I-Deep Seabed Minerals Awakwazi Ukusekela Uguquko Oluluhlaza: Ingxenye 1

Izinkampani zezimayini ukusunduza izimayini ezijulile zolwandle (DSM) njengoba kudingeka kuguquko oluluhlaza. Bahlose ukukhipha amaminerali afana ne-cobalt, ithusi, i-nickel, ne-manganese, bethi lezi zimbiwa ziyadingeka ukuze kuliwe nokuguquguquka kwesimo sezulu kanye nokudlulela emnothweni ophansi we-carbon. 

Eqinisweni, lokhu kulandisa kuzama ukusenza sikholelwe ukuthi umonakalo ongenakulungiseka ezinhlobonhlobo zezinto eziphilayo ekujuleni kolwandle kuwububi obudingekayo endleleni eya ekuqothulweni kwekhabhoni. Izimoto zikagesi (EV), ibhethri, nabakhiqizi bezinto zikagesi; ohulumeni; kanti abanye bagxile ekushintsheni kwamandla baya ngokuya bengavumelani. Esikhundleni salokho, ngokusungula izinto ezintsha kanye nemifelandawonye yokudala, bakha indlela engcono: Izinyathelo zakamuva zokuqanjwa kabusha kwebhethri zibonisa ukuqhela ekukhipheni amaminerali ajulile olwandle, futhi kuthuthukiswe umnotho oyindilinga ozothobisa ukuncika komhlaba ezimayini zasemhlabeni. 

Lokhu kuthuthuka kwenzeka ngokuhambisana nokukhula kokuqashelwa kokuthi uguquko lwamandla esimeme alukwazi ukwakhiwa ngezindleko zokuvula imboni yokukhipha, elungele ukucekela phansi i-ecosystem eqondwa kancane yomhlaba (ulwandle olujulile) kuyilapho iphazamisa izinsiza ezibalulekile ezihlinzekayo. I-United Nations Environment Programme Initiative (UNEP FI) ikhishwe umbiko we-2022 - okuqondiswe kubabukeli emkhakheni wezezimali, njengamabhange, izinkampani zomshwalense, nabatshalizimali - ezingozini zezezimali, zebhayoloji, nezinye zezimayini ezijulile olwandle. Lo mbiko uphetha ngokuthi “ayikho indlela ebonakala kusengaphambili lapho ukuxhaswa ngezimali kwemisebenzi yezimayini zasolwandle kungabhekwa njengokuhambisana Izimiso Zezezimali Eziqhubekayo Zomnotho Oluhlaza.” Ngisho neThe Metals Company (TMC), omunye wabasekeli be-DSM abanomsindo kakhulu, uyavuma ukuthi ubuchwepheshe obusha angeke zidinge amaminerali ajulile olwandle, nokuthi izindleko ze-DSM bayehluleka ukuthethelela imisebenzi yezentengiselwano. 

Njengoba amehlo ebheke emnothweni oluhlaza wesikhathi esizayo, ukusungulwa kwezobuchwepheshe kuvula indlela yenguquko eqhubekayo ngaphandle kwamaminerali ajulile olwandle noma ubungozi obukhona e-DSM. Sihlanganise uchungechunge lwamabhulogi olunezingxenye ezintathu, olugqamisa le ntuthuko kuzo zonke izimboni ezihlukahlukene.

Ukuqanjwa kabusha kwebhethri kudlula isidingo samaminerali ajulile olwandle

Ubuchwepheshe bebhethri buyashintsha futhi bushintsha imakethe, ngezinto ezintsha ayidingi i-nickel encane noma i-cobalt: amaminerali amabili azoba abavukuzi angazama ukuvela phansi olwandle. Ukunciphisa ukuncika kanye nesidingo salezi zimbiwa kunikeza indlela yokugwema i-DSM, ukunciphisa izimayini zasemhlabeni, futhi kumiswe ukukhathazeka ngamaminerali e-geopolitical. 

Izinkampani sezivele zitshala imali kwezinye izindlela zamabhethri enziwe nge-nickel- kanye ne-cobalt, zithembisa izindlela ezintsha zokuthola imiphumela engcono.

Isibonelo, u-Clarios, umholi womhlaba kubuchwepheshe bebhethri, ubhangqwe ne-Natron Energy Inc. ukukhiqiza amabhethri e-sodium-ion ngobuningi. Amabhethri e-sodium-ion, enye indlela ethandwa kakhulu kumabhethri e-lithium-ion, ayinawo amaminerali njenge-cobalt, i-nickel, noma ithusi. 

Abakhiqizi be-EV futhi basebenzisa ubuchwepheshe obusha ukwehlisa isidingo sabo samaminerali ajulile olwandle.

I-Tesla isebenzisa okwamanje ibhethri ye-lithium iron phosphate (LFP). kuzo zonke izimoto zeModel Y neModel 3, ezingadingi nickel noma i-cobalt. Ngokufanayo, inkampani ekhiqiza izimoto zikagesi engunombolo 2 emhlabeni, i-BYD, yamemezela izinhlelo ukuthuthela kumabhethri e-LFP futhi kude namabhethri asekelwe ku-nickel-, cobalt-, ne-manganese (NCM). I-SAIC Motors ikhiqize i ama-EVs okuqala e-hydrogen asekelwe phezulu aphezulu ngo-2020, kwathi ngoJuni 2022, inkampani ese-UK iTevva yethula uhlelo iloli lokuqala likagesi elisebenza nge-hydrogen cell. 

Kusukela kubakhiqizi bebhethri kuya kubakhiqizi be-EV, izinkampani zenza izinyathelo zokunciphisa ukuncika okucatshangwayo kumaminerali, kuhlanganise nalawo asuka olwandle olujulile. Ngaleso sikhathi ababengaba abavukuzi base bekwazi ukubuyisa izinto ezivela ekujuleni - abavumayo kungase kungenzeki ngokobuchwepheshe noma ngokomnotho – singase singadingi nayinye yazo. Kodwa-ke, ukunciphisa ukusetshenziswa kwalawa maminerali kuwucezu olulodwa nje lwendida.