Elon Musk says Tesla “might get into mining” www.mining.com

One of the biggest applause lines of Elon Musk’s presentation to shareholders at Tesla’s annual meeting was the teasing of a new product – the cyberpunktruck (I assume it’s a working title).

Musk said the company spent a lot of time on the design; that it’s the coolest car he’s ever seen and that it will look like something from a sci-fi movie. Musk promised a reveal this summer; “hopefully” (silence from the crowd this time).

That’s exactly the kind of talk you expect from Musk. But the usually cocksure CEO actually brought up a potential roadblock to the launch of the cyberpunktruck (I’m beginning to warm to the name):

“There is not much point in adding product complexity if we don’t have enough batteries. Then it’s complexity without gain.

“We are matching the product roll out according to the scaling of battery production. That’s really the main limiting factor.

“As we scale battery production to very high levels, we actually have to look further down the supply chain. We might get into the mining business. Maybe. A little bit, at least.

“We will do whatever we have to do in order to ensure we scale at the fastest rate possible.”

Musk chuckled (or was it another case of the giggles) when he mentioned mining, but at least one of his ventures have built up some expertise in digging holes and tunnels – the Boring Company.

TESLA DEPLOYED MORE BATTERY POWER THAN ITS NEXT FOUR BIGGEST RIVALS COMBINED

And by the time the cyberpunktruck (rolling off my tongue now) enters full-scale production, asteroid mining by Space X could already be a reality (Tesla is not unfamiliar with production delays is what I’m saying).

If anyone making EVs realizes that battery production is the biggest obstacle to scale it would be Musk. Based on global EV battery deployment data Tesla is not just shaming US and European competitors, but also the hundreds of EV manufacturers registered in China.

In March this year, Tesla deployed more battery power than its next four biggest rivals combined. That includes no.2 BYD (Build Your Dream) backed by Warren Buffett as long ago as 2008.

In order to feed the Tesla battery beast, Musk announced a battery and powertrain investor day.

“Hopefully this summer; at least before the end of the year for sure,” Musk said and perhaps to make up for the tentativeness of that statement added: “This is a big deal.” But of course he says that about everything Tesla:

“If I was an outside investor I would really focus on two things: What is the timeline to full self-driving. What is your plan to scale battery production and get the cost per kilowatt hour down.

“It’s basically battery power and full self-driving. That’s the two strategic things that are most important.”

The progress on $/kWh is outpacing that of autonomous driving. In 2014 each kWh produced by a lithium-ion battery cost $290. This year it fell below $100 for the first time.

THE BATTERY REPRESENTS AT LEAST A THIRD OF THE COST OF AN ELECTRIC CAR AND RAW MATERIALS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BULK OF THE COST OF THE BATTERY

The battery represents at least a third of the cost of an electric car and raw materials are responsible for the bulk of the cost of the battery.

Falling prices aren’t good news for cobalt, lithium, nickel and graphite producers. But with electric vehicles only making up a tiny fraction of the global car parque, what miners lose in price they’ll certainly make up in volume.

The recording of the annual shareholder meeting below will start at around the 58-minute mark where Musk introduces the cyberpunktruck (where do I pay my deposit?) and talks about mining:

Mongolia’s Mongolsat Networks Optimizes Multi-Screen Video Delivery with Verimatrix and moTV.eu www.finance.yahoo.com

BroadcastAsia 2019 -- Verimatrix (INSD.PA), the leader in redefining the standard for connected devices and services with an innovative combination of security and data analytics, and moTV.eu today announced that they are jointly securing DVB-S delivery services offered by Mongolsat Networks. Leveraging the moTV.eu OTT/IPTV/hybrid platform, the Verimatrix Video Content Authority System (VCAS™) DVB Hybrid deployment protects Mongolsat’s Freeview TV service to set-top boxes (STBs). Additionally, the Verimatrix MultiRights® OTT solution enables advanced TV Everywhere delivery by providing digital rights management (DRM) for OTT content streamed to mobile devices.

VCAS for DVB Hybrid enables Mongolsat Networks to deploy a modern broadcast video system that extends subscriber reach by integrating premium OTT delivery through HTTP Live Streaming (HLS) and MPEG-DASH protocols. It is also completely compliant with applicable DVB standards and pre-integrated with a broad range of headend and major STB chipset vendors.

“In order to respond to the rapidly rising demands for multi-screen delivery in the Mongolian pay-TV space, we knew we needed to find a flexible and scalable platform for multi-DRM support, but we were also looking for a vendor that we could fully trust,” said Mr. Bumchin N, general manager at Mongolsat Networks. “Verimatrix came to the forefront due to its outstanding and reaffirmed reputation for providing a modernized and adaptable approach to security. We are excited to be among those who are able to quickly react to changing security models with VCAS.”

The addition of MultiRights OTT enables Mongolsat Networks to solve multi-DRM challenges by providing harmonized rights management across networks and devices. The framework allows for the inclusion of any third-party DRM scheme and client devices under the VCAS umbrella for complete end-to-end management of revenue security.

“Maximizing the monetization of content across a multi-screen delivery environment comes with several challenges, and Mongolsat Networks selected Verimatrix as we are able to future-proof its services for years to come with this comprehensive VCAS deployment,” said Steve Oetegenn, COO of Verimatrix. “This single content authority approach eliminates technical and commercial challenges of extending DVB Hybrid services, so that Mongolsat can maintain its focus on expanding business models and staying ahead of competition.”

moTV.eu, the systems integrator for this deployment, develops complete end-to-end ecosystems for pay-TV operators from the source of the stream through transcoding up to the end-user applications.

“moTV.eu is happy to support Mongolsat Networks in its expansion to offer OTT services for second screen devices, working alongside Verimatrix. Mongolsat’s subscribers will have options to view their favorite channels not only on linear services, but also using catchup, time-shift and VOD,” said Radim Benovsky, sales director, moTV.eu

To learn more, visit Verimatrix at BroadcastAsia 2019 booth #6L2-01 or schedule a meeting at www.verimatrix.com/BCA2019.

About Mongolsat Networks
Mongolsat Networks is a direct-to-home satellite TV service provider. Its Mongolsat FreeViewTV service delivers more than 80 channels of local and foreign channels using set-top box without any monthly fee. The service is delivered in high quality to essentially anywhere in Mongolia. To learn more, visit www.mongolsat.mn.

About moTV.eu
moTV.eu is an OTT/IPTV/hybrid platform, which includes the complete system of processing and distribution of streams in unicast, multicast and broadcast users’ applications and administration of customers. The entire system comes from one supplier, ensuring its reliability and eliminating complicated and expensive integration of multiple systems and new features from different suppliers.

About Inside Secure/Verimatrix
Inside Secure/Verimatrix (Euronext Paris – INSD) is redefining the standard for connected devices and services with an innovative combination of security and data analytics that maximizes revenues, protects reputations and enables growth. The company serves a range of industries and markets, including entertainment, mobile, computer networks and internet of things (IoT). The company offers easy-to-use software solutions, cloud services and silicon IP that provides unparalleled security and business intelligence. With more than 24 years of experience and a solid reputation, Inside Secure/Verimatrix protects customers’ most valuable content, transactions, applications, and communications. With 18 office locations in 12 countries supporting more than 1,200 customers, the company is uniquely positioned to secure and enable the connected future. For more information, visitwww.insidesecure.com and www.verimatrix.com.

Asiana Airlines adds Mongolia service from July 2019 www.routesonline.com

Asiana Airlines starting next month is adding service to Mongolia, opened for booking since early this month. From 09JUL19, the Star Alliance carrier will operate Seoul Incheon – Ulan Baatar route, with Airbus A330-300 aircraft. This route will be served 3 times a week.

EU and Mongolia complete nuclear safety project www.eeas.europa.eu

The European Union (EU), together with its Mongolian partners, has successfully implemented a joint project aimed at enhancing and strengthening the nuclear safety and safeguards regulatory framework in Mongolia in accordance with the highest standards of safety and best international practice adopted in the EU.

This €1.1 million project was financed through the EU’s Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation (INSC). Within its framework, implemented in close cooperation with the Executive Office of the Nuclear Energy Commission, extensive knowledge transfer, including on-the-job training in the EU, exchanges of methods, know-how and best practices took place over a period of 32 months in the following areas:

Strengthen regulatory framework and infrastructure to ensure the safety and security of radioactive sources;
Assessment of national arrangements and infrastructure for radioactive waste management;
Establish a long-term safe management plan for a damaged irradiator;
Establish national system for accounting and control of nuclear materials;
Development of regulatory framework for management of naturally occurring radioactive materials;
Developed radiation emergency preparedness and response plan.
Mr Traian Laurentiu HRISTEA, Ambassador of the EU Delegation to Mongolia, highlighted: “The European Union is a close partner to Mongolia in a wide number of development cooperation areas including in the promotion of the application of best international standards and practice for nuclear safety and safeguards. We hope this knowledge transfer between the EU and Mongolia as facilitated by the project will contribute to more effective regulatory framework development and implementation in Mongolia."

Mr. G. MANLAIJAV, Secretary of the Nuclear Energy Commission and Head of the Executive Office, said: “Nuclear Energy Commission, which has the responsibility for coordination and formulation of activities related to nuclear and radiation issues in Mongolia, must always increase its capacity to the world level. The cooperation project funded by the European Union and implemented by RISKAUDIT and its consortium partners over 32 months is very beneficial for Mongolia, specifically to adopt several aspects of regulation implemented in the European Union, covering technical aspects related to nuclear safety, as well as the managerial aspects such as the management systems and human resource development."

The project was implemented by a consortium of Paris-based RISKAUDIT as consortium leader, German companies WISUTEC and GRS, and the Ministry of Health of Luxembourg.

Background

Following the Chornobyl accident in 1986, the EU launched a nuclear safety programme under the TACIS (Technical Assistance to the Commonwealth of Independent States) which, between 1991 and 2006, allocated some €1.3 billion to nuclear safety and security projects.

From 2007 to 2013, the EU expanded its nuclear safety assistance to third countries under the Instrument for Nuclear Safety Cooperation with a total budget allocation of €524 million. In June 2014, the strategy for the implementation of Phase 2 of the INSC (2014-2020) was agreed, committing an extra €225 million for nuclear safety projects.

Cooperation with Mongolia began in 2011, and to date, about €2.1 million has been committed for Mongolia under the INSC. Further cooperation with Mongolia is planned at regional level in the area of monitoring capacities of Mongolian laboratories.

Establishing effective cooperation between Mongolian and European regulatory authorities is contributing to the development of a common understanding in implementing requirements, standards and international best practice in nuclear safety.

Project Details

In the completed project “Regulatory Regime for Nuclear Safety and Enhancing Radiation Safety and Nuclear Safeguards in Mongolia”, approximately 20 highly experienced EU and Mongolian technical and scientific experts were involved to assist the regulatory authority in the development of regulations, technical guidelines on radioactive waste management, safeguards, search and identification of orphan radioactive sources, management of naturally occurring radioactive materials, emergency preparedness and response, and other areas.

In order to optimise know-how transfer to the Mongolian organisations, several training courses were organised, both in Ulaanbaatar and abroad, including Hungary, Germany, Luxembourg, and France.

Specifically, the following results have been achieved under the project in close collaboration of the European and Mongolian experts:

Development of draft regulations, as well as guidelines to support the implementation of the regulations. The drafts will be made publicly available for review and comment by NEC at their website http://www.nea.gov.mn;
Development of human resources at NEC and General Agency for Specialized Inspection (GASI), and improvement of the knowledge and skills required to effectively implement the regulatory framework;
For more information on this project:

EU: Mr Martin Andersen, Programme Manager (INSC), Martin.Andersen@ec.europa.eu

NEC: Mr Enkhgerel Nyamdavaa, Project Leader, e.nyamdavaa@nea.gov.mn

Contractor: RISKAUDIT International, Michel Chouha, Contract Manager, Michel.Chouha@riskaudit-int.org

Global AI chip market to grow tenfold in next five years: white paper www.chinadaily.com.cn

BEIJING - The global market for mobile artificial intelligence (AI) chips is expected to reach $3.8 billion in 2022, a tenfold growth from the 2017 figure, said a white paper.

China to roll out new rare earths policy ‘as soon as possible’ www.rt.com

Amid the ongoing trade war with the US, the Chinese development and reform commission is currently developing new state policies on rare earth metals, and intends to make them public as soon as possible.
The spokeswoman for the Chinese state planning agency NDRC, Meng Wei, did not provide any further details at a Monday press conference.

Japan asks Mongolia to help with abduction issue www.nhk.or.jp

Japan's foreign minister has asked his Mongolian counterpart for help in resolving the issue of Japanese nationals kidnapped by North Korea.

President Kh. Battulga delivers speech at the opening of Khaan Quest-2019 www.montsame.mn

Ulaanbaatar/MONTSAME/. At the opening of Khaan Quest-2019 held at the Five Hills Training Area on June 14, President and Commander-In-Chief of the Mongolian Armed Forces Kh.Battulga delivered a speech.

PM U.Khurelsukh receives Foreign Minister of Japan Taro Kono www.montsame.mn

Ulaanbaatar /MONTSAME/ On June 16, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan Taro Kono, who is visiting Mongolia, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister of Mongolia U.Khurelsukh.

China, Russia, Mongolia vow to strengthen Trilateral Cooperation www.beltroad.news

Presidents of China, Russia and Mongolia pledged to strengthen trilateral cooperation during their meeting here on Friday.

The trilateral meeting, the fifth of its kind, among Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Mongolian President Khaltmaa Battulga was held on the sidelines of the 19th Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit.

The heads of state reviewed the achievements of trilateral cooperation and discussed the overall plan for the next phase.

Since the last gathering of the heads of state in China’s eastern port city of Qingdao last year, the three sides have maintained close communication and cooperation, and the trilateral cooperation has gradually developed, said Xi.

Noting that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the China-Russia and China-Mongolia diplomatic relations, Xi said China will hold celebrations with the two countries respectively.

Against the backdrop of rising protectionism and unilateralism, the three countries need to firmly promote regional cooperation and achieve common development, he said.

They should focus on the alignment of the three countries’ development strategies, promote comprehensive cooperation in all fields, and jointly release the positive signal of maintaining multilateralism and creating an open world economy, said Xi.

For the next phase, the three sides should deepen political mutual trust, increase mutual support, respect each other’s core interests, and strengthen coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs, Xi stressed.

The Chinese president said the three countries should promote the implementation of cooperative projects within the framework of the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor, promote customs facilitation measures, upgrade major ports, and deepen sub-national cooperation.

The cooperation and coordination within the framework of the SCO should be expanded, said Xi.

Putin said Russia is committed to deepening its relations with China and Mongolia on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and is ready to step up cooperation to promote the synergy between the Eurasian Economic Union, the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, and Mongolia’s Steppe Road program.

He also called on the three parties to enhance inter-connectivity in transportation, expand trade, and bolster cooperation in energy and finance.

Battulga said it is Mongolia’s unswerving policy to deepen the friendly cooperation with China and Russia, adding that his country is committed to pushing forward the trilateral cooperation and the construction of the China-Mongolia-Russia Economic Corridor.

He called on the three sides to set up institutional arrangements so as to accelerate the construction of a network of cross-border highways, facilitate customs clearance, strengthen energy cooperation, and discuss the construction of regional power grids.