A range of international companies, including BYD and Rio Tinto, have been shortlisted to develop Chile’s Altoandinos salt flats, as the country looks to boost its falling share of the global lithium market. Chile was the top lithium producer in 2016, but is expected to fall to third place in 2024 due to growth in […]
> BYD has unveiled its latest grid-scale battery energy storage system (BESS), named Haohan, with a capacity of 14.5MWh and powered by a new 2,710Ah blade cell. The launch marks a step-change in scale for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) storage technology, though the size of both the cell and the system raise questions over practical deployment […]
> CODELCO, the Chilean state-owned copper miner, has reportedly offered their European customers record premiums on copper cathodes at USD 325/t for 2026 – 39% higher than last year’s level – according to sources familiar with the matter and media reports. This follows on from news last week that Aurubis increased offers 38% for 2026, leaving […]
> 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 […]
> Eramet has bought out Tsingshan’s 49.9% stake in its lithium operations in Argentina in a deal worth around $699 million. The move gives the French miner complete control of its Centenario direct lithium extraction (DLE) project and removes any concerns associated with Chinese ownership. This is the latest deal in the lithium space in recent […]
> LG Chem has signed a non-binding offtake agreement with ExxonMobil for up to 100,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate per year. This is potentially Exxon’s full annual production. Exxon will supply lithium carbonate from its planned direct lithium extraction (DLE) project in the US to LG Chem’s cathode production facility under construction in Tennessee. LG Chem’s […]
> South Korean steel and chemicals giant POSCO has taken a 30% stake in Australia’s Mineral Resources’ (MinRes) 50% stakes in the Mt Marion and Wodgina mines for US$765 million. Structured as a joint venture, the deal would see MinRes and POSCO hold an overall 35% and 15% of the operations, as well as corresponding rights […]
> Rio Tinto has continued efforts to position itself as a leader among commodity majors in the strategic pursuit of lithium assets, this week signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Reed Advanced Materials (RAM), majority-owned by Australia’s Neometals, covering a non-binding framework to explore collaboration on RAM’s patented ELi Process, a direct lithium extraction (DLE) […]
> Indonesia has issued a ban on the issuance of new smelter permits for nickel matte, mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP), and nickel pig iron (NPI), in a bid to curb overcapacity and incentivise value‑added investment in the battery supply chain. The policy marks the latest chapter in the Indonesian government’s strategic pivot in its nickel industrialisation […]