Alan Mclelland Namtec Research Expenditure Report

Critical Metals: Impact and Opportunities 22 nd March 2012 Dr Alan McLelland

New or Technology Metals

Indium Lithium Neodymium Critical Metals

Rate of usage is escalating Rate of metal consumption

Changes in the metals that we need New metals

Both Europe and the USA became significant net importers of raw materials / within finished goods Low cost sources have got smart! Sources have changed

What is the impact? ‘Technology Metals’ have a key role for the future Offshore Wind – neodymium and dysprosium Nuclear – hafnium Solar – tellurium, gallium tellurium Electric Vehicles - neodymium and dysprosium, lithium, colbolt Aerospace – rhenium and ruthenium Flat Screen Displays – indium Electronics – huge array (gallium, tantalum, PTG)

Do we have a problem? If you are the seller – clearly not A key issue is we are setting out a future which builds in a reliance on these technology metals Supply scenario is currently far behind the projected need All can be mitigated Don’t have use permanent magnets, don’t have to use lithium based batteries ………. Lot of attention to substitution but real concern over timescale and potential for success

What can we do? ‘Nothing’ ‘problems too big for us’ ‘has to be government’ Practical level Awareness of the role these play in your business and its future Can we use less? Can you substitute? Can you use a metal that is not derived as a by product? Manufacturing efficiency?

Let’s recycle? Smart phone contains ~ 25mg gold How many? Equates to around 40 tonnes of gold 400 tonnes of silver, 14 tonnes of palladium, 14,000 tonnes of copper, 6000 tonnes of cobalt …………. 1 product waste stream Commercially, does it have legs? BUT

Let’s recycle? Capture very little – need it now Isolate and separate Capture of individual metals is technically challenging small quantities, widely distributed, thin layers, combined into components, alloyed, physically integrated …… Area of considerable challenge, development but opportunity Are making progress but will it be in time? Ought to do better than today……..

Surely we can do better?

Thank You