NOVONIX has signed a binding offtake agreement with PowerCo, a subsidiary of Volkswagen, for synthetic graphite anode material as geopolitical uncertainty continues to drive supply chain diversification. The company will supply a minimum of 32,000 tonnes of synthetic graphite to PowerCo for a five-year term starting in 2027. The battery materials player is expected to […]
> The US Department of Energy (DoE) has offered a conditional loan of $754.8 million to Novonix to partially fund the construction of a synthetic graphite plant as the country continues to derisk its battery supply chain from China. “The loan is a testament to the growing need to develop ex-China graphite supply. This highlights the […]
> The Volkswagen Group has invested C$69 million (US$48 million) for a 9.9% stake in Canadian lithium developer Patriot Battery Metals. Patriot also signed a binding offtake agreement to supply PowerCo, Volkswagen’s battery making subsidiary, with 100,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate per year (~10,000 tonnes lithium carbonate equivalent) over a decade. The lithium will come from […]
> South Korea’s battery industry is one of the most developed and globally integrated ecosystems in the world. Yet beneath the surface of its technical leadership lies a sense of caution: competition from China is intensifying, margins are thin, and chemistry choices are shifting rapidly. A recent visit by Benchmark’s Lithium Product Director, Cameron Perks – […]
> Following the conclusion of a formal public consultation, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence is modifying the specification of its high energy anode material grades to include a minimum charging rate, relevant for EV applications. This modification to the methodology for two of the existing grades in the Benchmark Anode Price Assessment begins from 15 October 2025. Two […]
> 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 […]
> 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 […]
> The Trump administration is stepping up direct investments in critical mineral projects to bolster US supply security, as part of a broader push by Washington to acquire equity in sectors considered vital to national security. Last week, the US Department of Energy (DoE) announced it would restructure a $2.3bn loan agreement with Lithium Americas, providing […]
> Benchmark has tracked over $50 billion of energy transition funding, throughout 2025 in its Energy Transition Capital database, with the largest share allocated to the battery supply chain. The role of debt, grants, and equity Debt The EV, battery, and battery materials markets have matured rapidly over the past few years. As a result, debt is playing an increasingly […]