China Reports Decline in November Aluminum Production
Monthly Production Decrease In November, China’s primary aluminum production witnessed a 2.2% decrease, amounting to 3.54 million metric tons, compared to the previous month. This data, released by the National Bureau of Statistics, indicates a notable short-term dip in production levels. Yearly Production Analysis Despite the monthly decline, the cumulative production for the first eleven months of the year tells...
Rio Tinto’s Nuton and Arizona Sonoran Copper Partner on Cactus Project
Strategic Collaboration and Financial Boost Arizona Sonoran Copper Company experienced a 10% increase in its stock value in Toronto following a significant partnership agreement with Rio Tinto subsidiary, Nuton. This collaboration offers Nuton a 40% stake in the Cactus project, located at the site of the historic Sacaton mine south of Phoenix. The deal also provides up to US$33 million...
Major Developments in the Global Aluminum Rolling Industry in 2023
Industry Overview and Key Investments While 2023 saw a global recovery in the demand for automobiles and aircraft, the aluminum rolling industry experienced some stagnation due to a slowdown in the Chinese economy and other factors. However, significant investments and mergers and acquisitions (M&As) marked this year. Apollo Global Management’s Acquisition of Arconic In a notable development, Apollo Global Management,...
Livent Acquires Stake in ILiAD Technologies to Advance Direct Lithium Extraction
Strategic Investment and Technology Licensing Livent Corporation has announced its acquisition of a minority stake in the parent company of ILiAD Technologies, a subsidiary of EnergySource Minerals (ESM). This move allows Livent to license the ILiAD (Integrated Lithium Adsorption Desorption) technology platform, enhancing its capabilities in direct lithium extraction (DLE). Innovative Extraction Technology ILiAD Technologies brings an innovative DLE technology...
Tata Sons Advances in Lithium-Ion Battery Production with New Sanand Unit
Strategic Land Acquisition for Giga Factory Tata Sons, through its subsidiary Agratas Energy Storage Solutions, has secured a significant piece of land for its ambitious 130-billion-rupee lithium-ion cell manufacturing giga factory. This development in Sanand, Gujarat, positions Tata at the forefront of India’s growing lithium-ion battery sector. Proximity to Existing Tata Motors Facility The acquired land is notably adjacent to...
SM BEXEL Launches Mass Production of Micro Lithium Ampoule Military Batteries
Strategic Advancement in Military Technology SM BEXEL, a subsidiary of South Korea’s prominent SM Group, has initiated the mass production of micro lithium ampoule military batteries. This development marks a significant leap in military battery technology, positioning SM BEXEL at the forefront of this specialized sector. Investment and Production Capacity The company invested around 7 billion won ($5.4 million) in...
Exide Industries Boosts Investment in Exide Energy Solutions for Lithium-Ion Battery Production
Significant Financial Infusion Exide Industries Ltd has made a substantial investment of 1 billion rupees in its wholly-owned subsidiary, Exide Energy Solutions Ltd. This investment was made through the subscription of 32.26 million shares on a rights basis, as per the company’s recent exchange filing. This latest financial move brings Exide Industries’ total investment in Exide Energy Solutions to an...
Anglo’s Production Cuts: A Strategic Move Amidst Market Challenges
Anglo’s Drastic Share Price Decline Anglo’s CEO Duncan Wanblad’s announcement of a strategy to cut costs by reducing production has resulted in a 20% drop in shares, contributing to a total year-to-date decline of 48%. This stark contrast is evident when compared to other mining majors like Rio Tinto and BHP, which are down only 6% since the start of...
Aludium Partners with Statkraft and Fortia for Renewable Energy Supply
A Decade-Long Green Energy Initiative Aludium, inheriting the Alcoa plant in Amorebieta, has embarked on a significant renewable energy venture. The aluminum manufacturer, recently acquired by Jupiter Aluminum, announced a 10-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with Statkraft, Europe’s largest renewable energy producer, and Fortia Energía, a prominent supplier in the Iberian electricity market. This strategic move positions Aludium as a...
Indonesia’s Copper Industry Boost: PT Smelting Gresik Expansion Inaugurated by President Jokowi
Strategic Expansion in East Java President Joko Widodo has inaugurated the expansion of PT Smelting Gresik in Gresik Regency, East Java, marking a significant step in Indonesia’s copper industry. This expansion is expected to substantially increase the country’s copper downstreaming capacity. Projected Increase in Copper Production Currently, Indonesia produces 1.3 million tons of copper cathodes and anodes annually. With the...
Global Nickel Market Faces Challenges Amid Declining Demand
Surge in LME Nickel Stocks In November, the London Metal Exchange (LME) recorded a 35% increase in Russian nickel stocks, reaching 11.1 thousand tonnes. This surge is part of a broader trend, with overall nickel stocks climbing by 14.2% to 43 thousand tonnes. Notably, Chinese and Australian nickel inventories are also on the rise, indicating a slowdown in global nickel...
Umicore Seeks to Establish Battery Component Factory in El Musel
Competition Opens for Land Allocation El Musel is set to potentially host a new factory by the Belgian company Umicore, specializing in the production of electric car battery components. The Port Authority of Gijón has opened a one-month period for bids on two plots, totaling 455,141 square meters, earmarked for this project. Two Strategic Plots Identified Umicore’s request includes two...
Boliden’s Climate Targets Approved by SBTi
Validated Climate Goals Boliden, a pioneer in the mining and metals industry, has received approval for its climate targets from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). This marks a significant achievement in the company’s environmental initiatives. 42% Reduction by 2030 Aiming for a substantial reduction in climate impact, Boliden plans to decrease scope 1 and 2 emissions by 42% by...
Lithium-Ion Battery Materials Market Forecast to 2028
Growing Market Trends The Lithium-ion battery materials market is projected to grow significantly from 2023 to 2028, driven by increasing demand in various sectors. Key segments include different battery chemistries and materials, with specific focus on their applications in the rapidly evolving electric vehicle and consumer electronics markets. Key Market Players The report profiles industry leaders such as 3M, BASF,...
Bolivia Advances in Lithium Extraction with Russian Partnership
New Business Model with Uranium One Group Bolivia’s Minister of Hydrocarbons and Energy, Franklin Molina, has detailed the new business model adopted for lithium extraction in collaboration with the Russian company, Uranium One Group. The model includes three distinct stages: construction, operation and maintenance, and finally, commercialization. Investment and Project Phases Yacimientos de Litio Bolivianos recently signed an agreement with...
Pacific Nickel Mines Updates on Progress of Kolosori Nickel Project
Project Development and Financial Backing Pacific Nickel Mines has announced significant progress on its Kolosori Nickel Project, located on Isabel Island in the Solomon Islands. The project, focused on Direct Shipping Ore (DSO), has secured a US$22 million project-specific debt facility from. Operational Milestones and Shipping Arrangements Key developments include the arrival of four barges at the Kolosori wharf for...
Jubilee Metals Forms Joint Venture with IRH for Copper Recovery in Zambia
New Collaboration Aims to Utilize Waste for Copper Production Jubilee Metals has announced a joint venture with International Resources Holding (IRH) to recover copper from a waste rock dump in Zambia. This initiative aims to process over 60 years’ worth of discarded mining material and ore that was once considered too low-grade for extraction. Project Details and Expectations The partnership...
MMG Metallic Minerals Concludes 2023 Exploration at La Plata Project
MMG Metallic Minerals has successfully completed its 2023 exploration program at the La Plata copper-silver-gold-PGE project in Colorado, USA. The program involved drilling 4,530 meters across four diamond drill holes to expand the existing mineral resource. This follows the discovery of substantial mineralization in the 2022 drill hole LAP22-04, which yielded 816 meters of continuous mineralization. Assay results from the...
Glencore Responds to Shareholder Climate Concerns
Swiss multinational commodity trading and mining company Glencore has acknowledged the concerns raised by its shareholders regarding its climate policies. In May, the company faced significant opposition when nearly a third of the votes cast opposed its 2022 climate report. Additionally, a climate transition plan proposed by shareholders, which the management had originally opposed, received nearly one-third of the votes....
African Mining Industry: The Three Stages of Losing Control to Foreign Corporations
Stage One: Blaming the African State The narrative of African countries losing control over their mining sectors to foreign companies dates back to post-independence times. Initially, African governments, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), took steps to nationalize mining resources. However, the mid-1970s saw a shift in perception, with external economic shocks and internal mismanagement leading to economic...
