As Chief Sustainability Officer for Freeport-McMoRan, one of the largest global mining companies, Cobb will discuss the multiple elements that make the next several decades an exciting time to be part of the global mining sector.
Numerous studies have been published in the past two years predicting a large supply-demand gap for several commodities needed for the predicted energy transition, despite certain components of the “rising” demand (such as sluggish EV sales in Europe and North America or the rise in AI data processing centers) could be lower than predicted and the contribution of recycling to supply could be over-estimated.
To counter China’s significant lead in downstream processing, the development of new commodity supplies will require not only new mines but also substantial investment in downstream processing infrastructure. In the U.S., congressional action has focused on improving the permitting timelines for new mines as a means of reinvigorating domestic supply as well as providing funding support for critical minerals mines and processing facilities. However, multiple stakeholder groups are concerned that faster timelines could result in reduced environmental protections and opportunities for community input/engagement.
OEMs, particularly in the consumer electronics and automotive sectors, have set expectations on having responsible supply chains (starting with mines and downstream processing) and are defining “responsible” in terms of safety, environmental, social, human rights, nature, and other aspects that can be impacted by mining and processing operations. Companies are being pushed by regulations, shareholders, and stakeholders to transparently publish information on their “responsible” production performance. Cobb will review Freeport’s reports as examples.
Bio: Bill Cobb, vice president and chief sustainability officer of Freeport McMoRan, has responsibility for liability management, environmental services, responsible production, climate, sustainability, social responsibility, and community development. Cobb has over forty years of experience as an environmental professional, including over twenty years with the company. He has a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering and a Master of Science in Mineral Economics from Colorado School of Mines.