Europe

  • Northvolt Sells California Plant to Lyten Amid European Expansion and Financial Challenges

    BY Sophia Schmitz
    Northvolt, a Swedish company specializing in energy storage solutions for electric vehicles, has announced the sale of its California plant to Lyten, a U.S. start-up focused on lithium-sulfur battery technologies. The decision is part of Northvolt’s strategy to concentrate its resources on the European market and bolster its industrial ambitions in the region. As part...
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  • Hydro Begins Onsite Solar Production to Decarbonize German Aluminium Plants

    BY Sophia Schmitz
    Aluminium and renewable energy company Hydro has launched a new initiative to decarbonize its aluminium plants in Germany by starting local, onsite solar energy production and implementing energy efficiency measures. The first solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in Offenburg have been completed and are now in interim operation. In addition to Offenburg, Hydro’s facilities in Rackwitz...
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  • Billionaire Dirk Rossmann Increases Stake in Aurubis Amid Takeover Speculation

    BY Sophia Schmitz
    Drugstore magnate Dirk Rossmann has once again expanded his stake in Aurubis, a leading copper manufacturer. His investment firm, Rossmann Beteiligungs GmbH, now controls around 20.7% of Aurubis, up from approximately 17%, according to a mandatory disclosure on Monday. This ongoing increase in ownership has fueled market speculation about a potential takeover. Rossmann, founder of...
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  • Environmental Protests Threaten Serbia’s Lithium Mining Project

    BY John Davis
    Plans for the extraction of a key raw material used in electric vehicle production are under threat in Serbia as environmental protests grow. The Jadar Valley project, aimed at extracting 58,000 tons of lithium annually, has faced increasing opposition from local communities who fear environmental damage. Mining giant Rio Tinto is facing delays that could...
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  • Boliden in Advanced Talks to Acquire Lundin Mining’s European Mines

    BY Sophia Schmitz
    Boliden is currently in advanced negotiations to acquire Lundin Mining’s Zinkgruvan mine in Sweden and Neves-Corvo mine in Portugal, according to information obtained by Bloomberg News. The acquisition would allow Boliden to strengthen its position as one of the largest zinc producers in Europe. These two mines represent some of Lundin Mining’s oldest assets, which...
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  • Aurubis Begins Construction of Air Separation Plant to Boost Efficiency at Lünen Recycling Site

    BY John Davis
    Aurubis has commenced construction of an air separation plant (AS) at its recycling site in Lünen, North Rhine-Westphalia. This investment of approximately €40 million aims to make on-site production operations more efficient and reduce dependence on external supplies. The new plant will use proven technology already employed at other major Aurubis sites, such as those...
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  • Monel Market Faces Downward Pressure Amid Nickel Surplus and Industrial Challenges

    BY Sophia Schmitz
    The Monel market is experiencing significant downward pressure at the start of Q4 2024, driven primarily by declining nickel prices and challenges within the manufacturing sector of major economies. Monel, a nickel-copper alloy known for its exceptional corrosion resistance and strength in marine and chemical processing applications, is being impacted by changing market dynamics shaped...
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  • British Scientists Extract Battery-Grade Lithium from Wastewater in European First

    BY Lars Jensen
    British scientists have announced that they have successfully extracted a metal vital for car battery production—lithium—from wastewater, which they claim marks a significant achievement for the UK in sourcing critical minerals locally. Researchers at UK-based Watercycle Technologies say they have produced more than 100 kg of battery-grade lithium carbonate from brine and wastewater, making it...
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  • Vulcan Energy Begins Lithium Production in Germany Amid Financing Delays

    BY Lara Browne
    Vulcan Energy, an Australian start-up, has taken a major step towards lithium production for electric vehicle batteries in Germany. The company commissioned a demonstration plant on November 8 at the Frankfurt-Höchst industrial park, marking a significant milestone in its efforts to produce lithium hydroxide locally for European industry. The lithium hydroxide, a key component required...
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  • Vulcan Energy Begins Lithium Hydroxide Production at German Plant

    BY Sophia Schmitz
    Vulcan Energy has commenced production of lithium hydroxide at its Central Lithium Electrolysis Optimisation Plant in Frankfurt, Germany. The first lithium hydroxide has been successfully produced from high-purity lithium chloride, which is extracted from brines at Vulcan’s direct lithium extraction optimisation plant. This milestone marks the first sustainable production of lithium hydroxide fully domestically produced...
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  • Europe’s Critical Juncture: Reducing Dependence on China for Raw Materials

    BY Lars Jensen
    Despite intensified Western focus on reducing reliance on China, Europe’s economic dependence on the Asian giant has only deepened in recent years. EU imports from China reached €515.9 billion in 2023, encompassing many crucial products necessary for advanced economies. The European Union’s reliance on China is particularly concerning regarding critical raw materials (CRMs) needed for...
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  • French Government Announces Major Investment in Lithium Refinery at Le Havre Port

    BY Sophia Schmitz
    On Thursday, November 7, the French government is set to announce the development of a significant industrial project at the port of Le Havre (Seine-Maritime) as part of the “France 2030 turnkey sites” initiative. This project, dedicated to lithium production, is expected to attract private investments totaling 1.2 billion euros. The initiative will involve the...
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  • Alba Names Artem Tatarunis as European Sales Manager

    BY Lara Browne
    Alba, the world’s largest single-site aluminium smelter, has appointed Artem Tatarunis as the new manager for Alba Sales Europe, effective immediately. Tatarunis brings over 15 years of sales and marketing experience in the aluminium industry. He was most recently the head of sales for billet and wire rod in the EMEA region at Rusal, where...
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  • Battery Cell Production Beats Expectations, Driven by Energy Storage Demand

    BY Lars Jensen
    According to a survey conducted by Mysteel, battery cell production schedules for November and December have surpassed market expectations, particularly among top-tier manufacturers. This increase is largely driven by strong momentum in the energy storage sector, along with higher-than-anticipated power battery demand in Europe and a stable electric vehicle market in China. Unlike the situation...
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  • Extremadura Lithium Project Set to Boost Regional Economy and Jobs

    BY Lara Browne
    A report from experts at the University of Extremadura estimates that the Extremadura New Energies lithium extraction and processing project will contribute an additional 113.9 million euros annually to the regional economy. The project is expected to create over 1,500 jobs, encompassing direct, indirect, and induced employment opportunities in Cáceres and its surrounding province throughout...
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  • Ball Corporation Acquires Alucan to Expand European Aerosol Packaging

    BY Lars Jensen
    Ball Corporation has acquired Alucan, a European producer of extruded aluminium aerosol and bottle products. The acquisition, completed on October 31, includes manufacturing facilities in Llinars del Vallés, Spain, and Lummen, Belgium. The acquisition aims to increase Ball’s production capacity and meet growing demand for sustainable packaging in Europe. The new facilities will allow Ball...
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  • Fraunhofer ISE Launches ‘ThermIon’ Project for Lithium Extraction from Geothermal Brine

    BY Lars Jensen
    The 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...
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  • Aluminium Ingot Prices Surge in Germany and US Amid Supply Chain Issues

    BY Lara Browne
    Aluminium Ingot prices saw significant increases in late October, with notable price hikes reported in Germany and the United States. These increases have been driven by supply chain disruptions, rising raw material costs, and growing operational expenses. In Germany, Aluminium Ingot prices rose by over 2% after Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) announced a suspension of...
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  • Euro Sun Grants Offtake Rights to Glencore for Romanian Mining Project

    BY John Davis
    Euro Sun Mining has signed a binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Glencore International, granting the multinational mining company the right of first refusal for future concentrate from Euro Sun’s Rovina Valley Project in Romania. This agreement also gives Glencore the right to nominate a director to Euro Sun’s board. The Rovina Valley Project, one...
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  • Fife Aluminium Expands Production with New Glenrothes Facility

    BY Lara Browne
    Fife 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...
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  • European Energy Metals  Rebrands as Grit Metals

    BY Lara Browne
    European Energy Metals Corp. has officially changed its name to Grit Metals Corp. following a resolution approved by the board of directors on October 18, 2024. The name change took effect on October 30, 2024, and the company’s common shares will commence trading under the new name at the market opening on November 4, 2024,...
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  • Solus Advanced Materials Expands Copper Foil Production in Hungary

    BY Sophia Schmitz
    South Korean copper foil producer Solus Advanced Materials has commenced mass production at its second Hungarian plant, significantly expanding its presence in Europe. The new facility, as reported by KED Global, is currently the only European production site for electric vehicle (EV) battery copper foil, with an annual output capacity of 23,000 tons. Combined with...
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  • Bravura to Build Large-Scale Lithium Processing Plant in Germany by 2027

    BY Lars Jensen
    Leading African mining group Bravura, a sister company to AITEO, Africa’s largest indigenous oil and gas producer, has announced plans to establish a large-scale lithium processing plant in Germany by 2027. The plant will produce lithium hydroxide, a key component in electric vehicle (EV) batteries, through a unique African-German supply chain. The final location for...
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  • Development of Alkaline Membrane Electrolyzers Using Cost-Effective Catalyst

    BY Sophia Schmitz
    A 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...
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