(Reuters, July 16, 2020)
A decline in U.S. power plant emissions over the last 30 years means the air has less sulfur, a crucial nutrient for wheat and many other crops that researchers are now working to replace with fertilizer applications.
(YouTube, May 14, 2020)
US Department of Transportation releases video where Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao thanks the pipeline and hazardous material industries for their contributions to date in keeping the nation going during the COVID-19 pandemic.
(The Load Star, February 21, 2020)
Shipping lines that have invested in scrubber technology to comply with the IMO 2020 low-sulphur regulations may be forced to reconsider the wisdom of their investment, as fuel producers appear to be looking for ways to push prices up. Since the introduction of the legislation this year, the price differential between the now-outlawed high-sulphur fuel oil (HFSO) and low-sulphur fuel oil (LFSO) has been around $200 a tonne. However, the declining availability of HFSO is forcing its price up and causing headaches for shipowners.
(African Mining Market, February 18, 2020)
As the dreadful humanitarian toll of the Covid-19 epidemic in China grows, the direct and indirect impact on the Chinese zinc and lead industries from efforts to control the spread of the disease is starting to be seen. The extended Lunar New Year holiday has ended, but return to work by millions of migrants has been slowed to a trickle. A combination of transport restrictions, quarantine periods, staffing shortages and a government-mandated staged return to work means that the normal post-holiday bounce back in economic activity will not happen.
(Sustainability Times, February 13, 2020)
The fact that the world's largest mining companies have not been doing enough to reduce their carbon emissions has been an open secret at best, but a recent McKinsey report laid bare how far many of these firms are falling short. According to the company, industry majors like BHP, Anglo American and Rio Tinto – all of which are signatories to the Paris Pledge for Action – need to implement more assertive measures in order to prevent severe backlash from investors and consumers alike.
(CleanTechnica, February 11, 2020)
Sales of new electric vehicles have been surging, but there are constraints around battery and vehicle production. New EVs have ranges of about 200-300 miles (322-483 km) or so. Potentially, lithium-sulfur batteries could expand EV ranges considerably and cost less because sulfur is a more abundant material than cobalt. Transportation is a major generator of greenhouse gases, so many more EVs are needed. Lithium-sulfur batteries eventually could help speed up EV production and adoption.
(Global Construction Review, January 10, 2020)
A Chinese industrial and construction consortium including China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC) has won an $848m contract to build and operate a large phosphoric and sulfuric acid factory in Egypt. Located near the Abu Tartour phosphate mine in the southwestern New Valley Governorate, the plant will boost Egypt’s standing as a major producer of the acids, which are used in fertilizers, food and beverage manufacture, electronics and other products.
(Coatings World) Hempel A/S said it signed a purchase agreement to acquire Wattyl – one of Australia and New Zealand's leading manufacturers of paint for the decorative and protective segments with a turnover of €150 million and 750 employees – from The Sherwin-Williams Company.
(Rig Zone) PT Pertamina Rosneft Pengolahan dan Petrokimia (PT PRPP) has signed a licensing and basic engineering agreement to apply Shell Catalysts and Technologies processes at a new refinery in Tuban, Java Timur, Indonesia, Shell (NYSE: RDS.A) reported Wednesday
(Freight Waves) Bitter cold and strong winter storms could impact rail operations over the next several days, according to service advisories from several U.S. Class I railroads.
Yahoo Finance - February 9, 2021
The U.S. Department of Commerce announced its final determination that phosphate fertilizer imports from Morocco and Russia are unfairly subsidized. Commerce calculated a subsidy rate of 19.97 percent for Moroccan producer OCP. In the Russia investigation, Commerce calculated rates of 9.19 percent and 47.05 percent for PhosAgro and EuroChem, respectively, and a rate of 17.2 percent for all other producers/exporters
CNN Business - February 8, 2021
While oil and gas will certainly be needed for decades to come, the oil and gas division may not be Chevron's top business in 20 years, although it will still be a very big part of the U.S. supermajor's operations, chief executive Michael Wirth told CNN Business in an interview published on Monday.
The NAR Grand Slam Award is presented annually to companies that are exemplary shippers of hazardous materials. An award winner must have been recognized by at least four Class I railroads and have had zero non-accident releases involving their shipments the previous calendar year. HJ Baker Sulphur LLC and ExxonMobil Corp received the award for calendar year 2019.
April 30, 2020 – [From Ioneer's Newsletter] Yesterday we announced the outcomes of our Definitive Feasibility Study (’DFS’) for the Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project in Nevada (‘Project’). This is an exciting and critical milestone for ioneer. The DFS places Rhyolite Ridge as the single most attractive Project for the economic production of lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide and boric acid globally. Rhyolite Ridge is truly a world class asset with strong Project economics...
Jan 9, 2020 – CN and NorFalco Sales have signed a new multiyear agreement that will provide freight transportation of sulphuric acid from NorFalco's rail-served production facilities in Sudbury, Ontario, and Rouyn-Noranda and Valleyfield, Quebec.
Jan 3, 2020 – Lithium Americas recently released their 2019 Year in Review collection of the best photos and key milestones from Lithium Americas. Please find it here: 2019 Year in Review. For more information on the geology of the Thacker Pass Project, please check-out this interview with Lithium Americas’ Lead Geologist, Dr. Tom Benson, who recently presented new research on the origin of lithium deposits at the 100th Annual American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting in San Francisco.
Shelton, Conn., June 24, 2019 – H.J. Baker & Bro., LLC, a global manufacturer and supplier in the animal health and nutrition and sulphur industries, announced today that it has acquired Oxbow Sulphur and its international affiliates, effective June 21, 2019.