Lithium

  • Serbian Court Reinstates Rio Tinto’s Jadar Lithium Project Licenses

    BY Lars Jensen
    The Serbian Constitutional Court has overturned the government’s decision to revoke the licenses for Rio Tinto Group’s $2.55 billion Jadar lithium project, Reuters reported on July 11. The court ruled that the 2022 decision by the Serbian government was unconstitutional, stating that the government had “overstepped the limits of its competence.” Rio Tinto expressed approval...
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  • Critical Metals Joins European Lithium-Obeikan for Saudi Lithium Hydroxide Plant

    BY Lars Jensen
    Critical Metals Corporation, an Australian mining development company, has partnered with European Lithium-Obeikan Group to build and commission a large-scale lithium hydroxide processing plant in Saudi Arabia. This facility will process spodumene concentrate from the Wolfsberg Lithium Project in Austria. Critical Metals, a significant global player, focuses on producing strategic products essential for electrification and...
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  • IBAT Launches Commercial Lithium Production with Breakthrough DLE Technology

    BY Lars Jensen
    International Battery Metals (IBAT) has achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first company to commercially produce lithium using a novel direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology. The company is producing lithium at a site in rural Utah, controlled by US Magnesium, at a rate of nearly 5,000 metric tons per year. The company’s portable DLE...
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  • Core Lithium Begins Drilling at Shoobridge Project

    BY Lars Jensen
    Core Lithium has announced the commencement of reverse circulation (RC) drilling at its 100% owned Shoobridge Project, located approximately 130 kilometers south of Darwin, Northern Territory. This marks one of the initial drilling programs under the company’s FY25 exploration agenda. Shoobridge, known for its historic pegmatite tin-tantalum surface workings, has not previously been tested for...
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  • LithiumBank Resources Opens Calgary Pilot Plant to Advance Alberta’s Lithium Extraction

    BY Lars Jensen
    LithiumBank Resources has officially opened its pilot plant in Calgary, a key step in unlocking Alberta’s significant lithium resources. This milestone is expected to contribute to the feasibility phase of LithiumBank’s development plans as the Company progresses toward commercial development. Paul Matysek, Executive Chairman of LithiumBank, emphasized the importance of this development, stating, “Licensing of...
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  • Weekly Metals News Digest – July 1-5

    BY Lars Jensen
    Rio Tinto’s Carbon-Free Aluminum Production Arvida Smelter Project Rio Tinto Corporation plans to produce carbon-free aluminum at its Arvida smelter in Canada by installing inert anode electrolyzers. A pilot line with ten electrolyzers is set to be designed and commissioned, leveraging a technology license from Elysis, a joint venture between Rio Tinto and Alcoa. Investment...
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  • Saga Metals Partners with Rio Tinto for Legacy Lithium Project

    BY Lars Jensen
    Saga Metals has executed an option to joint venture agreement with Rio Tinto Exploration Canada (RTEC) for its Legacy Lithium Project in the James Bay Lithium District. Under this agreement, RTEC has the option to acquire an initial 51% interest in the Legacy Lithium Project over four years, subject to meeting specific conditions. To exercise...
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  • SQM Expands Global Lithium Footprint with Strategic Partnerships and Acquisitions

    BY Lars Jensen
    SQM, a major player in the lithium market, is making significant strides in expanding its lithium production capabilities beyond Chile under the leadership of Mark Fones Illanes, Vice President of Development and M&A. Fones, who joined SQM in 2003, has been instrumental in driving these international ventures. In Sweden, SQM has partnered with Talga Group...
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  • Obeikan Group and European Lithium Form JV for Lithium Hydroxide Plant in Saudi Arabia

    BY Lars Jensen
    Obeikan Group has executed a Shareholder Agreement and a Deed of Assignment for the development and operation of a lithium hydroxide processing plant in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The joint venture company, Arabian New Energy, is progressing towards incorporation pending successful registration and approval by the KSA Regulatory Authorities. European Lithium has announced this...
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  • LG Energy Solution and Liontown Resources Extend Partnership to Boost Lithium Supply

    BY Lars Jensen
    LG Energy Solution and Liontown Resources have announced a strategic partnership to enhance their collaboration in the global lithium market. This partnership includes an extension of LG Energy Solution’s existing 5-year offtake agreement with Liontown by an additional 10 years, making it a total of 15 years. Under the extended agreement, Liontown will supply 700,000...
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  • Surplus in Lithium Market Leads to Decline in Prices

    BY Sophia Schmitz
    The prices of lithium, a critical metal used in electric vehicle (EV) batteries, are expected to remain below the highs seen in 2022-23 due to a surplus in supply. Analysts note that the market has been oversupplied, leading to a decrease in prices of over 5% since the start of 2024. Currently, battery-grade lithium carbonate...
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  • Power Metal Resources Completes Initial Exploration of Balthaga Lithium Project in Saudi Arabia

    BY John Davis
    Power Metal Resources, a London-listed exploration company, has announced the successful completion of an initial field exploration program at the Balthaga Lithium Project in Saudi Arabia. The exploration is part of an agreement with RIWAQ Al-Mawarid for Mining, a subsidiary of EV Metals Group plc, to earn a 30% ownership interest in 15 tenements, 13...
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  • Rock Tech Secures €100 Million Funding for Lithium Refinery in Brandenburg

    BY Lars Jensen
    Rock Tech Lithium is set to receive €100 million in funding to establish a lithium refinery in Guben, Brandenburg (Spree-Neisse). The majority of the funds will come from the state of Brandenburg, with the Federal Railway Authority (EBA) contributing around €10 million to support rail transportation infrastructure for the facility. Rock Tech is also negotiating...
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  • Lithium Producers Remain Optimistic Despite Price Drop

    BY Lars Jensen
    The world’s leading lithium producers expressed confidence in long-term demand for electric vehicle (EV) battery materials at the Fastmarkets Lithium Supply and Battery Raw Materials Conference in Las Vegas. This optimism comes despite a significant price drop that has led to layoffs and delayed expansions. Lithium demand has surged over the past decade, moving beyond...
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  • E3 Lithium Announces Positive Study Results for Clearwater Project

    BY Lars Jensen
    E3 Lithium, a leading Canadian lithium company, has announced promising results from its Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) for the Clearwater Project in Alberta. The study confirms the project’s economic viability and environmental sustainability, marking Canada’s first lithium-in-brine proven mineral reserve. Key Highlights: – Production: 32,250 tonnes per year of Lithium Hydroxide Monohydrate (LHM) – Reserves: 1.29...
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  • Rock Tech Secures Up to 100 Million EUR in Grants for German Lithium Refinery

    BY John Davis
    Rock Tech Lithium has announced it will receive up to 100 million Euros in direct grants for its lithium refinery in Guben, Germany. This funding comes from the State of Brandenburg and the German Railway Authority, with further applications for federal guarantees ongoing. Brandenburg’s Ministry for Economic Affairs, Labour and Energy has committed up to...
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  • JordProxa and Zelandez Partner to Boost Lithium Supply in the Americas

    BY Lars Jensen
    JordProxa and Zelandez have announced a new partnership aimed at accelerating lithium production from brine mining companies in North and South America. The collaboration was formalized in a signing ceremony in Las Vegas with Elie Sakhat, Director of JordProxa, and Gene Morgan, CEO of Zelandez. This partnership combines JordProxa’s expertise in modular plant design with...
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  • Exxon Mobil and SK On Sign MOU for 100,000 Metric Tons of Lithium

    BY Lars Jensen
    Exxon Mobil has signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding to supply up to 100,000 metric tons of lithium to South Korean battery developer SK On from its proposed Arkansas lithium project. The international energy company announced the agreement on June 25. “The world needs more lithium to support its emissions goals, and we’re doing our...
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  • Eureka Lithium Commences 2024 Exploration Program in Nunavik

    BY John Davis
    Eureka Lithium has announced the launch of its 2024 exploration program targeting lithium-bearing pegmatite deposits in the Nunavik region. The company will begin its extensive fieldwork in the New Leaf area in the coming weeks. Continuing its collaboration with GroundTruth Exploration, Eureka aims to build on the successes of the previous year. GroundTruth, known for...
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  • Lilac Solutions Unveils Data on Advanced Lithium Extraction Technology

    BY Sophia Schmitz
    Lilac Solutions announced on Tuesday that the latest version of its lithium extraction technology can recover more than 90% of lithium from various brine formations and has halved the construction cost of its system. The release of this data addresses concerns about the efficiency and economics of Lilac’s direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology, which is...
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  • Gradiant Spins Out New Company alkaLi to Accelerate Lithium Production

    BY John Davis
    Gradiant, a global provider of advanced water and wastewater treatment solutions, has announced the creation of alkaLi, a new standalone company focused on accelerating the production of battery-grade lithium. alkaLi will leverage EC(2), the world’s only all-in-one solution designed to Extract, Concentrate, and Convert lithium efficiently. EC(2) offers a rapid production process, significantly reducing operational...
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  • Pan Asia Metals Identifies Promising Lithium Zone in Southern Thailand

    BY Sophia Schmitz
    Initial reports from soil and rock chip sampling at Pan Asia Metals’ KT East lithium prospect in southern Thailand have identified a highly-prospective zone rich in lepidolite pegmatites, extending approximately 1.5km in length and 500m in width. The KT prospect, located 35km north of Pan Asia’s RK and BT prospects, already shows a larger footprint...
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  • Weekly Metals News Digest – June 17-21

    BY Lars Jensen
    Norway’s Potential Entry into the Rare Earths Market Fen Deposit Development by Rare Earths Norway (REN) Norway could become a significant producer of rare earth metals through a project led by Rare Earths Norway (REN) to develop the large Fen deposit. Fen, an ancient volcano with magma rich in carbonates, contains substantial rare earth elements....
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  • Pilbara Minerals Announces $800 Million Plan to Double Lithium Production

    BY Lars Jensen
    Pilbara Minerals, Australia’s largest independent lithium producer, announced plans on Friday to double its production capacity for lithium spodumene at the Pilgangoora operation in Western Australia. The A$1.2 billion ($799.2 million) investment aims to increase output to 1.9 million tonnes per year, pending a feasibility study’s results expected in late 2025. The expansion involves constructing...
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