The adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is driving three core fundamental shifts: the creation of cognitive supply chains through predictive logistics and demand forecasting; the establishment of algorithmic pricing and risk management that fundamentally alters trading strategies and hedging; and the rise of AI-enabled sustainability (Green Metal Tracking), which links production data to ESG compliance for value realisation. AI is the definitive competitive differentiator, separating agile, data-centric metal firms from legacy operators globally. The global energy and power industry is undergoing a fundamental and non-linear transformation driven by the widespread adoption of AI. These include the transition to Cognitive Grids, where AI enables the real-time, seamless integration of intermittent renewable energy sources (solar, wind) into the grid via hyper-accurate forecasting and dynamic load balancing. Secondly, AI is enabling predictive, Autonomous Operations across generation, transmission, and distribution, transitioning the sector from reactive maintenance to zero-downtime environments. Critically, AI is enabling the development of new business models, such as Energy-as-a-Service and dynamic pricing, fundamentally altering the utility-consumer relationship. The global Oil and Gas (O and G) industry, encompassing Upstream, Midstream, and Downstream sectors, is undergoing a fundamental shift from a traditional, risk-heavy, and reactive business model to an AI-enabled, autonomous, and predictive enterprise. This transformation is driven by AI’s unique ability to process the industry’s vast, heterogeneous datasets (seismic, telemetry, sensor) at speed. The core fundamental changes identified across academic and industry sources include the transition to Autonomous Field Operations through agentic AI in drilling and production; the systemic De-risking of the Upstream Sector via AI-powered geological and seismic data interpretation; and the creation of Cognitive Supply Chains and Trading that utilise predictive models for dynamic demand forecasting, pipeline flow optimisation, and risk management. Key transformations include the emergence of autonomous quarry operations, AI-driven supply chain optimisation, the transformation of business models towards data-as-a-service, and the profound impact of AI on global productivity and trade dynamics. The article surmises that AI is not merely an incremental tool but a foundational technology reshaping the value creation structure across multiple sectors globally.
Purpose – This paper examines South Korea’s potential status as a carbon leakage country, and the level of risk posed by the Korean emissions trading scheme (ETS) for Korean industries. The economic effects of border carbon adjustments (BCAs) to protect energy-intensive Korean industries in the process of achieving the carbon reduction target by 2030 through the Korean ETS are also analyzed. Design/methodology – First, using the Korean Input–Output (IO) table, this paper calculates the balance of emissions embodied in trade (BEET) and the pollution terms of trade (PTT) to determine Korean industries’ carbon leakage status. Analyses of the risk level posed by carbon reduction policy implementation in international trade are conducted for some sectors by applying the EU criteria. Second, using a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model, three BCA scenarios, exemption regulations (EXE), reimbursement (REB), and tariff reduction (TAR) to protect the energy-intensive industries under the Korean ETS are addressed. Compared to the baseline scenario of achieving carbon reduction targets by 2030, the effects of BCAs on welfare, carbon leakage, outputs, and trading are analyzed. Findings – As Korea’s industrial structure has been transitioning from a carbon importing to a carbon leaking country. The results indicate that some industrial sectors could face the risk of losing international competitiveness due to the Korean ETS. South Korea’s industries are basically exposed to risk of carbon leakage because most industries have a trade intensity higher than 30%. This could be interpreted as disproving vulnerability to carbon leakage. Although the petroleum and coal sector is not in carbon leakage, according to BEET and PTT, the Korean ETS exposes this sector to a high risk of carbon leakage. Non-metallic minerals and iron and steel sectors are also exposed to a high risk of carbon leakage due to the increased burden of carbon reduction costs embodied in the Korean ETS, despite relatively low levels of trade intensity. BCAs are demonstrated to have an influential role in protecting energy-intensive industries while achieving the carbon reduction target by 2030. The EXE scenario has the greatest impact on mitigation of welfare losses and carbon leakage, and the TAF scenario causes a disturbance in the international trade market because of the pricing adjustment system. In reality, the EXE scenario, which implies completely exempting energy-intensive industries, could be difficult to implement due to various practical constraints, such as equity and reduction targets and other industries; therefore, the REB scenario presents the most realistic approach and appears to have an effect that could compensate for the burden of economic activities and emissions regulations in these industries. Originality/value – This paper confirms the vulnerability of the Korean industrial the risk of carbon leakage, demonstrating that some industrial sectors could be exposed to losing international competitiveness by implementing carbon reduction policies such as the Korean ETS. The contribution of this paper is the identification of proposed approaches to protect Korean industries in the process of achieving the 2030 reduction target by analyzing the effects of BCA scenarios using a CGE model.
Abstract Worldwide there is a significant increase in amounts of wood biomass ash (WBA), a waste from wood biomass combustion process. In this case study, 21 different sources of wood biomass ash (WBA), namely fly ash, bottom ash, and mixed ash from 10 different power plants in the Republic of Croatia were characterised based on their physical-chemical properties. Compared to the criteria listed for the use of coal fly ash in the concrete industry (EN 450), most WBAs exhibit higher loss of ignition values, high CaO and MgO contents, and higher total alkali and sulfur content. The results show a higher amount of alkalies and heavy metals in fly ash (WBA-F) as compared to bottom ash (WBA-B), but also their potential stabilisation in glassy phases. Based on WBA characterisation results, collected WBAs were benchmarked and categorised for three different resource replacements in production of cement and concrete: 1) partial replacement of a raw material for clinker production; 2) partial cement replacement as a mineral admixture in cementitious composites, and 3) partial replacement of aggregates used for concrete production. For this a new method for WBAs quality-ranking ordering is proposed, based on a normalisation approach relative to some quality criteria. The proposed preliminary screening methodology enables to address an important technological challenge in high variability in quality parameters of WBAs originating from many different sources. It will help engineers in selecting from the huge number of available WBAs types the most suitable ones, on which further valorisation laboratory tests can be better planned.
EnglishModern models of sustainable economic growth are metal-intensive and will not be successful in the future unless a continuous supply of mineral-derived products is ensured. Despite this being logical, there is still a significant reluctance regarding mineral exploration and mining activities, often reflected in: (i) unfavourable public opinions; and (ii) absence of political measures or continuity of agendas that actually appreciate the way minerals are produced and the players directly or indirectly involved in this production. To succeed, the mining industry will have to (re)define its strategy and find innovative approaches to old problems and clearly demonstrate that mineral products can be efficiently delivered to support global development and assist suitable paths to welfare and quality of life, thus also providing real value to all concerned. In this study we give a concise review of the main challenges posed to the mining industry, and also indicate the most relevant opportunities and advance some proposals to constructively face the identified weaknesses and threats. The fundamental outcome is that the long-term balance between supply and demand of mineral products requires concerted actions on different fronts aiming: (i) the safeguarding of known resources; (ii) high-quality (scientifically and technologically driven) exploration surveys; (iii) improvements in mining and mineral transformation/ beneficiation; (iv) advances in consistent combinations of primary and secondary sources of raw materials, along with higher concerns on their judicious use; (v) effective and stable mining policies; and (vi) new insights on the role played by the mining industry through fruitful dialogues with society in general. EnglishLos modelos actuales de crecimiento economico sostenible resultan intensivos en el uso de metales, y no tendran exito en el futuro si no se asegura un suministro continuado de los productos derivados de los minerales. Aparte de esta evidencia, existe todavia un significativo rechazo relacionado con la exploracion mineral y las actividades mineras, a menudo reflejado en: (i) una opinion publica desfavorable; y (ii) la ausencia de medidas politicas o una continuidad en las agendas que valoren la manera en que se producen los minerales y a los actores directa o indirectamente envueltos en esta produccion. Para tener exito, la industria minera debera (re)definir su estrategia y encontrar acercamientos innovadores a los antiguos problemas, demostrando claramente que los productos minerales pueden ser suministrados eficientemente para mantener del desarrollo global y proporcionar rutas adecuadas al bienestar y la calidad de vida, proporcionando a su vez un valor real a todos los interesados. En este trabajo se realizara una revision concisa de los principales desafios que se encuentra la industria minera, senalando tambien las oportunidades mas relevantes y avanzando algunas propuestas para afrontar de manera constructiva las debilidades y amenazas identificadas. El resultado principal es que el equilibrio en el largo plazo, entre suministro y demanda de productos minerales, requiere acciones concertadas en diferentes frentes apuntando a: (i) la salvaguarda de los recursos conocidos; (ii) estudios geologicos de alta calidad (dirigidos cientifica y tecnologicamente); (iii) mejoras en mineria y transformacion/beneficio; (iv) avances en la combinacion de materias primas de origen primario y secundario, asi como una mayor preocupacion en su empleo; (v) una politica minera efectiva y estable; y (vi) una nueva percepcion del papel jugado por la industria minera mediante un dialogo fructifero con la sociedad en general.
In the event of total trade sanctions South Africa should have no difficulty in countering the ban on mineral exports, especially precious metals. Furthermore, earnings from precious metals are likely to increase in the short term followed by a gradual deterioration of these industries as cheaper substitutes are developed and producers from other countries make inroads into markets vacated by South African producers. In the manufacturing sector South Africa may benefit in the short term through import replacement and a drive towards self-sufficiency. However, in the long term factors such as scarcity of capital, technological obsolescence, disadvantages inherent in the lack of international co-operation and competition, and misallocation of resources would indicate that the cost of evading sanctions is too high. A disinvestment of portfolio investments is likely to cause a major decline in the prices of South African mining shares. A large scale disinvestment by multinational companies and foreign disinvestment of shares are likely to cause restructuring and increased economic concentration in the South African economy.