Vendor engagement for decarbonisation technologies
Invitation for Expression of Interest
The ICMM is inviting vendors and research institutions to provide an Expression of Interest (EoI) to support our work on achieving net zero Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2050.
Who are we and why is it important?
ICMM is a global leadership organisation focused on creating a safe, just and sustainable world through responsibly produced metals and minerals.
ICMM is looking to support member companies to build clear pathways to achieving net zero Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 2050 or sooner, as committed in its 2021 Climate Change Position Statement. The aim is to encourage our suppliers and customers to join us in decarbonising our value chains while we support the decarbonisation of the value chains of others.
What are we looking for vendors to support us on?
ICMM is looking for vendors to support ICMM members by providing decarbonisation solutions that can enable accelerated efforts to achieve net zero Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions.
Mining operations are diverse, given the wide range of commodities mined, their processing and the local conditions that present different opportunities and challenges, in terms of access to clean energy alternatives (electricity and fuels), solutions availability and/or regulations. From comminution and the use of cleaner explosives to material movement, processing, smelting/refining to bulk transportation, the needs of the sector are diverse when it comes to decarbonisation and there are many opportunities to adopt multiple solutions decarbonisation, in a holistic, integrated and systemic manner.
We are welcoming a wide range of solutions that can support decarbonisation efforts across the whole mining value chain, from energy efficiency and process optimisation, fuel switching, innovative solutions that can help accelerate the incorporation of renewable energy on site, to enabling technologies related to digitalisation. In terms of more disruptive solutions, we welcome the opportunity to connect with vendors and research organisations that have solutions with Technology Level Readiness (TRL) above 6 in the European Union definition, to assess opportunities to accelerate their commercial development.
Selected vendors and research institutions that can provide the relevant and suitable solutions will be invited to attend a vendor engagement session where collaboration opportunities will be explored.
When and where will the vendor engagement session be held?
The vendor engagement session will be held virtually, tentatively on the weeks commencing 12 and 19 September.
What is the objective of the vendor engagement session?
The objective is to explore and identify vendors and innovative technologies that offer solutions to decarbonise mining operations (see Problem Statement in Appendix 1), with a view to increasing collaboration between members, vendors and academic institutions to help ICMM members build clear pathways to achieving net zero Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 2050 or sooner.
This is a pre-commercial process to explore collaboration opportunities – there is no certainty that ICMM company members will make any purchase as a result of this process.
Vendor selection process
- Interested vendors and research institutions are asked to submit their EoI via this form by 26 August. The EoI will outline why the company/institution, potentially and preferably in collaboration with other practitioners/researchers, are well-placed to address the Problem Statement.
- Selection criteria will include scalability and applicability across different commodities and availability in key mining jurisdictions.
- ICMM will invite the shortlisted vendors to attend a virtual engagement session tentatively scheduled during the weeks commencing 12 and 19 September.
Vendor engagement session
A roundtable discussion with ICMM members and selected vendors and research institutions will be held virtually. The sessions will be organised around key stages of the mining process (eg. material movement, crushing and conveying, etc) in order to have suitable specialists as attendees. The exact details on the time and format will be provided closer to the time.
Problem Statement: Achieving net zero Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 2050 or sooner
In Oct. 2022, ICMM members signalled their commitment to a goal of net-zero Scope 1 and 2 Greenhouse Gas emissions by 2050 or sooner, in line with the ambitions of the Paris Agreement. This commitment also included setting meaningful short and/or medium-term targets and setting Scope 3 targets if not by the end of 2023, as soon as possible.
To support member companies conform with our 2021 Climate Change Position Statement, ICMM’s Climate Change Working Group (WG) is working across different areas. This activity in particular is focused on providing members visibility of desired, viable and feasible decarbonisation solutions that can allow them to build clear and credible GHG emissions reduction pathways, in terms of timeframe and magnitude.
As an energy-intensive and hard to abate sector, operating in jurisdictions with different challenges and opportunities, there is the need to identify and assess a broad range of decarbonisation solutions across the whole mining value chain. Specifically, we are looking for solutions that may consist, but not be limited to, the following:
- Fuel switching: direct electrification, low-carbon fuel, synthetic fuels, green hydrogen in mining applications, etc
- Innovative solutions on renewable energy, energy storage, energy efficiency and data management. In terms of “Innovative”, we’re looking for cutting-edge technology, such as solutions to enable 24 hours operation with renewable energy.
- Carbon capture and storage