geochemical anomalies.
• RylesBarisway– Known copper mineralization in outcrop with surface samples grading 3.0% Cu. A recent soil geochemistry survey requires further delineation of anomalous samples on the west side of the recon grid area.

Moving forward, the Company plans on continued prospecting of the known target areas as well as follow-up on nearly identified prospective areas and overall prospecting of the Property in general including key geological structures of interest. Additional work expanding areas of soil geochemical sampling and continued ground geophysical techniques including a magnetometer and induced polarization/resistivity surveying will also be undertaken. Should exploration results warrant, a drill program would likely be the next step to advance the project. A decision on drilling will be made once all data is carefully evaluated.

Dean Fraser, P.Geo., a “Qualified Person” for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the contents of this news release.

The Company also announces that it has issued an aggregate of 6,000,000 restricted share units (each, an “RSU”) to certain directors, officers, and consultants of the Company pursuant to the Restricted Share Unit Plan of the Company, all such RSUs vesting immediately. The RSUs and any common shares issuable upon conversion thereof will be subject to a four-month hold period in accordance with the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange.

About West Mining Corp.

West Mining Corp. is a mineral exploration company acquiring and developing advanced and prospective early-stage exploration projects.  It is fully focused on its 100% owned, 9000-hectare Kena Project located near Nelson, British Columbia. The Kena Project comprises three adjoining Properties:  Kena, Daylight, and Athabasca.  A recent NI43-101 resource estimate for Kena gave 561,900 oz Au indicated and 2,773,100 oz Au inferred in the Gold Mountain, Kena Gold, and Daylight Zones. The Kena Property also hosts the large Kena Copper Zone, along with with the historic Euphrates and Gold Cup gold-silver mines. The Daylight property contains the historic past producing Daylight, Starlight, Victoria, Irene, and Great Eastern gold mines.  Along the trend to the north is the Athabasca Property, with the historic Athabasca Gold Mine. The historic mines and known mineralized zones on these three properties are structurally controlled along a 20-kilometer strike as identified by strong geophysical signatures.

Partnering with an industry leader such as NAH, which is the most active driller of helium wells globally by a wide margin, offers a significant advantage for HEVI. As a result of being aligned with NAH and executing this Amended Farmout, HEVI is ideally positioned to benefit from the continued exploration and development of its asset base by NAH and to leverage its extensive data, learnings, and expertise, without spending capital in the near term. NAH’s farm-in allows HEVI to conserve its approximately $10 million in cash and liquid assets while maintaining financial flexibility and future optionality to pursue other targets across the Company’s 5.5 million acres of helium rights.

As part of the Amended Farmout, HEVI and NAH also entered into a new seismic option agreement (the “Seismic Option Agreement”) and seismic option review agreement (the “Seismic Option Review Agreement”) (and together with the Seismic Option Agreement, the “Seismic Agreements”), which could expand the number of wells to be drilled by NAH by 60%, from the original five to up to eight. The Amended Farmout supersedes the original farmout entered into with NAH on June 28, 2022 (the “Original Farmout”) and maintains all earning terms and after-earning operations from the Original Farmout.

“This Amended Farmout truly sets HEVI apart from other helium-focused peers, as we are afforded multiple near-term drilling catalysts, including two exploration wells by year-end 2022 and a third drill in the first half of 2023, without spending our own capital and while retaining 99% of our land base,” said Greg Robb, President & CEO of HEVI. “In addition, NAH could increase the number of drills from five, contemplated under our Original Farmout, up to potentially eight wells as a result of the Seismic Agreements, an approximately 60% increase. The Amended Farmout allows HEVI to maintain optionality to continue exploration and development of internally-generated targets on our extensive land base while providing visibility to bring production on stream without subjecting shareholders to dilutive equity financing.”

Strategic Benefits of the Amended Farmout & Seismic Agreements

• Drilling Timelines Accelerated: NAH will accelerate the timeline to drill its first two test wells at Mankota, as defined herein, into Q4/22 and commits to drilling a third well in the first half of 2023. If any of these three initial test wells are commercially productive, NAH has committed to expeditiously drill development wells on the related earned farmout blocks, which management expects could be timed to coincide with a potential new NAH processing facility.
• Receipt of Proprietary Seismic: Under the Amended Farmout, NAH will furnish to HEVI two proprietary seismic lines comprised of 35km of data in the Mankota area, previously used by NAH to target drilling locations, of which three are currently producing helium. Mankota is situated in the first of three predetermined blocks of land in Saskatchewan as outlined in the Original Farmout. NAH will select a fourth and fifth test well location on each of the other two blocks by June 30, 2023, with both wells to be spud by Q1/24.
• Seismic Agreements Expands Drilling: NAH and HEVI have entered into a new Seismic Option Agreement and Seismic Option Review Agreement, covering two seismic option areas (the “Seismic Option Areas”) and one seismic review area (the “Seismic Review Option Area”) at Mankota. Details of the Seismic Agreements are provided below.

Seismic Option Areas: Pursuant to the Seismic Option Agreement, NAH will shoot new seismic, incurring 100% of the cost, in both Seismic Option Areas, the data from which will be provided to HEVI, and earn NAH the right to drill an option well (the “Option Well”) in each of the two Seismic Option Areas prior to August 31, 2023, thereby earning an 80% operated interest in the section on which the Option Well was drilled plus nine contiguous sections of land. Following the drilling of each Option Well, NAH retains an 80% and HEVI a 20% working interest in the operations and lands. If NAH does not spud an Option Well by August 31, 2023, their ability to earn a working interest terminates.

Seismic Review Option Area: Pursuant to the Seismic Option Review Agreement, NAH is able to review HEVI’s proprietary seismic data covering the identified Seismic Review Option Area, along with data from HEVI’s 06-02-06-06W3M well for a 30-day period. Following this review, NAH can elect to drill a well in the Seismic Review Option Area (the “Seismic Review Option Well”) on or before the end of Q2/23, release the option altogether, or shoot new seismic data over the Seismic Review Option Area. If the latter option is elected, NAH would provide the data to HEVI, and have the option to spud a Seismic Review Option Well before October 31, 2023, on the same terms as Option Wells outlined above.

Executing this Amended Farmout provides numerous strategic advantages for HEVI. With NAH committing to drilling two wells in Q4/22 and a third well in the first half of 2023, HEVI offers shareholders exposure to near-term drilling catalysts that can accelerate cash flow generation. In addition, HEVI will receive proprietary seismic that NAH used to successfully bring three new helium wells into production, giving HEVI greater insight and valuable data that can be used in identifying future targets. Finally, the execution of the Seismic Agreements will give HEVI access to greater seismic coverage on its land without the associated costs, and provides an opportunity to participate in wells drilled by NAH across the Seismic Option Areas and Seismic Review Option Area. All of these enhancements are expected to drive meaningful value creation and strengthen HEVI’s longer-term outlook.

About Helium Evolution Incorporated

Helium Evolution is a Canadian-based helium exploration and production company holding the largest helium land rights position in North America among publicly-traded companies, focused on developing assets in southern Saskatchewan. The Company has over five million acres of land under permit near proven discoveries of economic helium concentrations which will support scaling the exploration and development efforts across its land base. HEVI’s management and board are executing a differentiated strategy to become a leading supplier of sustainably-produced helium for the growing global helium market, offering a compelling opportunity for investors.

The pilot pond was built according to engineering design utilizing only in-situ material. Soil mechanics showed favorable parameters such as soil type, particle size distribution, and compaction properties making the Blanca Lila formation, which covers most of Almafuerte and Graciela claim blocks, an attractive site for the construction of a production complex. The favorable soil conditions eliminated the need for geotextile layers under the liner, reducing the overall cost of construction. The pond has been filled to operating brine height with Pastos Grandes raw brine averaging 558 mg/l Li. A permanent salt floor is being deposited over the liner to protect the liner during harvesting. Once the permanent salt floor design thickness has reached design specifications, internal walls shall be constructed using waste sodium chloride covered with HDPE.

Eduardo Morales, Executive Chairman of Arena, commented, “We are extremely pleased with progress to date at SDLP. Construction of the ponds was completed on schedule and budget, setting a solid foundation for the completion of detailed engineering of commercial-sized ponds. We are in the process of selecting engineering firms for the design of a 40,000 tonne per annum lithium chloride facility, which will incorporate the results of an economic assessment including capital and operating cost estimates.”

Environmental, Social & Governance Update

Since the acquisition of the Sal de la Puna project Arena has developed a healthy relationship with local communities. The strength and support shown by the local communities for the Project are also a testament to the long-standing relationships existing with Arena’s operations team, many of whom have been operating in the immediate region for over a decade.

Arena’s business model and processing approach provide an environmentally friendly and sustainable alternative to the more conventional liming process that traditionally requires a chemical plant on site. In aiming to produce >35% LiCl directly from ponds, Arena does not require a more environmentally sensitive liming plant while minimizing the use (to almost zero consumption) of both power and freshwater thus reducing our carbon footprint. The Arena process is powered by solar energy (evaporation) and does not employ fresh water. The only power and water required are for the camp and minor ancillary services, such as pumping. Like most lithium brine projects in the Puna region of Argentina, Sal de la Puna is located in a high-altitude desert where both power and water are scarce commodities.

A production Environmental Impact Study (“EIS”) has been submitted to the mining authorities in Salta for the permitting of a 40,000 tonne per annum lithium chloride facility. The study evaluates the impact of constructing 490 hectares of lined evaporation ponds, thirteen production wells, and related ancillary infrastructure on the Almafuerte and Graciela claim blocks. These claim blocks are primarily covered by the Blanca Lila geological formation where the 1-hectare pilot pond has been constructed with favorable results. The lithium-bearing aquifers targeted by the good field are interpreted as hydraulically separate from any surface waters and therefore of minimal impact on the basin habitats. The Company is working closely with the authorities on minimizing any potential impacts in a timely manner while ensuring the local communities and provincial governments benefit from value-add lithium products.

About Arena Minerals Inc.

Arena owns 65% of the Sal de la Puna Project covering approximately 13,200 hectares of the Pastos Grandes basin located in Salta, Argentina. The claims are highly prospective and share the basin with two advanced lithium brine projects. In addition to Sal de la Puna, the Company owns the Antofalla lithium brine project in Argentina, consisting of four claims covering a total of 6,000 hectares of the central portion of Salar de Antofalla, located immediately south of Albemarle Corporation’s Antofalla project. Arena has developed a proprietary brine processing technology using brine-type reagents derived from the Antofalla project with the objective of producing more competitive battery-grade lithium products.

Arena also owns 80 percent of the Atacama Copper property within the Antofagasta region of Chile and 5.8 million shares of Astra Exploration. The projects are at low altitudes, within producing mining camps in infrastructure-rich areas, located in the heart of Chile’s premier copper mining district.

For more information regarding the Company, its management, expertise, and projects, please visit www.arenaminerals.com.

Jordan Trimble, President, and CEO of Skyharbour Resources stated: “We continue to discover and delineate new zones of uranium mineralization at our high-grade Moore Project and have plans for future drilling and exploration at the property. This will be tied in with the inaugural drill program at our newly optioned Russell Lake Uranium Project where we are planning to commence the first of several phases of drilling shortly. We are fully funded for our largest-ever drill campaign over the next twelve months at our core projects, and additional news flow will be generated at several of our secondary projects funded by our partner companies Azincourt Energy, Valor Resources, Basin Uranium Corp., Medaro Mining, and Yellow Rocks Energy, as they commence follow-up drilling and exploration programs at these respective projects. Skyharbour is very well positioned to benefit from the accelerating uranium market resurgence with a catalyst-rich year ahead.”

Highlights:

• Hole ML22-07 was drilled within the western part of the Maverick East Zone. It intersected 5.0 meters of unconformity- and basement-hosted mineralization returning 0.13% U₃O₈ starting at 275.9 meters. The mineralization was associated with significant structural disruption and strong alteration of the sandstone and upper basement and anomalous U, with uranium-bearing fractures encountered approximately 25 meters below the unconformity.
  
• Drilling in the newly identified Grid Nineteen area continued to intersect structurally disrupted, altered, and geochemically anomalous sandstone and basement rocks, including variably graphitic pelitic gneisses. All four holes drilled in 2022 showed enrichment in uranium, boron, and other pathfinder elements, with up to 382 ppm U encountered in hole ML22-03 within graphitic pelitic gneisses. A significant unconformity offset was also discovered between holes ML21-07 and ML22-02, which is believed to be related to the strong structural disruption of the sandstone seen in three out of the four holes drilled here in 2022. The results of drilling along the Grid Nineteen conductors continue to be encouraging and further work is recommended to follow up on the anomalous structures along the strike and at depth as the geochemistry, structure, and alteration are suggestive of unconformity-related uranium mineralization in the area. Significant untested targets remain on both conductors in this area.
  
• Drilling in the Viper area continued to show that this part of the Maverick conductive corridor is geochemically anomalous with uranium mineralization of 0.11% U₃O₈ encountered over 1.0 meters in the basement of ML22-05. Anomalous uranium of ≤314 ppm U was also encountered in hole ML22-06.
  
• Substantial portions of the Maverick corridor remain to be systematically drill tested leaving robust discovery potential along strike as well as at depth in the basement rocks. Skyharbour is planning a fully-funded winter drill program which will include follow-up drilling at the Moore Project.

Summary of 2022 Drilling Program:

Drilling on the Moore Uranium Project over the spring of 2022 totaled 2,467 meters in seven diamond drill holes. Four exploratory holes (ML22-01 to -04) were drilled at the Grid Nineteen target conductors, two exploratory holes (ML22-05 and -06) were drilled in the Viper target area, and one hole (ML22-07) was drilled at the Maverick East Zone.

Future drill programs will continue to test targets identified by modeling down plunge of the Maverick East Zone, targets along the Grid Nineteen conductors where anomalous geochemistry and geology have been identified, and test other regional targets at the project where the geochemistry/pathfinders and geology are strongly indicative of potentially uraniferous mineralizing systems.

Maverick East Zone Drilling:

The final hole of the drill program, hole ML22-07 was drilled to test mineralization between historical holes ML-211 (which intersected 8.5m of 0.13% U₃O₈) and ML-212 (which intersected 3.4 m of 0.19% U₃O₈). It successfully intersected 5.0 m of 0.13% U₃O₈ starting at 275.9 m, straddling the unconformity and extending into the basement rocks to a depth of 280.9 m. There is also enrichment in Ni (≤2090 ppm Ni), Cu (≤2250 ppm Cu), Zn (≤4450 ppm Zn), As (≤1510 ppm As), Co (≤399 ppm Co), and V (≤2000 ppm V) associated with the mineralization. The hole contained structurally disrupted and clay altered to replace sandstone, graphitic pelitic gneiss, granitic pegmatite, and Archean granite. The mineralization was also accompanied by anomalous uranium in the entire sandstone column, local boron enrichment (≤2740 ppm B) in the sandstone, and locally elevated pathfinders in the basement, including nickel, arsenic, uranium, vanadium, zinc, and boron. Of note is the existence of fractures containing uranium minerals associated with strong clay and bleaching and uranium (≤413 ppm U), nickel (≤201 ppm Ni), and boron (≤2040 ppm B) enrichment about 30 m below the unconformity at a depth of 304.8 m. This hole further defined this portion of the Maverick East Zone, providing additional information for future drilling.

Grid Nineteen Drilling:

The first four holes of the 2022 drill program were drilled on at the relatively new Grid Nineteen target, approx. 9.5 km NE of the Main Maverick Zone, to follow up on the promising alteration, structure, and geochemistry encountered in holes ML21-07, -08, and -09. The first hole, ML22-01, was testing the up-dip projection of the conductor in hole ML21-09 and appears to have overshot the target since no graphitic units were encountered. The sandstone in hole ML22-01 contained multiple fault zones with local strong chlorite, tourmaline veins, and druzy quartz/pyrite-filled fractures. There is local uranium enrichment and anomalous boron (≥100 ppm B) throughout most of the sandstone with a max of 804 ppm B just above the unconformity. The basement in this hole consisted of variably altered intrusives and pelitic gneiss with local significant boron enrichment (≤2360 ppm B) associated with dravite and quartz veins, faulting, and variable chlorite alteration.

Hole ML22-02 was drilled to test the up-dip projection to the unconformity of the uranium mineralization encountered in hole ML21-07. The sandstone contained prospective structure and alteration associated with an apparent 40 m offset of the unconformity between holes ML22-02 and ML-21-07. The sandstone has local boron (≤1610 ppm B) and uranium (≤14.9 ppm U) enrichment associated with faulting and unconformity. The basement rocks consisted of strongly chloritized psammitic gneiss and anatexite followed by relatively fresh granite and granitic gneiss with local boron (≤485 ppm B) and arsenic (≤32 ppm As) enrichment, as well as U enrichment (≤147 ppm U). The significant unconformity offset between ML21-07 and ML22-02, anomalous mineralization in ML21-07, and prospective alteration and geochemistry are very encouraging as they are common features of uranium deposits in the Athabasca Basin.

Hole ML22-03 was drilled 300 m north of ML22-02 and ML21-07 in order to follow up on the anomalous structure and uranium associated with the Slice Pond structure along the strike. While the sandstone in hole ML22-03 was relatively non-descript, anomalous uranium (392 ppm U) was intersected in the basement at the contact between the graphitic pelitic gneiss conductor and an overlying intrusive unit. The graphitic pelitic gneiss is significantly faulted with variable clay, chlorite, and graphite alteration, and boron enrichment (≤365 ppm B). The top 4.5 m of the underlying Archean granitic gneiss also is strongly sudoite altered.

The final hole drilled in the Grid Nineteen area, ML22-04, was drilled to further test the conductor and unconformity offset between ML21-07 and ML22-02. Hole ML22-04 encountered strong structural disruption of the sandstone below 82.0 m and had uranium and pathfinder element enrichment (≤5.2 ppm Co, ≤10.2 ppm Cu, ≤35.7 ppm Ni, ≤68.8 ppm V, and ≤63.7 ppm Zn) just above the unconformity. Faulted metasediments with strong sudoite/chlorite alteration and local carbonaceous matter were also intersected in the basement. Of note, a strong clay-altered fault zone at the contact between the metasedimentary package and underlying granitoids was enriched in uranium (≤230 ppm U) and other pathfinder elements (≤2040 ppm Ni, ≤1620 ppm Zn, and ≤792 ppm B).

Viper Drilling:

Two holes (ML22-05 and -06) were drilled in the Viper area near historical hole ML-525, which had intersected 4.5 m of uranium mineralization grading 0.23% U₃O₈ at a depth of 289.4 m. The first hole, ML22-05, tested 10 m east of hole ML-525 along strike, and intersected 1.0 m of 0.11% U₃O₈ in a pegmatite with anomalous Mo (≤182 ppm Mo), Pb (≤147 ppm Pb), Th (≤1260 ppm Th), and B (≤147 ppm B). Additional uranium enrichment was present at the unconformity (347 ppm in the 0.5 m immediately below the unconformity) at a depth of 297.7 m. The lower half of the sandstone in ML22-05 is anomalous in uranium in a sandstone composite at 270-280 m and in the basal 0.5 m immediately above the unconformity. Associated with the uranium enrichment is anomalous boron (≤1850 ppm B). The basement rocks in hole ML22-05 also show local pathfinder element enrichment with ≤357 ppm Ni, ≤126 ppm Co, ≤192 ppm Cu, ≤136 ppm As, ≤483 ppm Pb, ≤580 ppm V, ≤200 ppm Zn, ≤315 ppm B.

The second hole, ML22-06, was drilled to follow up on a boron anomaly 20 m north of hole ML-525. Local anomalous uranium (≤314 ppm U) was encountered within the basement cordierite graphitic pelitic gneisses. The graphitic pelitic gneiss also had local pathfinder element enrichment, including elevated B (≤2560 ppm B), Cu (≤736 ppm Cu), Ni (≤442 ppm Ni), V (≤326 ppm), Zn (≤300 ppm Zn), Co (≤168 ppm Co), and As (≤63 ppm As). Associated with the anomalous uranium are sudoite alteration and quartz veining. The sandstone in ML22-06 is only locally structurally disturbed, with a fracture zone from 228.0 m to 232.8 m associated with increased clay and bleaching, but it contained anomalous uranium below 50.0 m depth. There was also local anomalous B (≤771 ppm B) in the sandstone below 210.0 m.

Moore Uranium Project Overview:

In June 2016, Skyharbour secured an option to acquire Denison Mine’s Moore Uranium Project, on the southeastern side of the Athabasca Basin, in northern Saskatchewan and has fulfilled its earn. The project consists of 12 contiguous claims totaling 35,705 hectares located 42 kilometers northeast of the Key Lake mill, approx. 15 kilometers east of Denison’s Wheeler River project, and 39 kilometers south of Cameco’s McArthur River uranium mine. Unconformity-type uranium mineralization was discovered on the Moore Project at the Maverick Zone in April 2001. Historical drill highlights include 4.03% eU₃O₈ over 10 meters, including 20% eU₃O₈ over 1.4 meters, in ML-161. In 2017, Skyharbour announced drill results of 6.0% U₃O₈ over 5.9 meters, including 20.8% U₃O₈ over 1.5 meters at a vertical depth of 265 meters, in hole ML-199. In addition to the Maverick Zone, the project hosts other mineralized targets with strong discovery potential which the Company plans to test with future drill programs. The project is fully accessible via winter and ice roads which simplifies logistics and lowers costs. Large proportions of the property are accessible in the summer as well.

About Skyharbour Resources Ltd.:

Skyharbour holds an extensive portfolio of uranium exploration projects in Canada’s Athabasca Basin and is well positioned to benefit from improving uranium market fundamentals with fifteen projects, ten of which are drill-ready, covering over 450,000 hectares of land. Skyharbour has acquired from Denison Mines, a large strategic shareholder of the Company, a 100% interest in the Moore Uranium Project which is located 15 kilometers east of Denison’s Wheeler River project and 39 kilometers south of Cameco’s McArthur River uranium mine. Moore is an advanced-stage uranium exploration property with high-grade uranium mineralization at the Maverick Zone that returned drill results of ≤ 6.0% U₃O₈ over 5.9 meters including 20.8% U₃O₈ over 1.5 meters at a vertical depth of 265 meters. Adjacent to the Moore Uranium Project is Skyharbour’s recently optioned Russell Lake Uranium Project from Rio Tinto, which hosts historical high-grade drill intercepts over a large property area with robust exploration upside potential. The Company is actively advancing these projects through exploration and drill programs.

Skyharbour has a joint venture with industry leader Orano Canada Inc. at the Preston Project whereby Orano has earned a 51% interest in the project through exploration expenditures and cash payments. Skyharbour now owns a 24.5% interest in the Project. Skyharbour also has a joint venture with Azincourt Energy at the East Preston Project whereby Azincourt has earned a 70% interest in the project through exploration expenditures, cash payments, and share issuance. Skyharbour now owns a 15% interest in the Project. Preston and East Preston are large, geologically prospective properties proximal to Fission Uranium’s Triple R deposit as well as NexGen Energy’s Arrow deposit. Furthermore, the Company owns a 100% interest in the South Falcon Point Uranium Project on the eastern perimeter of the Basin, which contains a NI 43-101 inferred resource totaling 7.0 million pounds of U₃O₈ at 0.03% and 5.3 million pounds of ThO₂ at 0.023%.

Skyharbour has several active option partners including: ASX-listed Valor Resources on the Hook Lake Uranium Project whereby Valor can earn-in 80% of the project through CAD $3,500,000 in exploration expenditures, $475,000 in cash payments over three years and an initial share issuance; CSE-listed Basin Uranium Corp. on the Mann Lake Uranium Project whereby Basin Uranium can earn-in 75% of the project through $4,000,000 in exploration expenditures, $850,000 in cash payments as well as share issuances over three years; CSE-listed Medaro Mining Corp. on the Yurchison Project whereby Medaro can earn-in an initial 70% of the project through $5,000,000 in exploration expenditures, $800,000 in cash payments as well as share issuances over three years followed by the option to acquire the remaining 30% of the project through a payment of $7,500,000 in cash and $7,500,000 worth of shares; and private Australian entity Yellow Rocks Energy at the Wallee and Usam Island Uranium Properties whereby Yellow Rocks can earn-in a maximum 80% interest of the properties through AUD $50,000 in cash payments, AUD $4,500,000 in exploration expenditures as well as share issuances over 3 years, subject to TSX-V approval.

Skyharbour’s goal is to maximize shareholder value through new mineral discoveries, committed long-term partnerships, and the advancement of exploration projects in geopolitically favorable jurisdictions.

The upgrade includes the installation of Wärtsilä’s UNIC engine control system, a durable, all-inclusive automation system designed to provide reliable performance in demanding environments. This, together with the added power output, will minimize the risk of outages during the three-month-long peak summer season. The upgrade will also increase efficiency and allow less constant operation of the engines, which in turn will lower emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.   

“By increasing the load during the peak season, we can increase our operational flexibility since at times we can have one engine on hot standby, instead of running more engines on part load. This will reduce carbon emissions while also generating some cost savings. We appreciate Wärtsilä’s professional approach and support in analyzing our situation and recommending the actions needed by both our O&M provider, PIC Group and Wärtsilä,” said John Seeliger, Regional Energy Manager for Nevada Gold Mines.

“Our lifecycle support includes important upgrade projects, such as this one. Wärtsilä has the capability and experience to apply the latest technologies to extend and modify the power plant’s life and performance in line with the customer’s evolving needs,” commented Jon Rodriguez, Director, Engine Power Plants, North America, Wärtsilä Energy.

The plant operates with 14 Wärtsilä 34SG gas engines. It was originally installed in 2005 with a net output of 115.6 MW. Upon completion of the upgrade, the facility output will be increased to 128 MW. The upgrade will commence in January 2023 and will be carried out in phases to coincide with the plant’s major overhaul schedule. In this way, power production can be maintained to minimize the impact on the mine’s operations.

Nevada Gold Mines is a joint venture between Barrick Gold Corporation, which operates the mine, and  Newmont Corporation which combined their significant assets across Nevada in 2019 to create the single largest gold-producing complex in the world. Both Barrick and Newmont have established Wärtsilä customers with plants in various parts of the world operating with Wärtsilä engines.

Wärtsilä Energy in brief

Wärtsilä Energy leads the transition towards a 100% renewable energy future. We help our customers in decarbonization by developing market-leading technologies. These cover future-fuel-enabled balancing power plants, hybrid solutions, energy storage, and optimization technology, including the GEMS energy management platform. Wärtsilä Energy’s lifecycle services are designed to increase efficiency, promote reliability and guarantee operational performance. Our track record comprises 76 GW of power plant capacity and 110 energy storage systems delivered to 180 countries around the world. https://www.wartsila.com/energy

Wärtsilä in brief

Wärtsilä is a global leader in innovative technologies and lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. We emphasize innovation in sustainable technology and services to help our customers continuously improve their environmental and economic performance. Our dedicated and passionate team of 17,000 professionals in more than 200 locations in 68 countries shapes the decarbonization transformation of our industries across the globe. In 2021, Wärtsilä’s net sales totaled EUR 4.8 billion. Wärtsilä is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki. www.wartsila.com

The Company has engaged Tigren Inc. (“Tigren”) of Reno, Nevada to provide geological services. Tigren is a comprehensive discovery-focused services company that specializes in advancing under-explored properties through its technical field services. Tigren is controlled by Marco Montecinos, a director of the Company.

Company CEO and Director, Patrick Morris, notes, “Lithium concentrations of 300ppm and above are considered prospective in nature. We are excited to build upon our initial grab sample results, which included a sample with over 1000ppm of lithium, and have our work plan get underway in Nevada. Tigren is scheduled to start the sampling program in early October to support the ongoing mapping program. We’ve got a solid foundation in terms of concept, team, jurisdiction, property, and plans for processing technology solutions to support the growing wave of demand for lithium products. We intend for this to be a busy season ahead as we continue to unearth the value and opportunity of this exciting sector.”

The detailed work program will include an auger sampling program and detailed geological mapping of the project. The objective of the work program is to gain better resolution and further delineate the size, continuity, and shape of near-surface lithium mineralization at the ELi property as well as gain an additional understanding of exploration vectors and geological controls on lithium mineralization. The auger program is planned to optimize sample integrity and representation across the property.

Located in Nevada’s Little Smokey Valley, the ELi property was first sampled in 2019. In June, we shared the current sampling conducted to date. Initial field work by Clear Sky consists of a surface sample dataset covering the property at a 200m x 450m grid and upgrading infill sampling over a historic sampling area. This dataset includes 134 grab samples with results ranging from 45 to 801ppm lithium with an average grade of 292ppm. As previously released, during a site visit during Q2 2022, additional surficial samples (n=4) were collected and ranged in grade from 278ppm to 1,023ppm Li with an average grade of 695ppm Li¹.

The lithium-bearing rocks within the project area are referred to as tuffaceous and other young tertiary sedimentary rocks in digital geologic models generated by the Nevada Bureau of Mines. This unit is believed to have a strong volcanic component. In northern Nye County, the unit is referred to as the Horse Camp Formation which correlates with the Esmeralda Formation in Mineral and Esmeralda Counties. It has also been correlated with older lake beds in southern Nye, Lincoln, Clark, and Humboldt counties. It corresponds to units Ts3 and Tts from the 1978 State map and is present in all counties of Nevada.

Within the state, there are multiple lithium projects in a variety of early-to advanced stages. Nevada currently hosts the only operating lithium mine in the USA. The USGS’s first publication on sedimentary-hosted lithium (claystone lithium) wasn’t until 1991, making it one of the newer deposit types in exploration. On its Eli property, Clear Sky is actively investigating the presence and quality of lithium-bearing sedimentary deposits and their suitability as candidate feedstock for innovative next-generation extraction and processing technologies.

Clear Sky Lithium advises the public that as part of its disclosure obligations as a public issuer, all material and regulatory filings can be found on www.sedar.com. We also invite the public to visit our website at www.clearskylithium.com and to sign up for our “news alerts” to be advised of future news releases and related company information. Please also ensure you watch our video which is now available on the website.

About Clear Sky Lithium Corp.

Clear Sky Lithium is an exploration and development company dedicated to the advancement of North American lithium deposits to support domestic demand. The Company holds interests in the Eli property in Nevada. The Company is also focusing on the development of claystone extraction and processing technologies aimed at delivering scalable efficiencies across the value chain in a sustainable manner. To find out more visit www.clearskylithium.com and watch our video.

The drilling program at La Loutre was launched on May 15, 2022, with the aim of better defining the deposit, providing the data necessary to increase confidence in the mineral resource, and building on the results of the economic evaluation. positive preliminary for the La Loutre project, as announced in the company’s press release dated July 29, 2021. Lomiko has retained the services of InnovExplo, an independent consulting firm based in Quebec specializing in geology, resource estimation, mining engineering, and sustainable development, to prepare an updated resource estimate in accordance with the NI 43-101 standard for the La Loutre project following the completion of the 2022 drill program. The initial drill program called for up to 18,000 meters in both zones; the late receipt of the permit in May, along with environmental conditions in the spring and summer, resulted in the completion of 13,113 meters.

Belinda Labatte, Chief Executive Officer and Director said: “Results from the 18 holes drilled at the southern end of the VE Zone in 2022 demonstrate strong graphite mineralization over significant widths and confirm the potential of this zone for additional graphite resources. We look forward to more results from the next 35 holes in the VE Zone to be released as more assays are received. Our vision is to become a responsible operator and be part of a climate success story in southern Quebec.

Highlights:

• Strong graphite results from 8 additional holes drilled in the southern extension of the “Electric Vehicle” or “EV” zone (results from the first ten holes were published in the September 8 press release).
• Large zones of flake graphite mineralization including 2.76% Cg (graphitic carbon) over 99.0 m from 30.5 to 129.5 m in hole LL-22-014 including zones 15 and 25 wide, 5 m at 4.95 and 4.55% Cg respectively.
• Broad intervals of near-surface high-grade flake graphite mineralization comprising 11.64% Cg over 42.0 m from 7.0 to 49.0 m in hole LL-22-018, including mineralization of 36m wide at 13.44% Cg.
• The second best result was achieved in hole LL-22-023 at 14.86% Cg from 126.0 to 132.0 meters.
• Many intersections remain open; additional test results are pending.
• Drill assay results confirm the potential for expansion of the VE Zone graphite mineralization to the south.

Drilling at the southern end of the VE Zone was carried out to confirm the results of previous drilling campaigns and to test the southward extension of the graphite mineralization. Please refer to Table 1 for the weighted average graphitic carbon-bearing drill intersections (not actual thickness) and Table 2 and Figure 1 for the collar locations of the eight holes completed in the south end of the VE Zone as discussed in this press release. These results are in addition to the analytical results of ten drill holes announced in Lomiko’s September 6, 2022 press release.

With the exception of hole LL-22-017 which was abandoned due to technical difficulties, all holes mentioned in this news release intersected broad zones of moderate to high-grade flake graphite mineralization near the surface. The thickest intersection was 2.76 percent graphitic carbon (“%Cg”) over 99.0 meters (“m”) from 30.5 to 129.5 m in hole LL-22-014. The highest grade intersection was 11.64% Cg over 42.0m from 7.0 to 49.0m in hole LL-22-018. Additional sampling has been completed and assays are pending to fully close these intervals.

Qualified person

The technical content presented in this press release has been reviewed by Mark Fekete, P.Geo., who has actively participated in the La Loutre drilling program as an independent consultant to the Company, as a “qualified person” within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 Disclosure for Mining Projects.

QAQC and analytical procedures

The drill core was recorded and marked for sampling by a professional geologist. All cores were photographed as part of the registration process. Core samples were collected by dividing each sampling interval in half lengthwise using a hydraulic core splitter. One half of the interval was returned to the core box, and the other half was placed in a plastic bag with a label. The tag number was stamped in indelible ink on the outside of the bag, and the bag was sealed with a plastic tie wrap. Certified standard reference material and a blank were included in each batch of 21 samples. For the expedition, samples were placed in individually sealed rice bags with numbered, tamper-evident security tags. The bags of rice were then placed on wooden pallets, secured with plastic wrap, and delivered by truck to Manitoulin Transport Inc. for shipment to Activation Laboratories Ltd. (“Actlabs”) in Ancaster, Ontario.

At Actlabs, samples were ground to 80% through 2mm, then riffled into a 250g subsample that was pulverized to 95% through 105μm (Actlabs Code RX1). Pulp samples were then analyzed for graphitic carbon (Cg) by mild hydrochloric acid digestion followed by combustion in an infrared induction furnace (Actlabs Code 8Cg). Actlabs is accredited to ISO 9001:2015 registration and is independent of the Company.

About Lomiko Metals Inc.

Lomiko Metals has a new vision and new energy strategy. Lomiko is a company with a purpose: a company where people come first and where we can create a world of abundant renewable energy with critical Canadian and Quebec minerals for a solution in North America. Our goal is to create a new energy future in Canada, where we will develop the workforce in critical minerals, where we will become a valued partner and neighbor of the communities in which we operate, and where we will provide a supply of safe and responsible in critical minerals.

In addition to La Loutre, Lomiko is working with Critical Elements Lithium Corporation to secure its 70% interest in the Bourier project, pursuant to the option agreement announced on April 27, 2021. The Bourier Project site is located near Nemaska ​​Lithium and Critical Elements in the southeast of the James Bay Territory of Eeyou Istchee in Quebec which consists of 203 claims, for a total land position of 10,252.20 hectares (102 .52 km2), in the lithium triangle of Canada near the James Bay region of Quebec which has historically hosted lithium deposits and mineralization trends.

About the La Loutre Graphite Project

The Company holds a 100% interest in its La Loutre graphite development project in southern Quebec. The La Loutre project site is located on the territory of the Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg First Nations (KZA). The KZA First Nations are part of the Algonquin Nation and the KZA territory is located in the Outaouais and Laurentides regions. Located 180 kilometers northwest of Montreal, the property consists of a large continuous block comprising 48 mining claims totaling 2,867 hectares (28.7 km2).

The property is underlain by rocks belonging to the Grenville Province of the Precambrian Canadian Shield. The Grenville formed under conditions very favorable for the development of coarse flake graphite mineralization from organic-rich materials during high-temperature metamorphism.

Lomiko Metals released a Preliminary Economic Estimate (PEE) on July 29, 2021, indicating that the project had a 15-year lifespan and produced 100,000 tonnes of 95% Cg graphite concentrate annually, a total of 1, 5 Mt of graphite concentrate. This report was prepared as a NI 43-101 compliant technical report for Lomiko Metals Inc. by Ausenco Engineering Canada Inc, Hemmera Envirochem Inc, Moose Mountain Technical Services, and Metpro Management Inc, collectively the authors of the report.

For more information about Lomiko Metals, visit www.lomiko.com.

“Our new booth has a simple, streamlined design with a generous amount of space that allows our full line of Aqua Cutter robots to take center stage,” said Roger Simonsson, Aquajet managing director. “While it’s easy to find information online, seeing the equipment in person and connecting with product and application experts is one of the best ways to learn and make purchase decisions. We’re excited to be able to provide that experience for show attendees at bauma 2022.”  

Aquajet will showcase its newest Hydrodemolition robot, the Aqua Cutter 750V. The robot features a new oscillation pattern that is the first of its kind and moves the water jet in an infinity – or figure 8 – pattern. This allows the robot to remove more concrete in a single pass while still reducing shadowing, eliminating the risk of pipe holes and providing an ideal bonding surface. The new 750V also features the next-generation Evolution 3.0 Control System that includes new functions to make operators’ lives easier, including the ability to automatically calculate optimal settings for lance motion for greater precision and efficiency. Like all Aqua Cutter Robots, the 750V cleans and descales rebar without causing micro-fracturing. It also maintains exceptional horizontal, vertical, and overhead reach, making it suitable for a wide variety of concrete removal tasks, such as renovation and bridge and road repair.

About Aquajet

Aquajet, which was acquired by Brokk AB in 2016, is known as the industry leader in Hydrodemolition machines and solutions, both in terms of quality and volume. The company’s headquarters and production facilities are in Holsbybrunn, Sweden. Similar to Brokk, Aquajet sells globally.

To learn more about Aquajet robots and their compatible line of accessories, visit www.aquajet.se.

Ameriwest further announces the State has also approved the second Geologic Field Operation Plan for the Thompson Valley property. This approved plan allows for an expanded surface sampling program with subsequent laboratory assays. The initial plan was limited to 50 samples, and the new plan allows additional sampling, expected to be approximately 300 samples. The continued surface sampling and assays will allow Ameriwest to expand upon its positive results announced last month wherein significant lithium concentrations were discovered.

David Watkinson, President, and CEO of Ameriwest stated, “After a highly successful initial surface sampling program at our Thompson Valley property which led to the discovery of surface or near surface lithium bearing clays, we are moving forward with an expanded surface sampling program that will allow Ameriwest’s technical team to better characterize this sedimentary clay deposit. The data from the expanded surface sampling program will be used to define drill targets and allow the Company to move forward with permitting process for a drill program. The goal of the drilling program will be to determine the depth of lithium-bearing strata and to start the process of delineating potential lithium resources on the property, subject to exploration success.”

Ameriwest also announces it has completed and filed NI 43-101 Reports for each of the ESN Gold projects in Nevada and the Koster Dam Gold project in Central British Columbia. These gold projects form the assets of Ameriwest’s wholly owned subsidiary, ISM Resources Corp. (“ISM”). Ameriwest announced on July 11, 2022, that it had received approval from the Supreme Court of British Columbia for a statutory Plan of Arrangement, pursuant to which Ameriwest and ISM will separate into two independent companies. Ameriwest will continue to trade on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the “CSE”) and ISM is applying to have its common shares listed for trading on the CSE. Assuming that the remaining conditions for closing are satisfied and the necessary regulatory approvals are obtained, it is expected that the closing of the Plan of Arrangement will be completed in the third quarter of 2022.

Greg Bell, P.E. (Arizona), a qualified person under the NI 43-101 instrument, has reviewed and approved the technical content of this release. Note no mineral resources or reserves have yet been delineated on the Thompson Valley Property that meet National NI 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects or CIM Definition Standards.

Ameriwest invites interested stakeholders and shareholders alike to contact our investor relations team or visit our website and sign-up for regular news alerts which will help provide timely updates on ongoing activities. Company management believes strongly in regular communications, updates, and reports from the field, as an important aspect of developing informative and useful engagement as the Company continues to help explore and develop the exciting and rapidly evolving lithium sector.

About Ameriwest Lithium Inc.

Ameriwest Lithium Inc. is a Canadian-based exploration company focused on identifying and developing strategic lithium clay and brine mineral resources in Nevada and Arizona. The Company is currently exploring its 6,900-acre Thompson Valley lithium clay property in Arizona. In Nevada, it is exploring its 15,300-acre Railroad Valley lithium brine property, its 22,210-acre Edwards Creek Valley lithium brine property, its 5,760-acre Little Smoky Valley lithium clay property, and its 7,380-acre Deer Musk East lithium brine property.

For more information visit: https://ameriwestlithium.com/.

Snow Lake Lithium’s planned all-electric lithium mine is perfectly placed to enable the domestic supply of this critical resource to North American automotive manufacturers from 2025.

Philip Gross, CEO of Snow Lake Lithium said, “As we rapidly transition to electrification, it’s essential for the future of the North American automotive industry that we build a rock-to-road battery supply chain

“Local sourcing of critical raw materials, such as lithium, is the only logical step to create a vertically integrated domestic supply chain. Snow Lake Lithium has access to a rich lithium resource and is on the doorstep of North American manufacturers. This is enough lithium to power 500,000 electric vehicles a year produced in North America, which would significantly reduce logistics and emissions that would be created by importing raw materials from China.”

Based in Manitoba, Canada, Snow Lake Lithium is developing the world’s first all-electric lithium mine to enable the domestic supply of this critical resource to the North American electric vehicle industry.

Snow Lake Lithium is ideally located to serve the North American automotive industry with access to the US rail network via the Arctic Gateway railway, which reduces transportation from thousands of miles by road and boat to just several hundred by train.  

To enable the seamless integration of the supply chain, Snow Lake Lithium plans to establish a joint venture to create a lithium hydroxide processing plant and is seeking a partnership with an automotive OEM or a battery manufacturer to deliver this. The proposed plant will be located in CentrePort Canada in Southern Manitoba and a scoping study is underway to identify the most effective approach to deliver a world-class lithium hydroxide plant within the Manitoba Province.

Snow Lake Lithium’s 55,000-acre site is expected to produce 160,000 tonnes of 6% lithium spodumene a year over a 10-year period. Currently, Snow Lake Lithium has explored approximately 1% of its site and is confident that further exploration will increase estimates over the course of the next year. Snow Lake Lithium’s planned mine will be operated by almost 100% renewable, hydroelectric power to ensure the most sustainable lithium manufacturing approach.

Over the coming months, Snow Lake Lithium will continue its engineering evaluation and drilling program across its site, with the expectation that mining operations, will transition to commercial production targeted for 2025.

About Snow Lake Resources Ltd.

Snow Lake Lithium is committed to creating and operating a fully renewable and sustainable lithium mine that can deliver a completely traceable, carbon-neutral, and zero-harm product to the North American electric vehicle and battery markets. We aspire to not only set the standard for responsible lithium mining, but we intend to be the first lithium producer in the world to achieve Certified B Corporation status in the process.

Our wholly-owned Thompson Brothers Lithium Project now covers a 55,318-acre site that has only been 1% explored and contains an identified-to-date 11.1 million metric tonnes indicated and inferred resource at 1% Li₂O.

www.SnowLakeLithium.com

Creating greater ease of development, testing, and deployment has cut the development times for robotics software dramatically. Yet, companies still face challenges when integrating new technologies. This is especially true for those who are looking to deploy a brand new system-on-module, such as the recently released Jetson AGX Orin.

To address the concerns of the industry and ease deployment, Cogniteam was able to include all the necessary Jetson Orin drivers and software components into its Nimbus software platform. Using Nimbus, it is now much quicker to get a robot with Jetson Orin up and running for inspection, maintenance, sanitization, service, and various data-intensive scenarios that require a high degree of autonomy. With a few clicks from the browser, developers are now able to drag and drop ready-made NVIDIA Isaac software development kit GEMs as Nimbus dockerized components. Users also have better support for ROS2 components and can upgrade them remotely, from anywhere in the world.  “The NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin is a huge leap for manufacturers and developers who want greater AI capabilities on their edge robots,” said Dr. Yehuda Elmaliah, Co-Founder & CEO of Cogniteam. “We were pleased to see that the development of this new module integrates seamlessly with the Nimbus Operating System, enabling deployed robots to handle greater AI computational abilities.”

As more robots gain cloud connectivity, AGX Orin’s greater computing power will meet the market’s demand for outfitting robots with greater autonomous capabilities, including AI decision-making. “Relying on Nimbus with Jetson AGX Orin, we dragged, dropped, and ran multiple AI models simultaneously on the robot,” said Ari Yakir, VP of Research & Development at Cogniteam. “These skills included localization, gesture recognition, skeleton recognition, object recognition, simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), and beyond.”

In addition to its flagship Great Atlantic Salt Project, approximately 25 km south of Stephenville, Atlas owns 100% of the Fischell’s Brook salt deposit, Newfoundland and Labrador’s only known salt dome with clean hydrogen storage potential. Fischell’s Brook is part of a 226 sq. km land package outside of Great Atlantic on the west coast of Newfoundland, including 75 sq. km of claims covering Stephenville and the surrounding area, that forms the planned upcoming Atlas spinout of Triple Point Resources Ltd.

Mr. Patrick Laracy, the Atlas CEO, commented: “We have long recognized the enormous environmentally friendly resource potential of the west coast of Newfoundland. The Hydrogen Accord is expected to be signed later today between Canada and Germany, and the location of this signing ceremony (Stephenville), validates the prolific opportunities in this district with Atlas owning two key advanced projects and a highly prospective exploration ground. Unlocking the full value of Fischell’s Brook and other non-Great Atlantic salt assets is best accomplished through the proposed strategic spinout of Triple Point at a highly favorable share distribution ratio.”

Spinout Highlights:

• Atlas shareholders are reminded that a Special AGM will be held Wednesday, August 31, 2022, to vote on the proposed Plan of Arrangement as per an information circular posted on SEDAR and mailed to Atlas Salt shareholders;
• Subject to receipt of Atlas shareholder, regulatory, and court approvals, the Date of Record for the distribution of 23,750,000 Triple Point shares will be on or about September 21, 2022. All Atlas shareholders qualify to receive one Triple Point share for approximately four Atlas shares owned as of the Date of Record;
• Triple Point has applied to list its common shares on the CSE following the completion of the Plan of Arrangement, and Atlas Salt will continue to hold a significant ownership position in Triple Point.

About Atlas Salt

Atlas Salt owns 100% of the Great Atlantic Salt Project strategically located in western Newfoundland in the middle of the robust eastern North America road salt market. The project features a large homogeneous high-grade resource. Atlas Salt also owns the Fischell’s Brook salt dome and other mineral licenses on the west coast of Newfoundland, forming the proposed spinout of Triple Point Resources Ltd.

The order with Wärtsilä was placed by Sabodala Gold Operations and it has been booked in Wärtsilä’s order intake in Q3 2022. The project will be delivered under a complete engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract.

The Sabodala-Massawa mine is the largest producing gold mine in Senegal and is located in the eastern part of the country in the Kedougou region. Endeavor’s planned mine expansion will transform Sabodala-Massawa into a top-tier gold asset with incremental production.

“Wärtsilä has a depth of experience in delivering power solutions for mining operations around the world. Not being connected to the grid means that the captive plant has to be capable of providing a reliable supply of electricity at all times, since no power equals no production. The Wärtsilä 32 engines selected for this expansion project have established a strong reputation for high efficiency and reliability under even the most difficult ambient conditions, eliminating revenue losses from power shortages,” said Marc Thiriet, Energy Business Director, Africa West, Wärtsilä.

The three Wärtsilä 32 engines to be installed are 20 percent more fuel efficient than the plant’s existing engines. Their fuel efficiency minimizes the environmental impact by reducing harmful CO2 emissions. In addition to their outstanding performance, they have the flexibility to support a smooth transition to the integration of solar power and energy storage into the system. The upgrade of the electrical and automation system will optimize the interconnection and control of the existing power plant with the extension.

The project is expected to be completed and commissioned before the end of 2023.

Wärtsilä is Senegal’s leading provider of power generating equipment, and already has 543 MW of installed capacity in altogether 20 power plants in the country. 458 MW of this capacity is under Wärtsilä long-term service agreements.

Wärtsilä in brief

Wärtsilä is a global leader in innovative technologies and lifecycle solutions for the marine and energy markets. We emphasize innovation in sustainable technology and services to help our customers continuously improve their environmental and economic performance. Our dedicated and passionate team of 17,000 professionals in more than 200 locations in 68 countries shapes the decarbonization transformation of our industries across the globe. In 2021, Wärtsilä’s net sales totaled EUR 4.8 billion. Wärtsilä is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki. www.wartsila.com

Wärtsilä Energy in brief

Wärtsilä Energy leads the transition towards a 100% renewable energy future. We help our customers in decarbonization by developing market-leading technologies. These cover future-fuel-enabled balancing power plants, hybrid solutions, energy storage, and optimization technology, including the GEMS energy management platform. Wärtsilä Energy’s lifecycle services are designed to increase efficiency, promote reliability and guarantee operational performance. Our track record comprises 76 GW of power plant capacity and 110 energy storage systems delivered to 180 countries around the world. https://www.wartsila.com/energy

• Expanded Temperature Range for year-round, all-weather performance
  • Excellent cold weather pumpability in sub-zero/arctic operations
  • Excellent extreme high temperature and severe service performance
• Maximizes Equipment Life in Severe Service
  • The advanced additive system minimizes wear in heavily loaded gears and bearings
  • Keeps metal parts free of varnish and sludge
  • Improved protection against wear, rust, and corrosion
• Holds up Longer for Extended Service Intervals
  • Outstanding oxidation resistance at high temperatures for longer oil life
  • Excellent filterability under the ISOCLEAN® Certified Lubricants program
  • Stability during storage periods

“We’re excited to introduce Delo TorqForce Syn FD-1 designed to maximize productivity and reliability of large mining haul trucks and support equipment,” Jason Gerig, Chevron Lubricants Commercial Sector Manager shared. “Chevron strives to provide lubricants with proven performance through rigorous testing for the mining industry. Results for Delo TorqForce Syn FD-1 showed excellent gear wear protection and very strong oxidation control with minimal varnish to extend service intervals from the standard 4,000 hours to 6,000 hours and well beyond.”

About Chevron Products Company

Chevron Products Company is a division of an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Chevron Corporation (NYSE: CVX) headquartered in San Ramon, CA. A full line of lubrication and coolant products are marketed through this organization. Select brands include Havoline®, Delo®, and Havoline Xpress Lube®. Chevron Intellectual Property LLC owns patented technology in advanced lubricants products, new generation base oil technology, and coolants.

“ZapBatt unlocked the potential of Toshiba’s LTO chemistry for a variety of industries and new markets with disruptive technology, moving away from the ‘miracle battery’ trap and providing a real solution hitting the market today,” said Greg Mack, Vice President & General Manager – Power Electronics Division, at Toshiba. “With ZapBatt’s hardware and software, and our LTO chemistry, there is no other solution as fast, safe, and cost-effective on the market.”

Toshiba looked to ZapBatt to solve three challenges of using LTO chemistry in batteries:

• Chips: Chips that work with lithium titanium oxide. ZapBatt’s custom LTO optimized battery management system (BMS) works at the unique voltages of LTO with the ability to be re-configured to adapt as the cell chemistry grows, enabling a programmable chip that can work with other chemistries and voltages.
• Voltage: ZapBatt’s unique Bi-directional adaptive terminal voltage (BATV) technology allows for voltage control of the battery system digitally with software. This is like a ‘universal adapter.’ It allows LTO to be a one-for-one swap of any lithium-ion chemistry without the customer modifying their system allowing the batteries to be re-configured for other applications at software speed.
• Energy Density: The energy density is a system challenge, and integrated AI allows the battery to improve the system’s performance by analyzing how energy is being used, such as enhanced regenerative braking for e-bikes. Other battery chemistries don’t have the flexibility to move energy in and out as quickly.

“For global carbon reduction and electrification, we need better battery solutions now, not in ten years. To address this problem, we worked with Toshiba to allow lithium titanium oxide to come alive, bridge into new markets quickly, and provide maximum economic and environmental benefits,” said Charlie Welch, CEO, and Co-founder of ZapBatt. “Unlike other chemistries, lithium titanium oxide is very efficient in a variety of conditions, not just on a lab bench. It’s like the Seabiscuit of batteries.”

Toshiba’s LTO cells are ideal for micro-mobility applications due to their high-performing characteristics in several categories. The SCiB^TM Cells are designed for fast charging and high-power environments with a minimal decrease in function even after thousands of charges and uses. The cells provide up to a 100 percent usable charge, allowing for longer use. Additionally, the cells perform in freezing temperatures as low as -30 degrees celsius, compared to 0 degrees celsius for typical Li-ion.

On top of the ability to perform in freezing temperatures, the cells reduce operating expenses and e-waste and eliminate fire risk with the use of ZapBatt’s LTO system. LTO batteries have virtually no risk for self-thermal runaway. Most micro-mobility fires occur due to lithium-ion batteries containing oxides of nickel, manganese, aluminum, or cobalt. This type of chemical fire typically occurs when the battery is punctured, sustains damage, is poorly manufactured, overused, or breaks down internally. As a result of the lack of carbon on the anode surfaces and the fact that LTO is free of these oxides (similar to lithium-iron-phosphate), the battery chemistry is effectively immune to thermal runaway and battery fires.

Along with the Toshiba SCiB^TM cells, ZapBatt software uses a combination of machine learning and proprietary hardware to continuously improve battery performance. The company’s software analyzes 26 data points, illustrating how the battery performs to improve charging operations, essentially talking to the battery and making changes. Over time, the batteries will provide data, allowing the system to become even more energy efficient.

In addition to this, ZapBatt has built a new hardware solution for their lithium titanium oxide system called BATV or Bi-Directional Adaptive Terminal Voltage. This technology allows the system to control the battery voltage input/output all digitally with software, allowing LTO to integrate seamlessly into a broad variety of applications.

“ZapBatt’s bi-directional adaptive terminal voltage (BATV) technology allows the battery to reconfigure itself based on the customer’s needs, essentially making it a universal adapter that has the potential to change the battery landscape completely,” said Amiad Zionpur, Chief Operating Officer of ZapBatt. “Because of this unique ability, the e-bike battery can be used in many different applications, from micro-mobility to consumer products.”

The company is conducting several micro-mobility pilot demonstrations in North America and the batteries are estimated to be commercially available in early 2023.

About ZapBatt

Based in Southern California, ZapBatt, which recently partnered with Toshiba, is a battery provider for various markets, including mobility, small infrastructure, and consumer products. ZapBatt uses a combination of machine learning and custom next-generation hardware with superior lithium titanium oxide battery technology, offering a longer lifespan, faster charging time, and no risk of fire. Specifically, the battery can provide a full charge in 20 minutes or less and operate through as many as 20,000 charging cycles, eliminating the need for frequent battery swapping. Estimates, using real-world data, indicate that operators could save as much as 50 percent on costs based on current long charge times with lithium-ion batteries, by using the ZapBatt solution. ZapBatt’s Battery-as-a-Service model can help customers significantly reduce both capital and operational expenses. For more information, visit https://www.zapbatt.com.

About Toshiba Corporation

Toshiba Corporation leads a global group of companies that combines knowledge and capabilities from over 140 years of experience in a wide range of businesses—from energy and social infrastructure to electronic devices—with world-class capabilities in information processing, and digital and AI technologies. These distinctive strengths support Toshiba’s continued evolution toward becoming an Infrastructure Services Company that promotes data utilization and digitization, and one of the world’s leading cyber-physical-systems technology companies. Guided by the Basic Commitment of the Toshiba Group, “Committed to People, Committed to the Future,” Toshiba contributes to society’s positive development with services and solutions that lead to a better world. The Group and its 120,000 employees worldwide secured annual sales of 3.3 trillion yen (US$27.4 billion) in the fiscal year 2021. Find out more about Toshiba at www.global.toshiba/ww/outline/corporate.html

Developing and deploying a robot is time and resource intensive. From the moment a decision is made to build the robot until it is actually deployed can often take years. By the time it is used for its initial purpose, the technology risks already being out of date. In response, AAEON partnered with Cogniteam to develop hardware systems that come with various foundational capabilities- all of which are pre-integrated with Nimbus. Without this key advantage, operators lack cloud-connected capabilities, which allow for over-the-air updates, monitoring, insights, and operational insights.

Since its launch, Cogniteam’s Nimbus has improved integration and widespread adoption of ROS and NVIDIA Jetson software packages. Developers pick from a catalog of algorithms, AI, process control, spatial recognition, and more. The robot can then be tested in a simulated environment to understand how the robot will handle various scenarios before it ever leaves the production floor. “We are honored to have AAEON offer parts that are Nimbus enabled, allowing rapid uptime by syncing with a virtual environment,” said Dr. Yehuda Elmaliah, Co-founder and CEO of Cogniteam. “In a few clicks, developers benefit from a system that’s already familiar with AAEON’s hardware specifications and abilities. Developers can choose off-the-shelf parts and significantly cut development time.”

Moving the burden of integration from individual organizations to a centralized platform gives robot operators valuable analytics, fleet management capabilities, OTA updates, remote control features, and more. “This integration allows anyone to access today’s most advanced capabilities using pre-integrated AAEON components,” said Owen Wei, Marketing and BD Manager at AAEON. “Adding a cloud layer to a robot’s design keeps it up to date with continuous communication to the home base.”

Integration demands will only increase as edge devices begin carrying greater processing power and more advanced capabilities. Robots and components that are designed for cloud connectivity integrations benefit from a longer life, thanks to the ability for features to be added over time. Outfitting robots with tools for modern activities allows them to remain in the field longer without the risk of becoming obsolete.

Highlights

• Hatch was retained to design, test, and manage all DLE programs for LithiumBank;
• Selected DLE technologies for testing using Boardwalk brine is underway; and
• Results are expected to be used as inputs to the process design of a facility to treat raw brine and produce battery-grade lithium chemical products in the NI 43-101 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA).

Hatch is an engineering firm that has expertise in engineering, procurement, and construction management (EPCM) of lithium processing plants. LithiumBank’s management team is working with senior members of Hatch’s lithium group, with recent DLE project experience, to assess DLE technology options for the Boardwalk project. The results of the technology assessment performed by Hatch are expected to be used in preparing a NI 43-101 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) in respect of the Boardwalk Project. This PEA is a key stepping stone toward the design of a commercial facility that the Company anticipates will produce battery-grade lithium chemical products.

LithiumBank first engaged Hatch in August 2021 to conduct a comparative study of multiple North American-based DLE technologies that could deliver a high purity Lithium Chloride (LiCl) concentrate to be used in commercial, battery-grade lithium chemical production from the Boardwalk brine. After an iterative process by Hatch, LithiumBank has narrowed the potential technology providers. The shortlisted companies have received brine from Boardwalk and have commenced test work to determine the key design parameters (e.g. selectivity of the lithium extraction media, extraction kinetics, and media longevity). This level of detail in the test work will provide the necessary information to inform preliminary economics around a lithium processing facility on-site at Boardwalk.

LithiumBank COO, Kevin Piepgrass states:

“We are very excited to have commenced testing our brine with two of the shortlisted DLE technology companies. Both shortlisted companies have developed DLE materials and extraction processes that the Company believes have an ideal set of ranges of conditions required for peak performance. The temperature, pH, and chemistry at Boardwalk make these technologies ideal candidates and we look forward to receiving the results.”

The Brine used in the DLE test work was collected in August 2021 from well 100/09-26-068-22W5/00 located in the South Sturgeon Lake oilfield (see figure 1) and has a reported average grade of 73.8 mg/L Lithium (as previously reported in LithiumBank news release dated June 28, 2022).

The Boardwalk Leduc formation Li-brine inferred resource is globally estimated at 1,122,000 tonnes of elemental Li at an average lithium concentration of 67.1 mg/L Li in 16.7 km³ of formation brine volume (Table 1). The global (total) lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) for the inferred mineral resource is 5,973,000 tonnes of LCE.

Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. There is no guarantee that all or any part of the mineral resource will be converted into a mineral reserve.

Table 1 Boardwalk’s Leduc Formation Li-brine NI 43-101 inferred resource estimate presented as a global (total) resource.

About LithiumBank Resources Corp.

LithiumBank Resources Corp. is an exploration and development company focused on lithium-enriched brine projects in Western Canada where low-carbon-impact, rapid DLE technology can be deployed. LithiumBank currently holds over 3.2 million acres of mineral titles, 2.82M acres in Alberta and 326K acres in Saskatchewan. LithiumBank’s mineral titles are strategically positioned over known reservoirs that provide a unique combination of scale, grade, and exceptional flow rates that are necessary for large-scale direct brine lithium production. LithiumBank is advancing and de-risking several projects in parallel to the Boardwalk Lithium Brine Project.

The technology partnership will combine INNIO’s Waukesha engine analytics with Detechtion’s compression monitoring and optimization technology into a single solution for both new and existing compressor skids. The solution helps customers remotely manage their assets securely and in real-time. The system anticipates unexpected events, determines if assistance is required, improves energy production, and reduces plant downtime.

“The comprehensive solution combines INNIO’s strength in engine analysis with Detechtion’s wide range of compressor diagnostics. This collaboration enables us to drive our customer-centric strategy, helping drive the transition to net zero,” said Bud Hittie, President of INNIO Waukesha Inc. and leading the Waukesha product brand.

“This collaboration will benefit the industry’s need for solutions that provide deeper visibility and better control throughout the compressor skid while optimizing operators’ operations. Both Detechtion’s and INNIO’s Waukesha teams have a wealth of knowledge and are energized to create an even more powerful solution that achieves the accessibility customers deserve,” said Christopher Smith, President, and CEO of Detechtion Technologies. “Detechtion has been creating digital twins and smart solutions to provide our compression customers with optimization and monitoring capabilities for over 20 years. We are excited to develop a combined solution alongside the Waukesha team.”

About INNIO

INNIO is a leading energy solution and service provider that empowers industries and communities to make sustainable energy work today. With our product brands Jenbacher and Waukesha and our digital platform myPlant, INNIO offers innovative solutions for the power generation and compression segments that help industries and communities generate and manage energy sustainably while navigating the fast-changing landscape of traditional and green energy sources. We are individual in scope but global in scale. With our flexible, scalable, and resilient energy solutions and services, we are enabling our customers to manage the energy transition along the energy value chain wherever they are in their transition journey.

INNIO is headquartered in Jenbach (Austria), with other primary operations in Waukesha (Wisconsin, U.S.) and Welland (Ontario, Canada). A team of more than 3,500 experts provides life-cycle support to the more than 54,000 delivered engines globally through a service network in more than 80 countries.

INNIO’s ESG rating places it the number one of more than 500 worldwide companies in the machinery industry assessed by Sustainalytics.

For more information, visit INNIO’s website at www.innio.com. Follow INNIO on Twitter and LinkedIn.

About Waukesha – an INNIO brand

INNIO’s Waukesha engines set an industry standard for low emissions, fuel flexibility, and high reliability. Ranging from 335 hp to 5,000 hp, our rich- and lean-burn engines provide distributed gas compression and power generation solutions. The latest Waukesha engine models and upgrades help operators stay emissions-compliant without sacrificing operational excellence such as extended service intervals, fuel flexibility, and increased power. Whether installing power at a site or retrofitting the existing fleet, Waukesha has new and reUp remanufactured engines and parts as well as upgrading kits for conversions and modifications—all backed by OEM warranty and empowered by 115 years of engine expertise.

Waukesha connects with our customers locally for rapid response to their service needs, providing enhanced support through our broad network of distributors and solution providers with parts, services, and digital offerings. INNIO’s Waukesha engines are engineered in Waukesha (Wisconsin, U.S.) and manufactured in Welland (Ontario, Canada).

For more information, visit INNIO’s website at www.innio.com. Follow INNIO on Twitter and LinkedIn.

About Detechtion Technologies

Detechtion Technologies is the market-leading asset optimization provider in Upstream Oil & Gas saving our customers millions of dollars per year in expenses by enabling them to operate more efficiently, as well as operating more safely and environmentally. Detechtion leads the digital transformation and optimization of natural gas compression, oilfield chemicals, and other production operations with Asset Performance Management (APM), Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), and Mobile solutions. Since 1999, thousands of users have depended on Detechtion Technologies to optimize over 10,000 assets worldwide.

A comparison of losses between soft-switching and hard-switching was calculated by Hillcrest. The system was tested with 470V DC-link voltage under a 5A load with a 20kHz switching frequency. The Hillcrest inverter achieved an average of more than 90% fewer switching losses and a roughly 90% reduction in dV/dt compared to the conventional, hard-switched inverters found in many EVs today.

The company includes details of the soft-switching testing and results in an update of its previously released technical whitepaper available for download at the Hillcrest website. While the previous testing had confirmed the efficiency of total inverter losses, the new tests looked specifically at the efficiencies gained via Hillcrest’s mastery of soft-switching.

Electric motors currently used in EV powertrains operate within a switching frequency range of 8kHz to 16kHz, due to the historic trade-off between the best possible switching behavior and acceptable thermal losses. The ability of the Hillcrest high-efficiency inverter to soft-switch at much higher frequencies without generating additional losses will allow motor manufacturers to take advantage of new motor concepts not previously available to them.

“These test results represent another milestone on the pathway to commercialization of our traction inverter,” said Don Currie, CEO of Hillcrest Energy Technologies. “It’s an exciting step that proves we’re on the right track to providing the optimal inverter technology that will help make the next generation of EVs even more efficient and more powerful.”

Leveraging the Hillcrest traction inverter in an EV powertrain is intended to improve overall system-level performance. A system with higher power density, lower cost and weight, and better power quality and performance could play an integral part in delivering a vehicle with more power, more payload capability, and increased range.

“With these new test results in hand, we can more clearly demonstrate that zero-voltage switching (“ZVS”) is both feasible and it offers several cost and performance benefits relative to overall system size, complexity, and weight of future electric vehicles,” stated Ari Berger, Hillcrest CTO.

The successful tests completed thus far with the Hillcrest proof of concept are important steps in the commercialization testing protocol. Testing of the Hillcrest 250kW 800V commercial prototype traction inverter is currently underway, with a final prototype ready for delivery to customers in the fourth quarter of this year. The Company intends to provide an update on the progress of the commercial prototype shortly.

About Hillcrest Energy Technologies

Hillcrest Energy Technologies is a clean technology company developing high-value, high-performance power conversion technologies and digital control systems for next-generation powertrains and grid-connected renewable energy systems. From concept to commercialization, Hillcrest is investing in the development of energy solutions that will power a more sustainable and electrified future. Hillcrest is publicly traded on the CSE under the symbol “HEAT,” on the OTCQB Venture Market as “HLRTF” and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange as “7HIA.F.” For more information, please visit https://hillcrestenergy.tech/.

Safe autonomous operation is this market’s enabler and at the heart of the rapidly developing drone regulation, and is being strongly promoted by the biggest industry players. Currently, the technology for operating drones beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) is lacking, which hinders the ability to provide safe, autonomous drone flights, making the commercialization of drones expensive and unscalable. As a response, Wonder Robotics developed their unique “WonderLand” for precise autonomous landings, that can be installed on any drone. Clearing landing zones in real-time, enables emergency autonomous contingency landings, in unprepared, uncharted, and unattended sites.

Wonder Robotics’ smart safety layer includes vertical awareness and robust precision landing, permitting drone safety beyond the operator/mission manager’s visual line of sight. In urban environments, this can prevent collisions with people and natural and infrastructural impediments such as trees, cables, buildings, and other dynamic environmental factors.

“We are thrilled to take part in the drone revolution, by partnering with major industry players leveraging on our technology to launch their commercial multi-drone operations,” said Idan Shimon, co-founder, and CEO of Wonder Robotics. “Since raising the seed round, we have partnered with Spright, Air Methods’ new drone division, helping it realize its mission to improve access to urgently needed medical supplies for healthcare providers.”

Wonder Robotics believes that its technology is ideal for commercial package delivery, infrastructure inspection, mapping, and advanced urban mobility for people (UAM). Their vision is to expand their offering to include horizontal situational awareness for navigation, obstacle detection, avoidance, and safe precision landing in the case of denied GPS.

“Wonder Robotics’ founding team are true industry experts and have the knowledge and technical expertise needed to enable a market waiting to take off, and establish WonderLand as an industry standard,” said Lauren Duke, Vice President of Business Development at Elron Ventures.

“Our investment in Wonder Robotics is perfectly aligned to our strategy of investing in domains where we can provide added value, by leveraging on our strategic partnership with Rafael and its validation platform for deep-tech ventures,” added Kobi Katz, Partner, and CTO at Elron Ventures and former VP and CIO at Rafael.

Electric Hydrogen (EH2) is developing a new generation of electrolyzer technologies to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, which when powered by renewable energy like wind and solar, creates green hydrogen. The funding will support the scale-up of EH2’s high throughput electrolyzer and manufacturing technology and the deployment of pilot projects at a large scale for industrial and infrastructure applications. Honeywell’s investment and increased collaboration with Electric Hydrogen allow Honeywell to better understand and support the needs of the electrolyzer industry.

Honeywell’s recently announced catalyst coated membrane (CCM) technology demonstrates higher electrolyzer efficiency and higher electric current density in lab testing. It could further optimize and enhance the performance of the electrolyzer stack for green hydrogen production. Leveraging this type of collaboration can help improve the speed and reduce the cost of deploying and operating sustainable green hydrogen production facilities.

This investment furthers Honeywell’s commitment to providing ready-now solutions that meet the needs and scale of the industry now and in the future. Honeywell has been providing innovative hydrogen processing solutions for more than 50 years, including purification systems, membranes, controls, cyber security, automation, and remote monitoring services.

“Honeywell has decades-long industrial experience within the hydrogen industry,” said Patrick Hogan, Managing Director, Honeywell Ventures. “Our investment in Electric Hydrogen will accelerate collaboration between key players in the green hydrogen value chain and provide a ready-now solution to speed the transition to a hydrogen-based economy.”

“Honeywell’s deep industry relationships allow Electric Hydrogen to speed up development and scaled deployment of cost-effective systems to decarbonize the massive industrial sectors that we all depend on,” said Raffi Garabedian, chief executive officer of Electric Hydrogen. “Our high-performance electrolyzers will .”Electric Hydrogen is forging cost-effective and transformative assistance to a zero-carbon world for heavy industry. The Company is building a new generation of electrolyzer technologies to enable clean, abundant, and low-cost hydrogen for hard-to-decarbonize industrial sectors. EH2 is led by a team of the world’s leading experts in scaling clean technologies from First Solar and Tesla and backed by top climate technology investors committed to deep decarbonization. The Company was founded in 2020 and is based in the Bay Area, CA, and Boston, MA.

Honeywell is committed to achieving carbon neutrality in its operations and facilities by 2035. This commitment builds on the company’s track record of sharply reducing the greenhouse gas intensity of its operations and facilities as well as its decades-long history of innovation to help its customers meet their environmental and social goals. About 60 percent of Honeywell’s new product introduction research and development investment is directed toward products that improve environmental and social outcomes for customers.

About Honeywell

Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 technology company that delivers industry-specific solutions that include aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings and industry; and performance materials globally. Our technologies help aircraft, buildings, manufacturing plants, supply chains, and workers become more connected to make our world smarter, safer, and more sustainable.

The Kena Property hosts several gold mineralized zones, most notably the Kena Gold and Gold Mountain Zones included in the recent resource estimate hosting 2.77 million ounces of gold inferred and 0.56 million ounces of gold indicated at 0.25 g/t cutoff (see News Release dated May 11, 2021). 3D modeling and imagery have identified drill targets for expansion to the north and northwest of the open-ended gold resource in the Gold Mountain Zone. Gold in the resource area consists of high-grade shoots surrounded by broad envelopes of disseminated gold mineralization (see News Release dated March 16, 2022). The initial 2022 diamond drilling will consist of 10 drill holes in this expansion location.

“We are pleased to be commencing our drill program on the Kena Project. Along with anticipated results from the fully funded 2022 program and taking in the fact that the successful 2021 season results are still to be assimilated into the resource calculations, the Company is well-positioned to expand upon the previously defined gold resource. Our experienced geological and drilling crews give us a strong probability for success,” states Nicholas Houghton, CEO of West Mining Corporation.

Coincident with the ongoing diamond drilling program, metallurgical test work is currently being completed by Bureau Veritas Commodities Canada Ltd, Metallurgical Division with results anticipated soon.

Linda Dandy, P.Geo., a “Qualified Person” for the purpose of National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the contents of this news release.

About West Mining Corp.

West Mining Corp. is a mineral exploration company acquiring and developing advanced and prospective early-stage exploration projects.  It is fully focused on its 100% owned, 9000-hectare Kena Project located near Nelson, British Columbia. The Kena Project comprises three adjoining Properties:  Kena, Daylight, and Athabasca.  A recent NI43-101 resource estimate for Kena gave 561,900 oz Au indicated and 2,773,100 oz Au inferred in the Gold Mountain, Kena Gold, and Daylight Zones. The Kena Property also hosts the large Kena Copper Zone, along with with the historic Euphrates and Gold Cup gold-silver mines. The Daylight property contains the historic past producing Daylight, Starlight, Victoria, Irene, and Great Eastern gold mines.  Along trend to the north is the Athabasca Property, with the historic Athabasca Gold Mine.  The historic mines and known mineralized zones on these three properties are structurally controlled along a 20-kilometer strike as identified by strong geophysical signatures.

Mitigating corrosion risk is critical not just in the short term but over the lifelong journey of your assets. So how do you ensure that your industrial projects remain corrosion-free and leave you feeling confident about the safety and production of your assets? This is a question that plagued Ken Wang, President of Harber Coatings.

Ken recalls the years of company growth, “This year, Harber Coatings Inc (HCI) is proud to celebrate 20 years in Canada. HCI has been a leader in Electroless Nickel Coating/Plating since 2002. The formula for the company’s success comes from transferring academic results into consistent large-scale industrial production whereby the lifetime of assets is corrosion-free and project safe.”

Facility Protection – Certainty to Your Investment

From its humble beginnings in a small workshop in Inglewood, Calgary, today HCI is headquartered in the esteemed Calgary Foothills Industrial Park. The company is now the industry leader in high-tech, peak-performance metal surface protection. The HCI facility occupies over 20,000 square feet of production area and boasts some of the largest ENC processing equipment in the world. This location also includes R&D facilities funded by the National Research Council of Canada and continues to develop innovative technologies.

Ken explains the process, “We are proud to say that over the years, Harber has developed a series of high-performance corrosion and erosion protection solutions for the Oil and Gas industry. In addition to the flagship InnoGuard™ ENC, there are a few other R&D projects ongoing.”

Material Science Applied to Steel

Steel has excellent material properties when guarded against corrosion and other wear challenges, and as such many protective coating options have been developed over the years. Prominent examples include paint, epoxy, polymer/powder coat, galvanizing, thermal spray, metal overlay as well as ENC/ENP. A persistent challenge for all these established products has been performance in severe environments, specifically the tendency to accelerate the rate of wear once the coating starts to develop damage.

Ken explains how they provide clients with long-term results, “We’ve mitigated corrosion risk and combatted coating failure with HCI’s InnoGuard™ ENC. It is a unique product that has outstanding wear properties and exceptional bonding to the substrate material. This means when failure of the coating eventually occurs, there is no accelerated corrosion from galvanic or crevice corrosion developing underneath the coating. InnoGuard™ protected parts dramatically extend the life of assets and minimize the risk of unplanned shutdowns.”

Harber Coatings Offers Long-Term Solutions As The Key To Success

Harber Coatings is the world leader in ENC/ENP process by coating performance, production scale, and ESG. HCI’s proprietary coating products do not flake even under severe mechanical impacts. The HCI team specializes in large-scale components such as full-length tubing and casing pipes. The production is highly efficient and environmentally friendly compared to conventional ENC as there is minimal industrial waste generation.

HCI’s product offerings are further differentiated by a complementary application assessment and performance guarantee. Specific to each application, HCI provides design alteration advice (if applicable) and a guarantee on the lifespan of the coated component for the specific service condition based on provided design parameters and its database of past applications. This creates certainty in the investment and long-term protection of energy assets.

Harber Coatings Inc. continues to succeed in serving oil and gas clients with high-tech research and development. ENC (Electroless Nickel Coating), and/or ENP (Electroless Nickel Plating) are foundational cornerstones of long-term corrosion-proofing processes with life-of-asset results.

With unique advantages in transferring academic results to industrial applications, Harber has developed a series of coating solution formulas and proprietary processing technologies that will serve the industrial sector for years to come. Congratulations Harber Coatings Inc on your long-term corrosion success!

Source and Photos: Harbercoatings.com

“This is an exciting time for both businesses and consumers,” says Dan O’Toole, founder, and chief executive officer of Dronedek. “We are on the brink of a revolutionary change that will fundamentally transform how things are delivered.”

Many people are already experiencing drone delivery services, as it is being tested in numerous cities around the country. With packages and food deliveries being made within minutes after the order is placed, it’s giving people the opportunity to see what the future can hold around the nation. It also provides the companies a chance to work out the kinks so that it’s ready to be taken to a larger scale.

Here are a few ways drone delivery could change cities in the years to come:

• There will be fewer delivery vehicles on the roads, which means less traffic and fewer accidents. This will also help to reduce the overhead that businesses incur. 
• Fewer people will need to drive their car to the store or restaurant, further reducing traffic on the roads. People can place an order and receive the item within 15-30 minutes.
• There will be fewer packages being stolen and lost. Each year, millions of people find that their deliveries have been stolen from their porch or delivered to the wrong home.
• People will receive their deliveries quicker. Instead of waiting 24 hours to deliver miscellaneous items, they will receive them within 30 minutes. Rather than waiting an hour for food from a local restaurant, it will become 20 minutes.
• Many believe the air will become cleaner because the drone delivery option will reduce the number of vehicle emissions. 
• The skies will look different in another way: people will see drones. Currently, they may see a neighbor flying an occasional drone. Still, once drone delivery takes hold on a larger scale, they will see drones regularly zipping around their city, carrying packages for delivery.

“One concern people have is that the drone will drop their item in the yard, and it will not be secured,” O’Toole said. “Our receptacle addresses this issue to ensure that their items are safe and secure.”

Dronedek is a secure receptacle that will receive drone deliveries. Individuals and businesses can have them secured in their yard, such as a mailbox, and the drone will place the delivery inside the receptacle. The receptacle will keep the item safe from would-be thieves, and inclement weather and only allows the homeowner or business owner to access the item delivered.

Founded by Dan O’Toole, Dronedek has raised $7.1 million, to develop its smart mailboxes for the masses and begin pilot programs. Dubbed as the “mailbox of the future,” the container will help people send and receive packages securely and safely and provides privacy. The company recently announced it has partnered with Helium to allow for more significant wireless network expansion. Helium hotspots will be put into Dronedeks in areas with limited coverage to help build the network.

About Dronedek

Dronedek is one of the first companies in the world to focus on package security for traditional and autonomous delivery methods. The device will keep packages hot or cold; alert users to package arrivals or pickups; recharges drones and other electrical devices, and in times of need can even serve as an alert to emergency response services. An app controls everything from when the device is opened for delivery and retrieval to its emergency alarm features. Dronedek is a company offering a new way of sending and receiving packages that are destined to become an everyday utility service alongside internet, power, and water. The device provides a safe, secure method of delivery that keeps the items in a patented receptacle. The receptacle offers complete protection from the weather and would-be thieves. The company is based in Indianapolis, Indiana. To learn more, visit the site: https://www.dronedek.com.

Memorial University’s Eastern Edge Robotics team placed third overall and was awarded Best Engineering presentation in the Explorer category for post-secondary students. The team is comprised of more than 30 students from the Marine Institute and faculties of Science and Engineering and Applied Science at Memorial.

Mount Pearl Senior High’s Husky Explorer team received Best Engineering presentation in the Ranger class, the Guts, and Glory Award, and Most Valuable Player honors for a team member, Eric Goulding.

Twenty international teams competed in the Explorer class, while there were 25 teams in the Ranger class this year.

Twentieth year of competition

The MATE Center’s annual ROV competition, now in its 20th year, challenges international high school and post-secondary students to learn and creatively apply STEM skills to solve real-world problems using ROVs, as well as strengthen their critical thinking, collaboration, entrepreneurship, and innovation. 
 
Memorial’s Marine Institute has held MATE regional ROV competitions since 2003 and successfully hosted the world championships in 2007 and 2015.
 
Provincial high school and post-secondary teams excelled in the competition during the last two decades. Eastern Edge Robotics placed in the top three spots nine times, taking first place four times.

“It’s very encouraging to see our youth actively engaged in learning about ocean technology and the opportunities it offers globally,” said Paul Brett, associate vice-president (research and strategic partnership), Marine Institute, and one of the Eastern Edge Robotics team’s mentors. “These educational experiences can only serve to enhance the growth of the ocean technology sector in our province and attract the next generation of entrepreneurs and leaders.”

This year’s competition highlighted the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and urged participants to embrace environmental, social, and governance efforts.

Students were challenged to design and build an ROV and the necessary sensors and tooling to support work to combat climate change, provide clean energy, feed the growing global population, monitor ocean health, and preserve maritime history.

Educational partnership

The MATE Center is a partnership of educational institutions and organizations working to improve marine technical education, provide participating students opportunities to learn skills used in marine and ocean technology jobs, and encourage them to become involved in research and development.
 
The provincial MATE competitions have been supported by Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, the Department of Energy, Technology and Innovation, Hibernia Management and Development Company Ltd., Equinor, Kraken, Seamor Marine, Fugro, Subsea 7, Suncor, Chevron, Cenovus Energy, GRi Simulations, Pangeo Subsea, SubC Imaging, Ocean Quest, Crosbie Group Ltd., Cooke Aquaculture, Marine Institute, and Memorial University.
 
Eastern Edge Robotics was additionally supported this year by Colab, Mysa, Pennecon, Rally, and SubSea 7.

Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP is a storage service that allows organizations to launch and run complete, fully managed ONTAP file systems in the cloud for the first time. This storage service provides the benefits of ONTAP file systems with the agility, scalability, and simplicity of Amazon Web Services (AWS). Datadobi’s StorageMAP enables customers to analyze their unstructured data both in the data center and in the cloud and allows easy, quick, and accurate relocation of content from traditional on-premises deployments to the Amazon FSx for NetApp ONTAP managed service.

StorageMAP is powered by Datadobi’s vendor-neutral unstructured data mobility engine providing customers with speed, accuracy, ease of use, scalability, and automation. StorageMAP was designed to alleviate the top four areas of concern for IT leaders: cost, carbon footprint, business risk, and maximizing the value provided by unstructured data. A recent report from Enterprise Strategy Group (ESG) Global affirmed that organizations can mitigate risks in terms of poor data security, regulatory non-compliance, inefficient operations, and more by deploying StorageMAP to manage unstructured data at scale.

“Enterprises no longer rely on single storage or cloud vendor to support their unstructured data. Now more than ever, it is critical that organizations have the support they need to manage unstructured data across a heterogeneous storage environment,” said Carl D’Halluin, CTO, Datadobi. “We are happy to add support for Amazon FSX for Netapp ONTAP to make it easier for customers who want to have their file data stored in the cloud. StorageMAP will enable these customers to have a single-pane view of all the unstructured data on their network to make appropriate data placement decisions and then to migrate or copy the data quickly and safely.”

CruxOCM’s industry-leading, state-of-the-art solutions solve several industry challenges, and by utilizing the technology, Phillips 66 will be able to provide repeatable, secure, and consistently executed operations. CruxOCM’s pipeBOT™ reduces costs and increases pipeline throughput, ratability, and asset integrity.  

The number of manual commands it takes for control room operators to manage pipeline functionality is staggering, typically anywhere from hundreds to thousands to complete discrete operations like start-ups, shutdowns, or swings. pipeBOT™ is designed to reduce manual commands through intelligent automation. By applying intelligence to the process, control room operator fatigue is significantly reduced — as many as 85% fewer commands need to be entered across all operating processes. This technology enables control room operators to perform more essential higher-level functions while ensuring safety and performance.  

“Phillips 66 has been a wonderful customer and we’re excited to continue the expansion of pipeBOT™ across its pipeline systems,” said Adam Marsden, CRO at CruxOCM. “At CruxOCM, we empower control room operators with modern software that enables the autonomous control rooms of tomorrow, within the safety constraints of today. We look forward to continuing to strengthen our relationship with Phillips 66 for many years to come.”

About CruxOCM

Crux Operations Control Management Limited (CruxOCM) delivers innovative operations control management software that crushes the complexity and inefficiencies associated with standard operations control rooms. From maximizing & optimizing flow rates to streamlining critical transient or steady-state procedures, we help the heavy industry achieve a step-change transformation of their operations control systems and deliver dramatic results that reduce risk and increase competitiveness, growth, and profitability. CruxOCM’s RIPA™ software platform offers superior execution of control room operations and scalable architecture to help our clients stay ahead of rapid change or be the ones creating it. For more information, visit cruxocm.com.

GlobalData’s latest report, ‘Crude Oil Refinery New-Build and Expansion Projects Analytics and Forecast by Project Type, Regions, Countries, Development Stage, and Cost 2022-2026’, reveals that 86 projects are expected to commence operations in India during the period. Out of these, two projects will be new-build while 84 represent expansions of existing projects.

In India, 45 upcoming refinery projects are in the approval stage and will likely start operations between 2022 and 2026. Construction and feasibility are the other major project stages with 21 and 19 projects, respectively.

Sudarshini Ennelli, Oil & Gas Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “India has emerged as one of the world’s largest consumers of both petrochemicals and petroleum products, and therefore continues to expand its refining capacity to meet this ever-growing demand.”

The major expansion projects that are expected to start operations by 2024 are Vadinar CDU Expansion and Panipat CDU Expansion. The Vadinar CDU Expansion has a capacity of 515 thousand barrels per day (mbd). Nayara Energy Ltd is the operator while Rosneft Oil Co and Trafigura Group Pte hold 49.1% and 24.1% of equity, respectively.

The Panipat CDU expansion project stands second with a refinery capacity of 200 mbd. Indian Oil Corp Ltd is the operator as well as 100% equity holder of this project, which is expected to start operations in 2024.

About GlobalData

4,000 of the world’s largest companies, including over 70% of FTSE 100 and 60% of Fortune 100 companies, make more timely and better business decisions thanks to GlobalData’s unique data, expert analysis, and innovative solutions, all in one platform. GlobalData’s mission is to help our clients decode the future to be more successful and innovative across a range of industries, including the healthcare, consumer, retail, financial, technology, and professional services sectors.

To create the app, a variety of data sets were combined, including LiDAR, GIS, CAD, and underground measurements to create these presentations. Three-dimensional “table-top” models set the scene for users, followed by a comprehensive under¬ground view of the former mining operation showing the stopes which store the arsenic trioxide and the engineering solution that has been proposed to contain it. This is followed by a depiction of a rising water table and its limited potential to interact with the arsenic due to the frozen ground. Finally, users are transported to the year 2040, and a view of the reclaimed site, complete with restored creeks, covered tailings ponds, and a new water treatment plant. All of this is done using augmented reality (AR) on the users’ devices to best depict the scope and scale of the issues at hand. The new app is free for all Canadians to download (for both iOS and Android phones and tablets), and demonstrates the issues, remediation objectives, and planned outcomes for this substantial undertaking.

“Having worked with CIRNAC over the past few years to create holographic visualizations of their project data, we are proud to partner with them to create this app that we feel will be of interest to a many Canadians, as we are all stakeholders in this project,” says Gerald Magnusson, Head of Product for Clirio.

The $1 billion-dollar (CAD) Giant Mine Remediation Project is co-managed by the Government of Canada and the Government of Northwest Territories and involves the cleanup of abandoned gold mines within the municipal boundaries of Yellowknife, NWT. In 1999, the mine stopped operating and Canada became the site custodian, attention focused on the environmental issues left behind. The most notable is the 237,000 tonnes of arsenic trioxide, a byproduct of the gold mining operations, stored in underground chambers.

This technically complex remediation plan requires the understanding and acceptance of many rights holders and stakeholders, including engineers, government officials, and the public. This information can be difficult to clearly explain to non-technical individuals. As public engagement is a critical component of this process, a more effective communication method was required to show how the mitigation plans are going to be implemented. This needed to be done in a way that allowed all parties to make decisions based on data and science.

The app was created to help community members, government officials, and other rights holders and stakeholders share a common understanding of the challenges and solutions related to this project. They can view inaccessible underground areas with both safety and visual clarity and can see all aspects of the project. Clirio’s work gives CIRNAC a new tool that can help support a meaningful public engagement process in an efficient way that helps avoid unnecessary costs and delays, moving towards approval of the project and mitigation of the risk to the community.

The app is currently available to download for free from the Apple App or Google Play stores. Simply search “Giant Mine Remediation” in your choice of app store.

About Clirio:

Clirio, Inc. builds software for the new world of holographic 3D workflows, from laser scanning to VR/AR collaboration, with a focus on geospatial and geoscience applications. Clirio has done extensive work for various U.S. and Canadian government agencies and corporate clients around extended reality visualization of geospatial data, 3D virtual remote collaboration, digital twinning, and holographic training. Clirio is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.

DuraTracker flows measurement made easy, with a durable build, low-cost, efficient operation, room to attach multiple devices, and intelligent options for communicating data to the user. It’s a versatile flowmeter, ideal for many flow applications.

• Two-way communication direct through a USB
• Bluetooth to avoid entering hard-to-reach areas
• Save time and money

The DuraTracker flowmeter is the most efficient and reliable flow monitoring solution on the market today for a wide range of open channel flow measurement applications. It supports flow measurement technologies including non-contact laser area velocity, submerged Doppler area velocity, and ultrasonic. The flowmeter calculates flow using standard open channel level-to-flow and area velocity conversions, user-defined equations, level-to-area data points, or level-to-flow data points.

The DuraTracker package cost-effectively integrates cellular communications and multiple flow technologies within a
single module. The standard Bluetooth capabilities make the programming, sensor calibration, and data retrieval job easy through wireless devices. A field upgradable remote cell phone communication option is also available.

Applications:

• Collection system flow monitoring
• Surface water flow monitoring
• Industrial pretreatment flow monitoring
• WWTP flow monitoring

Standard Features:

• Rugged, submersible enclosure meets IP68
environmental specs
• Quick connect plug-and-play multiple sensors
connectivity: Ultrasonic, AV, and laser
• pH and sampler interface
• Bluetooth communication interface with
wireless devices
• USB interface
• MODBUS output
• Replaceable high-capacity internal desiccant
cartridge and Gortex filter protect sensor air
reference port from water entry and internal
moisture
• Variable data-rate storage
• Compatible with off-the-shelf batteries

Together they will deploy the Focus FS Emergency Response software at over 30 operating mining sites across the province, which will provide each mine with the next generation of mine rescue technology.

“This partnership demonstrates everyone’s commitment to continuously improving mine rescue safety and emergency preparedness,” said Rob Clark, Managing Director at Dräger Canada. “By supporting dynamic collaborations such as this one with Focus FS and OMR, we can continue being mine safety leaders in Ontario and around the world.”

The Focus FS Emergency Response software replaces more traditional methods with digital communication and reporting tools used by rescue teams and surface personnel during active emergencies, training, and ongoing improvement.

“We’re using leading-edge technology to strengthen mine rescue best practices,” said Jeffrey Brown, Focus FS President, and CEO. “By vastly improving how critical information is collected and communicated in real-time, mine rescue teams can better respond to any incident – ultimately helping to save lives.”

The Focus FS Emergency Response software was developed in partnership with the industry-led by OMR.

“Our highest priority is the safety of those mine rescue responders we are sending back into the hazardous conditions of a mine emergency,” said Ted Hanley, Vice-President with Ontario Mine Rescue.

“The mine rescue communications platform provided by Focus FS will be used as a critical tool to ensure timely, accurate information is relayed and available to mine rescue teams and mine management – ensuring they make the safest decisions possible in the shortest amount of time.”

The software was introduced at the 2016 International Mines Rescue Competition and is now available for mines across the globe.

About Dräger

Turning technology into “Technology for Life.” Founded in Lübeck in 1889, Dräger has grown into a worldwide, listed enterprise in its fifth generation as a family-run business. Dräger has more than 15,000 employees worldwide and is present in over 190 countries around the globe. In 2021, the company generated net sales of around EUR 3.34 billion. Please visit our website for more information. To learn more, visit us on Twitter @DraegerNews, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Facebook.

About Focus FS

Since 2012, Focus FS has worked with industrial organizations to enable safety excellence through smart operations. Their software-as-a-service platform offers advanced solutions for safety reporting, asset management, emergency response, and more. In 2019, Focus FS partnered with Dräger to help workplaces around the world improve safety and achieve zero harm. For more information, visit our website. To learn more about us, visit Twitter @FocusFS, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.

About Ontario Mine Rescue

Please visit the Ontario Mine Rescue website.

With demand for electric vehicles growing rapidly, the global automotive and energy storage industries will be competing to access raw materials, especially lithium, which is a crucial component of batteries. As a global mining powerhouse, Canada is perfectly placed to meet this increasing global demand for critical minerals such as lithium.

Led by Dr. Mostafa Fayek from the University’s Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources, the two-year research project between Snow Lake Lithium and the University of Manitoba will provide considerable insights into the Company’s critical mineral inventory and most effective exploration strategies to extract lithium from the Company’s Thompson Brothers’ site in the future.

Philip Gross, Chief Executive of Snow Lake Lithium said, “We are delighted to be collaborating with world-class academics and students from the University of Manitoba and leveraging their extensive experience in this area. The research will provide us with significant information about the mineralogy across our site which, we believe will have a meaningful impact upon the development of our future operations to ensure domestic supply chain and energy security for the North American electrified vehicle industry.”

“We are looking forward to building a strong relationship with the University over the coming years and, alongside this research project, we are exploring opportunities to create a joint analysis laboratory to reduce the time needed to complete both exploration and production analysis in the future.”   

Dr. Mostafa Fayek, from the University’s Faculty of Environment, Earth, and Resources, said, “This exciting project gives our students the opportunity to gain real-world experience alongside Snow Lake Lithium’s experienced geologists. We hope that our research will deliver significant information about the mineral inventory as well as identify a geochemical fingerprint for the lithium-rich pegmatites found across Snow Lake Lithium’s site which will help Canada establish its position at the forefront of lithium mining.”

Based in Manitoba, Canada, Snow Lake Lithium is developing the world’s first all-electric Lithium mine to enable the domestic supply of this critical resource to the North American electric vehicle industry.

Snow Lake Lithium is ideally located to serve the North American automotive industry with access to the US rail network via the Artic Gateway railway, which reduces transportation from thousands of miles by road and boat to just several hundred by train.

Snow Lake Lithium’s 55,000-acre site is expected to produce 160,000 tonnes of 6% lithium spodumene a year over a 10-year period. Currently, Snow Lake Lithium has explored around 1% of its site and is confident that further exploration will increase estimates over the course of the next year. Snow Lake Lithium’s mine will be operated by almost 100% renewable, hydroelectric power to ensure the most sustainable manufacturing approach.

Over the coming months, Snow Lake Lithium will continue its engineering evaluation and drilling program across its Thompson Brothers Lithium Project site, with the expectation that mining operations will transition to commercial production in late 2024.

About Snow Lake Resources Ltd.

Snow Lake Lithium is committed to creating and operating a fully renewable and sustainable lithium mine that can deliver a completely traceable, carbon-neutral, and zero harm product to the North American electric vehicle and battery markets. We aspire to not only set the standard for responsible lithium mining, but we intend to be the first lithium producer in the world to achieve Certified B Corporation status in the process.

Our wholly-owned Thompson Brothers Lithium Project now covers a 55,318-acre site that has only been 1% explored and contains an identified-to-date 11.1 million metric tonnes indicated and inferred resource at 1% Li₂O.

About the University of Manitoba – University to provide boilerplate: 

The University of Manitoba is western Canada’s first university, established in 1877, and located on the original lands of Anishinaabeg, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, and Dene Peoples, and in the homeland of the Métis Nation. The university is Manitoba’s only research-intensive university, and one of the country’s top research institutions. There are more than 31,000 undergraduate and graduate students, and more than 181,000 alumni living in 139 countries. To learn more about University, please visit https://www.umanitoba.ca/about-um

The Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Manitoba offers a range of undergraduate and graduate programs in Geology and Geophysics.  It has a well-established national and international research reputation with strengths in geochemistry, mineralogy, sedimentary geology, and paleontology. Within the department, the Manitoba Isotope Research Facility (MIRF) has over $10 million of equipment housed in major, multi-user laboratories.  To learn more about MIRF, please visit https://www.manitoba-isotope-research-facility.com/.

In today’s competitive environment, an effective strategy of control technology upgrades can help manufacturers reduce asset ownership costs, increase production rates, manage risks, extend the life and performance of systems and improve responses to changing customer demands.

“The C300PM is intended for industrial operations employing the proven Enhanced High-Performance Process Manager (EPHM), which integrates the control environment of the legacy TotalPlant™ Solution (TPS) and TDC 2000/3000 systems,” said Pramesh Maheshwari, vice president & general manager, Honeywell Process Solutions, Lifecycle Support Services. “The C300PM is ideal for customers who have asked for the EHPM to have the same functionality as the best-in-class C300 when developing their control migration plans, as well as users with a mixture of EHPMs and C300s who want to unify their controller platform.”

With the C300PM, companies undertaking plant renovations or unit expansions can upgrade their controller installed base with a solution that provides a common engineering environment and eliminates the need to completely replace existing hardware.

The C300PM employs Honeywell’s deterministic Control Execution Environment (CEE) to execute control strategies on a constant and predictable schedule. The CEE is loaded into the C300PM controller, providing the execution platform for a set of automatic control, logic, data acquisition, and calculation function blocks.

By modernizing the C300PM, EHPM users no longer need to obtain an additional controller to obtain the same level of performance as the C300 controller in demanding applications such as blending and batch processing. They can take advantage of increased processing speed for their critical control loops. Peer-to-peer communications between different generations of controllers help to optimize overall system performance. In addition, the C300PM utilizes Honeywell’s Custom Algorithm Block (CAB) functionality, which leverages user-defined algorithms and data structures to greatly reduce the effort required to create complex control strategies.

The C300PM also incorporates the Experion PKS I/O Highly Integrated Virtual Environment (IO HIVE). This technology provides a fault-tolerant, high-speed field network allowing the controller to communicate with distributed Honeywell Universal I/O (UIO) and Series C I/O. The controller also supports many leading industrial communication protocols, including Peer Control Data Interface (PCDI), Profinet, EtherNet/IP™, OneWireless™, FOUNDATION Fieldbus™, and Profibus.

With Honeywell’s assistance, EHPM users can take advantage of a familiar migration technique to C300PM, which allows them to preserve their valuable legacy systems without having to deal with issues such as rewiring, system reconfiguration, and graphics migration. Migration can be completed without the need for a shutdown to install new controllers. Conversely, plants that have not installed the EHPM can go directly from the High-Performance Process Manager (HPM) to the powerful and robust features of the C300PM as part of a simple on-process migration.

About Honeywell

Honeywell Process Solutions (process.honeywell.com) is a pioneer in automation control, instrumentation, and services for the oil and gas; refining; energy; pulp and paper; industrial power generation; chemicals and petrochemicals; biofuels; life sciences; and metals, minerals, and mining industries. It is also a leader in providing software solutions and instrumentation that help manufacturers find value and competitive advantage in through Honeywell Connected Plant, Honeywell’s Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) solution. Process Solutions is part of Honeywell’s Performance Materials and Technologies strategic business group, which also includes Honeywell UOP (uop.honeywell.com), a leading international supplier and licensor of process technology, catalysts, adsorbents, equipment, and consulting services to the petroleum refining, petrochemical, and gas processing industries.

Honeywell (www.honeywell.com) is a Fortune 100 technology company that delivers industry-specific solutions that include aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings and industry; and performance materials globally. Our technologies help aircraft, buildings, manufacturing plants, supply chains, and workers become more connected to make our world smarter, safer, and more sustainable.

In their study published in the journal Energy, IIASA researchers propose a novel gravitational-based storage solution that uses lifts and empty apartments in tall buildings to store energy. This original idea the authors call Lift Energy Storage Technology (LEST), stores energy by lifting wet sand containers or other high-density materials, which are transported remotely in and out of a lift with autonomous trailer devices. LEST is an interesting option, because lifts are already installed in high-rise buildings, which means there is no need for additional investment or space occupancy, but rather using what is already there in a different way to create additional value for the power grid and the building owner.

 “I have always been fascinated with topics involving potential energy, in other words, generating energy with changes in altitude, such as hydropower, pumped storage, buoyancy, and gravity energy storage. The concept of gravity energy storage has also recently received significant attention in the scientific community and start-ups. The concept of LEST came to me after having spent a considerable amount of time going up and down in a lift since recently moving into an apartment on the 14th floor,” explains lead author Julian Hunt, a researcher in the IIASA Sustainable Service Systems Research Group.

 According to the authors, the main challenge in making a gravity energy storage solution viable is the power capacity cost. The most important benefit of LEST is that the power capacity is already installed in lifts with regenerative braking systems. There are over 18 million lifts in operation globally, and many of these spend a significant amount of time sitting still. The idea is that when the lifts are not being used to transport people, they can be used to store or generate electricity.

 As with any new system, there are still a few details that need to be further refined before the system can be deployed. This includes finding room to store the weights the system relies on at the top of the building when the system is fully charged, and at the bottom of the building when the system is discharged. Empty apartments or corridors could be viable options in this regard. Another consideration is the ceiling bearing capacity of existing buildings where the system is installed, that is, the total mass in kilograms per square meter that the ceiling can support without collapsing. Being able to store energy where electricity is mostly consumed, such as in cities, however, will greatly benefit the energy grid and LEST can provide affordable and decentralized ancillary services, which could, in turn, improve the power quality in an urban setting.

 “Environmentally friendly and flexible storage technologies like LEST are set to become more and more valuable to society in a future where a large share of its electricity comes from renewables. Therefore, policymakers and power system regulators need to adopt strategies to incentivize end-users, in this case, high-rise buildings, to share their distributed storage resources, such as LEST, with the central grid. The coordinated utilization of such distributed resources alleviates the need for investment in large-scale central storage systems,” concludes study coauthor Behnam Zakeri, a researcher in the IIASA Integrated Assessment and Climate Change Research Group.

About IIASA:

The International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) is an international scientific institute that conducts research into the critical issues of global environmental, economic, technological, and social change that we face in the twenty-first century. Our findings provide valuable options to policymakers to shape the future of our changing world. IIASA is independent and funded by prestigious research funding agencies in Africa, the Americas, Asia, and Europe. www.iiasa.ac.at

Samsara’s partner ecosystem and software integrations are enabled by its open APIs. With thousands of organizations leveraging 155+ API integrations on its App Marketplace, Samsara collects trillions of data points annually and surfaces those insights within a single platform.

Whip Around is a powerful, yet easy-to-use fleet maintenance software solution that connects drivers, mechanics, and fleet operators to improve the uptime across their fleet operations. Whip Around operates in North America and Australasia and serves hundreds of thousands of users and assets worldwide across all commercial fleet industry verticals.

When the two systems are connected, odometer and engine hour readings are automatically pulled into Whip Around from Samsara. This way, customers never miss preventative maintenance schedules to ensure reduced downtime and improved fuel efficiency.

It takes fleets from a reactive costly process to a proactive approach, saving them thousands of dollars each year on each vehicle and asset in their operation.

Drivers have the ability to submit defects from both the Samsara and/or Whip Around apps via the Samsara Driver App making for a seamless and efficient driving experience. DTC Fault Codes, Inspection Defects, and Servicing can be grouped into Work Orders in Whip Around, and bulk assigned to mechanics to ensure efficiency and real-time tracked workflows. As a result, fleets are kept moving in a sustainable manner.

Elizabeth Santorelly, VP of Product for Whip Around said, “Combining Samsara’s powerful IoT data with Whip Around’s comprehensive fleet maintenance workflows seamlessly to diagnose issues and be proactive with regular service intervals, will provide our mutual customers with improvements to their overall fleet operating performance leading to reduced emissions and cost savings.”

“We’re excited to add Whip Around as our latest partner integration on the Samsara App Marketplace,” said Chris Mozzocchi, Sr. Director of Product Management, Ecosystem Integrations at Samsara. “Proactive fleet maintenance not only improves road safety but also reduces the environmental and economic impact of fleet vehicles. With this Whip Around integration, maintenance workflows are streamlined so customers can operate more efficiently and reduce associated costs.”

As both companies look to help their customers improve operational efficiency and fleet sustainability, this partnership offers unparalleled levels of connectedness and responsiveness – and it would appear it’s already delivering for customers who have utilized the integration.

A number of mutual customers have already seen value in the integration, like Scott Ireland from Sail Energy who manages 132 vehicles and equipment across the northeastern states. They use the combination of Samsara and Whip Around to control their fuel costs by reducing excessive idling time and deploying preventative fleet maintenance measures to improve the fuel efficiency of vehicle powerplants.

“I get the idling time, telemetry, and fault codes from Samsara and provide information to our 3rd party maintenance vendors through reports in Whip Around. This expedites preventative maintenance which helps manage downtime of our vehicles,” Scott says. “The ability to always know which vehicles are in repair and which are driving unsafely on the road makes this possible for me. This has a direct positive effect on reducing costs of our fleets, improving service to our customers through reduced breakdowns, improving vehicle economy, and most importantly, giving our drivers safe vehicles to work with.”

About Samsara

Samsara is the pioneer of the Connected Operations Cloud, which allows businesses that depend on physical operations to harness IoT (Internet of Things) data to develop actionable business insights and improve their operations. Samsara operates in North America and Europe and serves tens of thousands of customers across a wide range of industries including transportation, wholesale and retail trade, construction, field services, logistics, utilities and energy, government, healthcare and education, manufacturing, and food and beverage. The company’s mission is to increase the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of the operations that power the global economy.

About Whip Around

Whip Around is a powerful, yet easy-to-use fleet maintenance software solution that connects drivers, mechanics, and fleet operators to improve the uptime across their fleet operations. Whip Around operates in North America and Australasia and serves hundreds of thousands of users and assets worldwide across all commercial fleet industry verticals. The company’s mission is to keep the world’s fleets moving by accelerating information.

Source and Image: www.samsara.com and whiparound.com

“I am very excited to see Tahuehueto commencing pre-production activities and look forward with anticipation to our first concentrate deliveries, anticipated in several weeks, which will bring our Company its first revenue from the new, on-site Tahuehueto mineral processing facility” states Ralph Shearing, CEO, “The Tahuehueto gold mine coming on-line is the realization and delivery to shareholders of the Company’s major goal of reaching production on its flagship asset. The robust cash flows anticipated from Tahuehueto should allow us to accelerate our debt repayments; our cash flow modeling suggests all loan debt may be repaid in under two years. We will also re-initiate exploration activities to expand reserves and resources, which exploration I am convinced, can unlock the hidden, undiscovered ultimate potential of this district-scale project allowing mine expansion and extension to the current life of mine.”

Tahuehueto’s processing facility is operational allowing for milling up to 500 tpd with flotation cells, concentrate thickeners and concentrate filters successfully tested and operational.

During the commissioning phase of the first ball mill, a bulk concentrate will be produced, and as soon as possible thereafter, the Company will process a separate precious metal-rich lead concentrate and a zinc concentrate. Copper concentrate production is planned to be initiated in late 2022.

Electrical power generation is being supplied by Aggreko International Power Projects Limited which has installed power generation equipment capable of supplying power to the mining unit for 1,000 tpd sustained production. The water pumping system and the pipeline are operational to supply processing water to the mine at its full planned capacity of 1,000 tpd.

The Company has stockpiled over 29,000 tonnes of ore to be used in the commissioning process and pre-production phases of the 1^st ball mill. As soon as the process plant completes its start-up commissioning phase and has been optimized for maximum recoveries and throughput, a higher grade run of mine ore will begin to be processed to maximize revenues during the pre-production phases of the mine.

Altaley’s underground mining contractor has developed access to four stopes, two on the El Creston structure and two on the Perdido structure, providing multiple working faces more than fully capable to supply adequate mill feed for the mine’s start-up 500 tpd phase. Underground development is continuing and will soon provide access to 2 additional stops on Perdido and four additional stops on El Creston at lower elevations and thereby will have complete access to at least 10 mining stopes capable of supplying mill feed to the 1,000 tpd operation upon completion of construction as described below.

The remaining construction to advance the mine to its planned full production capacity of 1,000 tpd is as follows:

2^nd Ball Mill installation

Installation of the second 500 tpd ball mill to increase milling capacity to 1000 tpd is planned to be completed in Q3, 2022. Necessary equipment has been acquired, the majority of which is stored on-site or in the Company’s Durango warehouse.

Crushing Circuit

Initial crushing is being handled with a temporary crusher, fully capable of continually feeding the 500 tpd ball mill, while the Company completes construction of the mine’s permanent crushing circuit, which will contain a primary jaw crusher and secondary cone crusher with associated vibrating screens and storage hoppers. All crushing equipment is on-site or in the Company’s Durango warehouse ready for installation. The permanent crushing circuit is approximately 50% complete and expected to be completed during June 2022.

Tailings Thickener and Dewatering

The tailings thickener is functional and tailings filter presses for dewatering are scheduled for installation over the next several weeks to be operational during June 2022. Temporary tailings storage is available to accept pre-production tailings until the formal dry stack tailings storage facility is ready to accept dewatered tailings, which is expected by the end of August 2022.

About Altaley Mining Corporation

Altaley Mining Corporation is a Canadian-based mining company with two 100% owned Mexican gold, silver, and base metal mining projects.

Altaley’s Tahuehueto mining project is in north-western Durango State, Mexico where construction has been advanced to near completion on its 1,000 tonnes per day processing facility and related mine infrastructure to initiate production of gold, silver, lead, and zinc in concentrates at Tahuehueto. The Company is targeting initial pre-production in May 2022 and ramping up to full production capacity during Q3-Q4 2022.

Campo Morado is an operating polymetallic base metal mine with mining and milling equipment currently producing at an average of 2,200 tonnes per day and is currently estimated to be Mexico’s 6th largest zinc producer.

 Visit: www.altaleymining.com

• The completion of the subscription receipt financing pursuant to its listing process (the “RTO Transaction”) with Dragonfly Capital Corp., for gross proceeds of approximately $7.0 million, which was upsized from $5.0 million due to high demand, providing for a pro forma valuation of Mason Graphite’s investment in Black Swan Graphene of approximately $17.7 million;
• The execution of a multi-year Master Distributorship Agreement with Gerdau Grafeno Ltda (“Gerdau Graphene”), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gerdau S. A. focused on the development of chemical additives, mineral additives, and masterbatches with graphene, which will buy products from Black Swan Graphene in order to market, promote and resell in the Americas Region;
• The execution of a non-binding letter of intent with Nouveau Monde Graphite Inc., whereby Black Swan Graphene would agree to establish graphene production capacity within Nouveau Monde’s graphite processing plant, which has a design throughput of 3.5 tonnes of ore per hour (tph), the equivalent nameplate production capacity of approximately 1,000 tonnes of graphite concentrate per annum, using NMG’s ore grading an average of 4.5% graphitic carbon, in Saint-Michel-des-Saints, Québec, Canada, in order to create a fully-integrated producing facility from graphite ore, through graphite concentrate, and to graphene finished products. This proposed agreement falls within the proposed joint venture to be formed between Mason Graphite and Nouveau Monde; see the joint press release issued by Mason Graphite and Nouveau Monde;
• The execution of a binding collaboration agreement with a critical equipment supplier, which includes commercial details and minimum commitments for the procurement of long-lead items required for large scale production of graphene;
• The grant by the Chinese Authorities of a Certificate of Invention Patent to Black Swan Graphene for apparatus and method for bulk production of atomically thin 2-dimensional materials including graphene, increasing the portfolio of patents and patent applications to 20 in 9 countries;
• The execution of a Membership Agreement with the Graphene Engineering Innovation Center (“GEIC”) of the University of Manchester, a world-class center that promotes, assists, and carries out applied research, commercialization, and manufacture of graphene.
• The launch of a new website which includes a Corporate Video, which is expected to be used in different industry events, and to support general awareness of Black Swan Graphene: www.blackswangraphene.com;
• The appointment of Mr. Michael Edwards as Black Swan Graphene’s Chief Operating Officer (“COO”). Mr. Edwards joins Black Swan Graphene from Thomas Swan & Co. Ltd., where he was the head of the Advanced Materials Division, where the company’s graphene processing technology was initially developed;
• The appointment of Mr. Henri Wilhelm, as Black Swan Graphene’s Vice-President Technology. Mr. Wilhelm has more than 15 years of experience in R&D and development of graphite-based products for energy storage applications, including with Imerys Graphite & Carbon and SGL; and
• The appointment of Mr. Aidan Sullivan, as Black Swan Graphene’s Vice-President of Strategic Initiatives; Mr. Sullivan has more than 15 years of corporate experience and brings Black Swan Graphene a vast network of international relationships.

Simon Marcotte, President and Chief Executive Officer of Black Swan Graphene, stated: “We couldn’t be more excited to see Black Swan Graphene progress so rapidly since its inception and the investment made by Mason Graphite in the latter half of 2021. The idea that we now have a clear path toward commercial production and a distribution partner is a testament to how burgeoning the graphene industry has become. I would also like to welcome Michael, Henri, and Aiden to Black Swan.”

Master Distributorship Agreement with Gerdau Graphene

Gerdau Graphene will collaborate with Black Swan Graphene in order to introduce graphene products and accelerate the adoption of graphene in different industrial applications in the Americas market, including concrete and polymers where Gerdau Graphene will serve as a value-add distributor, working with its customers in the integration of the graphene products, and support the development of existing and new applications. Black Swan Graphene will support Gerdau Graphene with its know-how, product optimization, and dispersion capabilities in different materials and polymer matrixes, as well as commercialization capacity.

Mr. Alexandre de Toledo Corrêa, General Manager for Gerdau Graphene, commented: “We are very excited about the growth opportunities of the graphene industry in the Americas. We are proud to establish this partnership with Black Swan Graphene which has demonstrated good product quality and availability, as well as know-how and technical expertise on graphene development.”

Completion of a $7 Million Subscription Receipt Financing

Due to high demand, the subscription receipt financing recently announced was upsized from $5 million to approximately $7 million. This capital is in addition to the cash currently held by Black Graphene of approximately $4.4 million. Assuming the closing of the RTO Transaction and the exchange of the subscription receipts for common shares of Black Swan Graphene, Black Swan Graphene is expected to have approximately $11.4 million in cash, which is sufficient to accomplish its business objectives beyond the next 24 months. Based on the value of the RTO Transaction, the shares of Black Swan Graphene owned by Mason Graphite have a pro forma valuation of approximately $17.7 million.

Non-Binding Letter of Intent with Nouveau Monde Graphite

Nouveau Monde and Black Swan Graphene have entered into a non-binding letter of intent, whereby Black Swan Graphene would establish its graphene processing technology in Nouveau Monde’s graphite concentrate production facility, resulting in a fully integrated production supply chain from graphite ore in the ground, through graphite concentrate, and to graphene finished products. This facility also has laboratory, process control, and quality assurance capabilities, which Black Swan Graphene will be able to share and benefit from for its own commercialization and distribution.

In September 2018, Nouveau Monde commissioned its graphite concentrate production facility in Saint-Michael-des-Saints, Québec, Canada, which has a nameplate production capacity of approximately 1,000 tonnes of graphite concentrate per annum which is the key feedstock for the graphene processing technology of Black Swan Graphene. Nouveau Monde has invested approximately $30 million in this facility thus far.

Binding Collaboration Agreement with a Key Equipment Supplier

Black Swan Graphene has executed a Collaboration Agreement with a critical European equipment manufacturer, which includes commercial details and minimum commitments for the procurement of critical items necessary for large-scale graphene manufacturing based on the graphene processing technology of Black Swan. The agreement also establishes parameters restricting the apparatus manufacturer from selling such equipment for the purpose of graphene and 2-D materials production.

Grant of a Certificate of Invention Patent by the Chinese Authorities

After examination of this invention application, in accordance with the Patent Law of the People’s Republic of China, the authorities have decided to grant a patent and issue a certificate (certificate number: 4904683; Announcement No.: CN108137328B) to the invention and register the same in the patent rolls. The term of this patent is twenty years from the application date. This increases Black Swan Graphene’s patent portfolio to 20 patents and patent applications in 9 countries, namely the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Germany, Italy, Spain, France Sweden, and China.

Membership agreement with the Graphene Engineering Innovation Center

Black Swan Graphene will now have a formal presence at the Graphene Engineering Innovation Center (“GEIC”). GEIC specializes in the rapid development and scale-up of graphene and other 2D materials applications. It is an industry-led innovation center, designed to work in collaboration with industry partners to create, test, and optimize new concepts for delivery to market, along with the processes required for scale-up and supply chain integration. With a dedicated team of experienced Application Managers, Application Specialists, Technicians, and the Business Engagement team, the GEIC can react as quickly as the industry requires. The tier-2 membership model allows us to work on short feasibility projects, through to a long-term strategic partnership with multiple projects in different application areas.

About Mason Graphite Inc.

Mason Graphite is a Canadian corporation focused on the production and transformation of natural graphite. Its strategy includes the development of value-added products, notably for green technologies like transport electrification. The Company also owns 100% of the rights to the Lac Guéret graphite deposit, one of the richest in the world. The Company is also the largest shareholder of Black Swan Graphene.

About Black Swan Graphene Inc.

Black Swan Graphene is a Canadian private company focusing on the large-scale production and commercialization of patented high-performance and low-cost graphene products aimed at several industrial sectors, including concrete, polymers, Li-ion batteries, and others, which are expected to require large volumes of graphene and, in turn, require large volumes of graphite. Black Swan Graphene aims to leverage the low cost and green hydroelectricity of the Province of Québec as well as the proximity of the eventual production sites of Mason Graphite in order to establish a fully integrated supply chain, reduce overall costs, and accelerate the deployment of graphene usage.

About Gerdau Graphene

Gerdau Graphene is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Gerdau S. A., one of the largest steel producers in the Americas. In 2021, Gerdau Graphene was launched as a company focused on the production, development, and commercialization of chemical additives, mineral additives, and masterbatches enhanced with graphene. The company is based in Brazil and operates in the American continent, generating key value for its customers by capturing properties from carbon nanomaterials and incorporating them in commercial solutions of scale.

About Nouveau Monde Graphite Inc.

Nouveau Monde is striving to become a key contributor to the sustainable energy revolution. The company is working toward developing a fully integrated source of carbon-neutral battery anode material in Quebec, Canada, for the growing lithium-ion and fuel cell markets. With low-cost operations and enviable environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards, Nouveau Monde aspires to become a strategic supplier to the world’s leading battery and automobile manufacturers, providing high-performing and reliable advanced materials while promoting sustainability and supply chain traceability. Nouveau Monde is listed on the NYSE under the symbol “NMG” and on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol “NOU”.

About Dragonfly Capital Corp.

Dragonfly Capital Corp. is a Capital Pool Company as defined by the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. The Company’s principal business activity is to identify and evaluate opportunities for the acquisition of assets or business. The Company is headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Back in 2018, Shell and AWS were among the founding members of The Open Group OSDU^TM Forum. The OSDU^TM vision is to avoid replication of developing the common services required by the entire energy sector to become data-driven. Today the forum comprises 200+ energy companies and independent software vendors (ISVs) collaborating to develop common interface standards. This solution helps to remove barriers within workflows caused by proprietary data formats, and domain data silos.

With the deployment of the OSDU^TM Data Platform, Shell and others can now analyze data more efficiently, search for information more rapidly and take advantage of the best digital innovations.

Shell has moved wells data and applications to the AWS cloud to improve efficiency and shorten cycle times. We are also exploring the migration of other key subsurface processes to the cloud, including seismic.

With the OSDU^TM Data Platform removing the heavy lifting from subsurface data management, Shell aims to fully leverage cloud-native services. This includes services like Amazon SageMaker (machine learning), and Amazon Comprehend (natural language processing) will be applied elastically to help innovate in a more agile manner.

“We have been co-innovating with AWS in this space for some time. Shell’s Subsurface Data Universe, co-developed with AWS, formed the basis of OSDU^TM. The OSDU^TM Data Platform is becoming the industry standard that aims to provide seamless access to subsurface data in an integrated manner and has the potential to increase the efficiency of the oil, gas, and geothermal development processes as well as CCUS and hydrogen storage opportunities. Continuing this journey with AWS on OSDUTM means we can leverage the knowledge gained from the early years.” said Paul Zeppenfeldt, VP of Subsurface Data & Digital, Shell

“The OSDU Data Platform delivered on AWS provides the services to pull data to the center of workflows, foster digital innovation, and reduce the friction between teams and applications. Liberating energy and utility datasets from application and domain silos to the cloud facilitates the routine application of artificial intelligence and machine learning through services like Amazon SageMaker. AWS has helped Shell generate new insights from their subsurface data and accelerate innovation as they power to progress through the energy transition.” said, Howard Gefen, General Manager, Energy & Utilities, AWS.

Davidson River – Spring/Summer 2022 Drill Program

The Company has mobilized to begin the fourth drill campaign on its flagship Davidson River Project. The 25,886-hectare Davidson River Project is situated in the Southwest Athabasca Uranium District of Saskatchewan and contains the significant untested blue-sky potential for a high-grade basement-hosted uranium discovery. The upcoming program is expected to comprise approximately 5,000 meters in 13 drill holes.

The spring/summer drill program will follow up on the most prospective basement structures and alteration zones intersected to date and begin testing new target areas along with the four major exploration trends on the Project. Several kilometers of graphitic conductors remain to be tested at Davidson River, and the basement rocks of the Thunderbird trend remain unexplored to date. Two years of exploration of the Project (2020-2021 drilling) have confirmed lithological and structural parallels between the uranium-fertile Patterson Lake corridor and the Davidson River conductive trends, bolstering the Company’s confidence in the continued exploration of the Project.

Jon Bey, CEO, and Chairman commented:

“We look forward to beginning our fourth drill program at our flagship Davidson River Project. Our team of geologists is determined to demonstrate this season of drilling will be our best to date. Drill targeting will be focused on the southeast portions of the Bronco and Warrior conductors, and we will test the Thunderbird conductor for the first time. I am excited to see the drills turning again at our Davidson River Project, with the goal of proving to investors that patience will be rewarded.”

About Standard Uranium

We find the fuel to power a clean energy future.

Standard Uranium is a mineral resource exploration company based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Since its establishment, Standard Uranium has focused on the identification and development of prospective exploration stage uranium projects in the Athabasca Basin in Saskatchewan, Canada.

Standard Uranium’s Davidson River Project, in the southwest part of the Athabasca Basin, Saskatchewan, is comprised of 21 mineral claims over 25,886 hectares. Davidson River is highly prospective for basement-hosted uranium deposits yet remains relatively untested by drilling despite its location along with trends from recent high-grade uranium discoveries. A copy of the NI 43-101 technical report titled “Updated Technical Report on the Davidson River Property, Northwest Saskatchewan, Canada” with an effective date of March 16, 2020, that summarizes the exploration of Davidson River is available for review under Standard Uranium’s SEDAR profile (www.sedar.com).

The diamond drill holes targeted copper-gold porphyry-style mineralization in the Kena Copper Zone, readily identified by a 2,500 x 1,000-meter strong copper soil geochemical anomaly. The Kena Property hosts a large porphyry system consisting of a gold-rich core surrounded by a broad halo with a copper-gold signature.

Figure 1 – Kena Project – Gold Soil Geochemistry

Figure 2 – Kena Project – Copper Soil Geochemistry

Within the central core area of the Kena Property, the Gold Mountain and Kena Gold Zones contain a combined resource estimate with 561,900 ounces of gold indicated and 2,773,100 ounces of gold inferred (Bird, 2021; NI 43-101 Technical Report on the Kena and Daylight Properties; see News Release dated May 11, 2021). The gold zones are opened ended and have expansion potential in the north, west, and south – where historic drilling in the South Gold Zone intersected 0.9 g/t gold over 90 meters (BC ARIS Report 27240).  

Adjacent to the gold resource area and gold geochemical anomalies are large coincident induced polarization chargeability and copper soil geochemical anomalies. Drilling earlier in 2021, to the northwest near the Starlight showing, discovered a new zone that returned a 53-meter drill intercept which averaged 0.51% copper equivalent (see News Release dated January 12, 2022). The Dighem copper anomaly, immediately to the east of the Gold Mountain Zone will be drill tested as part of the 2022 exploration program. This anomaly was first identified during an airborne magnetic survey (flown by a company known as “Dighem”) and later followed up with soil geochemistry and induced polarization ground surveying.

2021 Diamond Drilling – Kena Copper Zone

The Kena Copper Zone is identified by a significant copper geochemical anomaly associated with a strong zone of high chargeability, lying within mafic volcanic and subvolcanic diorites of the Rossland Group Elise Formation. The soil anomaly has dimensions of 2.5 kilometers in length by an average of 450 meters in width as outlined by the 300 ppm copper contour. Within the anomaly, there are numerous soil samples assaying between 1,000 and 5,000 ppm copper. Prior to West Mining acquiring the property, between 1981 and 2010, a total of nine wide-spaced historic drill holes tested the copper target. Broad zones of low-grade copper mineralization (0.1 to 0.5% copper) were intersected by this historic drilling.

Analytical results from West’s 2021 diamond drilling in the Kena Copper Zone have now been received. A total of 7 holes were drilled over a 600-meter strike length. All drill holes, with the exception of KC21-03 and KC21-07, are angled at -50^o or -60^o dip with azimuths of 040^o in order to cross the foliation controlling mineralization at close to true width angles. The other two drill holes are vertical holes to facilitate deeper drilling depths.

2021 Kena Copper Zone – Diamond Drill Hole Collar Coordinates

The following table illustrates the broad zones of copper mineralization with the entire lengths of every hole (up to 688.88 meters in KC21-03) all averaging >0.1% copper equivalent (“CuEq*”). Within this large anomalous area, every drill hole contains additional significant intercepts including 105.95 metres of 0.27% CuEq; 4.95 metres of 0.87% CuEq; 28.35 metres of 0.30% CuEq; 3.84 metres of 0.94% CuEq; 46.70 metres of 0.28% CuEq and 14.10 metres of 0.37% CuEq.

2021 Kena Copper Zone – Significant Diamond Drill Hole Intercepts

*CuEq % was calculated using the following formula: (Cu(%) x 22 x 4.5) + (Au(g/t) x 0.03215 x 1880) + (Ag(g/t) x 0.03215 x 23) / (22 x 4.5), based on: Cu US$4.50/lb; Au US$1,880/oz (US$60/gram); Ag US$23/oz ($US0.74/gram); 1 tonne = 2,205 lbs; 1% = 22 lbs; 1 gram = 0.03215 oz.

Note: Intervals in holes KC21-01, 02, 04, 05, 06 represent approximate true widths. Intervals in holes KC21-03 and 07 represent approximately 120% of true widths.

Figure 3 – Kena Copper Zone 2021 Diamond Drill Holes

“We are excited by the very broad intersections of copper mineralization from our initial 7 drill holes in the large and robust underexplored Kena Copper Zone. We are very much looking forward to our 2022 exploration season where we will continue drilling of the copper anomalies, as well as expanding the gold resource,” states Nicholas Houghton, West Mining President, and CEO.

Prior to continued drilling of the copper porphyry zones, a detailed magnetotellurics survey will soon commence and this new data will be modeled and merged with earlier induced polarization surveying to allow better visualization of the mineral phases for drill targeting within this very large alteration system.

Quality Assurance/Quality Control (“QA/QC”)

West’s QA/QC procedures include one each of blank, field duplicate, and standard inserted into the sample stream for every 20 drill core samples.  Core samples are split, bagged, zip-tied, and trucked to Bureau Veritas Commodities Canada Ltd. (“BV Labs”) in Burnaby, British Columbia for analyses. The field inserted standards (certified reference materials) and blanks were purchased from CDN Resource Laboratories Ltd. of Langley, British Columbia.

Samples are analyzed at BV Labs facilities for gold by fire assay with an atomic absorption finish and 48 additional elements using multi-acid digestion with an ICP-ES finish. 

BV Labs are registered to ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 17025:2017 accreditations for laboratory procedures. In the laboratory, blanks (analytical and method), duplicates, and standard reference materials are internally inserted in the sequences of client samples.  Using these inserted quality control samples each analytical batch and the complete job are rigorously reviewed and validated by BV Labs prior to release.

The QA/QC results confirm acceptible analytical accuracy and precision.

About West Mining Corp.

West  Mining  Corp. is a  mineral exploration company acquiring and developing advanced and prospective early-stage exploration projects.  It is fully focused on its 100% owned, 9000-hectare Kena Project located in southeastern British Columbia. The Kena Project comprises three adjoining Properties:  Kena, Daylight, and Athabasca.  A recent NI43-101 resource estimate for the Kena Project gave 561,900 oz Au indicated and 2,773,100 oz Au inferred in the Gold Mountain, Kena Gold, and Daylight Zones. The Kena Property also hosts the large Kena Copper Zone, along with with the historic Euphrates and Gold Cup gold-silver mines. The Daylight property contains the historic past producing Daylight, Starlight, Victoria, Irene, and Great Eastern gold mines.  Along with the trend to the north is the Athabasca Property, with the historic Athabasca Gold Mine.  The historic mines and known mineralized zones on these three properties are structurally controlled along a 20-kilometer strike as identified by strong geophysical signatures.

The SiteCom® ecosystem is the industrial work surface for good operations and offers real-time data aggregation and visualization solutions for all phases of well construction and operation. It is designed to allow distributed teams to make drilling and well operational decisions based on the most up-to-date information and bridge silos between different providers. The system shows real-time and historical data and allows users to manage their data remotely.

The new app gives users this data at their fingertips at any time they need it. It utilizes the power of SiteCom® Global Mnemonics to automatically integrate and show data from all vendors and the latest information can be displayed for an immediate overview of the current situation. Users have easy access to a complete list of wells and may receive active notifications of new developments in the wells.

VP Products Stig Wølstad-Knudsen at Kongsberg Digital said: “Our SiteCom® system brought a new way of working into the industry and the launch of our new mobile app is the next step in its journey. Users now have immediate access to real-time data, ensuring the best decisions can be taken effectively in real-time. The future of the industry will be shaped by new and evolving technology and this app will play a large part in its evolution.”

SiteCom® Go has a simple and intuitive interface and is a truly modern and new web-based software with user experience in focus. It is built on the HTML5 standard, making it platform and browser independent, and it utilizes the ETP data transfer and encrypted connections when getting data from SiteCom®. For handheld devices, an App can be downloaded and used for iOS and Android devices, both with a native look and feel.

KONGSBERG DIGITAL

Kongsberg Digital, a subsidiary of KONGSBERG, is a provider of next-generation software and digital solutions, to customers within maritime, oil and gas, and renewables and utilities. The company consists of more than 700 software experts with leading competence within the internet of things, smart data, artificial intelligence, maritime simulation, automation, and autonomous operations. Kongsberg Digital is the group-wide center of digital expertise for the KONGSBERG group. www.kongsbergdigital.com

KONGSBERG

KONGSBERG is an international, leading global technology corporation delivering mission-critical systems and solutions with extreme performance for customers that operate under extremely challenging conditions. We work with nations, businesses, and research environments to push the boundaries of technology development in industries such as space, offshore and energy, merchant marine, defense and aerospace, and more. KONGSBERG has more than 11,000 employees located in more than 40 countries, creating a total revenue of NOK 27.4bn in 2021.

The Sunlight Li.ON ESS range, comprising both low- and high-voltage products will be showcased at ees Europe, Europe’s largest exhibition for reserve batteries and energy storage systems to be held in Munich, Germany, between the 11^th and 13^th of May. 

Sunlight Li.ON ESS is one of the most advanced and unique solutions for energy storage on the market. The product’s modularity and expandability serve a wide range of applications –including smart homes, solar and wind power installations, and e-mobility charging facilities. 

The Li.ON ESS solution ensures protection, safety, and reliability of supply against potential disturbances in the power grid. Its advanced lithium-ion technology permits high efficiency during the charging and discharging processes, as well as higher energy density. 

The entire product range has an innovative design that offers remote monitoring and maintenance even in the most remote installations via Sunlight’s smart GLocal cloud-based platform. Sunlight GLocal uses artificial intelligence (AI) to record, in real-time, key parameters regarding the battery’s performance, resulting in significant time and cost savings. Additionally, the extended lifespan and minimal maintenance requirements for Sunlight Li.ON ESS ensures reliable performance, even under difficult conditions.

At ees Europe, an experienced team from Sunlight Group – led by CEO, Lampros Bisalas– will be presenting the company’s pioneering storage technology and portfolio of lithium-ion and lead-acid ESS solutions, designed to accelerate the transition towards an all-electric future. The company will also discuss its plans to further strengthen the European energy storage market through a €105m investment into the development of a lithium cell prototype pilot line, currently being constructed at Sunlight Group’s industrial complex in Xanthi, northeastern Greece.

Commenting on the company’s participation at the Exhibition, Dimitri Ottaviano, Sunlight Group’s Director of Lithium Engineering and Product Development, said: 

“We are excited to attend ees Europe and showcase our innovative ESS portfolio for the European energy storage sector. We are proud of our growing international team of R&D experts, comprising people with strong expertise and deep knowledge of the EES market, as we continue designing new additions to our product range that better serve our customers and strengthen Sunlight Group’s global presence. With over three decades of experience in the German and wider European battery market, we believe that we are the reliable partner of choice to contribute to the growth of the energy storage sector, supporting our continent’s transition to a more sustainable future.” 

To find out more about Sunlight Group Energy Storage Systems, please visit: www.systems-sunlight.com

About Sunlight Group Energy Storage Systems

Sunlight Group is a Greece-based technology company with a global reach, a member of the Olympia investment Group. It has 30+ years of experience in energy storage, specializes in integrated and innovative solutions, invests in capacity expansion and R&D, and offers a solid portfolio of lithium-ion and lead-acid products for various applications. This includes the new range of lithium-powered motive (Sunlight Li.ON FORCE), semi-traction (Sunlight ElectroLiFe), and reserve (Sunlight Li.ON ESS) batteries, as well Sunlight’s cloud-based platform, GLocal, and Smart Battery Monitoring System, KnoWi. Sunlight’s industrial batteries and energy storage systems are exported to 100+ countries. The company runs state-of-the-art production plants and facilities in Greece, Italy, and the USA.

Enterprise mobile video chat enables clients to connect visitors and staff entering their offices, whether it’s a satellite or launchpad, directly with a receptionist or security officer from the main corporate office via video on the robot for any concerns or questions. If that person is unavailable, they are automatically routed to Cobalt’s Command Center. With Cobalt’s integrated robotics service, a large enterprise can now handle reception for dozens of satellite offices via live video calls. Cobalt specialists are available for 24/7 backup from Cobalt’s SOC2 compliant global security operations center (GSOC). Large enterprises with satellite offices scattered across the country still need to maintain a high level of security, communications, and availability to all staff and visitors as they enter buildings. Cobalt’s new enterprise mobile video chat makes connections to an organization’s headquarters easy and communications more personal for all employees to stay better connected with one another.

Large corporations often require guard posts that need to be staffed all 168 hours/week to protect their personnel and facilities. These posts are hard positions to fill with high turnover rates and costs, and often don’t deliver the security services which are intended. This results in large gaps in a security program, particularly on nights and weekends. In addition, much of the security and facility checklists required of guards are repetitive, mundane tasks that can be more efficiently and affordably accomplished by a robot. Cobalt’s RaaS solution can get an annotated picture of an organization’s facility at all inspection points, completing all of the security and facility tasks at a fraction of the cost.

Cobalt’s autonomous patrolling and 60+ sensors facilitate continuous data collection throughout a facility, providing insight into security, safety, and facility trends over time. Its detailed and customizable Daily Security Reports (DSRs) provide customers with actionable real-time information.

“As employers navigate the return to the office, security, uniform access control, and consistent communications for all employees, regardless of location, is paramount,” said Mike LeBlanc, Chief Operating Officer of Cobalt Robotics. “Cobalt is fulfilling a critical gap for businesses that need round-the-clock security and facility maintenance tasks complete; these are often repetitive, mundane tasks like checking doors and alarms that can be automated, so guards can spend time on jobs that require empathy, judgment, and creativity. Our service also provides more consistent data, historical analysis, and detailed reporting to organizations. We are excited to add new features like enterprise mobile video chat so large enterprises can make communications and access control for a distributed workforce smooth and help employees feel connected as they transition back to physical offices.”

Cobalt’s Robotics as a Service solution includes:

State-of-the-Art Robots – with over 60+ sensors including day-night cameras, 360-degree cameras, thermal cameras, depth cameras, LIDAR, and badge reading capabilities. Using machine learning, semantic mapping, and novelty detection, the robot can independently identify and flag security-relevant anomalies like people, sounds, motion, doors and windows, and missing assets. Each robot has a screen for communication between remote security specialists and people on-site.

Machine learning software – The robot uses machine learning for tasks such as enforcing closed-door policies. For example, Cobalt’s machine learning algorithm has ingested a sufficient amount of data to accurately identify an open door. When the robot identifies a door that should be closed as being open, the picture is escalated to and confirmed by a security specialist in Cobalt’s command center as an added layer of redundancy. The incident is then escalated to the customer according to their specified criteria. 

In the event of an incident, Cobalt’s security specialists provide humanitarian assistance for complex situations. They will triage the incident, contact the appropriate personnel and report back to the security team 24/7/365 based on collaboratively established post orders. They can also provide two-way video from the robot to greet employees, request badge credentials, and ensure guest check-in.

About Cobalt Robotics

Cobalt Robotics is the only company to automate repetitive manual security and facility tasks with an integrated service that unifies state-of-the-art robotics, machine learning software, and expert human oversight. Its technology platform and 24/7 dedicated professional security services team improve safety, security, and facility workflows with greater efficiency and predictability at substantially reduced costs, while allowing guards to focus on tasks that require judgment, empathy, and decision making. Cobalt’s mobile robotics help companies make their spaces smarter, safer, and more secure, protecting both their employees and intellectual property. Leading enterprises including General Motors and Slack demonstrate that automation in the workplace is a top to bottom priority with Cobalt. 

Learn more at cobaltrobotics.com.

Honeywell Process Solutions is a pioneer in automation control, instrumentation, and services for the oil and gas; refining; energy; pulp and paper; industrial power generation; chemicals and petrochemicals; biofuels; life sciences; and metals, minerals, and mining industries. It is also a leader in providing software solutions and instrumentation that help manufacturers find value and competitive advantage through Honeywell Connected Plant, Honeywell’s Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) solution. Process Solutions is part of Honeywell’s Performance Materials and Technologies strategic business group, which also includes Honeywell UOP, a leading international supplier and licensor of process technology, catalysts, adsorbents, equipment, and consulting services to the petroleum refining, petrochemical, and gas processing industries.
Honeywell is a Fortune 100 technology company that delivers industry-specific solutions that include aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings and industry; and performance materials globally. Our technologies help aircraft, buildings, manufacturing plants, supply chains, and workers become more connected to make our world smarter, safer, and more sustainable. For more news and information on Honeywell.

“Cemvita Factory is committed to developing and applying breakthroughs in biotechnology to unlock metals crucial to our clean energy transition using sustainable and low-impact processes,” said Marny Reakes, VP of Biomining at Cemvita. “It was important for us to find the right EPC partner that could share the same agility and innovativeness that is core to Cemvita, and we have found that in Fluor.”

Biomining has been used successfully at scale for the last 40 years and recovers 20% of the world’s copper and 5% of the world’s gold. Cemvita brings the latest in biotech tools into action to improve recovery and extend biomining to other ore bodies and minerals to bio extract critical minerals and lower the environmental footprint of mining.

“We are committed to supporting the development of disruptive low carbon solutions in the mining industry, and we are excited to do so with Cemvita Factory,” said Tony Morgan, Fluor Mining & Metals President. “Through our partnership, Fluor will draw upon expertise with leaching technologies as well as our extensive engineering and project execution capabilities.”

Fluor is the latest strategic partner to join Cemvita’s network. For more than 60 years, Fluor has provided innovative solutions for mining projects across six continents in key mining jurisdictions.

About Cemvita Factory

Cemvita Factory is a synthetic biology company focused on decarbonizing heavy industry, focusing on improving the environmental footprint of various industries, from oil & gas and to mining. Cemvita accomplishes this via deploying technology to enable sustainable extraction of natural resources, carbon-negative production of chemicals, and utilizing waste as feedstock for energy, chemical, and hydrogen products.

Source and Image: www.cemvitafactory.com

Mobilization of two additional drills

The Company is also pleased to announce that two additional drill rigs have been mobilized to the site. One diamond drill rig is currently set up at DD-01, located on the Graciela claim, and has a target depth of 550 meters. The depth of the hole may be extended if favorable lithologies are encountered, as happened in DD-02 in the adjacent Almafuerte claim.

A second rotary drill is scheduled to mobilize in three weeks to Almafuerte to drill a production well (P-1) 15 meters away from DD-02. The well has a target depth of 450 meters and looks to test the productive capabilities of the gravel aquifer intersected in DD-02 by completing pumping tests using the neighboring DD-02 as a monitoring well.

Arena is operating the drill program on behalf of Sal de la Puna Holdings Ltd., which is jointly owned by Arena (65%) and Ganfeng New Energy Technology Development (Suzhou) Co., Ltd.

The drill program is focused on the Almafuerte and Graciela blocks which border Lithium America’s (TSX: LAC; NYSE: LAC) Pastos Grandes project to the south and south-east and consists of 3,000 meters with the objective of both increasing the category of the current resource and increasing the SDLP Project’s resource base.

The drill program is jointly designed and supervised by the Company and Atacama Water consultants. All brine samples are sent to SGS Laboratories, Salta, Argentina, an independent and fully international accredited laboratory for analysis for lithium multi-element Induction Coupled Plasma Spectroscopy. Arena has a regimented Quality Assurance, Quality Control program where at least 10% duplicates, blanks, and standards are inserted into each sample shipment.

Corporate Matters

The Company has engaged Digitonic Limited to provide investor awareness services for USD216,000. Digitonic Limited is based in Glasgow, Scotland, and operates under the direction of Mr. Neil Reynolds.

About Arena Minerals Inc.

Arena owns 65% of the Sal de la Puna Project covering approximately 11,000 hectares of the Pastos Grandes basin located in Salta, Argentina. The claims are highly prospective and share the basin with two advanced lithium brine projects. In addition to Sal de la Puna, the Company owns the Antofalla lithium brine project in Argentina, consisting of four claims covering a total of 6,000 hectares of the central portion of Salar de Antofalla, located immediately south of Albemarle Corporation’s Antofalla project. Arena has developed a proprietary brine processing technology using brine-type reagents derived from the Antofalla project with the objective of producing more competitive battery-grade lithium products.

Arena also owns 80 percent of the Atacama Copper property within the Antofagasta region of Chile and 5.8 million shares of Astra Exploration. The projects are at low altitudes, within producing mining camps in infrastructure-rich areas, located in the heart of Chile’s premier copper mining district.

“The team at Smartroad Gotland is excited for the one-year extension of this project and for the opportunity to demonstrate the continued endurance of our wireless charging technology in Swedish weather,” said Håkan Sundelin, director of the Nordic Region at Electreon and project manager for Smartroad Gotland. “The planned large scale electric road pilot in Sweden, in addition to the French government’s decision to fund pilots for wireless charging roads, shows high demand for Electreon’s technology in Europe.”

Jan Pettersson, program manager of electrification, Swedish Transport Administration said, “We are very positive about the opportunity to test higher wireless charging performance, as well as road durability. Now that the corona restrictions have eased, we are also looking forward to spreading the knowledge from the project more widely.”

As part of the project extension, Electreon will increase the capacity of its receivers to transfer energy to approximately 30 kW and examine a new generation of its technology. This will demonstrate how the wireless charging infrastructure can be upgraded to meet evolving needs over time. Electreon will also deploy its software capabilities, such as its billing feature, which enables the Company to invoice vehicle subscribers using the Electric Road System.

After the upgrade is complete, the long-haul e-truck and commercial passenger e-bus, which have now been utilizing the wireless charging infrastructure for one year as part of this project, will undergo continued testing. The Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI) will perform third-party endurance and stress tests to verify that Electreon’s technology and charging coils are unaffected by road construction and heavy-duty truck use. Electreon’s wireless charging technology is designed to be future-proof, and this project will continue to prove that Electreon offers long-term performance with minimal maintenance. Additional third-party endurance tests of Electreon’s wireless charging technology are currently being performed as part of the BASt project in Germany and the Arena of the Future project in Italy.

To date, Electreon’s patented technology has been integrated with a wide range of vehicles, as part of its ongoing collaborations with auto manufacturers including Renault, Stellantis, Iveco, and Volkswagen. In February 2022, Electreon announced it was awarded a Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) contract for the first public Electric Road System for wireless EV charging in the U.S. In November 2021, Electreon’s wireless charging technology was named one of TIME’s 100 Best Inventions of 2021.

About Electreon

Electreon is the leading provider of wireless charging solutions for electric vehicles (EVs), providing end-to-end charging infrastructure and services to meet the needs and efficiency demands of shared, public and commercial fleet operators and consumers. The company’s proprietary inductive technology dynamically (while in motion) and statically (while stopped) charges EVs quickly and safely, eliminating range anxiety, lowering total costs of EV ownership, and reducing battery capacity needs—making it one of the most environmentally sustainable, scalable, and compelling charging solutions available today. Electreon works with cities and fleet operators on charging as a service (CaaS) platform that enables cost-effective electrification of public, commercial, and autonomous fleets for smooth and continuous operation.

Source and Image: electreon.com

Unprecedented sample throughput and scalability

LevitasBio first revolutionized sample preparation with the launch of the LeviCell system in 2020. This system provides researchers with an unbiased, gentle, and fast method for separating and concentrating target cells by magnetic levitation. Less than two years later, Levitas Bio addressed the challenge of making both sample and cell volumes floatable and accessible, a common request from researchers. The new LeviCell EOS system increases sample throughput by a factor of 4 and interconnects up to 4 LeviCell EOS modules for independent control, increasing overall scalability by a factor of 16. Researchers have been able to accelerate their discoveries with unprecedented sample processing capabilities and insights.

A new era of sample processing

The LeviCell EOS system has introduced several new features to enhance unbiased sample processing to optimize natural biology research. First, it is equipped with a temperature control system that enables sample processing at the ideal temperature to maintain the state of cells by selecting from a preset temperature range.

In addition, an advanced fully reticulated imaging system enables powerful, real-time sample characterization analysis during processing. With real-time insights into important details such as fractionation, cell count, life-and-death assessment, and quality measurements, researchers make informed decisions about how to make the best use of concentrated samples in downstream research. Gain power for.

Finally, the LeviCell EOS system offers unprecedented flexibility with a modular, replaceable EOS magnetic core. The family of selectable core modules is expanding, delivering a wide variety of professionally optimized applications on a single platform.

Martin Pieprzyk, CEO of Levitas Bio, said: “We are changing the landscape of how researchers conduct experiments. The new LeviCell EOS system paves the way for fully integrated methods for sample processing and accurate characterization while increasing throughput. This will make a big difference in how researchers handle samples. “

About Levitas Bio

LevitasBio has pioneered powerful new techniques for cell enrichment and analysis. Our LeviCell platform leverages proprietary levitation technology to detect, quantify, concentrate and test cells in an accurate and gentle manner. Our method is unbiased and unlabeled, can detect cell types and states in a minimum of time and manipulation, and is widely used in the most important applications such as single-cell multi-omics, CRISPR, and cell line development. I am.

The official version of this press release is the original language version. The translated language version is provided for the convenience of the reader and has no legal effect. When using the translated language version as a material, please compare it with the original language version, which is the only version that has a legal effect.

Source and Image: levitasbio.com

The MUVE C360 detects and classifies airborne gas or chemical hazards, allowing industrial safety officers and inspection personnel to perform their job more safely and efficiently with integrated remote sensing capabilities from both the air and ground. MUVE C360 is designed to operate on Boston Dynamics’ Spot mobile robot, which can autonomously inspect dangerous, inaccessible, or remote environments. The C360 also is compatible with common commercial UAS systems, which allows operators to fly the C360 into a scene to perform hazard assessments in real-time.

“By deploying a chemical detector on drones and ground robots, industrial managers can identify dangerous situations from a safe distance, keeping operators out of harm’s way and speeding corrective measures,” said Dr. David Cullin, vice president and general manager of Unmanned and Integrated Solutions at Teledyne FLIR Defense. “We’re pleased to be teaming with MFE to provide innovative technology solutions like MUVE C360 that put distance between good people and bad things.”

“Being able to utilize the FLIR MUVE C360 on Boston Dynamics’ Spot and commonly used UAS systems for inspection make this payload one of the most versatile sensors we have in our toolbox today,” said Jason Acerbi, general manager at MFE Inspection Solutions. “Whether during day-to-day checks or an emergency response event, our clients take air quality monitoring seriously, from ground level to the tallest assets inside an oil and gas facility.”

MUVE C360 delivers continuous threat information in real-time and is fully integrated with commonly used enterprise UAS platforms, including the Teledyne FLIR SkyRanger™ which offers secure data communications for defense and homeland security applications as well as unmatched flight capabilities. In addition, Teledyne FLIR’s new MUVE C360 Partnership Program offers potential partners the opportunity to become certified C360 integrator.

Attendees at the 4C Conference for oil and gas industry professionals, being held in Austin, Texas, April 6-8, can see the MUVE C360 integrated onto Spot and other remote inspection platforms. Visit MFE Inspection Solutions at booth #4909 to learn more.

About Teledyne FLIR

Teledyne FLIR, a Teledyne Technologies company, is a world leader in intelligent sensing, unmanned systems, and integrated solutions for defense and industrial markets, with roughly 4,000 employees worldwide. Founded in 1978, the company develops a wide range of advanced technologies to help professionals make better, faster decisions that save lives and livelihoods. To learn more, visit teledyneflir.com or follow @flir.

About Teledyne Technologies

Teledyne Technologies is a leading provider of sophisticated digital imaging products and software, instrumentation, aerospace and defense electronics, and engineered systems. Teledyne’s operations are primarily located in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Western and Northern Europe. For more information, visit Teledyne’s website at www.teledyne.com.

Source and Image: www.flir.com and www.teledyne.com

Augmenting the RCN’s Current Capabilities

This contract provided the RCN FDU-A access to cutting-edge technology and high-resolution seabed data. With Kraken deploying its KATFISH towed SAS sonar system as well as integrating a Kraken Light Weight SAS (LW-SAS) onboard an RCN-owned Hydroid REMUS 100 Unmanned Underwater Vehicle (UUV), Kraken’s RaaS service demonstrated that FDU-A’s existing capabilities can be augmented by using service-based offerings of cutting-edge technology with significantly better data, at a much lower cost, and leveraging continuously improving capabilities.

Throughout the course of the contract, Kraken’s team successfully demonstrated that the range, area coverage rates, and resolution of Kraken’s KATFISH and LW-SAS systems met or exceeded target specifications. Furthermore, the Kraken and FDU-A teams worked closely on the integration of the payload, demonstrating that the LW-SAS can be installed and removed from vehicles in the field. Finally, the FDU-A team was trained on using Kraken’s cloud-based post-mission analysis tools for interrogating data following mission completion, and for conducting change detection.

Commenting on the successful completion of this contract, Karl Kenny, Kraken President, and CEO noted, “Kraken is excited to be once again working closely with our own RCN as an ‘Early Adopter’ to augment existing RCN Route Survey capabilities with a service offering based on the latest SAS technology available. The experience of working side by side with our FDU operators provided invaluable feedback to our engineers and technicians, and the RCN’s evaluation will serve as an excellent reference for a global offering, in particular to other NATO allies. Furthermore, the RCN’s objective comparison of the data from our RaaS offering against legacy sonar data provided demonstrative evidence of the superior image resolution and accuracy of Kraken survey data.”

Quote by Lieutenant Commander Neville Lockyer, Commanding Officer of Fleet Diving Unit (Atlantic), “Our members are fully trained in Naval Mine Countermeasures and seabed searches, and are always excited to be able to test and evaluate innovative Canadian technology. We want our teams to have their hands on the best equipment available in order to safely and effectively complete the mission. Based on the performance of Kraken’s equipment during this evaluation, what we tested was the best equipment available.”

Quote by Commander Roland Leyte, Director of Diving Safety (D DIVS), “By embracing the ISC TS program, the RCN is able to test and trial high-tech, advanced, state of the art equipment to determine its viability and future employability in various areas of warfare. Partnering with Kraken Robotics to utilize Robotics as a Service allowed the RCN’s Seabed Intervention Systems department, as the end-users, to employ a superior SAS system on an already in-service UUV, the REMUS 100, to achieve a much higher definition resolution image. The trial and the partnership were very successful in integrating the SAS with the REMUS 100, and in demonstrating that increased resolution tremendously improved object identification and change detection.”

Benefits to the Navies

Kraken believes its RaaS offering can provide significant benefits to other navies around the world. With Kraken RaaS, navies can access cutting-edge technology “as needed”, without concern for equipment obsolescence, life cycle costs, or operator skill fade. As it relates specifically to the RCN, Kraken RaaS offers many advantages:

Both RCN operating bases, MARLANT (Maritime Forces Atlantic) and MARPAC (Maritime Forces Pacific) are mandated to maintain Q-routes (safe passage lanes along the coasts and into designated harbors, of Canadian waters) on an annual basis. These surveys take a significant amount of time with current RCN technology due to the image quality and speed of current towed bodies. Kraken’s technology would greatly enhance the image quality and reduce survey time significantly due to the advance in state-of-the-art technology.
Kraken’s technology can be deployed to assist the RCN in mapping areas of interest ahead of regular exercises and operations, with the image quality required to enable change detection and optimize revisit rates. This has the potential to provide the RCN with a competitive edge for detecting bottom objects in complex seabeds.
Kraken’s technology and service application can augment route survey activities while simultaneously supporting nearshore hydrographic mapping and charting requirements on an annual basis with a high-definition resolution, freeing up valuable Navy assets for other mission-critical functions.

About Kraken Robotics Inc.

Kraken Robotics Inc. is a marine technology company dedicated to the production and sale of software-centric sensors, subsea batteries and thrusters, and underwater robotic systems. The company is headquartered in Newfoundland with offices in Canada, U.S., Germany, Denmark, and Brazil. In July 2021, Kraken acquired PanGeo Subsea, a leading services company specializing in high-resolution 3D acoustic imaging solutions for the sub-seabed. PanGeo with offices in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kraken. Kraken is ranked as a Top 100 marine technology company by Marine Technology Reporter.

Under the collaboration, ExxonMobil’s new proprietary catalyst technology will be combined with KBR’s proprietary K—PRO™ Propane Dehydrogenation technology to convert propane into propylene. Enabled by the superior performance of ExxonMobil’s new catalyst, the combined technology solution could offer financial savings compared to PDH technologies currently available.

“The collaboration with ExxonMobil is exciting not only for new K-PRO customers but also for existing K-PRO licensees who could have the potential to increase capacity and reduce operating expenses by upgrading to the new catalyst,” said Doug Kelly, KBR President, Technology. “This joint technology offering, which is anticipated to feature substantially reduced energy consumption, adds to KBR’s growing portfolio of sustainable solutions.”

“KBR’s K-PRO technology and our next generation catalyst are a great fit and our collaboration with KBR will significantly help to reduce the time to commercialize our next generation catalyst for PDH,” said James Ritchie, President of ExxonMobil Catalysts and Licensing LLC.

This cooperation brings together over 50 years of both ExxonMobil’s innovative leadership in the development of specialty catalysts and KBR’s leadership in technology development, plant design and construction.

About ExxonMobil Catalysts and Licensing LLC

ExxonMobil’s cutting-edge proprietary catalysts, gas treating solvents and advantaged process technologies help refineries, petrochemical manufacturers and gas processors increase capacity, lower costs, improve margins, reduce emissions and operate safe, reliable and efficient facilities. Ready for better results across your refining, gas, and chemical needs? View our video.

About KBR

We deliver science, technology and engineering solutions to governments and companies around the world. KBR employs approximately 28,000 people performing diverse, complex, and mission-critical roles in 34 countries. KBR is proud to work with its customers across the globe to provide technology, value-added services, and long- term operations and maintenance services to ensure consistent delivery with predictable results. At KBR, We Deliver.

Visit www.kbr.com

About ExxonMobil Chemical

ExxonMobil Chemical is one of the largest chemical companies in the world. The company holds leadership positions in some of the largest—volume and highest-growth commodity chemical products. ExxonMobil Chemical has manufacturing capacity in every major region of the world, serving large and growing markets. More than 90 percent of the company’s chemical capacity is integrated with ExxonMobil refineries or natural gas processing plants. To learn more, visit www.exxonmobiIchemicaI.com. Follow us on Twitter and Linkedln.

FLIR Si124

The flagship FLIR Si124 locates pressurized leaks in compressed air systems and detects partial discharge or corona from high-voltage electrical systems, offering the widest range of capabilities in one package. The lightweight, one-handed solution with 124 microphones can identify issues from up to 130 meters (430 feet) and 10 times faster than traditional detection methods via a precise acoustic image that visually displays ultrasonic information upon a visible image. The camera empowers inspectors to pinpoint a sound source, even in loud industrial or bright outdoor environments. For more.

Si124-PD for Partial Discharge Detection

The FLIR Si124-PD is specifically designed for electrical and utility inspection, featuring automatic electrical fault classification for partial discharge issues, including surface discharge, floating discharge, and discharge into the air. With the PD Severity Assessment software feature, users can also input the kind of component, the equipment voltage, and the distance from the component to get a severity assessment specific to those parameters. This feature is included within the FLIR Acoustic Camera Viewer cloud software included with the camera. For more.

Si124-LD for Compressed Air Leak Detection

The Si124-LD features real-time, on-device leak sizing and cost analytics, allowing users to instantly view the leak rate onscreen as it occurs, either in liters per minute or cubic feet per minute, and to quantify leak size. This feature provides a quick assessment of how much air is being lost and estimated cost savings from fixing the issue. As part of a regular maintenance program, organizations can extend the life and efficiency of existing compressors while reducing the need to install new units all while lowering electricity costs. For more.

The FLIR Si124-PD, Si124-LD, and original Si124 Industrial Acoustic Imaging Camera models with FLIR Thermal Studio Software Suite are available for purchase globally from Teledyne FLIR and its authorized dealers. To learn more or to purchase.

About Blackline Safety

Blackline Safety is a global connected safety leader with a hardware-enabled software-as-a-service (HeSaaS) business model that helps to ensure every worker gets their job done and returns home safely each day. Blackline Safety provides wearable safety technology, personal and area gas monitoring, cloud-connected software, and data analytics to meet demanding safety challenges and increase the productivity of organizations with coverage in more than 100 countries. Blackline Safety wearables provide a lifeline to tens of thousands of people, having reported over 172 billion data points and initiated over five million emergency responses. Armed with cellular and satellite connectivity, we ensure that help is never too far away.

For more information, visit BlacklineSafety.com and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.

As you can imagine, electronic products usually contain various toxic and hazardous substances. Thus, several jurisdictions have published regulations because of their impacts on the environment and public health.

RoHS

RoHS is the Restriction of certain Hazardous Substances in electrical and electronic equipment. Unquestionably, RoHS regulations are the most prevalent ones in the electronic industry. Markets like the European Union, China, India, the United Arab Emirates, Taiwan, Turkey, and Switzerland now have RoHS regulations. EU RoHS is the oldest one. It currently restricts ten substances. Four are heavy metals, two are brominated compounds, and four are phthalates. Most RoHS jurisdictions consider these substances toxic, carcinogens, or persistent organic pollutants. For example, they can be present in various electronic materials, including capacitors, solders, circuit boards, cables, etc.

POP – Halogen Free

Specifically, another list regulates chlorinated and brominated compounds. It is the POP list. This list includes Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid and its derivatives (PFOS) and Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). PFOS and PFOA are from the PFAS family. PFAS chemicals serve in many applications. For example, they have surfactant properties.

REACH-SVHC

REACH is another regulation controlling substances. First, REACH means Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and restriction of Chemicals. The European REACH regulation covers many substances, mixtures, and articles like electronic devices. In short, importers or producers under EU REACH must declare Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) in their products. Their declarations must appear on a so-called SCIP database under certain conditions.

California Proposition 65

Similar to EU REACH, a substances regulation also exists in California. It is the California Proposition 65, or Prop. 65 in its short form. This regulation obliges suppliers to warn about the presence of carcinogenic or reprotoxic substances. Interestingly, the current list of Prop.65 substances has hundreds of chemicals. Many of them occur in our everyday life. Per Prop.65, warning labels before purchase apply to consumer products.

TSCA-PBT

The Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) restricts substances in products at the US federal level. As a result, there are currently five persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic (PBT) listed substances, including Phenol, Isopropylated Phosphate (3:1) – PIP (3:1) – that can be present in flame retardant and plasticizer in resins.

Battery

Without a doubt, batteries are likely to contain hazardous substances. They also have a potentially shorter lifespan than electronic products. As a result, several markets heavily regulate batteries, like the EU battery directive.

Electronic Product Life Cycle

Control of substances is not only environmental subject matter applicable to electronics. Other concerns arise through electronic products’ life cycles stages. Let’s focus on the Ecodesign and the waste management stages of the electronics life cycle.

Ecodesign

Energy efficiency, reparability, and recyclability all are environmental design parameters. Designers can work on improving them from the initial stage of a product. The European Union is starting to regulate these eco-design initiatives via Directive 2009/125/EC.

WEEE Compliance

Waste management of electronics is the final stage of a device’s lifecycle. Nevertheless, this stage is particularly challenging since recyclability rates are not always high. Additionally, a whole illegal industry with developing countries puts the environment and different communities at risk. Consequently, Waste of Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) regulations aim at improving e-waste collection, treatment, and recycling.

Referring to communities at risk and apart from the environmental compliance issues above, the electronics industry also raises social concerns. Let’s discuss two of them.

Social Concerns with the Electronics Industry

Conflict Minerals

Mines and smelters of strategic minerals in the electronic industry, like gold, tungsten, tantalum, and tin, can be controlled by conflict-affected and high-risk areas. For example, terrorists can take advantage of local populations and finance their illegal activities via the exploitation of mines. As a result, organizations and countries have been developing conflict minerals reporting laws and solutions.

“The technology can detect nearly any thinkable change in the liquid properties in real-time”, says Matti Järveläinen, CEO and founder of ColloidTek. “The result is a continuous quality control, contrary to the normal, time-consuming quality control process based on blind samples and laboratory analyses.”

Customers worldwide

Collo’s liquid fingerprint technology gives the manufacturing industry an opportunity to ensure that a liquid process behaves consistently from batch to batch. As an example, it can monitor fermentation processes widely used in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries and many other bioprocesses, to ensure that the delicate microbiological process is progressing as intended.

“The number of scrapped end-products can be minimized if the quality deviations are detected early in the process,” says Mikko Tielinen, Head of Sales. “Why invest in a new factory if it is possible to radically enhance the production at the current factory just by improving the way the process quality is measured?”

That is one of the reasons why Collo is currently building industrial partnerships worldwide, from Asia to Europe and the USA.

“Since Collo can adapt to almost any fluid, it means that the manufacturing industry can focus its quality assurance on real problems in real-time, instead of relying on blind samples that only provide retroactive snapshots of the process”, Matti Järveläinen says. “We have customers across the world, and we are currently negotiating with various Fortune 500 companies, which shows that our technology is something extraordinary.”

Protecting ecosystems

Fast response to liquid quality changes can be critical in other applications as well. Collo recently conducted a study to find out how unsupervised machine learning could be used to detect abnormal qualities in sewage waste. The study was conducted together with the City of Oulu waterworks in Northern Finland.

“Water treatment is important worldwide and with our technology it is possible to supervise the quality of both tap water and sewage in real-time,” Matti Järveläinen says. “The problem with sewage is that if harmful chemicals pass through undetected, it can be a threat for both the water treatment process and the environment.”

In the study, Collo collected data from the sewage well for a couple of weeks and then compressed the information into a couple of models showing how the process should look when it was working well. After that, the analyzer monitored the sewage quality according to these models.

“With the aid of machine learning, our system was able to pinpoint the liquid quality deviations in the process,” Matti Järveläinen says. “The study showed that our analyzer could be used on a large scale to monitor industrial wastewater streams for early detection of anomalies like chemical spillage, product losses or other abnormal behavior.”

Collo

Collo is an industrial liquid process performance solution developed by ColloidTek Oy (Collo). The company was founded in 2017 after extensive scientific research in measurement technology at Tampere University by its founders and key personnel. Collo develops and commercializes the Collo technology for various industries, helping customers understand and enhance their liquid processes. Their customers are well-known industrial companies like Fonterra, Siemens Energy, SSAB, UPM, ABB, Danone, Evonik, LKAB, Kemira.

Tina Olivero is a conscious entrepreneur, managing a publishing company – TheOGM.com, a digital media firm – DigitalMedia.ca, and a sales engine firm – TheOGM.ca. She has 30 years in the marketing and sales business. Committed to energy and sustainable development her magazine OUR GREAT MINDS shares the collective intelligence that combats climate change and eradicates carbon emissions.

STRATEGIC MARKET PENETRATION

The World is changing and it’s changing fast. Today’s communications and marketing solutions are more about going straight to the sale, rather than hit-miss propositions where advertising may or may not work. Tina Olivero says, “Today technology has advanced so that we can accurately hit our target markets with precision. It’s a fascinating time to plug into automation, reach the perfect potential client, and bypass the old ways of marketing and advertising. Let’s put it this way, with today’s tools there’s no need for cold calling, no more knocking on doors, and no more badgering people with endless unwanted phone calls…. rather a direct message to a person who is the perfect match for your product or service. Clients then get less disruption and they get to answer on their terms, in their way, when they are ready. That’s the future of sales.” says Tina Olivero.

Most people have no idea how deeply the marketing field has been disrupted. With new target markets, programmatic and native advertising and new methods of automation, the entire landscape of how we reach our clients has changed. Tina Olivero says, “Today powerful tools use computer algorithms to identify buyers and sellers and match them together. Hiring is faster and easier. Raising capital is faster and easier. And sales is faster and easier. Having said that you do need to know what you’re doing when it comes to developing a tech stack that is going to ensure you reach your end goal online.”

ENSURING YOUR COMPANY IS A SUCCESS

The pandemic created a global understanding that if we want a predictable, reliable system of operations and sales we’d have to adapt online. Tina Olivero says, “During the pandemic, we built three essential components for a successful business in the new digital age. 

1. A sales engine – TheOGM.ca

2. A digital media agency – DigitalCollateral.ca

3. A system to get the word out – TheOGM.com

Having those three systems in place allowed us to grow and scale. The sales engine provides a constant stream of sales meetings every single day with our desired perfect client base.
1. On average our sales people have 5 meetings a day with perfect potential clients. That’s power.
2. The agency provides all the digital collateral we need to do business online, which is this era is critical for success. Everything from social posts to LinkedIn makeovers. Your digital assets are everythings. Your website is the front door of your company and your digital assets are inventory in your business, so it’s key to have your assets in order.
3. The online magazine allows us to disseminate important content and get it out to the masses.

This 3 tier strategy has proven to be a winner. Our company is not growing it’s scaling exponentially.”

U PUBLISH IT

For companies in the energy sector, both renewables and non-renewables, and those innovators working to save the world from climate change, Tina Olivero has created a free portal in TheOGM.com magazine. This portal appropriately named U PUBLISH IT. It allows users to create content that is educational, uplifting, and provides new solutions for a sustainable world.

Tina Olivero says, “Understanding that the collective intelligence is going to solve our climate change issues, we built U PUBLISH IT, to be able to provide our startups, innovators, inventors, and creators with a platform to get the word out. I figure that’s a great way to give people a leg up as they get out of the gate and start building their sustainable solutions that solve the world’s greatest challenges in climate change. It’s Our Great Minds, that are going to create a sustainable world and we are here to do whatever we can to help.”

To publish your articles on TheOGM.com please submit them to:
TheOGM.com/u-publish-it

To develop your own sales engine and digital assets please contact us directly for a discovery chat:
TinaOlivero@theogm.com

The ZM OpenMine system is already operating at the Bachatsky coal mine of UMMC. It manages over 200 vehicles, including 40 excavators and 120 dump trucks. In addition to basic functionality modules and control of various types of mining vehicles (excavators, dump trucks, drill rigs, bulldozers), the company also uses services for diagnostics, tire monitoring, ore quality control and railway transport.

It is expected that when using the ZM OpenMine system, the increase in transport load and decrease in downtime and savings in fuel and lubricants will make it possible for UMMC to save up to $2 million in 2021 at the Bachatsky open pit alone. By the end of 2021, the ZM OpenMine system will be launched at the coal mines of Krasnobrodsky, Kaltansky and Taldinsky, and by mid-2022 also at Kedrovsky and Mokhovsky. The total size of the project is over 1,100 equipment units. This will lead to an increase of overall savings to $9 million by the end of 2022.

Zyfra are implementing digitalisation projects in accordance with UMMC’s digital strategy, which includes cost-effective initiatives focused on health, safety and environment. The implementation of automatic dispatching is the best example of such initiatives. The ZM OpenMine system helps to fully control the entire mining fleet. In particular, the system minimises the risk of hazardous situations in production, improves labor discipline, and also leads to resource savings: tires, fuel and lubricants, consumables, commented Sergey Fedotov, head of the UMMC Digital Transformation Program.

In the next stages of digital transformation, UMMC intends to introduce digital twins with a full three-dimensional geological model of their open-pit coal mines for planning, design and monitoring of mining operations.

The ZM OpenMine system has already proven itself on the market as a reliable tool for keeping the efficiency and safety of mining transport under control. We believe that our system will allow UMMC to strengthen its position as an industry leader in the region and achieve high efficiency and industrial safety indicators, noted Pavel Rastopshin, Managing Director of Zyfra Group.

For the first six months of 2021, KRU’s enterprises produced 20.5 Mt of coal (including 3.2 Mt of coking grades), which is 5.6% less than the volume of the same period in 2020, but fully corresponds to the current plans of the company. The total volume of stripping in January-June 2021 amounted to 153.6 million cubic metres.

Source & Photo: zyfra.com

They warn that strictly forbidding CAVs of various kinds to break existing traffic rules may hamper road safety, contrary to what most people may claim. However, this requires close scrutiny so these high-tech vehicles can meet their potential to reduce road casualties.

“While they promise to minimise road safety risk, CAVs like hybrid AI systems can still create collision risk due to technological and human-system interaction issues, the complexity of traffic, interaction with other road users and vulnerable road users,” says UK transport consultant Professor Nick Reed, from Reed Mobility, in a new paper in Ethics and Information Technology. “Ethical goal functions for CAVs would enable developers to optimise driving behaviours for safety under conditions of uncertainty while allowing for differentiation of products according to brand values.” 

This part is important since it does not state that all vehicle brands should drive in exactly the same manner, which still allows brand differentiation, researchers say. Around the world, transport services are already putting CAVs, including driverless cars, on the road to deliver new services and freight options to improve road safety, alleviate congestion and increase drive comfort and transport system productivity. 

A recent European Commission report recommended CAVs may have to break strict traffic rules to minimise road safety risk and to operate with appropriate transparency. Professor Reed, Flinders University Dean of Law Professor Tania Leiman, and other European experts in the field of autonomous vehicle safety the key recommendation from the EC (Bonnefon et al, 2020) highlights the need to legislate for CAVs in various traffic and environmental conditions to exercise the equivalent of human discretionary behaviours.

This is complicated even further where there are variations in laws across different countries and regions, and cars are designed or built in one country but used in another, says Flinders Professor Leiman, from the College of Business, Government and Law. “An automated system that has ‘deduced’ driving behaviour from training examples cannot ‘explain’ or ‘justify’ its decisions or actions in a dangerous encounter,” she says. “This may be a problem if a manufacturer is required to explain specific behaviour in case of an incident or where civil or criminal liability is disputed.” 

Speeding and mounting the curb to avoid collision are also evaluated as case studies in the research paper, with the idea that ethical goals should be established by extensive public consultation and deliberation to make them publicly acceptable and understood.

The researchers say it will be critical that there is a standardised framework to enable vehicles travelling from one jurisdiction into the next to update their road rules to make driving standards safe, predictable, reasonable, uniform, comfortable and explainable – both for drivers, manufacturers and all road users.

“We suggest responsibility for creating the framework of CAV ethical goal functions should sit with an appropriate international body, for example, the Global Forum for Road Traffic Safety of the UNECE, and relevant individual country agencies such as the Department of Transport,” says co-author on the paper Dr Leon Kester, senior research scientist at TNO, The Netherlands.   

“Once an ethical goal function has been agreed and enacted by legislators, CAV systems could be designed in such a way that they optimise with the highest utility for road users within predefined boundaries without having a predefined set of infinite scenarios and precise definitions on what to do,” Dr Kester says. “Also, we have to organise a socio-technological feedback loop where things can be evaluated and changed if we feel it is no longer according to our societal goals.”

Source(s) and Image(s): The article, Ethics of automated vehicles: breaking traffic rules for road safety (2021) by Nick Reed, Tania Leiman, Paula Palade, Marieke Martens and Leon Kester has been published inEthics and Information Technology DOI: 10.1007/s10676-021-09614-x. Reed Mobility

Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO Maritime said,  “Everybody wants to cool the planet down, but not everyone is prepared to pay for it.” Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen isn’t the kind of man to get angry. The DNV Maritime chief speaks in considered tones with a natural, easy warmth. He radiates a calm authority highly befitting of someone charged with heading the world’s leading classification society. So, he’s certainly not angry, or even agitated, when addressing the issue of decarbonization, but it’s fair to say he’s a little frustrated. “We’re nowhere near reaching the ambitions laid out in the Paris Agreement and, in the aftermath of the IPCC report (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) no one can deny the scale of the challenge ahead,” he says. “If we are to stand any chance of addressing the issue we must all change. And I’m not talking about shipping here, not in isolation at least, I’m talking about everyone – a structural, behavioural, fundamental, societal change. If we work together on this we can succeed. Stand alone.. and, well, that’s that.”

Transition time 

Ørbeck-Nilssen has stated his case in previous media outings.As an industry he believes we should embrace today’s available technologies as we investigate tomorrow’s green shipping solutions. LNG, for example, can cut emissions by as much as 15-25% and, as such, is a valuable transitional fuel. “It’s not perfect,” he notes, “but perfect should not be the enemy of good. Let’s get going!” He doesn’t like the term ‘race to zero’, as it implies winners and losers, instead believing we should work together (a recurrent theme) to investigate solutions and share knowledge as we plot a collective path forwards. And, in concrete terms on future fuels, Ørbeck-Nilssen sees ammonia and methanol as very viable deep-sea alternatives, but only if they’re sustainably sourced. “A failure to ensure that,” he notes, “negates the benefits. We need green fuels and for that we need help.” And it’s here where the conversation turns to show his true vision. 

Challenging convention 

The frustration, if it can called that, seems in part to derive from the ‘outsider’ perspective that shipping has to do more.It does of course, but, as he points out, as the enabler for global trade, its 2-3% contribution to global CO2 emissions means it is only one small piece of the puzzle. And it can’t transform the whole picture alone.We need universal buy-in and support – something he illustrates with the case of consumer behaviour:“ Think about the early movers who are putting increased CAPEX on the table to fund vessels with alternative fuels (currently about 25% of newbuild tonnage). To do this they need the support of their shareholders, the backing of banks, and the commitment from charterers and cargo owners to utilize these ships.“ But because of the costs involved they need higher rates. So, a cargo owner has to pay this and that will most likely drive up the cost of the end product. Will consumers that have grown accustomed to hunting for bargains online – racing to the bottom in terms of cost – pay inflated prices for products they know have been transported sustainably? Are we, all of us, prepared to pay more to avert global warming?”The answer of course should be an emphatic ‘yes’, but, in an age of disposable consumerism, is it… really? And here lies Ørbeck-Nilssen’s point.We all have a vital role to play in this transition. Everyone – from shipowner, to politician, to banker, to businessperson, to scientist, to consumer – has to contribute if we are to change. And that’s especially true on fuels. 

Supporting change 

Ørbeck-Nilssen says huge technological leaps forward have been made in what he sees as a “maritime renaissance” with digital innovations and new onboard systems driving enhanced efficiency. But the development in fuels, and chiefly infrastructure and supply, are lagging behind. “Think of ammonia as an example,” he says. “The technology to facilitate meaningful deep-sea adoption will probably come online in the next three to five years, and that’s great news. But if we don’t have fuel (and by that I mean sustainable fuel) in the right places, in the right quantity, at the right prices to make sense in a competitive shipping market, then this clean fuel will not fulfil its potential.“ So, we need collaboration from policymakers, energy suppliers, the broader transport sector (which must also transform), and other industries across the board to make it happen. “This is a difficult undertaking, but it’s essential to get the foundations in place or we can’t build towards the future we want to see.”

Accessing expertise

Despite mentioning a handful of alternative fuels by name, Ørbeck-Nilssen is careful not to identify any as maritime ‘silver bullets’. Flexibility and fuel ready solutions are crucial for owners, he opines, as we work towards the right sustainable energy mix, which will be different for different segments and operations. The key is knowing what is available, what fits vessel profiles, and what developments are on the horizon. No one investing today (and there are around 1,000 ships a year expected to be built per annum to 2030) wants to be saddled with stranded assets tomorrow. Here he refers to DNVs vast array of expert reports – such as the recently published Energy Transition Outlook (ETO) and Maritime Forecast to 2050 – as valuable resources for diverse industry stakeholders. “As an organization we’re keen to engage with people facing difficult choices – to help facilitate and investigate the optimal solutions for a carbon neutral future,” he stresses. “And that’s where I see our main role, bringing people together – across disciplines, across sectors – as a kind of collaboration platform, or hub. In a sense that’s what we do day-to-day for maritime now; linking yards, owners, manufacturers, authorities and regulators to ensure quality, safety and progress. Thanks to the nature of DNV, which also has a firm footprint in other industries, such as renewables and oil and gas, we can help enable knowledge sharing and innovation across industry boundaries. That’s a real boon.“We are here to support and accelerate the transition. So, my message is, please, engage with us on this.” 

Next stop Nor-Shipping 

Ørbeck-Nilssen has Nor-Shipping 2022, taking place 10-13 January, in his crosshairs as a key engagement platform. It’s arenas such as this, he notes, that offer up the meeting places that sow the seeds of collaboration. And, after 18 months glued to our screens, we need that more than ever. “It’s difficult to just ‘bump in’ to someone on a Teams meeting,” he smiles. “Put it this way… you know who you know and you reach out to them. But, you don’t know who you don’t know. Now, imagine all that knowledge, all those perspectives, and all the opportunities you might be missing out on. So, how do you connect with the unknown? “Well, an event like Nor-Shipping – walking the corridors, attending the stands, listening to discussions and conferences, and socialising. Inspiration and innovation can come from unexpected places,” he adds, “and, given what’s ahead, we need to open up to those possibilities. That’s why I think arenas like this are so vital to our industry. They are where the world comes together.”Something, he reiterates in conclusion (but not frustration) we must do. “Collaboration is the true fuel of the future,” he smiles. “Zero emissions, efficient, limitless in supply, and completely free – it’s maybe the only thing that will get us all to our carbon neutral destination.“I look forward to taking that journey, together.”  

Source(s) and Image(s): Nor-Shipping

About Wood

Wood is a global leader in consulting and engineering across energy and the built environment, helping to unlock solutions to some of the world’s most critical challenges. We provide consulting, projects and operations solutions in more than 60 countries, employing around 40,000 people. www.woodplc.com 

Source(s) and Image(s): Wood

Kevin Murphy, Principal Analyst with the Metals & Mining Research team at S&P Global Market Intelligence, says, ” A faster-than-expected recovery in market conditions and easing of lockdowns allowed explorers to reactivate programs by mid-2020, which caused some programs to carry over into 2021. Along with higher metals prices and increased financing activities, this has led to a strong budget recovery in 2021. As we move into the last quarter this year, metal prices and financings remain robust, and the risk of further pandemic-related shutdowns has declined. As a result, we expect the aggregate exploration budget to increase between 5% and 15% year over year for 2022.” 

Key takeaways include: 

• Gold and base metals dominate exploration focus: While the gold price has varied over recent months, its August 2021 average of $1,784 per ounce was 14% higher than its January 2020 average of $1,560/oz. Base metals have had even more impressive gains, with copper’s August 2021 average of $4.25 per pound up 55% from January 2020.

• Canada soars while Africa underperforms: While allocations to all regions have increased in 2021, Canada has attracted a particularly large share of the global budget with an increase of $800.5 million year over year to $2.1 billion, hitting its record high since 2012. Africa underperformed with allocations up just 12% to $1.1 billion, returning the region to its 2019 level. 

• Junior budgets surge but majors still drive exploration: The junior sector has increased their planned allocations by 62% year over year to a total of $4.1 billion. Despite this increase, the majors continue to account for half of global exploration budget at a total of $5.6 billion.

• Early-stage exploration budget hits all-time low: In 2020, grassroots share of allocations hit an all-time low of 24% while minesite hit an all-time high of 41% as the pandemic made large scale programs more difficult. While grassroots share recovered modestly this year due to increased activity in Australia and Canada, its global budget share is the second lowest on record at 26%. 

The Metals and Mining Research team will be hosting a live webinar to present the latest Corporate Exploration Strategies 2021 research on 19 October 2021. To register for the event, please visit this webpage. S&P Global Market Intelligence’s Metals and Mining Research team offers comprehensive coverage on mining companies, projects and mines worldwide, exploration budgets and trend analysis, reserves replacement studies, Mine Economics cost curves, commodity market analysis and industry outlook insights. The Metals and Mining offering complements S&P Global Market Intelligence’s broad universe of research sector coverage including energy, enterprise technology, leveraged loans, financial institutions, and TMT (Technology, Media and Telecom). S&P Global Market Intelligence’s opinions, quotes, and credit-related and other analyses are statements of opinion as of the date they are expressed and not statements of fact or recommendation to purchase, hold, or sell any securities or to make any investment decisions, and do not address the suitability of any security. 

About S&P Global Market Intelligence

At S&P Global Market Intelligence, we understand the importance of accurate, deep and insightful information. We integrate financial and industry data, research and news into tools that help track performance, generate alpha, identify investment ideas, perform valuations and assess credit risk. Investment professionals, government agencies, corporations and universities around the world use this essential intelligence to make business and financial decisions with conviction. S&P Global Market Intelligence is a division of S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI), the world’s foremost provider of credit ratings, benchmarks and analytics in the global capital and commodity markets, offering ESG solutions, deep data and insights on critical business factors. S&P Global has been providing essential intelligence that unlocks opportunity, fosters growth and accelerates progress for more than 160 years. For more information, visit www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence.

Source(s) and Image(s): S&P Global Market Intelligence

The Genix APM Suite makes it easy to add asset condition monitoring to existing operational technology (OT) landscapes, enables prioritization of maintenance activities based on AI-informed predictions, and provides a comprehensive overview of asset performance. 

Genix APM Suite also empowers significant improvements in operational sustainability. By assessing the remaining useful life of industrial assets, Genix APM generates a plan for preventive maintenance, which can extend equipment uptime by as much as 50 percent and increase asset life by up to 40 percent^[1]. 

With reliable data insights, decision makers are provided with the information required in order to identify gaps and areas of improvement for energy efficiency and tighter control of operations, increasing asset availability and improving profit potential. 

“Poor asset availability and reliability is a major problem that results in unplanned downtime and unexpected maintenance costs, and also impedes strategic planning and procurement,” said Rajesh Ramachandran, Chief Digital Officer at ABB Process Automation. “It’s not that industrial customers lack data; it’s that many lack effective ways to use their data to improve operational and business performance.”  

Genix APM is built on the ABB Ability™ Genix Industrial Analytics and AI Suite. ABB Ability Genix is a modular, IIoT and analytics suite, which integrates IT, OT and other enterprise data in a contextualized manner, applying advanced industrial AI capabilities that support new insights to optimize operations. 

About ABB

ABB is a leading global technology company that energizes the transformation of society and industry to achieve a more productive, sustainable future. By connecting software to its electrification, robotics, automation and motion portfolio, ABB pushes the boundaries of technology to drive performance to new levels. With a history of excellence stretching back more than 130 years, ABB’s success is driven by about 105,000 talented employees in over 100 countries. www.abb.com  

The Process Automation

ABB’s Process Automation business is a leader in automation, electrification and digitalization for the process and hybrid industries. We serve our customers with a broad portfolio of products, systems, and end-to-end solutions, including our # 1 distributed control system, software, and lifecycle services, industry-specific products as well as measurement and analytics, marine and turbocharging offerings. As the global #2 in the market, we build on our deep domain expertise, diverse team and global footprint, and are dedicated to helping our customers increase competitiveness, improve their return on investment and run safe, smart, and sustainable operations. go.abb/processautomation 

Source(s) and Image(s): ABB

The result was a whole new E-World that ultimately will make us more versatile, globalized, and resilient.

When people stopped flying planes and the world pretty much shut down, people had to implement new business models for marketing, sales, hiring, investor relations, PR, supply/vendors and processes, partnerships, and more.

This new E-world means harnessing zoom and teams platforms and ensuring online meetings are connected and professional even if you were meeting from your bedroom.

While we now start to get back to a ‘new normal’ and travel becomes more available, the power of E-business will forever play a role in how we expand and grow from here forward.

See it as an opportunity rather than a problem.

Six E-Sales Opportunities To Grow Your Company In The New Digital World

If you want to sell a product or position your company for an important bid, how are you going to accomplish your goals in Covid times?  

When we are working from home, using zoom, or dealing with outside distractions, how can we succeed? Those are the challenges of the day. It is a new challenge, to find ways to keep ourselves and our clients connected, online.

Believe it or not, with creativity and engagement, we can have an effective E-Work environment that can out-perform old sales models.

1. Think about it, less travel, more meetings, less cost, more communication. It adds up. Business is nothing more than a network of conversations. People who organize meetings effectively, stack meetings, and create an E-Flow work environment will win the game of the E-work world.
   
2. Building great relationships that create trust and rapport is still the foundation of any relationship. Having clients get to know, like, and trust you is key; so, the rules have not changed. Building rapport still means a professional appearance online and an appropriate zoom background. It means good communication, understanding your client, finding common ground, discovering needs, sharing experiences, matching mannerisms and speech, future pacing, and finding solutions. 
   
3. Quickly adapting to this new E-World means recreating the outside world inside the computer world. It means finding new ways to connect and get personal with relationships so that there is a strong foundation of trust established online.
   
4. Computer advances and algorithms have taken over the laborious job of research and client acquisition. Business development costs came down, workflows became more efficient, and sales grow from there. 
   
5. The E-world will expedite globalization, and before we know it, doing business anywhere in the world at any time will be an affordable proposition. Global commerce is emerging, and the opportunities are truly endless.
   
6. We must look into the future and see where nations will unite in common goals. Languages will merge, and borders and boundaries will fall away. Free markets will be the foundation of the global playing field of business as we grow exponentially with E-Business automation and processes.

PAAS – PUBLISHING AS A SERVICE

As publishers of a global energy magazine, The OGM served clients around the globe ensuring suppliers and energy companies got their message to the right market.

Publisher Tina Olivero says, “During the pandemic it became apparent that tradeshows and flying to meetings was not an option for us or our clients. E-meetings became the norm and suddenly, the world got much smaller. Client contact became easier, faster, and automated. Computer advances and algorithms took over the laborious job of research and client acquisition. Business development costs came down, workflows became more efficient, and sales took off for us. That would not have happened, except for the pandemic. Long story short, there’s a silver lining in everything, when we are willing to embrace the challenges, we then reap the rewards.”

PaaS is a client solution that searches out potential clients, matches content with buyer and seller and creates an automated lead generation system. Where traditional advertising could be hit and miss at times, PaaS connects those interested, with those selling and the computer algorithm does all the work of bringing them together. As a result, expanding into new markets is now affordable. Finding your exact right client is now easier. All of this is because of the new E-Work environment and computer AI.

Visionary Tina Olivero says, “The E-world will expedite globalization and before we know it, doing business anywhere in the world at any time, will be an affordable proposition. Global commerce is emerging, and the opportunities are truly endless.”

WHAT INDUSTRY SAYS

Ryan Burrowes, CEO of Warehouse Transport Group and head of Canada/Guyna operations said, “As a CEO of a growing logistics and investment company, I was in dire need of new digital technology to take my business online. We needed a marketing and sales enhancement solution and a way to scale. I found everything and more with Tina and TheOGM Agency team. Having lived all over the world, Tina is a visionary who sees things from a global perspective.

Our operations have a foothold in Guyana, Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland. So Tina and her team are a perfect fit for us. The OGM’s new digital business development solutions are strategic and sustainable for the new world order where everyone is doing business on Zoom.

The OGM digital tools come with algorithms and automation that provide us with a flow of never-ending, high-level opportunities to quote on new work. Not just any work but leads with key decision-makers for our business. That is invaluable. The OGM is a platform with new digital tools that we all need in a business in this day and age. This new digital game is entirely different and capitalizing on that makes for really exciting times. Tina and her team have gone over and above our contractual agreement and, honestly I wouldn’t have it any other way. That’s the people we want to work with. Already, I consider her a part of our family, for now, and for the future.”

Ryan Burrowes CEO, Warehouse Transport Group Canada-Guyana – WarehouseTransport.ca

PICK THE RIGHT PARTNERS

There are many companies out there that are trying to adapt online. For energy companies choosing the right partners who have extensive experience in the energy industry is key.

Tina Olivero says, “The most important part of outreach and communication right now is content. You have to partner with key marketing and sales people who speak “energy”. Otherwise you are trying to bring your clients into your world, with someone who does not understand your business and most importantly, doesn’t understand what your clients need. That’s a one way ticket to no success.

Aligining with The OGM as 30-year publishers of energy content, coupled with our digital media agency, makes The OGM a premium choice. When you have that level of business competence, communication is easy. Adapting with new digital processes and creating automations has to be routed in powerful words, which create powerful actions, which create powerful results. It’s that simple. These are truly incredible times. Reach out and lets what we can create.

www.TheOGM.com

About the Author Tina Olivero

Tina Olivero is a conscious entrepreneur, managing a publishing company – TheOGM.com, a digital media firm – DigitalCollateral.ca and a new Sales Engine company – TheOGM.ca. She has 30 years in the marketing and sales business in the energy sector. She is committed to energy and sustainable development with her Our Great Minds. This innovative magazine shares the great minds and collective intelligence that are combating climate change and eradicating carbon emissions. 

About ECOsubsea 

ECOsubsea was formed in 2008 by the brothers Tor and Klaus Østervold to develop a prototype hull cleaning technology that could safely and efficiently remove hull fouling without leaving any fouling in the water. Tor Østervold won the Nor-Shipping Young Entrepreneur Award in 2013 from the leading trade show Nor-Shipping and the company won the WWL Orcelle Award later that year.

Further, the company has received a string of accolades for its environmentally friendly and fuel-efficient solutions, including: the Green Ship Technology Award, the Global Freight Award and the Seatrade Award. The company has been developing its technology in the UK port of Southampton winning contracts from leading ship owners. The Southampton based system has accumulated more than 4000 hours of service. It now has systems in different locations around the world.

The ECOsubsea system consists of a sophisticated and reliable remotely operated vehicle that moves along the ship hull. It’s unique cleaning system ensures the removal of hull fouling without damaging the hull coating. The system removes over 97% of all the fouling detritus which is then safely pumped ashore and can be used as biofuel.

About hull cleaning

A clean freshly painted new hull straight out of a newbuilding yard is the most efficient hull and allows the vessel to operate at peak efficiency, with the least amount of fuel consumed and with minimum emissions. However, over time all hulls, regardless of coatings, will see a deterioration of their effect as slime, barnacles and other aquatic species attach themselves leading to increase in drag and friction thus increasing engine power and fuel consumption to achieve a vessel’s desired speed. 

Often vessels have hulls recoated during drydocks to reinstate performance level close to optimum.  Owners are advised to inspect and clean hulls regularly between drydocks, with many charter parties including a clean hull clause. However, due to the environmental risks, port authorities and coastal states are banning or deterring hull cleaning methods without capture thus allowing the fouling and coating residues to be released into the ambient water.

Source(s) and Image(s): ECOsubsea

CRP Subsea and Hellenic Cables collaborated to jointly apply for the MaRINET2 programme, as both companies are looking to increase the lifespan of dynamic subsea cables. The testing at the University of Exeter used a dynamic cable designed and manufactured by Hellenic Cables and a Bend Stiffener designed and manufactured by CRP Subsea. The power cable (only) and power cable with Bend Stiffener were individually tested to compare both performance and fatigue.

John Duggan, Principal Design Engineer at CRP Subsea, states, “These results are encouraging but expected and explain why the use of a CRP Subsea Bend Stiffener in such a system is critical. The CRP Subsea Bend Stiffener material has undergone an extensive and rigorous material qualification. This along with the comprehensive design methodology, manufacturing, and quality systems have been fully reviewed and approved by Lloyds Register. Our Bend Stiffener is designed to maintain a cable or flexible pipe above a given minimum bend radius in a dynamic application. This, in turn, increases the life of the product by protecting it against damage and fatigue, which can result due to over bending. It is imperative that we use our 25+ years’ experience of supplying Bend Stiffeners to all the major oil and gas manufacturers, without any failures in service, to support dynamic cable protection for FOW.”

The study is related to one of the key challenges for Floating Offshore Wind (FOW) developers, which is to ensure the long-term integrity of the dynamic cable, connecting the floating platform to the Offshore Sub-Station. Whilst dynamic cable assemblies are recognised as a key technical risk, the sector is not at a commercial scale yet, this funded research and development support is required to demonstrate and enhance dynamic cable solutions for FOW.

George Georgallis, Head of R&D and Cable Engineering for Hellenic Cables commented, “At Hellenic Cables we are always looking forward in collaborating with industrial and academic partners involved in the offshore industry to promote and validate innovative concepts. The positive outcome of the fatigue test of a dynamic power cable coupled with a bend stiffener at the Exeter DMaC facility is very encouraging.”

Professor Lars Johanning, Project Lead at the University of Exeter, explains, “Floating offshore wind power will be a vital component in achieving global Net Zero targets. It will also have a profound effect on the economy in Europe and globally, creating new jobs in the supply chain and providing a key component for the post-pandemic green recovery. We are extremely excited working with innovative companies in the development of subsystems for the floating offshore industry.”

The University of Exeter performed two tests. Firstly, the performance characterisation tests that involved bending the cable to a 3.7° angle at the headstock whilst holding a constant force of 40 kN, 60 kN and 80 kN at the tailstock at a 10s cycle period. Secondly, the fatigue testing involved bending the cable to 4° whilst holding a constant force of 80 kN. The cycle period was steadily decreased from 10s to 1s (to minimise overall test duration). The test plan was identical between the power cable (only) and the power cable with bend stiffener combination (including the change in cycle period).

Bend Stiffeners are used to protect cables and flexible pipelines from over bending at the termination point. Manufactured from an elastomeric material, the Bend Stiffener is suited to the constant wave and current-induced motion of dynamic installations and can also be used for static applications. The conical shape of the Bend Stiffener provides a gradual increase in the overall stiffness between the flexible pipe, umbilical or cable, and the termination in order to prevent over bending at the termination point.

CRP Subsea (formerly Trelleborg Offshore UK)  

Using advanced material technology, CRP Subsea provides high integrity solutions for the harshest and most demanding offshore environments. CRP Subsea specialises in the development and production of polymer and syntactic foam-based buoyancy and protection products for the offshore renewables and oil & gas industries. CRP Subsea has been providing innovative solutions to the industry for over 40 years. www.crpsubsea.com

Source(s) and Image(s): Subsea

Consolidating three locations into one major hub, the new technology, operations and commercial Black Hills site has more than 5,000 sq feet of office and networking space, a 3,500 sq foot laboratory and an 80,000 sq foot production area.

With state-of-the-art lab capabilities, through advanced technology, and an in-house team dedicated to local and regional customer challenges, the combined facility will enable Clariant to respond with maximum agility to analyze production issues, chemical solution development and implementation in the field, with simplified logistics, reduced lead times and fewer bottlenecks.

“The central location of the site demonstrates Clariant’s long term commitment to the Eagle Ford oil production region, enabling significant opportunities for our key customer partnerships to grow with the support of our innovative sustainable chemistries and industry leading safety culture,” said Tyler Kilgannon, Head of Sales, NORAM Oil Services.

The Clariant Eagle Ford legacy was established in 2013 with the creation of a sales team from the ground up and grew over the years to be a core contributor to Clariant’s onshore US oilfield services business.

Anton Kaiser, Head of Supply Network Clariant BU Oil and Mining Services (OMS) stated, “The consolidation of our three operations into a first class operations hub represents another major milestone, confirming once more that we have become the sustainability and safety role model of our industry leading into a new future.”

For more information, please visit Eagle Ford Technology & Operations Center Grand Opening (clariant.com).

Source(s) and Image(s): Clariant

The award is the result of a competitive RFP process. GeoSapient is teaming with Harvard University’s Dr. Daniel Jacob, a recognized international leader in satellite observations of methane, and Innovative Imaging and Research (I2R), which specializes in remote sensing, geospatial, and optics-based products and services. 

John Kelley, GeoSapient’s president stated, “GeoSapient assembled a world-class team to demystify and communicate the methane emission challenges and opportunities. This work will help reconcile current on-the-ground measurement and expertise with the growing body of satellite measurements.”

“Ultimately, improvement is the key word. The study will advance understanding about methane emissions for regulators, policymakers, and oil and gas operators,” said Dr. Jacob.

CAMS member companies are committed to continuously studying and reducing greenhouse gas emissions based on the most up-to-date scientific knowledge.  As satellite data is increasingly available, operators want to know how best to leverage the technology. 

“This effort to ground truth GHG emissions measurements taken from the sky is vital to the industry’s effort to accurately quantify and monitor GHG emissions across the value chain,” said Christopher Smith, SVP for Policy, Government and Public Affairs at Cheniere. “Optimizing the strengths of satellites and other monitoring technologies will help ensure natural gas and LNG remains a net positive for the climate.”

“Methane-detection capability is an important factor towards the world’s effort to reduce carbon emissions,” said Vanessa Ryan, manager of carbon and climate policy for Chevron, “Research, innovation and deployment of best practices helps focus on the best technological opportunities to contribute to the accuracy and credibility of global methane reporting.”

“Technology solutions are essential to the global effort to address methane emissions,” said Bart Cahir, senior vice president of unconventional at ExxonMobil. “The research we are supporting through CAMS is helping determine the best approach to monitoring and reducing methane emissions for potential application across the industry.”

“Supporting technological advances in monitoring methane emissions through elevated remote sensing technology is an imperative step in enhancing industry success is this arena,” said Carrie Reese, Sustainable Development Director for Pioneer Natural Resources. “It is an up-and-coming advancement, and we fully support CAMS efforts to identify limitations and further the strengths of this satellite technology.”

About the Project Team

GeoSapient, Inc. is an early-stage startup in the Geospatial Analytics-as-a-Service market that helps energy and environment firms manage, optimize, and secure their global supply chains from the sky. GeoSapient systems integration expertise leverages the proliferating collection platforms, the data-in-motion explosion, and enabling technology. 

Dr. Daniel Jacob is the Vasco McCoy Family Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry and Environmental Engineering in the School of Engineering & Applied Science at Harvard University. He is a recognized international leader in satellite observations of methane and their use to infer methane emissions on all scales, from the global methane budget down to point sources. His research spans spectral retrievals of atmospheric methane from satellite radiance measurements, validation of satellite observations and integration with suborbital measurements, and inverse methods to derive emissions based on the satellite observations. He and his students have published 34 peer-reviewed scientific publications covering these different aspects of methane research. Jacob leads the Methane Working Group of the NASA Carbon Monitoring System Science Team.

Innovative Imaging and Research (I2R) develops cutting-edge remote sensing and imaging technologies for industrial, academic and government clients. In addition to developing custom imaging systems for niche markets, I2R improves client geospatial products through laboratory and in-flight camera calibrations, custom image processing algorithms, and aerial and satellite payload systems engineering services.

About the Collaboratory to Advance Methane Science (CAMS)

The Collaboratory to Advance Methane Science (CAMS) is a research collaboration on methane science directed by some of the world’s top leaders in energy development. CAMS research characterizes methane emissions and identifies specific sources so that mitigation strategies are most effective. Results from CAMS research has the potential to lead to technology solutions, better work practices, and new equipment designs to manage methane emissions.

Demonstrable advancements in the environmental performance of natural gas are reinforced by industry’s long-term commitment to monitoring and reducing methane emissions.

CAMS members include Cheniere, Chevron, Equinor, ExxonMobil, Pioneer Natural Resources, Sempra LNG, Shell and Williams. The consortium is administered by GTI, a leading research, development and training organization that has been addressing global energy and environmental challenges by developing technology-based solutions for consumers, industry, and government for 80 years.

Source(s) and Image(s): CAMS, Adobe

From October 6–8, a total of four energy exhibitions took place in Munich as part of the innovation hub The smarter E Europe Restart 2021: Intersolar Europe, ees Europe, Power2Drive Europe and EM-Power Europe accompanied by two specialist conferences Intersolar Europe Conference and ees Europe Conference) and three exhibition forums. After more than two years without the possibility of meeting in person at exhibitions, the entire industry was elated to come together again live at The smarter E Europe Restart 2021.

The organizers are more than satisfied with the results. Around 15,000 visitors had been expected at this year’s more compact (due to Covid-19) Restart version of the innovation hub for new energy solutions. With approximately 26,000 visitors from 93 countries and over 50 percent coming from outside of Germany, the expectations of the organizers were greatly exceeded. In light of the Covid-19 restrictions, the very high level of interest among international visitors was particularly exciting for exhibitors. 

The positive reception is, above all, the result of the very dynamic growth and excellent long-term prospects in the participating industries: Photovoltaics, markets for batteries and energy storage systems, e-mobility and green hydrogen as well as components, solutions and new business models for the integration of renewable energies into the energy infrastructure. Even based on conservative estimates, these areas are expected to experience considerable growth throughout Europe in the coming years, and this boom has already begun. In five exhibition halls, the four energy exhibitions showcased everything related to the efficient generation, storage, distribution and usage of renewable energy:

• Intersolar Europe Restart 2021, the world’s leading exhibition for the solar industry
• ees Europe Restart 2021, Europe`s largest and most international exhibition for batteries and energy storage systems
• Power2Drive Europe Restart 2021, the international exhibition for charging infrastructure and e-mobility 
• EM-Power Europe Restart 2021, the international exhibition for energy management and integrated energy solutions

At the event, it became very clear just how important it is to the entire industry, in light of dynamic developments, to meet and exchange ideas in person and work together on innovative projects for the future of the energy supply. What also became evident: Sector coupling as a crucial factor for the energy transition is becoming more and more of a focus, and green hydrogen is becoming an increasingly important option with which to couple the energy, heating and transportation sectors more closely by way of renewable energies. 

The “Green Hydrogen Manifesto”, which was presented as part of The smarter E Europe Restart 2021 at Messe München, provided valuable inspiration for advancing this energy source. With this manifesto, the initiators Hydrogen Europe, German Hydrogen and Fuel-Cell Association DWV, European Electrolyzer & Fuel Cell Forum EFCF and The smarter E Europe aim to send a clear signal in favor of decarbonization and a sustainable circular economy.
We would be delighted if you already saved the date of the next scheduled The smarter E Europe: May 11-13, 2022!

If you were not able to attend all events in person, this year you still have the opportunity to catch up on anything you missed and experience the industry highlights even now that the exhibition is over. Just follow this link to The smarter E Expo TV: www.thesmartere.de/de/expo-tv

The Smarter E Europe Restart 2021 – A Spectacular new start for the Innovation Hub

The new energy world is gaining momentum throughout Europe – the stakeholders met in Munich/Pforzheim, October 11, 2021: After a triumphant three days, it’s clear that The smarter E Europe Restart 2021 was a success. Taking place in a more compact restart format due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the innovation hub for new energy solutions was an absolute success. With more than 450 exhibitors, 45,000 square meters of exhibition space and around 26,000 visitors from 93 countries, it was possible to host the event again for the first time in two years.

Responses from exhibitors, visitors, organizers and partners were positive across the board: “We are so happy to finally meet again in person!” The industry is looking forward to the next The smarter E Europe from May 11–13, 2022. Matthias Taft, CEO at BayWa r.e. AG commented, “We are so excited that it’s possible to meet personally with our customers and suppliers for the first time in nearly two years of the pandemic. For us, it’s an incredible opportunity to take part in The smarter E Europe Restart 2021 and be able to showcase our innovations and expand our network.”

At the core of the innovation hub are the key issues related to a sustainable energy and transportation industry: Renewable energies, decentralization, digitalization and sector coupling as well as smart, connected energy systems. Innovative technologies, new business models and pioneering projects were presented at the accompanying conferences and forums.

From October 6–8 October, 2021, a total of four energy exhibitions took place at the innovation hub: Intersolar Europe, ees Europe, Power2Drive Europe and EM-Power Europe, accompanied by two conferences (Intersolar Europe Conference and ees Europe Conference) and three exhibition forums. What’s more, Intersolar celebrated its 30th anniversary this year. Together, these exhibitions share a common vision of creating a smart, sustainable and connected energy supply system. The smarter E Europe puts the new energy world on the map.

Tailwinds for the industry: The bedrock of the new energy world is booming

The European solar market is booming. According to industry association SolarPower Europe, new photovoltaic systems with a capacity of 18.2 gigawatts (GW) were installed in 2020. This represents an 11 percent increase in market volume over the previous year. And all forecasts are predicting further growth, also in terms of jobs: The Swiss plant construction company Meyer-Burger, exhibitor at Intersolar Europe Restart 2021, is revitalizing the Solar Valley in Germany’s Saxony-Anhalt with two factories for solar cells and modules and is creating new jobs in the new energy world.

To ensure the success of the energy transition, further expansion of renewable sources of energy is still necessary. According to Carsten Körnig, CEO of the German Solar Association (BSW Solar), a sort of “turbo mode” for solar energy and storage systems is needed now to avoid a looming electrical energy gap in the near future by replacing fossil fuel power plant capacities before it’s too late.

In addition to a faster expansion of traditional roof and ground-mounted photovoltaic systems, contributions can also come from building-integrated photovoltaics (BIVP) and agrivoltaics in agricultural areas as well as floating PV. Accordingly, companies such as BayWa r.e. GmbH and Rem Tec Srl have presented innovative agrivoltaic and floating PV systems and products.

Photovoltaic systems combined with electrical energy storage for grid control and managing grid congestion are becoming more and more important and will form the backbone of our energy infrastructure in the future, as demonstrated by another highlight: The joint sessions of the ees Europe Conference and the Intersolar Europe Conference on the combination of PV and storage systems. 

Storage systems and green hydrogen as the core of the energy transition

The expansion of solar and wind energy is the first step toward a further decarbonization of the energy industry. However, efficient electricity storage systems are crucial – and the storage market is booming along with battery production, both for large-scale and residential storage systems.

Investments and government incentive schemes worth billions, rapidly growing revenues and many new players are characteristic for the current market. On site, exhibitors such as Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., Sungrow Power Supply Co. Ltd. and Fenecon GmbH also provided insights into the dynamic battery storage markets.

Expert lectures and discussions held as part of the ees Europe Conference were also devoted to this topic, as were the ees AWARD winners Commeo GmbH, Enphase Energy NL and SAX Power GmbH. “It’s exciting how many people are starting to think about grid security, energy storage and renewable energies. Commercial storage systems are in especially high demand, since companies have recognized the benefits of capping load peaks and easing the burden on the grid as well as saving money. It’s really encouraging to get such positive feedback on our ESS solutions from the international trade visitors,” says Franz-Josef Feilmeier, Managing Director Fenecon GmbH.

Another key element of the energy transition is also gaining ground at the moment. Green hydrogen is becoming an important option with which to couple the energy, heating and transportation sectors more closely by way of renewable energies. “The entire energy storage industry has an exciting future ahead: Green hydrogen perfectly follows the trends and meets the requirements for decarbonization. As the link to the use of renewable sources of energy in all sectors, hydrogen is unbeatable – it also connects the ecological benefits with regional value creation,” says Ove Petersen, co-founder and CEO of the GP JOULE Group.

The “Green Hydrogen Manifesto”, which was presented as part of The smarter E Europe Restart 2021 at Messe München, now provides valuable inspiration for advancing this energy source. With this manifesto, the initiators Hydrogen Europe, German Hydrogen and Fuel-Cell Association DWV, European Electrolyzer & Fuel Cell Forum EFCF and The smarter E Europe aim to send a clear signal in favor of decarbonization and a sustainable circular economy.

“We are at the verge of a hydrogen market economy: Green hydrogen not only brings incredible opportunities for European industries but is also an entire system integrator at the core of the energy transition. To reach the climate targets, policies must be put in place to pave the regulatory path for this energy source. This is the only way that all of the inspiration and creativity which was so impressively showcased at the exhibition can find its way into the future of renewable, sustainable and cost-effective energy supply,” says Werner Diwald, Chairman of the Board for the German Hydrogen and Fuel-Cell Association (DWV).

E-mobility: The key element between the new energy world and the world of mobility

The role of e-mobility in the new energy world, charging infrastructure as the intersection between mobility and power grids as well as the prospects of the Vehicle2Grid concept as a game changer of the new world of mobility – these are just a few of the main topics at the Power2Drive Europe Restart 2021. At the exhibition and the accompanying forum, the major players of the energy transition in the transportation sector came together.

Manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and start-ups presented the latest developments and business models. The integration of Power2Drive Europe and the innovation hub for new energy solutions demonstrates clearly: In order to take advantage of all that the mobility and transportation sectors have to offer, electric vehicles and charging infrastructure must be viewed as an integral part of the energy system.

High-performance electric vehicle batteries not only serve as energy storage for vehicles but can also be used as building blocks in the power grid. Electric vehicles make decentralized storage capacity available for the energy transition. Foundations include Vehicle2Grid (V2G), Vehicle2Home (V2H) and Vehicle2Work solutions.

“Charging infrastructure is a central element for the success of e-mobility – and at the exhibition, we explored how it relates to other topics such as storage, photovoltaics and regenerative energy. In turn, this event showcased the entire energy and mobility sector, which is incredibly exciting for us,” says Karl Kolmsee, Director Product Portfolio Management at Webasto Customized Solutions.

A firsthand experience of the energy transition

Visitors who took part in EM-Power Europe Restart and the accompanying forum were able to experience the energy transition firsthand. As always, the award ceremony for the Energy Transition Award 2021 for the best utility companies in German-speaking regions was a highlight – the award-winning projects are tangible and put the new energy world at our fingertips.

The Energy Transition Award demonstrates that every company – from locally operating municipal utilities to internationally active energy groups – can and must make a contribution to the energy transition. This is evident in the award-winning companies for the category Energy Transition 2021, which include Entega, Stadtwerke Karlsruhe, Stadtwerke Mühlheim am Main GmbH and Stadtwerke Bernau GmbH. Click here for a complete list of winners.

Another highlight: The daily sessions on climate neutrality and how companies can achieve this. Businesses have also caught up with the times: More and more companies are switching to cost-effective and environmentally friendly electricity and are embracing climate-neutral production. At EM-Power Europe, special focus was placed on the path to becoming a climate-neutral company, sector coupling in buildings and districts as well as future issues surrounding smart grids and grid infrastructure.

“To optimize CO2 emissions, we are focusing on sustainable energy supply through digitization and new business models. By working at the grid edge, the interface between smart grids and prosumers, the relationships between consumption, production and storage are being redefined. In this way, renewable energy can be integrated efficiently, and energy supply can be guaranteed flexibly and reliably”, says Markus Mildner, Head of Global Sales, Siemens Smart Infrastructure.

Four exhibitions, one mission

The innovation hub is also just the place for start-ups: Responses on the start-up area and stage were very positive – interested young companies were able to bolster business and directly interact with investors and other companies as part of the Business Speed Dating. Accelerating the transformation: Making renewable energy available 24/7, seven days a week, achieving a connected, clean and modern energy and transportation industry, tackling challenges and seizing opportunities for the entire industry, sectors working together in harmony with each other, advancing flexible solutions and concepts – that’s the vision of The smarter E Europe.

And the innovation hub for new energy solutions is not alone in this: A great number of international stakeholders in the modern energy industry gathered from October 6 to 8 in Munich. The smarter E Europe Restart is an important event marking the return of exhibitions and sends an important signal for the industry, which very much welcomes these activities. Visitors and exhibitors who were not able to attend the innovation hub can catch up on everything they missed by accessing articles, statements and interviews in Expo TV: https://www.thesmartere.de/de/expo-tv.

The smarter E Europe, which encompasses the four individual exhibitions (Intersolar Europe, ees Europe, Power2Drive Europe and EM-Power Europe), will take place from May 11–13, 2022, at Messe München.
For more information, please visit: www.TheSmarterE.de/en

The smarter E Europe

The smarter E is the innovation hub for events and topics that drive the new energy world. Renewable energy, decentralization and digitalization are bringing lasting changes to the energy world. This development demands cross-sector, intelligently integrated concepts and solutions for the efficient generation, storage, distribution and use of energy, so that we can ensure a secure and sustainable energy supply around the clock in the future. Under the motto “Creating the new energy world”, The smarter E Europe unites four exhibitions and conferences that take an in-depth look at these topics. In doing so, it is now Europe’s largest platform for the energy industry.

Intersolar Europe, the world’s leading exhibition for the solar industry, has been dedicated to solar energy for 30 years and has established itself as the industry’s most important meeting point. The exhibition focuses on the areas of photovoltaics, solar thermal technologies and solar power plants.
ees Europe, the continent’s largest and most international exhibition for batteries and energy storage systems, will take place for the seventh time in 2021, presenting the entire value-added chain of innovative battery and energy storage technologies.

The smarter E Europe is organized by Solar Promotion GmbH, Pforzheim, and Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH & Co. KG (FWTM).

Source(s) and Image(s): The smarter E Europe Restart, © Solar Promotion GmbH

The three-year pilot, located at Slate-owned 55 St. Clair West in Toronto, (headquarters to IBI Group and the Smart City Sandbox) demonstrates how commercial building owners can accommodate the growing demand for EV charging stations while simultaneously improving the building’s energy efficiency and reducing operational costs. Leveraging SWTCH’s bidirectional, vehicle-to-grid (V2G) charging technology, SWTCH operators will study the V2G charger’s ability to store energy through a parked Nissan Leaf during off-peak hours, and redistribute that energy to the building and the Level 2 EV chargers during on-peak hours.

“The mission of the Smart City Sandbox has always been to cultivate the next generation of smart buildings and infrastructure by bringing together established market leaders with early-stage companies to develop technologies that improve efficiency, the environment, and citizen engagement. As an early-stage investor in SWTCH, we believe the pilot embodies all tenets of this mission by allowing EV owners to participate in an innovative solution that supports decarbonisation and benefits all stakeholders,” said IBI Group CEO, Scott Stewart.

“Environmental sustainability is central to how we think about acquiring, enhancing and managing real estate at Slate Asset Management. Our goal is to create places where our people and tenants thrive, and to contribute to our communities and the environment. Driving innovation in clean technology and finding ways to make our properties more resource-efficient is key to that objective and benefits all of our stakeholders. We’re pleased to be making our property at 55 St. Clair West available for this groundbreaking pilot program, which can help make clean energy solutions more accessible and widespread in urban settings across Canada and beyond,” stated Katie Fong, Vice President of Asset Management at Slate.

As electric vehicles gain popularity and adoption, the question of how to accommodate a rise in EV charging infrastructure without additional strain on the electrical grid becomes increasingly relevant. Vehicle-to-grid technology allows buildings to draw energy from parked EVs during on-peak hours rather than the grid. During the pilot, the parked Nissan Leaf will store energy during off-peak hours and redistribute that energy to the building and the EV chargers in use, creating an energy flow that is cost-effective and environmentally sustainable.

The technology and model developed by SWTCH is unique as it includes a financial incentive for EV owners to participate in the program which leverages the blockchain. The SWTCH app tracks when energy is being drawn from a car’s battery and when it’s being charged, creating a history of credits and debits securely managed through blockchain technology that participants can monitor on their phones.

“We are thrilled to partner with IBI Group and Slate, through the Smart City Sandbox, to address the barriers to widespread EV adoption. By proving our innovative charging and energy management solution, we hope to significantly reduce the cost of EV charging infrastructure and materially enhance grid efficiency,” commented SWTCH CEO, Carter Li.

About Smart City Sandbox

The Smart City Sandbox unites like-minded public- and private-sector partners to foster innovative new products and solutions focused on improving the quality of life in urban environments. By bringing together entrepreneurs, start-ups, influencers and the tech ecosystem at-large, the physical-turned-virtual Sandbox provides events and programming to foster engagement and collaboration, while offering tangible opportunities for the development and delivery of new products and services.

About IBI Group

IBI Group Inc. is a technology-driven design firm with global architecture, engineering, planning, and technology expertise spanning over 60 offices and 3,000 professionals around the world. For nearly 50 years, its dedicated professionals have helped clients create livable, sustainable, and advanced urban environments. IBI Group believes that cities thrive when designed with intelligent systems, sustainable buildings, efficient infrastructure, and a human touch.

About SWTCH Energy Inc.

SWTCH provides end-to-end EV charging and energy management solutions for high-density urban settings. Our innovative EV charging platform streamlines the charging experience for drivers while optimizing usage and revenue for site operators. SWTCH’s approach to EV charging ensures greater flexibility and scalability to meet the growing demand for charging while minimizing infrastructure upgrade costs. Ultimately, SWTCH’s mission is to improve EV charging accessibility in urban, multi-tenant settings and ensure the effective integration of EVs in our clean energy future. 

About Slate Asset Management

Slate Asset Management is a global alternative investment platform focused on real estate. We focus on fundamentals with the objective of creating long-term value for our investors and partners. Slate’s platform has a range of investment strategies, including opportunistic, value add, core plus and debt investments. We are supported by exceptional people and flexible capital, which enable us to originate and execute on a wide range of compelling investment opportunities.

Source(s) and Image(s): IBI Group

Whether it’s the Fit for 55 package in Europe or the forming of a new government in Germany: A new foundation is being laid – also for the energy market of the future. Green hydrogen is a key element for a climate-neutral economic system. As a main feature of a sustainable energy supply, green hydrogen enables intelligent networks across the energy, heating and transportation sectors. Under the heading “The Green Hydrogen Manifesto”, the manifesto aims to help drive the advancement of green hydrogen in Europe.

“Against the backdrop of the current realignment in politics, our manifesto aims to encourage decision-makers to factor in green hydrogen – whether in the energy sector or the economic sector. Because hydrogen that is produced from renewable sources is not only important for the energy transition. More importantly, it also provides huge opportunities for the economy of the European Union,” says Werner Diwald, Chair of the German Hydrogen and Fuel-Cell Association DWV.

Europe as a model for the introduction of green hydrogen. Along with the German DWV, authors of the manifesto include Hydrogen Europe as the European umbrella organization for the hydrogen and fuel cell industry, the European Electrolyzer and Fuel Cell forum EFCF and The Smarter E Europe, the innovation hub for new energy solutions. The manifesto is aimed at policy makers in the European Union as well as national governments and politicians.

“We want to show policy makers how important green hydrogen is for a circular economy and decarbonization, and motivate them to take action. In the future, Europe must lead the way in introducing this energy source while also ensuring and enhancing prosperity and prospects. That is our responsibility for the future and for climate protection,” commented Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, CEO of Hydrogen Europe.

The manifesto defines how Europe can live up to its leadership role by laying out twelve demands, including a guiding framework and targeted incentives as well as measures to ramp up production volumes and reduce costs. The first demand is: The CO2 content of energy carriers should serve as the new currency for energy systems. Other specific recommendations include, for example, the certification of hydrogen as a global commodity, the appointment of a dedicated EU Hydrogen Special Envoy in charge of driving forward the EU Hydrogen Strategy and partnerships with third countries, and a legal framework at the EU level for the regulation of hydrogen networks.

Presenting to international trade visitors

This manifesto was presented at the Green Hydrogen Forum, part of the innovation hub The smarter E Europe Restart 2021, which is still taking place in Munich until October 8. Oliver Bucheli, President of the European Electrolyzer and Fuel Cell Forums comments, “With its focus area Green Hydrogen Forum & Expo, ees Europe Restart 2021 was the perfect setting to present our manifesto to an international expert audience and win over supporters. Green hydrogen will only be able to establish itself on the market with active support from the economy, science and policy makers. Europe has the means to be a worldwide leader in this industry.”

Shortly after its publication, as many as 54 companies and organizations have signed the Green Hydrogen Manifesto as a sign of their support. Some of the first to sign include SAIPEM S.p.A., Forschungszentrum Juelich, Haldor Topsoe AS, the German Federal Association for Combined Heat and Power (B.KWK), ITM Power, Paul Wurth GmbH and Deutsche Kreditbank AG , among others. The large number of signatures demonstrates the importance of the demands to policy makers. Markus Elsässer, CEO of Solar Promotion GmbH states, “We are pleased that we are able to draw attention to an extremely relevant energy issue with the Green Hydrogen Forum and the Green Hydrogen Manifesto.”

The smarter E Europe

The smarter E is the innovation hub for events and topics that drive the new energy world. Renewable energy, decentralization and digitalization are bringing lasting changes to the energy world. This development demands cross-sector, intelligently integrated concepts and solutions for the efficient generation, storage, distribution and use of energy, so that we can ensure a secure and sustainable energy supply around the clock in the future. Under the motto “Creating the new energy world”, The smarter E Europe unites four exhibitions and conferences that take an in-depth look at these topics. In doing so, it is now Europe’s largest platform for the energy industry.

Intersolar Europe, the world’s leading exhibition for the solar industry, has been dedicated to solar energy for 30 years and has established itself as the industry’s most important meeting point. The exhibition focuses on the areas of photovoltaics, solar thermal technologies and solar power plants.

ees Europe, the continent’s largest and most international exhibition for batteries and energy storage systems, will take place for the seventh time in 2021, presenting the entire value-added chain of innovative battery and energy storage technologies.

Power2Drive Europe, the international exhibition for charging infrastructure and e-mobility, focuses on solutions and technologies for clean transportation.

EM-Power Europe is the international exhibition for energy management and integrated energy solutions. It focuses on the efficient distribution and use of electricity and heat generated from renewable sources of energy, smart energy management, and sector coupling in buildings and districts. Other key topics are smart grids and microgrids, grid infrastructure, energy services, and operator models. 

The German Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association e.V. (DWV) 

The German Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association e.V. (DWV) as an interest group has been working since 1996 to promote the rapid market introduction of hydrogen as an energy carrier and of fuel cell technology. The association aims to promote the development of the hydrogen economy as a component of a sustainable energy supply in order to ensure the efficient achievement of climate targets while at the same time maintaining security of supply and Germany as an industrial location. 

Hydrogen produced with renewable energies will play a decisive role in this. The association’s activities will focus on implementing and optimizing the necessary market, technological and regulatory framework for the hydrogen economy in the areas of plant engineering, generation, transport infrastructure and application technologies. To solve these challenges globally, DWV is also committed to international sustainable cooperation. Our 400 personal members and over 140 member institutions and companies represent more than 1.5 million jobs nationwide; the association thus represents a significant part of the German economy.

EFCF

EFCF AG organises the European Electrolyser and Fuel Cell Forum – world’s leading scientific and technical conference in the field of electrolysers, fuel cells and hydrogen since 1994 in Lucerne Switzerland. The forum accommodates more than 500 experts, building bridges between science, engineering and industry.

Hydrogen Europe

Hydrogen Europe is the European association representing the interest of the hydrogen and fuel cell industry and its stakeholders and promoting hydrogen as an enabler of a zero-emission society. With more than 300 companies and 27 national associations as members, our association encompasses the entire value chain of the European Hydrogen and fuel cell ecosystem collaborating with the European Commission in the Fuel Cell Hydrogen Joint Undertaking.

Source(s) and Image(s): © Solar Promotion GmbH

Image: Olivier Bucheli (President, European Electrolyzer and Fuel Cell Forum EFCF), Werner Diwald (Chairman of the Board,  German Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association DMV),  Jorgo Chatzimarkakis (CEO,  Hydrogen Europe) and Markus Elsässer (CEO, Solar Promotion GmbH) (from left to right).

Good to see you. It’s been quite a ride for all of us. Around here, we believe that where there are great challenges there is also a great opportunity. And we’re here to bring that opportunity to you in new and creative ways.

We also believe that the smartest thing we can do with oil and gas is use that resource to bring in renewable energy so we’ve committed our lives to build a sustainable future for our kids with renewable, planet-conscious energy. It is now time!

I’m Tina Olivero, the publisher, and founder of a global energy magazine, TheOGM.com. We are elevating OUR GREAT MINDS in the energy sector who are contributing to a sustainable world. For the past 30 years, our energy clients around the globe have entrusted us with their message. Everything from oil and gas stories, renewable blogs, product advertising, and just about every type of print and digital medium you can think of.

 The entire business climate has changed, and we’ve changed right along with it! We have been fortunate enough to work with clients that aspire to master the new digital world. We love tech. We eat automation. We devour AI processes, and we are in complete awe of programmatic solutions and how they will change everything we know about marketing and business development.

We understand that just about every company right now is grappling with the best approach to take. We also understand that you want to get it right the first time. Based on decades of digital experience we can proudly say if you are in the energy space, we got your back!  

If you don’t know where to start and it seems overwhelming, that’s ok. For the people who are smart enough to see that it’s not coming, but it’s already here. Reach out and meet with us.  We can dive into your business and find out precisely where you can capitalize on new opportunities in the digital space.  As you embark on the digital global marketplace and avail of the lucrative new opportunities ahead, the future comes into vision. We promise that it will be an exciting new journey for you and your company.

Book in for a zoom call and say hi. We’ll see exactly what steps you need to take to join us in creating a new energy-sustainable world.

Warmly
Tina Olivero
Publisher, CEO and Founder of The OGM

WWW.TheOGM.com – to submit your press releases and stories
www.TheOGM.ca – To transition your company to the new digital world.

With this innovative technology, Amp is able to reduce operating expenses and maximize market participation resulting in a reduced cost of energy, higher asset value, and a greener, cleaner grid. Both projects are utilizing bifacial modules (double-sided solar panels), boasting an annual generation of approximately 14 million kilowatt hours of clean energy – offsetting more than 21 million tonnes of harmful carbon dioxide, the equivalent of
removing more than 2,000 cars from the road every year.

The Amp X platform enables the systems to provide autonomous demand response solutions, maximizing program revenues, while participating in wholesale markets. Jared Donald, Executive Vice-President and Head of Amp’s US operations, commented, “these DC-coupled systems, along with proprietary optimization and design, once again highlights Amp’s emerging position as a leader in technology enabled renewable energy and the energy transition.”

Irene Di Martino, Executive Vice-President and Head of Amp X, said, “This is a major step in the development of the Amp X digital platform which relies on a transactive-ready system architecture and cloud-hosted state-of-the-art advanced analytics, with data sourced from a variety of different nodes across the grid. Autonomy is at the heart of our technology and leverages some robust edge analytics to unlock significant value for our customers, whilst ensuring that our devices can make the best decisions with the highest possible certainty at all times.” As well as the Virtual Power Plant, Amp X’s proprietary technology platform includes a revolutionary Smart Transformer and a behind-the-meter digital energy assistant which are both seeing their initial deployments in the UK this year.

Amp has experienced significant asset growth within its US region since announcing its first project only five years ago, putting them in a leadership position within the community solar market. With headquarters in Denver, CO, the real assets business is ontrack to surpass 200MW of operating solar power by the end of 2022, to be paired with an excess of 80MWh of storage capacity currently operating or under construction. Amp’s development team has over 1GW of assets currently also in development in the US.

Unlike many renewable developers, Amp owns and operates its projects for their entire lifetime, while working with the landowners, the town and all other relevant stakeholders to ensure a valuable, long-term partnership. As part of the long-term partnership with the local communities of Ware and East Brookfield, Amp has committed to develop native vegetation and Pollinator habitats to increase and protect local biodiversity.

About Amp

Amp is a global energy transition platform. We develop, own and operate clean energy assets throughout our core markets around the world. Alongside Amp X, our proprietary disruptive grid-edge technology platform utilizing artificial intelligence expertise, we are reimagining the grid and leading the Energy Transition.

The company is headquartered in Toronto with global operations throughout North America, Australia, Japan, Spain, Czech Republic, and the UK.

Founded in 2009, Amp is a high-growth disruptor at scale, backed by major investments from institutional capital partners including most recently the Carlyle Group, which invested US$374 million into the company in late 2020.

Source(s) and Image(s): Amp, a global Energy Transition Platform and renewable energy developer

It’s a familiar story when a love of cranes is passed down from one generation to another. That’s how it happened for Stephens, whose father was in the business for more than three decades, beginning as an operator before transitioning into sales.

Stephens began her own career 15 years ago, first working for the same southern-based chain of crane rental companies where her dad spent his career. “I started in an entry-level accounts payable and receivable position and then expanded that experience by touching just about every aspect of the crane rental business,” said Stephens, citing her time in human resources and safety training.

In 2012, Stephens joined the ALL branch she now manages, starting out handling contracts, insurance, and collections. By 2017, she was working in sales, having gained a well-rounded record of experience in virtually every facet of branch administration. “I joined ALL because I knew it was a place with no ceiling, where I could grow my career in cranes,” added Stephens.

Stephens is excited about the growth opportunities throughout the branch’s footprint, which also touches Mississippi, Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas in addition to Louisiana. “This is the heart of oil country, so refinery work is a significant part of our project mix,” said Stephens, adding that industrial plant work and cell tower erection are also key markets.

Crawlers remain in high demand at the branch, along with rough terrain cranes that are out for rent virtually non-stop. Stephens notes the increased customer demand for all terrain cranes. “More customers are asking us to supply ATs and operators to work at their job sites for extended periods. It’s been a growth business for us,” said Stephens.

In this part of the country, weather has major impact on workflow and fleet management (even now, the region is recovering from the recent landfall of Hurricane Ida). This unpredictability is significant because jobs in progress obviously halt in severe weather, but when weather clears and work could theoretically resume, cranes then need to be dispatched for recovery work due to the storm. “It’s something we’re used to handling in this region,” stated Stephens. During those times, the branch can rely on the ALL Family’s national fleet to augment its localized offering.

Stephens is ready for any challenges ahead. “We have a fantastic team here. Everyone works together for the greater good and truly embraces ALL’s ‘family’ philosophy. That extends to each other, our customers, and the communities we serve,” commented Stephens.

Stephens is the first woman to head an ALL branch, and likely one of the few women industry-wide to reach a general manager position. “It’s not something I think about. But I hope it shows other women that there is definitely a place for them in the crane industry. ALL has women in the field as operators and oilers, working in administration where I got my start, in sales, and elsewhere. It’s a place where, if you have the drive and talent, you can go as far as you want to go,” Stated Stephens.

About All

The ALL Family of Companies is the largest privately held crane rental and sales operation in North America. Their strategically located branches have access to one of the world’s largest and most modern fleets, operating under the ALL, ALT, Central, Dawes and Jeffers names. ALL provides rental, sales, service and job site analysis, helping to ensure that customers have the right equipment for the job.

Source(s) and Image(s): The ALL Family of Companies

Shell has signed a framework agreement with the renewable energy developer Island Green Power to develop solar PV projects with co-located battery storage potential, with an initial collaboration on over 700MW total generating capacity.

Shell has also partnered with Clearstone Energy to develop several utility-scale solar PV projects in the South-East of England. The Clearstone Energy projects have a total combined export capacity of 100 MW with co-located storage potential, enabling Shell to generate renewable power close to customer demand. Both deals would be subject to a future final investment decision.

David Bunch, Chairman, Shell UK said, “Shell is building an integrated power business which spans the renewable generation, trading and supply of clean energy to businesses and consumers. We will work with both Island Green Power and Clearstone Energy to deliver high-quality solar PV projects to supply more of our UK customers with renewable power.”

Shell has set a global target to be a net zero emissions energy business by 2050, in step with society. Increasing renewable power generation will play a key role in delivering the strategy, as well as supporting the UK in meeting its net zero 2050 goal.

Source(s) and Image(s): Shell & Mercom India

A focus on charging infrastructure

Charging infrastructure as a key intersection between mobility and energy is another focus of the Power2Drive Forum. With more and more electric vehicles with larger batteries and higher ranges becoming available, the need for charging infrastructure and high-speed charging stations is growing. What kind of specific solutions are there? What density of charging stations does Europe require? Is high-power charging (HPC) just a trend and is slow charging more sustainable? Find out the answers to these questions at the session “Fast Charging vs. Slow Charging” with AVERE, CharIn (Charging Interface Initiative) and NewMotion. Innovative charging concepts, distinctive characteristics of smart charging as well as flat-rate charging throughout Europe and the ability to pay with your cell phone – Martin Schurig, Head of Financial & Enabling Services, Telefonica Germany, will provide a broad overview during the session “Charging Infrastructure Master Plan: Technology and Trends”. 

Perspectives on Vehicle2Grid

In order to take advantage of all that the mobility and transportation sectors have to offer, electric vehicles should be considered as an integral part of the energy system. High-performance electric vehicle batteries not only serve as energy storage for vehicles but can also be used as building blocks in the power grid. Electric vehicles make decentralized storage capacity available for the energy transition. Foundations include Vehicle2Grid (V2G), Vehicle2Home (V2H) and Vehicle2Work solutions. Although technologies are becoming more and more refined, there are still unanswered questions: How can electric vehicles and charging infrastructure be integrated into the grid operation? What changes can be expected in regard to technical and fiscal requirements? What’s happening in the field of cyber security?

Under the motto “Vehicle2Grid as Game Changer of the New Mobility World”, Martin Roemheld, Head of E-Mobility Services at Volkswagen, Christopher Burghardt, Managing Director for Europe at ChargePoint and Marcus Fendt, Managing Director of The Mobility House, will be discussing how the auto industry, the energy sector and policy-makers can work together for the success of bidirectional charging. Dr. Rüdiger Freimann, Head of Research and Development for the Erwin Hymer Group, will add to this by discussing how V2G can help revolutionize the campervan manufacturer’s caravans. Volkswagen has announced, for example, that it will develop V2G functions for electric vehicles. V2G technology is seen as the next major step toward sustainable mobility: It can help to decarbonize the transportation sector, carry out load control activities, better integrate renewable energies and also generate new sources of revenue for utility companies and owners of electric vehicles.

On-site industry networking at Power2Drive Europe Restart 2021

Power2Drive Europe Restart 2021, accompanied by the Power2Drive Forum, will be held from October 6–8 at Messe München and offers the opportunity to share know-how and ideas, learn about product innovation, engage in networking and navigate the dynamic e-mobility market, with contributions in both English and German. The exhibition will be presenting charging solutions, electric vehicles and mobility services. Manufacturers, suppliers, installers, fleet and energy managers, distributors and start-ups will be able to make valuable business contacts. Furthermore, the exhibition reflects the intelligent integration of electric mobility in a renewable energy system, since it takes place as part of the innovation hub The smarter E Europe at the same time as the energy exhibitions Intersolar Europe, ees Europe, and EM-Power Europe. The focus of the event is to present ways to intelligently connect the electricity, heat and transportation sectors through the use of renewable energy as well as decentralization and digitalization. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s event will be held on a smaller scale. The innovation hub The smarter E Europe Europe Restart 2021 will be held at Messe München from October 6–8. Your ticket includes participation at the exhibition forums’ activities including eCar test driving as well as parallel exhibitions.

About Power2Drive Europe

Power2Drive Europe is the international exhibition for charging infrastructure and e-mobility. Under the motto “Charging the future of mobility!”, Power2Drive Europe is the ideal meeting point for manufacturers, suppliers, installers, fleet and energy managers, distributors and start-ups. The exhibition shines the spotlight on innovative solutions for sustainable mobility and approaches for integrating them into the power grid. Exhibitors and visitors alike benefit from the synergy between renewable energies, storage systems and innovative mobility concepts. Power2Drive Europe takes a look at current global market developments, showcases the potential of e-mobility, and reflects the interconnection of electric vehicles with a sustainable energy supply on a global scale. Meet new customers, catch up with your existing customer base and forge new business relationships with the industry’s key decision makers.

Power2Drive Europe is part of The smarter E Europe – the continent’s largest platform for the energy industry. The energy exhibitions Intersolar Europe, ees Europe, and EM-Power Europe will also be held at the same time. Power2Drive Europe is organized by Solar Promotion GmbH and Freiburg Wirtschaft Touristik und Messe GmbH & Co. KG

Image source: © Solar Promotion GmbH

Source: E-mobility

‘Leading edge erosion’ is a serious issue with large commercial wind turbine blades. It is caused by environmental impacts including rain, hail, ice, salt and UV. Such damage of the blade surface leads to increased drag and ultimately to reduced energy production. It also drives operating cost up due to increased maintenance, regular blade replacement and downtime of the generator. While the issue already exists for onshore installations, it becomes even more significant for offshore wind farms, operating under extreme conditions.

Based on specifications defined by Edge Solutions, INEOS Styrolution developed a specific material solution using its Luran® SC product. This material became the basis for the armourEDGE shield – a leading edge protection solution that significantly reduces the impact of environmental factors on the leading edge of wind turbine blades. The armourEDGE shield leads to significantly less downtown and maintenance cost. It also results in an increase in annual energy production. Their armourEDGE system is currently being installed on an operational offshore wind farm in northern Europe.

David Urch, Managing Director, Edge Solutions comments, “Leading edge erosion is a significant issue for wind turbines, offshore and onshore. With tip speeds approaching 330 km/h, continual impacts by rain, hail, ice and other airborne particulates damage the blade surface, leading to increased drag and reduced energy production. This drives up operating cost due to increased maintenance downtime and ultimately blade replacement. Over the last four years we have worked closely with the team at INEOS Styrolution to develop our armourEDGE product which maintains the blades’ aerodynamic properties and is extremely durable. With rapid installation, this results in less downtime and improved profitability for wind farm owners.”

The Luran® SC product line is comprised of blended ASA1 with PC2. The material provides very high heat resistance, stiffness and excellent impact strength. It is very stable towards oxidation. Because of its inherent robustness, Luran® SC is the material of choice for a wide range of challenging outdoor applications.
1 Acrylonitrile styrene acrylate
2 Polycarbonate

Ken MacIntosh, Key Account Manager at INEOS Styrolution, states, “It’s been very motivating to work with an entrepreneurial company like Edge Solutions. Together, we came up with the optimised material performance for the given challenge.”

About INEOS Styrolution

INEOS Styrolution is the leading global styrenics supplier, with a focus on styrene monomer, polystyrene, ABS Standard and styrenic specialties. With world-class production facilities and more than 90 years of experience, INEOS Styrolution helps its customers succeed by offering solutions, designed to give them a competitive edge in their markets. At the same time, these innovative and sustainable best-in-class solutions help make the circular economy for styrenics a reality. The company provides styrenic applications for many everyday products across a broad range of industries, including automotive, electronics, household, construction, healthcare, packaging and toys/sports/leisure. In 2020, sales were at 4 billion euros. INEOS Styrolution employs approximately 3,600 people and operates 20 production sites in ten countries.

About Edge Solutions

Scottish company Edge Solutions has developed its armourEDGE shield which is a game-changing approach to the costly problem of leading-edge erosion on wind turbine blades. Its precision engineered shields securely bond to the leading edge of blades to provide an aerodynamically optimal, full-life protection that minimizes maintenance costs and maximizes energy production and return on investment.

Source(s) and Image(s): Edge Solutions and INEOS Styrolution

“While the Canadian public associates CNL with our decades of work in nuclear energy, hydrogen sciences is another area where we have decades of experience and a high degree of expertise. Hydrogen has tremendous potential to serve as a viable clean energy solution here in Canada, particularly in transportation, which is why we are advancing research in hydrogen storage and production, including production using nuclear energy. On Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Day, it is our hope that people will learn more about the many benefits that hydrogen has to offer,” commented Dr. Jeff Griffin, CNL’s Vice-President of Science and Technology.

CNL has identified the research and development of hydrogen technologies as part of the clean energy initiatives the company is pursuing through its strategic plan, known as ‘Vision 2030.’ This research aligns with the Government of Canada’s carbon reduction commitments, which targets net zero emissions by 2050. CNL’s research also supports goals that are outlined in the Government of Canada’s Hydrogen Strategy, which lays out an ambitious framework for actions that aim to establish hydrogen as a tool to achieve Canada’s national emissions targets, and position the country as an international leader of clean, renewable fuel.

CNL has long recognized the synergies between hydrogen and nuclear energy. Under AECL’s Federal Nuclear Science and Technology Work Plan, CNL is conducting research in a number of areas, including exploring how the heat and energy produced from nuclear reactors could be leveraged to produce hydrogen through advanced electrolysis or high temperature processes; supporting decision-making and policy development related to hydrogen safety; and the development of new hydrogen storage technologies.

In fact, CNL recently achieved a major accomplishment in hydrogen storage. While it is typically stored as a liquid or a gas, it is also possible to store hydrogen as a solid within a metal hydride, which has the potential to be a safer and more cost-effective alternative. CNL has now developed a magnesium alloy that overcomes many of the challenges that have made this type of storage difficult in the past.

Dr. Ian Castillo, Head of CNL’s Hydrogen and Tritium Technologies Directorate states, “Through these projects and others, CNL is conducting research that is needed to significantly increase hydrogen infrastructure here in Canada, which could help in the fight against climate change. In particular, we believe that there are natural synergies between hydrogen, nuclear energy, and hydrogen as a feed for cleaner fuels, which is why it has become a key focus of our research. Looking forward, we will continue to invest in our hydrogen sciences program, to ensure that we can meet the growing needs of both our government and private-sector customers.”

About CNL 

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories is a world leader in nuclear science and technology offering unique capabilities and solutions across a wide range of industries. Actively involved with industry-driven research and development in nuclear, transportation, clean technology, energy, defence, security and life sciences, we provide solutions to keep these sectors competitive internationally.

With ongoing investments in new facilities and a focused mandate, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories is well positioned for the future. A new performance standard reinforced with a strong safety culture underscores every activity.

Source(s) and Image(s): Canadian Nuclear Laboratories

Creating more dynamic demand and the appropriate reward mechanisms are essential components for a resilient and affordable transition. By unlocking the energy storage potential of electric vehicles and other in-home devices, this new service will provide a valuable balancing resource for the grid which in future will scale to millions of devices. The partnership will allow domestic half-hourly settled customers with EVs and/or energy storage to participate in the Balancing Mechanism and be rewarded financially for their participation through cheaper rates and lower bills. The Balancing Mechanism is one of the main tools that National Grid ESO uses to balance supply and demand in real time. It’s a profitable market where providers can offer to increase or decrease their generation or demand to help balance the system.

Now, as the country decarbonises, National Grid ESO has made changes to encourage smaller, more agile energy assets to contribute. This presents a huge opportunity for a range of flexible energy consumers, including EV users. The collaboration between Kaluza and Flexitricity will allow the aggregation of domestic smart chargers, vehicle-to-grid (V2G) chargers and batteries, enabling National Grid ESO to harness this flexibility to support grid balancing and benefit end customers with lower energy costs. 

Flexible energy is an essential element of the UK’s energy mix, helping the UK reach its 2050 net zero emissions targets. The new offering addresses several key priorities outlined in Ofgem’s recent report on the transition to electric vehicles including ensuring the network is prepared for mass uptake of EVs, maximizing the consumer benefits of smart charging and developing V2G technology.Kaluza’s technology platform combines electric vehicle smart chargers, V2G chargers and domestic storage batteries as part of a single flexibility service both to local networks and now at a national level. Its AI software leverages real-time data from wholesale energy prices, supply levels and the weather to optimise connected devices to charge at the cheapest and greenest times while meeting customer needs. 

Uniquely, the Kaluza platform is able to manage the half-hourly settlement of these devices via its energy retail partners – a critical requirement of participating in the Balancing Mechanism ahead of the industry shift to market-wide half-hourly settlement in 2025. This enables customers to access market-leading propositions powered by Kaluza’s technology that reduce carbon emissions and energy costs, such as OVO Drive Anytime – the UK’s only type-of-use EV charging tariff that allows customers to charge on a cheap 5p/kWh rate at any time of day. The platform capability also means that Kaluza-connected V2G chargers, will be made available to provide residential flexibility in the Balancing Mechanism for the first time, helping customers earn hundreds of pounds.

Flexitricity brings extensive experience in Balancing Mechanism operations as a supplier and was the first UK aggregator to become a Virtual Lead Party (VLP) – a new route to access the mechanism. The collaboration enables faster scaling of flexibility and simplified asset onboarding. Marzia Zafar, Director of Sustainability and Policy at Kaluza commented: “Today, industrial batteries provide the majority of our system’s flexibility while the storage potential of millions of smart devices in homes goes untouched. This partnership is an important milestone for the industry in enabling end customers to play a role in a greener, cheaper and more resilient energy system, and be rewarded for it. Kaluza has proven the value of its intelligent software across a number of local networks and markets, and we look forward to pioneering a new frontier in domestic flexibility at a national level with domain experts, Flexitricity.”

Andy Lowe, Chief Commercial Officer at Flexitricity commented:”Electrification of transport presents both a huge opportunity for suppliers and customers and a challenge for networks. The partnership with Kaluza allows us to take a leap forward in demonstrating what flexible EV charging can deliver to help balance the electricity system. This partnership has the potential to revolutionise the way the EV market operates and most importantly it will make a significant impact on our 2050 net carbon zero targets. Flexitricity made history last year when we were first to utilise the Balancing Mechanism Wider Access arrangement to trade one of our customers’ battery assets. Now we’re looking to do the same with a network of EVs.”

About Kaluza

Kaluza is an intelligent energy platform powering the future of energy. From revolutionising billing to smart electric vehicle charging, Kaluza’s technology is empowering some of the biggest energy suppliers to better serve millions of customers. Its real-time cloud platform transforms supplier operations, reducing cost to serve and boosting customer engagement. Powered by Kaluza, suppliers can invest in innovating for tomorrow’s customers and drive decarbonization with smart, low carbon technologies that not only reduce energy bills, but lay the foundations for a more flexible energy system. 

About Flexitricity

Flexitricity created and now operates the first, largest and most advanced demand response portfolio in GB and has unsurpassed knowledge of the market and its requirements. Headquartered in Edinburgh, Flexitricity partners with businesses throughout Great Britain to provide reserve electricity to National Grid. The word “Flexitricity” means “Flexible Electricity”. The company looks for flexibility in electricity consumption and generation, creating revenue for energy users and generators as well as reducing national CO2 emissions and helping to secure energy supplies. Their team is fully engaged at industry and regulatory level and has a track record that demonstrates innovation and delivery success. Flexitricity is a wholly owned portfolio company of Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners, a specialist investment manager focused exclusively on lower carbon and renewable energy infrastructure investment and operational asset management in the US, UK and Australia.

Source(s) and Image(s): Kaluza and Flexitricity

“We know compact excavators are a multi-functional tool around the job site. They are used
for everything from lifting and placing materials such as concrete barriers, to unloading equipment such as portable generators. This utility hook adds ease to our customers’ work and minimizes the potential for damage to both the machine and attachment, which, at the end of the day, increases productivity and reduces machine down time,” said Frank Gangi, Yanmar Compact Equipment North America product manager of attachments.

Ideal for lifting heavy objects, the utility hook improves equipment longevity and overall safety by providing a dedicated, engineered lifting point built into the machine linkage. This provides a stronger position from which to lift, rather than putting the strain on the end of the arm or the attachment. A strap or chain draped around an attachment or a bucket tooth, for example, can cause warping or risk of failure to the attachment or equipment since it may not be rated for such concentrated loads in that area.

The Stowable Utility Hook is designed by Yanmar for Yanmar excavators, offering customers the peace of mind that comes with an OEM-supported product. The utility hook is engineered with the same reliability and performance standards customers have come to expect with Yanmar equipment.

The hook features a multi-directional design that allows it to swing in each direction, as well as 360-degree swivel movement. This provides operators optimal lifting position as well as the ability to easily position lifted objects when setting them into place. The swivel hook conveniently stows out of the way with an easy-to-operate lock pin when not in use. Maintenance on the utility hook is nearly effortless thanks to a single recessed Zerk fitting. The hook can be retrofitted onto all Yanmar compact excavator models from the ViO25 up to the SV100. Installation can be completed in as little as 20 minutes.

About Yanmar Compact Equipment

Yanmar is a leading global player in the industrial machinery industry. In the construction equipment sector, Yanmar was first to market with the launch of the first mini excavator in 1968 and its invention of the revolutionary zero-tail excavator in 1993. Yanmar Compact Equipment has four production plants in Japan, France, Germany, and the U.S., to deliver a range of products and services to the global market.

About Yanmar

With beginnings in Osaka, Japan, in 1912, Yanmar was the first ever to succeed in making a compact diesel engine of a practical size in 1933. A pioneer in diesel engine technology, Yanmar is a global innovator in a wide range of industrial equipment, from small and large engines, agricultural machinery and facilities, construction equipment, energy systems, marine, to machine tools, and components — Yanmar’s global business operations span seven
domains. On land, at sea, and in the city, Yanmar provides advanced solutions to the challenges customers face, towards realizing A Sustainable Future.

Source and Images: Yanmar Compact Equipment

This is their first private equity investment. The debt is being provided by some of the leading Energy Access lenders including FMO, the Dutch entrepreneurial development bank, and Sunfunder, a solar finance company providing debt capital to solar enterprises in emerging markets.

Bill Lenihan, Chief Executive Officer of ZOLA Electric, said, “We are beyond grateful and proud to close this $90 million funding round. Businesses are judged by the company they keep, and we are thrilled to have the backing of these leading energy operators and investors. The world needs energy access, energy equality, and it needs to be done in a way that protects our environment while supporting economic development. Digital renewable energy can help us accomplish these weighty objectives, and as a leading energy access technology company, this is what we intend to achieve.”

Today, ZOLA delivers energy to approximately 1.5 million users, across over 10 countries, predominantly in Africa but recently expanded to Asia and South America. Its products are distributed through leading integrators and developers including EDF, Shell, Econet/DPA and to emerging DRE (distributed renewable energy) integrators like Blue Camel in Nigeria.

Edouard Bulteau, Principal at TotalEnergies Ventures, commented, “Energy is reinventing itself, and we need to find a path to a low-carbon future while meeting the energy needs of the society. Developing renewable energy solutions dedicated to emerging markets is key to reach this goal and represents a huge investment opportunity. This is why TotalEnergies Ventures is delighted to support ZOLA, a leading company in this area, in their latest fund raise.”

In these markets, the lack of primary power results in the installation of millions of back-up solutions (diesel generators, lead acid batteries) that are poorly integrated, difficult to manage, unreliable, costly, dirty, and lack intelligence. As a result, socio-economic development, healthcare and education is hindered. ZOLA’s objective is to drive energy access to the 2.2 billion people and hundreds of millions of businesses that currently lack it.

Nancy Pfund, Founder and Managing Partner at DBL Partners, said, “DBL’s mission has always been to drive top tier venture capital returns and positive social and environmental change. ZOLA embodies our mission in every way, and we are excited to see the company build the same success in clean energy in Africa and other emerging markets that we have had with clean energy investments in the United States. DBL firmly believes that access to clean,
affordable, and reliable energy is a global movement, and the time is now.”

Sources and Images: ZOLA Electric

The development of the mobile NESTRO® dedusters type NE J in the well-established performance classes 200, 250, 300 and 350 for indoor installation is based on decades of company experience in woodworking, in device technology and in the technology of highly efficient fans. The use of our clean air dedusters for the extraction of various materials pays off cost-wise for small and medium-sized companies in many industries. The NE J verifiably saves on investment cost, operating cost, heating cost, maintenance cost and installation and base costs.

The construction guarantees optimal extraction with the integrated, proven clean gas technology featuring 100% dust tightness and with constant target / actual value comparison of the negative pressure needed by the processing machines. The fan is mounted after the filter unit. The clean gas fan does not transport any material. The new design offers for the user four different disposal options using four alternative substructures, which can also be converted at any time: for dust bin(s), for briquetting presses NBP, for separator locks NZRS or for the 800l norm container common in Switzerland. All mobile bins as well as the feed hoppers for the other three options are equipped with a site glass.

In close cooperation with one of the leading German suppliers of so-called reluctance high-efficiency motors, NESTRO® Lufttechnik GmbH is the first manufacturer worldwide to offer dedusters with permanently frequency-controlled, quieter IE5 motors as standard. The frequency converter ensures that the motor always runs at the optimal operating point. At the same time, we have optimized the entire fan geometry over several development stages for precisely this kind of motor. The new NE J achieves the lowest energy consumption per power unit, improves reliability and service life and significantly reduces noise emissions. Exhaust air sound insulation using silencers is integrated in the clean gas area. This makes the NE J one of the quietest devices on the market. Optionally, the entire fan room can be additionally soundproofed.

Thanks to a new modular design, the plug-and-play devices are more compact and more flexible to use as the previous version and unbeatable in price/performance ratio. The dedusters can, for example, be delivered in segmented parts for narrow passage-ways to be assembled right on site. They are now also suitable for shipping in standard sea containers. The NE J performance classes 200 up to 350 with an operating volume flow of up to 9,500 m³/h have proven themselves and cover the range of applications with more than only one processing machine perfectly.

The new generation NE J has an automatic fire extinguishing system starting with performance class 250 certified by the independent fire safety competence centre MPA, Dresden, using a hermetic oxygen seal (fire protection flap). In this way, a fire that arises due to, for example, an ignition source input is immediately suffocated. The blow-in box as an expansion space with a backflow flap offers additional functional reliability. In the case of heat dissipation the fire protection flap is closed pneumatically supported and the fan is turned off. Due to the missing negative pressure the backflow flap also closes, the hermetic oxygen seal is established. This function is also maintained in a zero-potential condition. There is no need to use water or dry chemicals to extinguish the fire – this would destroy the whole device. This also saves the user the mandatory periodic replacement of a powder extinguisher. The need for spark detection and extinguishing is also omitted with all of ou r standard designs due to the low volume of raw gas.

Like their preceding models the dedusters NE J have a material pre-separation. This means that dust and sawdust do not hit the filter bags directly. The construction design creates a cross flow underneath the filter bags, which prevents dust and sawdust from being swirled up from the bins or the hopper. Cleaning always takes place after the end of operation by means of compressed air pulses, in the so-called JET process. It is known to be quick, thorough and gentle and leads to a longer service life of the filter material. NESTRO® has also included an efficient, high-quality air compressor specifically for this application in its product range – users can get everything from one source.

All dedusters are approved for indoor installation. At the Research Association for Applied System Safety and Occupational Medicine (Forschungsgesellschaft für angewandte Systemsicherheit und Arbeitsmedizin, short FSA), Mannheim, the new series has also passed the mandatory explosion pressure test and is certified accordingly. Thanks to the FSA certified antistatic filter bags made of polyester needle felt, a residual dust content of less than 0.1 mg/m³ is guaranteed. If there is no space indoors the compact device can also be set up outside, e.g. with a return air duct back to the inside. Here NESTRO® offers a summer / winter switch for the regulated supply of fresh air for additional comfort. The construction corresponds to the EU standard DIN EN 16770 for dust and sawdust up to dust explosion class St1.

With the NESTRO®-LOGIC control in 32 languages for the automatic fan start at machine start-up up to 8 processing machines can be recognized and the associated gate valves can be controlled as standard via potential-free contacts or spools. So NESTRO® has an answer to the ongoing trend for more machinery run by the same set of operators. The main control for briquetting press NBP or separator lock NZRS is integrated with the according disposal option in the switchboard cabinet of the deduster – there is only one operating unit for two machines. A wired touch panel terminal with an integrated emergency stop unique within the industry gives the user optimal freedom of movement around the deduster in terms of operation and data analysis. The deduster can be parameterized and operated via the 7“ colour touch panel (switches and indicator lights are no longer necessary). Energy data can be analysed, and commissioning can also take place directly at the processing machines thanks to WLAN. A frequency converter is installed as standard and ensures high energy efficiency at every load level.

The first dedusters of the innovative NE J series are slated to be delivered to customers as soon as Q4 2021.

Source and Photo: Nestro

The report, titled “Geophysical Exploration for Deer Musk East Claim Area” was prepared by Advanced Geoscience Inc. The report concludes that the results from the geophysics program “…demonstrate a strong likelihood for the occurrence of lithium brine deposits beneath the claim area.” The report recommends additional geophysics studies to further improve the definition of the brine targets. It also recommends drilling to assess the lithium content of the brine targets with the goal of ultimately generating mineral resources.

David Watkinson, President and CEO of Ameriwest, stated, “The results of the report are exciting, as they are proving up the exploration model outlined by the Company’s geological team for DME. It is clear the next phase of work including drilling, is warranted, to better define and test the geophysical targets identified in this report.”  

The Deer Musk East Property (DME or the Property) is located on the southeast margin of Clayton Valley between the paleo-lacustrine playa and Clayton Ridge, the first set of uplifted Tertiary sediments on the east side of Clayton Valley. DME is adjacent to and south of Noram Lithium Corporation’s Zeus Project and Cypress Development Corporations Clayton Valley lithium properties. Those company’s exploration activities have successfully discovered lithium claystone deposits with NI 43-101 Technical Reports defining lithium mineral resources.

Note that the location of DME adjacent to or nearby properties does not guarantee exploration success at DME or that mineral resources or reserves with be defined on the Property. However, the exploration models and activities conducted by those companies provide a useful guide for exploration work being completed by Ameriwest at DME.

The geophysics program at DME consisted of a three-tiered geophysical program that included 30,200-feet (9.05 km) of seismic surveys in four lines that contained 2,210 stations, a detailed gravity survey with 85 station readings, and a selective seven-station transient electromagnetic resistivity survey. The work was initiated to identify the subsurface sedimentary composition, locate, and identify possible tectonic structures, to ascertain the potential depth to groundwater, and to determine if the groundwater is brine rich. Brine rich groundwater has potential to host concentrated lithium.

The data clearly showed the “seismic stratigraphy” as a complex fault zone that both lifts up as well as down drops vast sections of the Property (horst and graben fault blocks) which have created potentially favourable traps for lithium-rich brines and brings potentially lithium-rich sediments to the near-surface. 

A central core uplift area in the middle of the claim block was clearly apparent from both the seismic and gravity surveys. There is a substantial gravity low on the east-central part of the claim block indicating a large down-dropped section. This suggests potential for a massive fault-blocked groundwater pool is evident. The geophysicist identified three distinct fault zones, although other faults are likely present.

The 2D Subsurface TEM Resistivity Profile produced by the geophysicist revealed a strong near-surface, low conductivity groundwater horizon (the current recharge aquifer) that overlies a very conductive saline-rich aquifer. It, in turn, overlies another low conductivity aquifer. If these groundwater horizons are lithium-rich brines, they would be between 300 – 800 feet below the surface. Drilling is required to test for the presence of lithium in the various groundwater aquifers. Groundwater, across the width of the claim block, appears to host saline-rich brines that have potential to also contain lithium.

Source and photo: Ameriwest

“We are delighted to have acquired what is already a market-leading company in IMServ. The company has been at the cutting edge of  metering technology for twenty years and the team members are genuine pioneers in the sector. Steve and his skilled management team are hungry for growth; they take a hands-on  approach in the business and are supported by an experienced and knowledgeable 500-strong  workforce. We’re really looking forward to working closely with IMServ and enabling its next stage of growth,” said Thomas Sikorski, Co-Founder of Bluewater.

IMServ is a leading provider of electricity metering services (both installation and  management of smart and advanced meters), data services(smart and advanced meters data  analysis and management) and visualization services. At the business’ core is a range of  specialist electricity metering technologies, along with highly accurate energy data collection  services. This is presented to suppliers and end-users in a seamless, intuitive online data  management analysis and reporting platform. 

IMServ is now one of the UK’s largest independent energy data management providers, and  is enabling the decentralisation of power generation and digitalisation of the electricity  market. 

Steve Brown, Managing Director of IMServ, said, “Bluewater is the perfect partner for  IMServ. Their energy transition expertise and financial strength will allow us to take  advantage of the huge growth potential arising from energy transition. In addition, with  capital to deploy, we are now looking at several acquisition options to drive our expansion in the UK and other European markets.” 

Its technology today is managing more than 25% of all the electricity that goes through the  National Grid. The company has gone from strength to strength as smart meters have  become a fundamental platform to deliver data that helps reduce carbon emissions.  

IMServ will continue to be led by Managing Director Steve Brown, allowing the company to  transition seamlessly and to continue offering best-in-class service to customers (including  energy suppliers and end-users), employees, and other stakeholders. 

Steve and the IMServ leadership team were attracted to Bluewater’s deep sector knowledge,  supportive financial and business mindset, and the private equity firm’s drive to embrace the energy transition. Bluewater’s tried and tested approach to enabling rapid growth is a perfect  fit with IMServ’s own ambitious growth strategy, which has responded to government mandated demand for smart metering and more efficient management of energy use. 

The IMServ strategy sees significant growth opportunities in several areas in the UK and  internationally: the expanding data settlement market to support the needs of the flexible  energy transition; organic growth through increased uptake of smart meters in the  commercial and domestic electricity markets; and potential mergers and acquisitions  nationally and overseas, with announcements of this kind expected within the next six  months.  

About IMServ 

IMServ is one of the UK’s leading Energy Data Collection and Meter Operations service providers and  is an award-winning pioneer of metering and data collection services for the electricity, gas, and water  sectors. IMServ is headquartered in Milton Keynes, UK, and has expanding operations in the  Netherlands. 

Through the government-mandated smart meter rollout IMServ is playing a central role in the energy  transition, making energy usage more efficient while helping to cut emissions. 

In 2019, IMServ became the first non-domestic metering business to become a user of DCC services  in the Other User (OU) role for smart meters.

About Bluewater 

Bluewater is a specialist international private equity firm focused on the middle-market energy  sector. Their experienced investment and operating professionals drive value creation as they  manage $2.5billion of investment across a portfolio of 22 companies. Today, Bluewater has a prime  focus on projects or technologies that contribute to the energy transition agenda and works to a  diversified investment strategy based on the principles of sustainability and close working  partnerships with best-in-class management teams. Bluewater has a strong focus on ESG and is a  signatory to the UN Principles for Responsible Investment.

Source and photos: Bluewater & IMServ

Nationwide Engineering Group, a construction focused service provider with dedicated integrated companies, has used the graphene-enhanced concrete developed by Concretene, a whole owned subsidiary, in a £17.5M (CA$30.5M) residential development in Salisbury, 150 km west of London, England.

Concrete is one of the most used substances on earth and is directly responsible for more than 8% of global greenhouse gases emissions. This graphene-enhanced concrete reduces C02 emissions by 30%, reduces the overall costs by 20%, generally eliminates the use of rebar reinforcement and, mainly because of its resistance to water penetration, results in a longer lasting concrete. The graphene-enhanced concrete developed by Concretene is also currently being trialled in rail, air, road, marine, residential, commercial, and civil engineering applications throughout the United Kingdom by Nationwide Engineering Group.

Mr. Harry Swan, Director of Black Swan Graphene and CEO of Thomas Swan & Co. Ltd., commented: “The use of our graphene in the construction of a residential building speaks volume to the suitability of our products for large scale industrial applications. This is a very exciting moment as we continue to work with several partners to prepare for large scale commercialization of products in different industries, such as polymers, Li-ion batteries, and several other sectors in addition to concrete.”

Black Swan Graphene Inc. is a private company jointly owned by Mason Graphite (66.7%) and Thomas Swan & Co. (33.3%) focused on the large-scale production and commercialisation of patented high-performance low-cost graphene products. Black Swan is currently evaluating different strategic options and is expected to proceed to a go-public transaction in a near future.

The paper, “Shale Renders the ‘Obsolescing Bargain’ Obsolete: Political risk and foreign investment in Argentina’s Vaca Muerta,” was authored by the Baker Institute’s Gabe Collins, Mark Jones, Jim Krane, Ken Medlock and Francisco Monaldi. They are available to speak to the news media about the unique attributes of shale investments.

The authors focus on Argentina, a notoriously risky place for foreign investment, particularly in the oil sector. The Argentine government fully expropriated the in-country holdings of Spanish oil major Repsol in 2012, sending a shock wave through foreign investors interested in the country’s world-class natural resources, explained Krane.

Between 2013 and 2019, oil supermajors returned and invested $13 billion in developing oil and gas concessions in Argentina. But compared to investments in conventional oil like Repsol’s, post-2013 investments have been almost exclusively in the Vaca Muerta shale play. “With 153,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day in average daily production in 2018 and 250,000 by the middle of 2019, the Vaca Muerta had become the most productive shale play outside North America,” according to the report.

The authors say shale production has specific attributes that protect it from expropriation.

Unlike conventional extraction, shale — which requires horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing — has very short production cycles and fewer geological risks than other frontier plays, they explained.

“Shale oil and gas production has changed the incentive structure and the political calculus around resource-nationalist behavior,” they wrote. “The willingness of foreign investors to return to Argentina in the immediate aftermath of a major expropriation provides some evidence of these changes, as does the data showing that the new investments are heavily weighted toward shale.”

“The immense interest by foreign investors will almost certainly eventually trigger a series of midstream and downstream investments — including export facilities and domestic infrastructure to support industrial use — that will be crucial to full monetization of the resource,” they added, noting that the surge of shale investments has continued even after the 2019 elections that ousted the “pro-business” administration of Mauricio Macri.

Understanding why shale developments may be less vulnerable to political interference or expropriation is crucial to understanding the future of oil and gas globally, they write.

“To keep output stable, shale producers must maintain a constant rate of well-drilling — resembling more a manufacturing process than a traditional oil play. If the drilling is interrupted, shale production collapses,” they wrote. “Moreover, shale investors begin to recover their capital relatively quickly, sometimes after just one well has been completed. If the well is profitable, investors can bet again on another one, and so on.”

If the government violates contractual terms, companies can simply stop investing and oil production would quickly collapse. The government would find itself with little production or cash flow from the assets it seized.

Foreign investment into resource-nationalist Argentina signals a “watershed event” for the global petroleum industry and for the study of political risk in foreign investment, the authors argue.

“While we focus here on Argentina, the case may have implications for the global oil market. If risk is institutionally and structurally lower in shale investments, the realization could encourage wider proliferation of shale production outside the United States, all else equal,” they write.

This would create a broader geographic distribution of oil production beyond the major producer states that dominate and often manipulate oil markets, the authors argue.

Source & Images: Baker Institute – Rice University

According to GlobalData’s latest report, ‘Blockchain in Oil and Gas, 2021 Update – Thematic Research’, blockchain has come a long way in recent years, but it remains a nascent technology. It was not until 2017 that blockchain properly captured the attention of enterprises. Since then, companies have identified use cases focused on addressing actual problems to better understand the technology itself.

Ravindra Puranik, Oil & Gas Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Blockchain as a service (BaaS) holds the key to driving mainstream adoption of blockchain technology. It allows companies to experiment with blockchain applications without being concerned about developing expensive in-house resources. Integrating blockchain into core technologies facilitates ease of use, making it a more attractive option for digital transformation efforts.”

Blockchain technology allows companies to track everyday workflows while eliminating the requirement of central recordkeeping. This could overhaul traditional workflow management in the oil and gas industry and drive operational efficiency and optimize costs. In anticipation of these benefits, several leading oil and gas companies, including ADNOC, BP, Eni, Equinor, Gazprom, Repsol, and Shell are developing blockchain platforms for their applications.

Ravindra adds: “Companies today are striving to reduce operational costs amid the demand uncertainty brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and the likely shift towards low-carbon energy sources. In this scenario, blockchain could prove to be a boon for them. The technology has diverse applications in areas such as procurement and logistics, energy trading, and land and lease compliances among other things.”

Source: GlobalData

Developed for seamless integration with everything from consumer products to enterprise solutions, the module is engineered for rapid development. Driving automation, enhancing safety and enabling security, Vayyar Element helps products make data-driven decisions.

The miniature module provides rich, real-time insights into the presence and movement of people in its vicinity, empowering products to be react and adapt to human activity. The data collected by Vayyar Element is based on low power radio-wave imaging, making it ideal for deployment in environments where privacy is crucial, such as homes and offices.

Roughly the size of a matchbox, the module is powered by Vayyar’s 7201 RFIC, which incorporates all digital and analog RF components and operates in the 60-64 GHz bands. While alternative solutions typically rely on 10 antennas or fewer, Vayyar Element houses an extensive array of 46 antennas, supporting hundreds of virtual channels and delivering unprecedented resolution.

The RoC includes an embedded Digital Signal Processor (DSP) for processing all imaging algorithms, ensuring high performance, data security and versatility, while lowering post-processing and cloud-related costs. The module’s software outputs range from low-layer point cloud to high-level process indicators, supporting versatile usage: Vayyar Element can be used to enable artificial intelligence or simply to integrate out-of-the-box sensing capabilities into a product.

Vayyar Element modules are designed to support companies throughout all product development stages, from initial evaluation to launch. With three variations, each designed for a different step and set of partner requirements, Vayyar Element modules all share uniform hardware, software architecture and APIs, ensuring seamless progression and driving forward Vayyar’s vision of making radio-wave imaging the go-to technology for smart sensing.

“We’re delighted to put 4D imaging radar into the hands of innovators who can leverage its versatile capabilities in homes, office environments, retail settings and beyond,” said Raviv Melamed, CEO of Vayyar. “With successful solutions in automotive, elderly care, retail and medical diagnostics, Vayyar now offers affordable, out-of-the-box sensor technology that enables a new wave of product intelligence to enhance daily life and help create a safer world.”

Vayyar will offer three versions of the FCC-approved Vayyar Element module. For the first stage of the product journey, the Development Module, available now, is designed for evaluation, data collection and application building. The Prototyping Kit, which launches soon, features a low-cost MCU supporting Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for ramping up pilots. The integration-ready Product Module is engineered for scaling to mass market production.

At a time of intense interest in the potential of IoT sensor technologies to streamline daily life while ensuring health and safety, Vayyar Element puts the potential of 4D imaging radar within reach of individuals and organizations alike. The module is available for purchase at Vayyar.com/element.

Source & Images: Vayyar

Highlights of the PEA (all figures are stated in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated):

• Long-term Weighted-Average1 Graphite Price US$916/t Cg conc. (graphitic carbon concentrate)
• Exchange rate: C$1.00 = US$0.75
• Pre-tax NPV (8%) of C$313.6M
• After-tax NPV (8%) of C$185.6M
• Pre-tax IRR of 28.3%
• After-tax IRR of 21.5%
• Pre-tax payback period of 3.3 years
• After-tax payback period 4.2 years
• Initial capital of (“CAPEX”) of C$236.1M including mine pre-production, processing, infrastructure (roads, power line construction, co-disposal tailings facility, ancillary buildings, and water management)
• Life of mine processing period (“LOM”) of 14.7 years
• Average LOM strip ratio (Waste:Mineralization) of 4.04:1
• LOM plant production of 21,874 Kilotons (kt=1,000 metric tonnes) of mill feed yielding 1,436 kt of graphite concentrate grading 95.0% Cg.
• Average annual graphite concentrate production of 108 kt for the first eight years; LOM average annual production of 97.4 kt.
• Average graphite mill head grade of 7.44% Cg for the first eight years; LOM average graphite mill head grade of 6.67% Cg.
• Average LOM recovery of 93.5% Cg.
• Measured + Indicated resource at the base case cut-off grade of 1.5% Cg of 23,165 kt at a 4.51% Cg grade for 1.04 Mt of graphite.
• Inferred resource at the base case cut-off grade of 1.5% Cg of 46,821 kt at a 4.01% Cg grade for 1.9Mt of graphite.
• Cash Cost of US$386 per tonne of graphite concentrate
• All-in Sustaining Cost (“AISC”) of US$406 per tonne of graphite concentrate

The Lomiko team is pleased to present the results of a PEA on its La Loutre Project, clearly demonstrating its potential for the Corporation to become a major North American graphite producer, with a positive after-tax Internal Rate of Return (“IRR”) of 21.5% and after-tax Net Present Value (“NPV”) of C$186M. The PEA supports an open pit project with production spanning 14.7 years with robust economics at a US$916/tonne Cg sale price, with very attractive cash costs and AISC, low CAPEX and low capital intensity. The first eight years will target production averaging 108 kt/a payable graphite concentrate peaking at 112 kt/a in year 4.

“La Loutre has shown it has the potential to become a highly profitable graphite mine in one of the most prolific producing regions in Canada. The La Loutre PEA was produced by the Ausenco team, one of the most experienced and reputable engineering firms working on mining projects in Canada. With further drill programs, we will continue to add to and upgrade resources as we seek to move the project forward towards production,” said A Paul Gill, President, CEO and director, Lomiko.

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