National Researchers, Political Leaders Discuss the Role of Coal and Carbon in Energy Transition at 2023 Ramaco Research Rodeo

For the third year, Wyoming played host this past week to the world’s leading research conference focused on carbon and coal-to-products research, the Ramaco Research Rodeo (R3). The conference was held in Sheridan, and brought together Department of Energy (DOE) researchers and leadership, leading carbon and material scientists, and more, as well as appearances by the two leading U.S. senators on the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

R3 was hosted by Sheridan-based carbon technology and critical minerals company Ramaco Carbon, a subsidiary of 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. Held at Sheridan College, the event’s theme was “Coal’s Role in the Future of Energy Transition” and featured keynote addresses by U.S. Sen. John Barrasso (Wyoming), U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin (West Virginia), and senior leaders from both the Department of Energy and major national laboratories.

The event was largely comprised of technical sessions by researchers from around the world on the future role of coal in the energy transition and its use in creating high-value products and materials, as well as presentations on rare earth elements (REEs) and other carbon-related research.

In his opening remarks on the event’s first day, Sen. Barrasso praised the event for “bringing together innovative minds to discuss energy technology and research,” and Ramaco’s work in pioneering new uses for coal to develop higher-value products.

“I’m so proud of the work that the people of Wyoming are doing to develop coal-to-product technologies,” said Barrasso. “We’re finding ways to transform coal-derived carbon into everyday materials. These materials include asphalt, graphite, carbon fiber, and more…Wyoming has the natural resources to fuel the future… and (with) conferences like the Research Rodeo, Wyoming is bringing together great minds to develop innovative solutions.”

Keynote speaker Grant Bromhal, acting director of the Mineral Sustainability Division of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, further underlined this initiative. He highlighted the Department of Energy’s “carbon ore processing program, where we’re looking at developing technologies that allow us to produce valuable products, high-value and high-volume carbon products from coal. As we do this, our primary principles are how we use the entire resource.”