American chemists have developed a plasmonic photocatalyst based on rhodium and copper, enabling the extraction of hydrogen from methane at a relatively low temperature of 450 degrees Celsius. This innovation is expected to lower energy and fuel costs for hydrogen production, making the process more sustainable, as detailed in a paper published in Nature Catalysis....
READ MOREResearchers at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) have introduced a new method for converting carbon dioxide (CO₂) into ethanol, a sustainable raw material for chemical applications. This development could significantly contribute to reducing carbon emissions and mitigating climate change. “We can remove the greenhouse gas CO₂ from the environment and reintroduce it into a sustainable...
READ MOREAluminium Bahrain (Alba) made two key announcements on November 3 at the Gateway Gulf 2024 investment forum in Manama, hosted by the Bahrain Economic Development Board. Alba and Japan’s Daiki Aluminium Industry Company will form a joint venture called Alba-Daiki Sustainable Solutions (ADSS) to set up an aluminium dross processing facility in Bahrain. Alba will...
READ MOREThe Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (Fraunhofer ISE), along with partners from science and industry, has launched the “ThermIon” project to develop direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology. The initiative will use the “lithium ion pump” process to extract lithium from geothermal brine in Germany’s Upper Rhine Graben region. The ThermIon project addresses the entire...
READ MOREFife Aluminium and Metal Company, a specialist in architectural aluminium and metal products, has more than doubled its production space by relocating to Glenrothes. Founded in 2016 by Dale Robertson, the company has moved from its original location in Lochgelly to two new units within Queensway Business Park, significantly expanding its capabilities. The move comes...
READ MORELi-Cycle Holdings has strengthened its partnership with global commodities giant Glencore by finalizing a commercial agreement for the off-take of mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP) produced at the Rochester Hub. This strategic deal ensures that Glencore will take 100% of the MHP output from the Rochester facility, which includes valuable metals like nickel and cobalt. The...
READ MOREAustralian startup Green Gravity has initiated studies to develop a 2GWh gravitational energy storage project in Northwest Queensland. Located in Mount Isa in the Gulf Country region, the project will be developed in partnership with Mount Isa City Council and global mining company Glencore, with a focus on regional studies, mine site concept engineering, and...
READ MOREA collaborative team from the Technical University of Berlin, HZB, IMTEK (University of Freiburg), and Siemens Energy has developed an alkaline membrane electrolyzer that shows promise in approaching the performance of established proton-exchange membrane (PEM) electrolyzers. The electrolyzer uses cost-effective nickel compounds for the anode catalyst, replacing the traditionally costly and rare iridium. The team...
READ MOREKoBold Metals has invested approximately $200 million in its Mingomba project in Chingola, Zambia, with production expected to begin in 2031. The project aims to utilize artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to produce over 300,000 tonnes of copper annually, contributing to Zambia’s national target of 3 million tonnes per year. CEO Mfikeyi Makayi highlighted that KoBold...
READ MORESkapa Recycling has partnered with technology firm REDWAVE to enhance aluminium recycling at its Eastern Austria facility. By utilizing advanced sorting technology, the partnership aims to maximize recycling efficiency and reduce environmental impact, addressing the increasing global need for sustainable resource management. Aluminium is unique in that it can be recycled indefinitely without losing quality....
READ MORECornish Lithium officially launched its hard-rock lithium demonstration plant at Trelavour Pit near Treviscoe on Friday, October 18. The ceremonial opening, led by Lord Falmouth, was attended by dignitaries and members of the local business community, marking a significant milestone in Cornwall’s bid to become a key player in lithium production. The demonstration plant, under...
READ MOREVolt Lithium has announced the successful production of battery-grade lithium carbonate from its field operations in the Permian Basin, West Texas. The development marks a major achievement for Volt as it positions itself as one of North America’s pioneering producers of lithium from oilfield brine. “Successfully producing battery-grade lithium carbonate from the Permian is another...
READ MOREIndonesia plans to begin exporting nickel-based materials for electric car batteries to the United States in November, marking a significant step in the country’s expanding role in the global electric vehicle (EV) supply chain. Energy Minister Bahlil Lahadalia announced that these precursor materials for battery production would be supplied to Tesla, although details on the...
READ MOREGlencore’s Antapaccay copper mine in Peru has reported significant improvements in copper recovery after upgrading its flotation cells. The mine, which produces approximately 160,000 tonnes of copper concentrate annually, partnered with Metso to enhance its flotation circuit and address existing inefficiencies. The Antapaccay flotation circuit, commissioned in 2012 and expanded in 2019, faced challenges such...
READ MOREIndonesia has announced a joint venture with China’s Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL) to invest $1.2 billion in battery production, furthering its ambitions to become a global hub for electric vehicles (EVs). The Chinese battery giant, through its subsidiary CBL International Development, has formed the venture with government-owned Indonesia Battery Corporation, according to Bloomberg. The project,...
READ MOREFleet Space Technologies has been engaged to accelerate drill targeting at Thomson’s belt-scale gold and copper project. This initiative involves a large-scale geophysical survey using ExoSphere real-time 3D Ambient Noise Tomography (ANT) imaging across a 5,500 km² area. The survey aims to gather extensive 3D subsurface data to identify belt-scale geological structures, including cross-arc formations...
READ MORESociété du Terril de Lubumbashi (STL), a 100% subsidiary of Générale des carrières et des mines (Gecamines), is set to export the first shipment of germanium concentrate processed entirely within the Democratic Republic of Congo. This milestone marks the first time germanium from the slag at the Lubumbashi Terril has been locally processed and exported,...
READ MOREIndonesia has taken a significant step towards becoming an electric vehicle (EV) manufacturing hub with the inauguration of its first lithium iron phosphate (LFP) factory earlier this month. However, analysts caution that the country’s heavy reliance on Chinese investment could pose challenges in marketing the cathode material to Western markets. Chinese companies, equipped with ample...
READ MORENippon Denkai announced on September 30, 2024, that it has entered into a seven-year technical support agreement with India’s Hindalco Industries, a manufacturer of copper cathodes and copper rod materials. The agreement, signed on September 28, is intended to support Hindalco as it begins producing copper foil for lithium-ion batteries in India. Under the agreement,...
READ MOREResearchers at the Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology (Skoltech) have developed and patented a high-capacity cathode material for lithium-ion batteries, featuring enhanced stability and an efficient production method. The material, based on layered transition metal oxides with increased nickel content, is expected to extend battery life by about 10% compared to commercially available alternatives....
READ MOREResearchers have developed a solar-powered device capable of extracting lithium from brines while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, offering a potential alternative for more sustainable lithium production—an essential resource for rechargeable batteries. The floating device, created by a team led by Baoxia Mi from the University of California, Berkeley, and Jia Zhu from Nanjing University, takes...
READ MOREFPX Nickel has successfully completed pilot-scale hydrometallurgical refinery testwork, producing battery-grade nickel sulphate from its Baptiste Nickel Project. This development represents a significant step forward in demonstrating the technical feasibility of refining awaruite concentrate at the Baptiste site. The testwork campaign was partially funded by a grant from Natural Resources Canada under the Government of...
READ MORESouth Korea-based Posco Future M has announced the production of nickel, cobalt, and aluminium (NCA) cathode materials at its Pohang factory, three months ahead of schedule. On October 12, the company successfully manufactured high-nickel materials with a nickel content of 88%, which enhances energy density and output, making them ideal for high-performance electric vehicle batteries....
READ MORESavannah’s partners in the Boticas lithium project, located in the Vila Real district, have set their sights on Portugal as a potential site for a new lithium refinery. AMG, the German company, recently opened a refinery in Germany, but its CEO has hinted at the possibility of establishing another refinery in Portugal. “Portugal has the...
READ MORE
