关键矿物资源

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关键矿物资源

概览

虽然实现净零排放的呼声日高，但在抗击气候变化和减少碳排放的工作中有一个较少受到关注的方面，那就是能源转型对关键矿物资源的依赖程度。例如，国际能源署指出，生产一辆电动汽车所需的关键矿物资源（锂、钴、镍、铜、锰和石墨）的数量是生产传统汽车所需数量的七倍。

关键矿物资源的生产集中于少数国家，它们主要是新兴市场和前沿市场国家。而且，无论这些矿物来自哪些国家，中国都主导着大多数与能源转型息息相关的关键矿物资源的加工。

发达经济巿场的电动化进程依赖关键矿物资源的进口，而进口来源国往往是那些被视为采用不同于发达经济体的价值体系的国家，这促使发达经济体重塑其供应链。例如，美国2022年8月颁布的《通胀削减法案》（“IRA”）包含了与绿色能源税收激励措施有关的大量条款，旨在促进可再生能源的开发和利用，并加强关键矿物资源和可再生能源项目其他组成部分的美国供应链。包括英国、欧盟和日本在内的国家和地区也正在制定计划，以支持关键矿物资源的国内/区内生产和加工。

我们可以提供何种帮助？

孖士打（Mayer Brown）站在关键矿物资源法律领域的最前沿。我们的专职律师在这一能源转型重要领域拥有深厚的知识和经验，能够协助客户处理该领域的各种复杂监管问题。

我们可就以下类型的事宜提供法律服务：

矿物生产商和供应商之间的合资企业、收购和股权买卖协议，包括协助初创企业和小型企业处理税收问题和首次公开募股事宜，帮助其扩大业务、实现规模效应。
债务融资和筹资的结构设计，包括寻求替代融资来源，以满足不断增长的关键矿物资源需求。
鉴于此类资源定价的周期性和波动性以及可能的供应链故障因素，就应急规划和潜在重组提供咨询。
帮助采矿行业采用整体方法来减轻在反贿赂和反腐败、可持续发展、环境、人权等方面的潜在风险。
涉及国家、商业和投资条约的仲裁事宜，涉及多方（贷款人、发起人、开发商、政府和社会参与方）的建筑施工事宜。
提供关于美国《通胀削减法案》以及世界各地其他类似法规及其影响的最新动态和分析。

参见我们的交互式PDF，了解关键矿物资源
及其在能源转型中的角色

执业经验

Representative critical minerals experience involving Lithium, Nickel and Cobalt.

General Motors Co. in an investment with Lithium Americas to develop the Thacker Pass mine in Nevada, which is the largest known source of lithium in the US and the third largest in the world.
LSC Lithium B.V. in connection with the sale of all of the outstanding shares of Lithea Inc., the owner of the Pozuelos-Pastos Grandes lithium mining properties located in the Province of Salta, Argentina, to GFL International Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Ganfeng Lithium Co. Ltd., for a total consideration of US$962 million.
A major Japanese general trading conglomerate in its potential investment in the Sal de Vida Lithium Project (Catamarca/Argentina), and its potential investment in the Rincon Lithium Project (Salta/Argentina) prior to Rio Tinto’s acquisition of Rincon Mining in December 2021.
One of the largest Japanese trading companies in its minority investment in a US based industry leader in the recycle and reuse of scrap and end-of-life lithium-ion batteries and certain related agreements.
An African Development Financial Institution on its role as mandated lead arranger, and various other lenders, on a syndicated US$600 million copper and cobalt development financing facility for Trafigura. The facility will assist the development of cobalt and copper mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a region which contains some of the largest reserves of minerals that are required to catalyse the global energy transition towards a net-zero world.
Lenders in the refinancing and upsizing of Anglo Pacific Group PLC's existing revolving credit facility. Anglo Pacific Group PLC will use the facility to acquire a holding company that owns a 70 per cent net interest in a cobalt stream from Vale SA's Voisey's Bay nickel-cobalt-copper mine in Newfoundland.
The Bank of Nova Scotia as administrative agent in the financing and construction of Lundin’s Eagle Mine (nickel and copper) in the Upper Peninsula in Michigan and acted as local US counsel in connection with several follow on financings.
Lenders, including Finnvera, on the financing of the Kevitsa nickel mine in Finland.
Lenders on a senior debt facility for the development, construction costs and working capital for the Munali nickel mine in Zambia.
African Eagle Resources in the negotiation of project documentation for the Dutwa nickel project in Tanzania.
Lenders on the project financing of Baja Mining Corp for the construction and development of the Boleo copper-cobalt-zinc-manganese project located in Baja California Sur, Mexico. We also advised the lenders on the complex successful restructuring of the project financing arrangements.