Episode 87: Moly, vanadium & free trade ft. MacLean Engineering

We're getting you ready for mining conference season with updates on the biggest trends, and hot topics, in the industry! This week Matt digs into recent buzz around molybdenum (8:05) and vanadium (10:00). We break down notes from BMO Capital Markets on the supply-demand fundamentals for the industrial minerals, and talk the impact of regulatory reforms in China. What's the deal with vanadium, anyway? And why is moly trading near a four-year high? Meanwhile, Lesley sits down with Northern Miner alumn, and resident cartoonist, John Kilburn to talk about the recently-released, 262-page anthologogy of his work. (13:05) We dig into Kilburn's history — which includes working as a mining engineer, broker, journalist, equity analyst and investor — and the sources of inspiration for his important commentary on the business. Matt also digs into the recent chatter around North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiations between Canada, the United States and Mexico. (24:30) What are the implications for the natural resource sectors, and where are we in the process? Finally, we're joined by MacLean Engineering's fleet-electrification product manager, Anthony Griffiths to chat about battery-powered mining equipment and the implications of electric vehicles in underground mining. (33:00) We talk about Goldcorp's (TSX: G; NYSE: GG) implementation of the technology at its Borden development project in Ontario, and outline various innovation challenges faced by the mining industry. Chairman and chief owner of our weekly sponsor McEwen Mining (TSX: MUX; NYSE: MUX), Rob McEwen, joins us to chat about the company (29:30). Articles referenced: New book: The Art and Humour of John Kilburn – Cartoons from The Northern Miner: http://www.northernminer.com/news/new-book-art-humour-john-kilburn-cartoons-northern-miner/1003792274/ BMO raises price forecast for molybdenum: http://www.northernminer.com/commodities-markets/bmo-raises-price-forecast-molybdenum/1003792909/ Vanadium ‘metal to watch’ in 2018, analyst says: http://www.northernminer.com/news/vanadium-metal-watch-2018-analyst-says/1003792703/ ‘We can use the power of machine learning’: PMF roundtable discusses innovation in mining: http://www.northernminer.com/news/pmf-roundtable-discusses-innovation-mining/1003791762/ Expert roundtable discusses perception of mining: http://www.northernminer.com/news/experts-northern-miners-progressive-mine-forum-discuss-innovation-csr/1003791207/ Iamgold CEO Letwin’s passionate keynote on cost control, innovation and gold’s bright future: http://www.northernminer.com/people-in-mining/full-transcript-iamgold-ceo-letwin-cost-control-innovation-golds-bright-future/1003790792/ Nevada green-lights McEwen Mining’s Gold Bar: www.northernminer.com/news/mcewen-mi…da/1003791264/ Video: Progressive Mine Forum 2017: www.northernminer.com/news/progressi…am/1003790631/ BMO’s Hamilton on industrial and commodity outlook: www.northernminer.com/news/bmos-hami…ok/1003792601/ Music Credits: "OctoBlues" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ "AcidJazz" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ "Isolated" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/