BHP teams up with KoBold Metals to look for battery minerals
2021-09-09 12:15:46 [Print]
BHP Group will team up with billionaire-backed AI exploration firm KoBold Metals to look for battery minerals like copper and nickel in Australia and other global locations, the companies said on Sept. 8.
The world's largest miner is building out its portfolio in what it calls "future facing commodities", expecting demand for electric vehicles and green energy to determine the minerals that will drive profits in coming years.
"Globally, shallow ore deposits have largely been discovered, and remaining resources are likely deeper underground and harder to see from the surface," said BHP.
The alliance will cover an area in Western Australia of more than 500,000 sq km, KoBold said. The discovery zones over the next 20 years will be at depths of 200 m to 1,500 m, it added. KoBold uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to hunt for raw materials.
KoBold is planning to set up an Australian office in the next 12 months and is looking for other exploration partners.
The world's largest miner is building out its portfolio in what it calls "future facing commodities", expecting demand for electric vehicles and green energy to determine the minerals that will drive profits in coming years.
"Globally, shallow ore deposits have largely been discovered, and remaining resources are likely deeper underground and harder to see from the surface," said BHP.
The alliance will cover an area in Western Australia of more than 500,000 sq km, KoBold said. The discovery zones over the next 20 years will be at depths of 200 m to 1,500 m, it added. KoBold uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to hunt for raw materials.
KoBold is planning to set up an Australian office in the next 12 months and is looking for other exploration partners.
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Unit:RMB/mt
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Unit: mt
