In this issue
The Skillings Mining Review April 2021 edition celebrates the Western United States as a national treasure, highlighting its unique role in America’s mining, energy, and environmental heritage. From rich mineral deposits to pioneering innovation, the West remains central to the nation’s industrial future while facing complex challenges of sustainability, land use, and community engagement.
In the Americas section, we cover urgent headlines: the tragic loss of three miners in an illegal Colombian operation, cross-border M&A activity worth $1.01 billion in the Asia-Pacific mining sector, and the Minnesota Supreme Court’s mixed ruling on Polymet’s air permits. We also track Komatsu’s race to develop hydrogen-powered mining vehicles, a technology milestone that could redefine equipment markets worldwide.
Equipment and global developments also take the spotlight, from surging demand for heavy machinery in the Middle East and Africa (as seen on Ritchie Bros’ auctions) to Chinese-backed exploration in Laos’ Xaysomboun Province. Innovations like “Flying the New Bar with Pumps” demonstrate how mining equipment continues to push boundaries.
In the Global section, we report on R. David Williams receiving the Environmental Stewardship Distinguished Service Award, China’s record-setting iron ore imports in 2020, and promising new exploration data from the Lake Throssell Sulphate of Potash Project.
Finally, the Statistics section delivers clarity with global crude steel output declining 0.9% in 2020, alongside December 2020 crude steel production figures—data critical to understanding market trends as demand patterns shift.
Skillings Mining Review April 2021 captures a mining industry at a crossroads—honoring the legacy of the American West while chronicling the global forces of innovation, sustainability, and market dynamics shaping its future.
