I concur and it is regressive to merely exchange one evil for...

I concur and it is regressive to merely exchange one evil for another. However you are most probably aware that cleaner technologies are being actively pursued by the mining sector. DLE as an example in the case of lithium, in addition to a shift to cleaner energy sources for their consumption needs and requiring their supply chain meet ESG standards.

Similarly, in recognition of the issue, industries and technologies are developing addressing recycling and reuse of lithium batteries.

https://www.advancedenergy.org/2021/11/16/electric-vehicle-battery-reuse-and-recycling/

Electric Vehicle Battery Reuse and Recycling

There is work being done to make EV battery reuse more favorable, though. Some manufacturers are seeing potential business opportunities in second-life applications and are incorporating them into their battery designs. For instance, in formulating its Ultium battery packs, General Motors is developing business cases around reuse. ...

... Funding is being allocated to research and proof-of-concept studies to improve EV second-life applications. The California Energy Commission’s Electric Program Investment Charge initiative, for example, chose three groups to receive $2-3 million to validate methods of reuse.

• RePurpose Energy has developed a way to disassemble EV battery packs, determine their cells’ health, and reassemble them with specific control and safety equipment and with the most degraded cells replaced. RePurpose predicts that its second-life batteries will last up to 12 years.
• Smartville Energy has developed technologies to incorporate and refurbish batteries of differing sources. The power converter and battery conditioning technology were created to utilize distinct battery packs and work as one collective system. This system cycles each battery using an active balancing technique to execute battery commands while maintaining conditioning across the system.
• ReJoule created a device that is installed on a new EV battery to optimize it over a vehicle’s life. Constant monitoring and state-of-health measurements mean the battery would already be profiled at the end of life for its reuse application.

A few recycling procedures are already standard in the market, and others are being researched and tested.

Here is an interesting observation from PwC,

https://www.pwc.com/gx/en/news-room/press-releases/2021/mine-2021-report.html

London, 8 July 2021 – Mining companies with higher ESG ratings outperformed the broader market during the peak of the COVID-19 crisis, delivering 34% average total shareholder return over the past three years — ten percentage points higher than the general market index. ...

Paul Bendall, Global Leader, Mining & Metals, PwC Australia, said: “The global mining sector has demonstrated both resilience and agility in adapting its operations during the pandemic. Coupled with this, the drive towards environmental sustainability has created a volatile landscape for mining companies, but is also presenting an opportunity for genuine, transformational change.

“The past year has demonstrated how putting ESG at the core of a strategy is crucial for delivering growth. Looking forward, it’s clear that investors in this sector will continue to be increasingly drawn to companies that actively embrace ESG policies.”


As with coal, there will be a period of transition that necessitates an all embracing plan that places people affected, directly or indirectly. at the top of the list, to engage, not only to enact the change but provide advancement and irrefutable benefits to them. It is comforting that issues are being addressed but it is not an overnight process. Some are in their infancy, others are more advanced, but it is a pathway to change. We just need time and governments to embrace and support the change that is self evident globally and be a part of the future.