BMW announced this week a long-term partnership with South Korean battery recycler SK tes, a subsidiary of SK Ecoplant, in which the automaker will send scrap batteries to SK tes’ plant in Rotterdam, Netherlands. However, the Rotterdam plant only pretreats battery scrap, producing black mass—the material containing critical battery minerals such as lithium, nickel and […]
> In the third quarter of 2025, 18 of the largest 25 copper miners reported quarter-on-quarter decreases in their output, including the top four miners. The total Q3 copper production reported by the top 25 miners hit 3.72Mt. “In the third quarter, many companies saw lower production compared to the previous quarter. However, most did not […]
> Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, specialising in battery supply chain research and insights, reports that 12.7GWh of new operational capacity entered operation in October 2025. Operational Capacity The grid-scale BESS market saw 12.7GWh of new capacity enter operations globally in October 2025, a y-o-y increase of 29%. China led new operational capacity with just under 8.8GWh of […]
> Since electric vehicles (EVs) began moving into mass adoption, questions have persisted about what happens to their batteries at the end of life (EoL). Recycling remains the obvious answer, but there is a growing interest exploring the intermediate step of giving used EV batteries a “second life” in stationary energy storage before they head to the […]
> The mining industry accounted for ~5% of global carbon emissions last year, with roughly half originating from mining vehicles. Electrifying mine sites offers an opportunity for miners to cut emissions while also reducing costs. With 30%–50% of a mine’s energy costs attributed to diesel, replacing internal combustion fleets can deliver significant savings. “Mining electrification is […]
> Bearish raw material markets are dragging down black mass prices and payables, squeezing the margins of players in the recycling industry. Prices for black mass from lithium iron phosphate (LFP) scrap feedstock have been the worst hit by the low lithium price environment, with the aggregated price for LFP black mass dropping 2.33% month-on-month to […]
> Escalating unrest in Mali, as jihadi groups target fuel convoys around the capital Bamako, has led several governments including France and the US to advise their citizens to leave the country. The attacks have created fuel shortages, and raised serious concerns around the military government’s ability to maintain its rule in the country. Mali is […]
> The UK currently has no operating lithium extraction facilities. However, there are ambitious plans to develop this industry, with 97,000 tonnes LCE per year of nameplate capacity in the pipeline at various stages of funding and development. Direct lithium extraction (DLE) from geothermal brines accounts for 60% of this pipeline, according to Benchmark’s Lithium Forecast. […]
> Throughout June over two million power banks have been recalled worldwide after major cell supplier Amprius had its 3C (China Compulsory Certification) certification suspended by China’s “National Certification and Accreditation Administration”. The reason for the suspension remains undisclosed but the recalls cite risks of fire and burn hazards. With over two million power banks already […]