South Korea’s LG Chem has announced plans to expand its battery material production capacity in China, highlighting the nation’s central role in the company’s global strategy. Shane YS Hwang, president of LG Chem Greater China, emphasized the importance of the Chinese market, which has significantly contributed to LG Chem’s global sales and continues to offer...
READ MOREIn early December 2024, China announced a ban on exports of gallium, germanium, and antimony to the United States, escalating the ongoing trade and technology disputes between the two nations. These three minerals are critical for industries ranging from semiconductors to defense. As the leading global producer, China controls 94% of gallium, 83% of germanium,...
READ MOREYuma County, Arizona, may soon host a groundbreaking solar-powered cobalt production facility. EVelution Energy, a local company, has announced receiving a non-binding letter of interest from the Export-Import Bank of the United States for a potential $200 million loan. This funding would support the construction and operation of the facility, which aims to bolster domestic...
READ MOREAn independent review of the Panguna copper mine on Bougainville Island, a territory in the South Pacific, has identified several pressing issues, including unstable structures, potential landslide hazards, and contamination of soil and water in nearby areas. The mine, once operated by Anglo-Australian mining company Rio Tinto, ceased operations in 1989. Rio Tinto divested its...
READ MOREThe U.S. Treasury Department’s sanctions on Russia’s Gazprombank have created a significant challenge for the $4.8 billion expansion of Uzbekistan’s Yoshlik copper mine. This project, managed by state-owned Almalyk, is key to nearly doubling the country’s copper production by 2026. However, the sanctions, which remove Gazprombank from the international payments system, may disrupt the critical...
READ MORELithium chemicals manufacturer Lepidico Limited has become the latest casualty of the global oversupply of lithium, with KordaMentha appointed as administrators. The company’s board of directors named Richard Tucker and Paul Pracilio of KordaMentha as Voluntary Administrators for Lepidico Limited and its subsidiaries, including Lepidico Holdings, Bright Minz, Li-Technology, Mica Exploration Areas, and Silica Technology....
READ MORECuba is striving to maintain its nickel production despite the combined pressures of the US blockade, disruptions in the national electrical grid, and volatile international market prices. The country’s primary nickel operations are concentrated in the eastern province of Holguín, where two mining sites are active: the Ernesto Che Guevara plant, a fully Cuban venture,...
READ MOREIn November 2024, domestic aluminum production in China increased by 2.74% year-on-year (YoY), according to SMM statistics. Cumulative production for the January-November period rose by 3.86% YoY. Despite the overall growth, some aluminum smelters faced challenges such as pot maintenance due to high pot age and environmental protection-related production cuts during the winter season. While...
READ MORELundin Mining Corporation has announced a definitive agreement to sell its Neves-Corvo operation in Portugal and Zinkgruvan operation in Sweden to Boliden AB for up to $1.52 billion. The transaction includes an upfront cash payment of $1.37 billion and up to $150 million in contingent payments based on future copper and zinc prices. The deal...
READ MOREIndia’s copper demand reached 1,700 kilotonnes (kt) in FY2024, marking a 13% year-on-year increase, according to a release from the International Copper Association India (ICA India). This surge is attributed to the country’s overall economic expansion, with average annual copper demand growing by 21% per year post-pandemic. Domestic production of copper cathodes also rose by...
READ MOREThe United States Geological Survey (USGS) has reported domestic primary aluminum production of 54,600 metric tons (t) in September 2024. The average daily production for the month was 1,820 t, remaining consistent with August 2024 but showing a 9% decline compared to September 2023 and a 10% drop from September 2022. Total aluminum recovered from...
READ MOREVolt Lithium has announced a partnership with Wellspring Hydro (WSH) to deploy and test its proprietary direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology in the Bakken formation of North Dakota. This collaboration marks a significant step in advancing the feasibility of extracting lithium from oilfield brine, a promising resource for renewable energy materials. The field study will...
READ MOREAlumina Limited, an Australian mining company specializing in bauxite mining and alumina refining, has forecasted its processed alumina and aluminum sales to grow from $4.32 billion in 2023 to $5.5 billion within the next five years. This projection represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.77%, driven by operational restructuring and recovery from the...
READ MOREStellantis and CATL have reached an agreement to invest up to €4.1 billion in a joint venture to establish a large-scale lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery plant in Zaragoza, Spain. Designed to be entirely carbon neutral, the plant will be developed in multiple phases, with production expected to begin by the end of 2026. The...
READ MORENippon Denkai has announced the closure and liquidation of its copper foil manufacturing plant in the United States, marking the end of domestic production of this material. Denkai America Inc., the US-based subsidiary of the Japanese company, will cease operations just two years after significant investments were planned to revitalize the facility. The company cited...
READ MOREEmirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has commenced the construction of ten pilot reduction cells for its next-generation EX smelting technology at Al Taweelah in the UAE. This initiative represents a significant leap forward in sustainability and efficiency, leveraging Industry 4.0 capabilities to transform aluminium production processes. EX technology is engineered to enhance aluminium production efficiency while...
READ MOREA recent report highlights that Europe could recycle enough battery materials by 2030 to supply up to two million electric vehicles (EVs) annually. However, high energy costs and insufficient financial support pose significant challenges to achieving this goal. The findings come as the European Union (EU) intensifies efforts to reduce reliance on China for critical...
READ MOREUzbekistan has unveiled an ambitious plan to process up to 300,000 tons of copper annually within its domestic market. Ural Yusupov, Deputy Minister of Mining and Geology, shared the country’s vision during the International Congress on “Mining Industry and Geology of Uzbekistan and Central Asia.” To achieve this goal, Uzbekistan is developing industrial clusters, technoparks,...
READ MORECopper production in Chile, the world’s largest copper producer, is forecasted to reach between 5.4 and 5.6 million tons in 2025, according to the National Mining Association (Sonami). This projection reflects continued optimism about the sector’s stability and growth. Chilean mining companies anticipate copper prices to range between $4.20 and $4.50 per pound next year,...
READ MOREThe U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced $17 million in funding for projects aimed at advancing critical materials innovation while promoting sustainable, economic, and efficient supply chain solutions. Spanning 11 states, these initiatives focus on strengthening manufacturing processes for essential technologies such as hydrogen fuel cells, high-efficiency motor magnets, high-performance lithium-ion batteries, and power...
READ MOREGlobal copper smelting activity reached its highest level since February last month, as average smelter inactivity fell to 13.4%, down 2.7% from October, according to Earth-i’s Savant Global Copper Monitoring Index. The index, which tracks smelter performance using satellite data, highlighted significant gains outside of China, reversing typical trends. China, responsible for over 40% of...
READ MORENickel prices continue to struggle, recently hitting their lowest levels since 2020, as Indonesia’s surging production reshapes the global market. Despite rising demand from stainless steel and electric vehicle (EV) battery sectors, supply growth has outpaced expectations, leading to sustained market surpluses. Indonesia’s nickel smelting industry has grown dramatically since the government banned nickel ore...
READ MOREGlencore has confirmed that David Wormsley will retire from its Board of Directors, effective December 31, 2024. Kalidas Madhavpeddi, Chairman of the Board, acknowledged Wormsley’s contributions, stating, “David has been an effective and thoughtful contributor to the work of Glencore’s Board of Directors. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank him for...
READ MOREVulcan Energy has successfully raised €100 million (A$164 million) through a fully underwritten institutional placement and strategic placement. The capital was secured via the issuance of approximately 28 million new shares at an offer price of A$5.85 (€3.57) per share. The placement attracted strong interest from both existing and new institutional investors, reflecting growing support...
READ MORE
