In the policy world, the EPA is reportedly preparing to extend deadlines set by the Biden administration regarding its effluent limitation guidelines rule, which presented plant owners with tight timelines and unproven technologies intended to force coal plant closures.
A proposal to amend the Biden administration's rule is undergoing review by the White House and the EPA expects the new proposal, to be issued "shortly" and finalized before the end of the year.
Yesterday, the US sanctioned four entities that are allegedly profiting from conflict minerals in the
Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control took the action against a mining cooperative that is allegedly involved in exploiting critical minerals through forced labor,
violence against civilians and smuggling operations that fuel instability.
"The U.S. government will continue to take action to support a mining sector that contributes to lasting stability and economic development in the Great Lakes region and secure, reliable global critical minerals supply chains," the State Department said in a statement.
And in the dealmaking world, Peabody is expected to announce by August 19th whether it will proceed with its $3.8-billion bid for Anglo American's Australian coking coal mines. The coal superpower last year expressed interest in buying the mines as part of a push into steelmaking coal. But in March, Anglo had to halt its operations at one mine after an underground fire, prompting Peabody to invoke a clause allowing either party to abandon or renegotiate the deal.
That's your mining minute for this morning, highlighting some of the mining-related matters that are on our minds here in Washington and beyond. Follow us on the National Mining Association's channels, as well as on Minerals Make Life and Count on Coal, for more on the latest news and policies impacting mining.
