The annual Ramaco Research Rodeo conference
focused this year on carbon products, rare earth elements,
artificial intelligence, and more
SHERIDAN, Wyo., July 15,
2024 /PRNewswire/ -- For the fourth year, an annual
research conference in Wyoming
brought together Department of Energy (DOE) researchers and
leadership, leading scientists from around the world, federal law
enforcement, and more, as well as special video remarks by three
leading U.S. senators — Sens. John
Barrasso (R-WY), Shelley Moore
Capito (R-WV), and Joe
Manchin (I-WV) — and U.S. Congresswoman Harriet Hageman (R-WY). Staff representatives
for Senators Barrasso and Cynthia
Lummis (R-WY) also attended.
The Ramaco Research Rodeo, or R3, is the world's leading
research conference focused on coal-to-products research, rare
earth element exploration, artificial intelligence, and critical
minerals. Now in its fourth year, the conference was held in
Sheridan, and hosted by coal,
critical mineral, and carbon technology company Ramaco Resources,
Inc. (NASDAQ: METC), in partnership with the International Centre
for Sustainable Carbon, a technology collaboration program
organized under the auspices of the Paris-based International Energy Agency.
In his opening remarks on the event's first day, Sen. Barrasso
praised event attendees for their research and hard work.
"This conference brings together innovative minds to share and
discuss research on new energy technologies," said Sen. Barrasso,
the ranking member of the U.S. Senate Energy Committee. "Our
nation's ability to develop these technologies is key to our energy
security, and there's no better place in the country to find energy
resources than Wyoming.
"Some in this country mistakenly believe that coal has no place
in the future. They're wrong. … Coal has other potential uses in
addition to electricity generation. Researchers are discovering new
ways to transform coal-derived carbon into everyday materials.
These include asphalt, graphite, and carbon fiber. Coal has also
shown itself to be a source of rare earth elements. These elements
are important to both the energy and defense
sectors," Barrasso said.
The event highlighted advances in scientific research and new
uses for coal as a feedstock for high-value products and materials.
Rep. Hageman focused on this work in her remarks.
"Ramaco and other research groups, working with the Department
of Energy's national labs, has opened up exciting new areas of
possibly using coal to be the precursor for a host of advanced
carbon products and materials, which could change the landscape on
important new materials like synthetic graphite activated carbon
fibers, graphene, and other 21st century carbon
products," said Hageman.
Sen. Manchin praised Ramaco's work in developing critical
minerals, both in terms of metallurgical coal for steel, as well as
the rare earth element deposit it is exploring in Wyoming.
"Critical minerals are essential to our everyday lives, from the
technologies we need to support our military readiness, to the cell
phones in our pockets and the cars that we drive," said Manchin,
Chairman of the U.S. Senate Energy Committee. "That's why it's so
vital for our energy and national security that the United States establish secure and
dependable supply chains for extraction, processing, production,
and recycling of critical minerals."
In her comments, Sen. Capito also noted the importance of the
U.S. becoming more competitive in the production of critical
minerals.
"The national security aspect of this underscores the need to
bolster our domestic supply of minerals and unleash growth and
production right here on our shores," said Capito. "Otherwise, we
risk China stepping in to benefit
and growing their influence in the world."
Other key R3 presenters included former Assistant Secretary for
Fossil Energy for the U.S. Department of Energy Steven Winberg,
Tae-Yoon Kim, head of critical
minerals research at the International Energy Agency,
Andrew Minchener from the International Centre for Sustainable
Carbon, Edgar Lara-Curzio from Oak
Ridge National Laboratory, Robert
Spelbrink from the Federal Bureau of Investigations,
Burt Thomas from the National Energy
and Technology Laboratory, Ariel
Furst from the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology, and Ramaco CEO and Chairman Randall Atkins.
"These are transformative times, especially from a technological
perspective," said Atkins. "That's why it's so important to get out
of our silos and share what we're working on. As always, it was
fascinating to hear from some of the world's leading minds in these
fields, and again learn the ways which coal can play a significant
role in a new carbon future."
For more details surrounding R3, including a full agenda, please
visit www.r3-conference.com. For video and imagery of the
event, please contact press@ramacometc.com.
About Ramaco Resources, Inc.
Ramaco Resources, Inc. is an operator and developer of
high-quality, low-cost metallurgical coal in southern West
Virginia and southwestern Virginia, as well as an
emerging potential producer of rare earth elements and critical
minerals in Wyoming. Its executive offices are
in Lexington, Kentucky, with
operational offices in Charleston, West
Virginia and Sheridan, Wyoming. The Company currently has four active
mining complexes in Central Appalachia and the Brook Mine
in Sheridan, Wyoming, where
the company and researchers from the Department of Energy's
National Energy Technology Laboratory have discovered potentially
world-class deposits of rare earth elements and critical minerals.
Contiguous to the Wyoming mine, Ramaco operates a
research and pilot facility related to the production of advanced
carbon products and materials from coal as well as a testing
facility for its rare earth production. In connection with these
activities, it holds a body of roughly 50 intellectual property
patents, pending applications, exclusive licensing agreements and
various trademarks. For more information about us, please visit our
website at www.ramacoresources.com. For more information,
contact investor relations at (859) 244-7455.
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SOURCE Ramaco Resources, Inc.