At the Mining Forum Americas 2026, Ivanhoe Mines founder Robert Friedland outlined the company's major operations, including the highly profitable Kamoa-Kakula copper project in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the upcoming Platreef precious metals mine in South Africa. He emphasized that critical minerals like scandium and gallium have transformed into vital strategic assets due to their indispensable role in artificial intelligence, defense systems, and modern electronics. Friedland also warned that Western reliance on Chinese supply chains creates severe national security vulnerabilities amid escalating export restrictions. To counter these challenges, he highlighted innovative pulsed power technology from I-Pulse and I-ROX aimed at revolutionizing rock breaking, drilling, and geothermal energy production. Finally, he detailed various government-backed partnerships and funding initiatives across the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Chile designed to secure future metal supplies and maintain technological sovereignty.
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