Skillings Mining Review June 2019: June 2019 highlighted how politics, global trade, and community pressures were reshaping mining’s trajectory. In the U.S., coal remained under scrutiny as Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez accepted an invitation to tour underground coal mines, putting the Green New Deal rhetoric face-to-face with mining realities. Commentary underscored the mounting challenge: demand for steam coal was falling sharply, forcing operators and policymakers to confront the economic and social costs of decline.
Copper also drew attention. Analysts flagged rising dangers in the copper sector, with calls for bold leadership from Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as he navigated competing pressures of development and environmental responsibility.
The cover story examined Cleveland-Cliffs, a company that remained central to the U.S. iron ore landscape. As iron ore markets tightened globally, stakeholders watched closely, with global iron ore prices forecast to rise and Rio Tinto projecting market stability through 2019. At the same time, international developments like a Chilean mining company’s lawsuit revealed how disputes over resources stretched across jurisdictions.
In Minnesota’s Iron Range, labor and regulation remained flashpoints. The IRRR considered a new site to replace Radovich’s, while the Iron Range Agency’s hiring complaint prompted Governor Walz to act. Legal tensions also mounted: Minnesota courts prepared for challenges to Twin Metals’ permits, and Cleveland-Cliffs agreed to pay $850,000 for air pollution on the Iron Range. Environmental disputes escalated as lawsuits targeted Cliffs and the Minnesota DNR dropped its case on separate issues, showing how mining law was being contested on multiple fronts.
Finance and governance also featured prominently, with Minnesota grappling over how to balance taconite tax revenues with regulatory compliance. Meanwhile, companies globally sought new strategies to hedge against market volatility while still investing in long-term projects.
The June 2019 edition captured the crosscurrents of the moment: declining coal demand, cautious optimism for iron ore, rising copper risks, and ongoing legal and political battles that would shape the mining industry’s future.
