Scientists at the National Institute of Materials Science (NIMS) in Japan have created a highly flexible titanium-nickel alloy that could pave the way for revolutionary applications such as shape-shifting aircraft and super-strong artificial muscles. This new alloy combines the strength of steel with the ability to stretch like rubber, potentially overcoming the long-standing trade-off between strength and flexibility. Shape-shifting aircraft...
Sophia Schmitz
EcoPro and China’s GEM Partner to Build Integrated Cathode Material Ecosystem in Indonesia
EcoPro has announced plans to collaborate with Chinese precursor manufacturer GEM to develop an integrated cathode material business in Indonesia. This partnership will encompass the entire cathode material value chain, including smelting, precursor production, and cathode materials, aiming to disrupt market prices through significant cost reductions. EcoPro Materials will acquire a stake in GEM’s Indonesian nickel smelter, Green Eco Nickel,...
Bolivia’s YLB Names Four Potential Partners for Large-Scale Lithium Projects
Bolivia’s state-owned company Yacimientos de Litio Boliviano (YLB) has identified four potential partners to collaborate on large-scale lithium projects in the country. The companies vying for the opportunity include China’s CBC, Italy’s Protecno, France’s Eramet, and Australia’s Eau Lithium. These firms are currently engaged in negotiations with YLB, each offering unique proposals to tap into Bolivia’s lithium resources. YLB is...
Codelco Acquires 10% Stake in Quebrada Blanca Copper Mine for $520 Million
State-owned Chilean miner Codelco has purchased a 10% stake in the Quebrada Blanca copper mine for $520 million from fellow state miner Enami. This acquisition adds to Codelco’s portfolio at a time when the company is striving to increase its copper output after a significant production decline last year. The Quebrada Blanca mine, owned primarily by Canada’s Teck Resources (60%)...
Aurubis Launches Advanced Sludge Processing Plant in Belgium, Boosting Metal Recycling
Aurubis has officially inaugurated its new Advanced Sludge Processing by Aurubis (ASPA) plant at its Beerse site in Belgium, marking a major step forward in sustainable metal recycling. The state-of-the-art facility is designed to efficiently extract tin and precious metals from anode sludge, a byproduct of electrolytic copper refining produced at Aurubis’ sites in Beerse and Lünen, Germany. This €33...
ABx Group and Ucore Rare Metals Sign MOU to Strengthen Rare Earth Supply Chain Between Australia and USA
South Melbourne-based ABx Group and Canada’s Ucore Rare Metals have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on a binding offtake agreement for the supply of mixed rare earth carbonates (MREC) from ABx’s rare earth project in Tasmania to Ucore’s facilities in the USA. This partnership also explores investment opportunities for Ucore in ABx’s rare earth project. The...
Alpha HPA Begins Second Stage of World’s Largest Ultra-High Purity Aluminium Refinery Construction
Alpha HPA has officially commenced the second stage of construction on what will become the world’s largest single-site ultra-high purity aluminium materials refinery. The new facility, located in Gladstone, Australia, represents a major milestone for the company, which specializes in producing sustainable, ultra-high purity aluminium products in commercial quantities. The project is backed by substantial financial support, including a $400...
Sinomine Resource Group’s Namibia Smelter Holds Significant Germanium Reserves
China’s Sinomine Resource Group has announced that its Tsumeb Smelter in Namibia contains 746 metric tons of germanium, a vital mineral used in chipmaking, infrared technology, fiber optic cables, and solar cells. The company revealed plans to explore the feasibility of upgrading the existing copper smelting production line at the smelter to include germanium and zinc smelting capabilities, aiming to...
Goldman Sachs Adjusts Copper Price Forecast Amid Supply and Demand Shifts
Goldman Sachs analysts have revised their copper price forecasts, citing changes in supply and demand dynamics this summer. Despite ongoing supply challenges, refined copper production has increased, while copper consumption has seen a notable decline. As a result, the significant reduction in copper inventories anticipated by Goldman Sachs is now expected to occur much later than previously predicted. The bank...
Tuva Leads Russia in Lithium Reserves, Key to National Import Substitution Plans
Russian President Vladimir Putin has emphasized the critical importance of lithium extraction in the internal republic of Tuva, which holds the largest deposits of this vital metal in Russia. Speaking at a meeting focused on Tuva’s development, Putin noted that the region accounts for nearly 30% of the country’s lithium resources, positioning it as a key player in Russia’s efforts...