For centuries, mining has served as a cornerstone of human progress. From ancient civilizations extracting copper and gold to craft their tools and drive their economies, to the industrial revolutions fueled by coal and steel, mining has always played a critical role in shaping the modern world. Today, its importance has reached new heights, as it underpins the technologies that drive our connected and sustainable future.
Clean energy, electric vehicles, 5G connectivity, and even artificial intelligence would not exist without the metals and minerals extracted through mining. Lithium powers batteries for electric vehicles, copper conducts electricity in wind turbines and fuel cells, and rare earth elements enable the magnets and semiconductors in green technologies and smart devices.
Simply put, without mining, there can be no progress toward a decarbonized, connected economy. But mining doesn’t come without challenges. Environmental concerns, including emissions, water usage, and waste management, alongside social pressures for ethical sourcing and community welfare, have driven the need for more sustainable practices. Today, the mining industry must go beyond extraction—it is focused on accountability, sustainability, and driving innovation.
Mining is the backbone of modern society, driving economic growth and technological advancements by providing the essential raw materials that build our world. As we transition to alternative energy and develop advanced technologies, digitalization, and artificial intelligence, mining's role becomes even more profound.
Minerals for a sustainable future
The global shift toward renewable energy and decarbonization has triggered a surge in demand for specific metals and minerals critical to green technologies. As countries strive to meet their climate goals, these materials have become indispensable:
This demand is rising fast! Lithium, for example, is expected to see demand grow more than 40 times by 2040. But while these minerals are essential to a greener future, sourcing them responsibly remains a challenge. Many are geographically concentrated in specific regions, creating supply chain vulnerabilities. Additionally, the mining industry must navigate social and environmental concerns, including reducing its footprint and addressing geopolitical pressures.
One solution lies in circularity- recovering critical metals from secondary sources like end-of-life batteries. By adopting these practices, the industry can help meet demand while minimizing the need for raw material extraction.
Advancements in processing and refining
Mining has undergone a technological revolution. With sustainability and efficiency now priorities, innovative solutions are helping mines reduce their environmental impact while boosting productivity.
Water Conservation: Modern processes recycle water within operations, minimizing consumption and reducing strain on local resources.
Waste Management: Smarter handling of tailings and other byproducts limits contamination and enables the recovery of additional valuable materials.
Selective Extraction: Advanced reagents, such as Syensqo’s extractants, improve metal recovery rates by selectively targeting valuable metals. This enables efficient extraction with lower chemical doses, ultimately reducing the quantity of ore that needs to be mined as well as energy and water requirements.
And in today’s connected world, digital tools - such as those from Syensqo’s Smart Mining Chemistry line - are further changing the game. Mines are using platforms like SolvExtract®, SmartFloat™, and the Syensqo Cube connected dosing unit to make data-driven decisions faster than ever. This, in turn, has enabled mines to optimize processes and formulate reagents in real-time, boosting recovery, productivity, and sustainability.
"Advancements in processing and refining are revolutionizing the mining industry, enhancing efficiency and reducing environmental impact. In the face of declining ore quality, these innovations are crucial for a sustainable tomorrow," says Jo Grosemans, Head of Strategy, Marketing & Sustainability for Technology Solutions, Syensqo.
Syensqo: Solutions to drive sustainable mining
For more than a century, Syensqo has partnered with the world's leading mining operations worldwide to deliver solutions that maximize efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and meet evolving industry challenges.
Our expertise spans mineral processing, solvent extraction, alumina recovery and industrial minerals separations. We offer reagents, application support, and technical services to help mines maximize operational performance, and we develop tailored solutions to address the unique pain points our customers face. Our reagents enable the efficient recovery of critical metals like copper, nickel, cobalt, lithium, precious metals, and rare earth elements. Notably, one-third of the world’s copper is recovered using Syensqo’s reagents.
Highlights of Syensqo’s contributions include:
Innovative Reagents: Designed to tackle even the most challenging ores, our reagent innovations are engineered to optimize target metal grade (purity) and maximize overall recovery rates, ensuring efficient extraction from every ton of ore processed. Even a 1–2% improvement in grade or recovery - what we often target - can drive significant performance and profitability gains for mines.
Safety & Sustainability Expertise: Syensqo helps operators reduce safety risks by developing solutions that limit worker exposure to hazardous equipment cleanings, as well as introducing safer alternatives to reagents that rely on hazardous chemicals, including those containing sodium hydrosulfide and xanthates. Additionally, efficiency improvements enabled by our reagents and recommendations contribute to reduced waste, energy, and water consumption, supporting more sustainable operations.
Circular Economy Solutions: Our technologies are integral to recovering metals from end-of-life batteries, supporting the growing battery recycling industry, and addressing future shortages of critical materials.
Syensqo doesn’t just provide solutions; we empower mining operators to embrace a more sustainable future. From tailored formulations to digital tools that optimize efficiency, we’re helping shape a mining industry that can meet the demands of today, and of the future.
Mining: Building a better tomorrow
Mining is more than an industry—it’s the foundation of modern life and the key to a sustainable future. From powering renewable energy systems to enabling the technologies that connect us, mining is essential for progress.
But the way we mine matters. As demand for critical materials grows, the industry must continue to innovate, reduce its environmental impact, and embrace responsible practices. Companies like Syensqo are leading the way, offering tools and expertise to help operators succeed in this new era of sustainable mining.
Through innovation and responsible practices, the mining industry is demonstrating its ability to do more than extract resources—it can contribute to a greener, more sustainable future for generations to come.
