The Northern Miner podcast – episode 87: Moly & vanadium, TNM cartoonist JK ft. MacLean Engineering

We’re getting you ready for mining conference season with updates on the biggest trends and hottest topics in the industry!

This week Matt digs into the 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 discuss the impact of regulatory reforms in China. What’s the deal with vanadium, anyway? Why is moly trading near a four-year high?

Meanwhile, Lesley sits down with Northern Miner alum and resident cartoonist John Kilburn to discuss his newly published 262-page anthology, The Art and Humour of John Kilburn: Cartoons from The Northern Miner. (13:05).

We find out about Kilburn’s history — which includes working as a mining engineer, broker, journalist, equity analyst and investor — and what inspires him to create mining cartoons.

Matt also delves into the chatter around North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiations between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico (24:30). What are the implications for the natural resource sector?

Finally, we’re joined by MacLean Engineering’s fleet-electrification product manager, Anthony Griffiths, to chat about battery-powered mining equipment and electric vehicle usage in underground mining (33:00). We note Goldcorp‘s (TSX: G; NYSE: GG) decision to use such technology as it develops its Borden underground gold mine in Ontario, and outline innovation challenges faced by the mining industry.

Finally, Rob McEwen, chairman and chief owner of our weekly sponsor, McEwen Mining (TSX: MUX; NYSE: MUX), joins us to tell us about recent developments at the company (29:30).

Subscribe, rate and follow us on SoundCloud, iTunes, YouTube, Google Play, Stitcher or RSS Feed!