Metals
Aeon Metals’ flagship is the 100% owned Walford Creek.
Renewable energy transition
Battery and electrification metals are pivotal in solving some of today’s greatest environmental challenges.
Technologies that are critical for fighting climate change rely on copper, cobalt, zinc and lead making them essential metals for a low-carbon future. Their ability to increase energy efficiency means they are favourable for renewable energy systems which require significantly more copper and cobalt than traditional energy systems.
Electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers are looking to produce more energy efficient electric vehicles and battery storage systems which is enabled by cobalt. The use our metals will continue to increase as manufacturers look to produce more energy efficient electric vehicles and battery storage systems.
COPPER IN RENEWABLE SYSTEMS
- A transition metal with a single valence electron, it is ductile, conductive and exhibits low reactivity.
- Currently the most efficient, cost effective material for use in cables, batteries, transistors and inverters.
- Ductile properties allows it to be rolled into sheets and pulled into wires without breaking.
- High thermal and electrical conductivity is used in renewable energy systems to generate, store and transmit power from solar, hydro, thermal and wind energy across the world.
- An infinitely recyclable resource and can be reused without any loss in performance. Recycling copper saves energy, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and extends the life of natural resources.
COBALT IN RENEWABLE SYSTEMS
- Exhibits a special magnetic property known as ferromagnetism, the ability to become strongly magnetised in the direction of a magnetic field when subjected to one.
- Has a special ability to retain strength and magnetic properties at high temperatures making it an essential part of lithium-ion batteries.
- Its high energy density allows batteries to be lightweight and energy dense, supplying them with the range and durability needed by consumers.
- Its recyclability and energy storage capabilities promote a more sustainable, greener EV battery supply chain.
NICKEL IN RENEWABLE SYSTEMS
- Hard, malleable, ductile metal with a valency of two
- A good conductor of heat and energy
- Helps deliver higher energy density and greater storage capacity in batteries at a lower cost
ZINC IN RENEWABLE SYSTEMS
- High heat capacity and heat conductivity.
- Forms an impervious coating of its own oxide on exposure to the atmosphere and hence the metal is more resistant to ordinary atmospheres than iron and corrodes at a much lower rate.
Supply and demand fundamentals
We expect the demand for our metals to increase significantly in line with the growth of renewable energy generation, storage and transmission sectors.
Cobalt
- Main use has historically been li-ion batteries for portable devices, representing 50-60% of available material
- Aeon expects portable and electric vehicle battery requirements to dominate near-future demand growth
- Strong demand for ethically sourced cobalt
Copper
- Historic primary use in power cables and wiring
- Has a diverse range of additional uses including pipes, taps, value fittings and roof plates
- Aeon expects renewable energy infrastructure to be the single largest driver for future copper demand
Nickel
- Mainly used as an additive in stainless steel (>65%) and many other alloys
- Continued trend to high-nickel chemistry batteries
- Aeon expects battery use to dominate future demand growth
Zinc
- Primarily used for corrosion protection in wind energy production
- Present in solar cells and for corrosion protection in solar panel structures
- Future demand potential in next generation battery technology
Long-term mine decline and challenges associated with the next major phase of global copper and cobalt projects creates a ready need for new mine developments.
Cobalt
- Majority of mine production comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo (68% in 2021)
- Australia and the US are developing projects which will bring incremental supply to the market by 2027
Copper
- Mine supply expected to peak in 2025 before falling due to depletion
- Important Chilean and Peruvian supply risk could manifest in lower-than-expected outputs
Nickel
- Indonesia is currently the most significant producer, with capacity additions expected to continue
- Non-Indonesia supply (from major producers) has experienced losses in recent years
Zinc
- Chinese domestic extraction of Zinc expected to continue to decline
- We believe resource base replenishment projects will not meet growing demand for zinc ore
