State-owned China Minmetals plans to create a 10 billion yuan ($1.41 billion) mining company in partnership with local firms in Qinghai, a lithium-rich province in northwestern China. The new entity, provisionally named China Salt Lake Industry Group, aims to develop a world-class production hub while bolstering national security around potassium and lithium resources. Lithium, crucial...
READ MOREGlobal Zinc Production Continues to Decline Global zinc ore production fell by 3.4% in the first half of 2024 due to reduced demand from metallurgical plants, particularly in China. Zinc orders from galvanized steel plants and hot-dip galvanizing operations have also decreased, according to data from the Lead and Zinc Study Group. China’s zinc concentrate...
READ MOREBolivia’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...
READ MOREEurope is gearing up to launch several lithium mines over the next few years, as the European Union seeks to diversify its lithium supply and reduce dependence on China. Lithium, a critical component for electric vehicle batteries, plays a pivotal role in the energy transition and the push towards reducing carbon emissions. According to Fastmarkets,...
READ MOREPanasonic Energy and Mazda Motor Corporation have announced plans to collaborate on the supply of next-generation cylindrical lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, with production slated to begin in 2027. This partnership aims to expand Japan’s battery manufacturing base and support the country’s push towards electric vehicle (EV) adoption. The collaboration is part of Mazda’s strategic...
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Lithium prices, crucial for electric vehicle (EV) batteries, have seen a sharp decline of more than 20% so far in 2024, but analysts suggest the market may stabilize due to the demand-supply balance. As of Monday, lithium carbonate prices on the Guangzhou Futures Exchange (Gfex) closed at 75,200 yuan ($10,571.5) per tonne, down by 3,050...
READ MOREKodal Minerals has announced that it is on track to become the first company listed on the London Stock Exchange to produce lithium in West Africa. The company’s Bougouni Lithium Project in Mali is expected to begin production by the fourth quarter of 2024, marking a significant milestone for both the company and the region....
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Century Lithium has announced successful assay results from the first lithium carbonate produced at its newly commissioned lithium carbonate stage within the company’s Lithium Extraction Facility in Amargosa Valley, Nevada. The facility is a key component of Century Lithium’s 100%-owned Angel Island Project in Nevada. The initial startup tests yielded lithium carbonate with purity levels...
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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...
READ MOREEmirates Global Aluminium Expands into U.S. Secondary Aluminum Market Emirates Global Aluminium has announced plans to acquire an 80% stake in Spectro Alloys, a leading U.S. secondary aluminum producer with a capacity of approximately 110,000 tons of ingots. This acquisition will bolster Emirates Global Aluminium’s presence in the growing U.S. secondary aluminum market, which saw...
READ MOREArgentina’s mining exports are expected to double to approximately $10 billion within the next three years, driven primarily by a surge in lithium production, according to Minister Luis Lucero. The expansion is also set to benefit from increased copper production, which is critical for powering electric vehicles and artificial intelligence technologies. Lucero emphasized that Argentina...
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Canadian-German start-up Rock Tech is set to construct a lithium hydroxide factory in Guben, Germany, near the Polish border. The company expects to secure financing for the €800 million project soon, with production anticipated to begin between late 2026 and early 2027. Despite the slow pace of electromobility adoption in Europe, particularly in Germany, Rock...
READ MOREChinese mining giant Zijin Mining Group Co. has expressed concerns about revising its strategy for acquiring assets abroad through mergers and acquisitions, citing a slowing global economy, rising geopolitical tensions, and increasing project costs. This cautionary stance was highlighted in a recent press release from the company. China’s pivotal role in global mining supply chains,...
READ MOREAmerican Battery Technology Company (ABAT), a critical battery materials firm focused on the commercialization of primary battery minerals manufacturing and lithium-ion battery recycling technologies, has announced the appointment of Steven Wu as its new Chief Operating Officer (COO). Wu joins ABTC with a robust background in scaling innovative technologies into large-scale manufacturing operations, a critical...
READ MOREYabao, the world’s largest lithium producer, has announced the suspension of part of its processing capacity at the Kemerton lithium plant in Australia, while also putting a hold on plans to expand its lithium mining operations in the country. This decision comes amid a significant drop in lithium prices, driven by an imbalance between supply...
READ MOREBikita Minerals, a Zimbabwean lithium producer owned by Sinomine, plans to invest nearly $500 million in constructing a lithium sulphate plant at its mine in Bikita. This development aligns with Zimbabwe’s broader strategy to move from exporting raw materials to producing value-added products, particularly in the lucrative market for battery-grade lithium. The company’s shift towards...
READ MOREVolt Lithium has announced the successful installation and function-testing of its first direct lithium extraction (DLE) Field Unit in the Permian Basin, Texas. The new unit significantly enhances the company’s production capacity, scaling up to process over 200,000 liters (1,250 barrels) of oilfield brine per day, more than doubling its previous capability of 96,000 liters...
READ MOREGanfeng Lithium Expands into Turkey Strategic Partnership with Yigit Aku Chinese lithium producer Ganfeng Lithium has embarked on a significant expansion into Turkey by forming a long-term strategic partnership with Turkish battery manufacturer Yigit Aku. This collaboration marks a crucial step in Ganfeng Lithium’s global growth strategy, particularly in the rapidly expanding battery market. Joint...
READ MOREAleksandar Matkovic, a Serbian environmental activist and co-author of a declaration opposing lithium mining, has reported receiving a series of death threats following his involvement in protests against a massive lithium mining project in Serbia. The threats began on August 14, just days after widespread demonstrations erupted in response to plans by Rio Tinto, a...
READ MORESQM, once a star performer in 2022 and 2023, is experiencing a challenging fiscal year as the company grapples with declining lithium prices. The Chilean mining giant, which heavily relies on lithium, reported a sharp drop in profits, with second-quarter earnings plummeting 63% to $213 million from $580 million in the same period last year....
READ MORESwedish battery manufacturer Northvolt has announced plans to relocate its research and development (R&D) of lithium-metal battery technology from California to its R&D center in Västerås, Sweden. The move is part of a broader strategic reassessment aimed at consolidating the company’s research, development, and industrialization efforts under one roof. Northvolt’s decision follows several recent setbacks,...
READ MORESibanye Stillwater has secured a €500 million ($557.30 million) financing package to complete the Keliber lithium project in Finland. The South African mining company, which holds a 79.8% stake in Keliber after its 2021 investment, is diversifying from its traditional focus on platinum and gold into battery metals, driven by the global transition to cleaner...
READ MOREResearchers in the United States have developed a new method for extracting lithium from seawater that they claim could significantly reduce costs and environmental impact compared to current methods. Lithium, a critical component in the production of batteries for electric vehicles, has seen a surge in global demand, with production expected to rise from around...
READ MORELiTHOS, a pioneer in sustainable lithium brine production technologies, has announced the successful completion of laboratory-scale tests of its innovative AcQUA pre-treatment technology. These tests, conducted in collaboration with global lithium producer SQM, demonstrated exceptional lithium yield recovery and impurity removal, marking a significant advancement in sustainable lithium extraction. The tests, carried out at LiTHOS’s...
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