The rapid growth in sales of various types of electric vehicles in 2021 and 2022 has caused a high demand for lithium from lithium-ion battery manufacturers. According to the USGS, batteries accounted for 65% of the global end-use markets for lithium in 2020. Now, according to some sources, this share may be as high as 80%. ...
Eurostat provided recent statistics on the share of energy from renewable sources overall and in three consumption sectors (electricity, heating and cooling, and transport) in the EU. These statistics are based on complete data for the year 2021, comparing them with figures dating back to 2004. In 2021, the share of gross...
As every year, Baker Hughes has published 2022 rig counts for major regions and countries on its website in January. A change in the number of rigs may be indicative of the level of business activity in the oil and gas sector and form the basis for forecasting future oil and gas production. After a staggering 38% decline in...
Gas to Liquid (GTL) technologies have several stages of long and relatively successful development, as well as a fairly developed infrastructure for their application. On the one hand, the now long history of operation of large GTL plants in Qatar, South Africa, Malaysia and Nigeria demonstrate the attractiveness of this...
Lithium is a mineral which occurs naturally and constitutes about 0.0007 percent of the Earth's crust. Lithium is contained in minerals and salts of natural brines which can be found underground or in seawater. Lithium can also form a byproduct of hydraulic fracturing. There it is mostly contained in fracturing fluids. Such...
The availability of a number of metals and minerals is becoming increasingly important for the development of renewable energy as they are used as components in various devices, as bases or alloying additives, as catalysts, etc. Among them, lithium, cobalt, palladium, rare earth metals, and gallium should be mentioned first....
In its latest report, the World Bank argues that progress in reducing harmful gas flaring has stalled over the past decade, which could lead to a failure in meeting the much needed targets for carbon dioxide emissions and the energy transition. One of the main reasons leading to the stagnation is the increase in...
As always in January, Baker Hughes has published the 2021 final drill rig count data for major regions and countries of the world on its website. A change in the number of rigs may be indicative of the level of business activity in the oil and gas sector and form the basis for forecasting future oil and gas production. Last...
Statistical indicators of lithium production and reserves are of undoubted interest, primarily due to the increased demand for lithium in the automotive industry. According to the latest USGS edition for 2020, more than 70% of global lithium consumption is associated with the manufacturing of batteries. However, the slowdown...
Methane hydrates are solid clathrate hydrate compounds where large amounts of methane are enclosed within a crystal structure of water. This crystal is a solid, reminiscent of ice. It can be found in certain areas in the seafloor and in some Arctic permafrost regions. Just like methane, methane hydrates also burn when you put...
