Mercuria CSR report 2022 - Flipbook - Page 52
Specifically, what in REEtec’s technology platform makes it cost
competitive and sustainable?
Thankfully there is no conflict between being cost competitive and operating in a sustainable
manner. On the contrary, in many situations one can improve both the cost competitiveness and
the sustainability by the same measures. Some key characteristics of REEtec’s manufacturing
process are that it consists of few process steps in a closed loop, it is highly automated, and it is
very energy efficient.
The closed loop set-up helps secure high yield in terms of output of finished product. In essence
we utilize our feedstock in a particularly good way. This is obviously good, both for cost and
sustainability. The closed loop also allows for recycling of process chemicals, again good for both
cost and sustainability. The close loop, without human exposure to process chemical, also provides
for a very safe working environment. The high level of automation helps control the process to
secure stable operations and high yields. And finally, we have made significant investments into
energy recovery. Given the significant increase in energy prices we have seen across many
markets over the last couple of years our investments into energy recovery have helped secure an
even more robust business case.
Through development of proprietary processes, we have demonstrated at industrial scale the
ability to recover close to 95% of the energy consumed. As a result, REEtec can offer its customers
NdPr with a CO2-footprint that is less than 10% of that the incumbents. This world leading CO2footprint is the result of both a very energy efficiency manufacturing process for NdPr and the
Norwegian energy mix, which consists predominantly of renewable energy in the form of
hydroelectric power. REEtec’s ability to help customers decarbonize their supply chains is clearly a
key part of our value proposition.
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Mercuria
CSR Report 2022
