Battery Metals - Copperbelt Katanga Mining

Trafigura Seeks Court Approval to Subpoena Wall Street Banks in Nickel Fraud Case 1

Trafigura Group is seeking court approval to subpoena major Wall Street banks for information that could help the commodity trading giant trace over half a billion dollars lost in an alleged nickel fraud. The company is still pursuing the funds nearly two years after it was revealed that nearly $600 million worth of nickel, stored in containers, was actually low-value carbon steel. Trafigura is suing businessman Prateek Gupta and his affiliated companies in London for the funds. On Monday, Trafigura filed a request in a New York court to subpoena… Read More Here

International Battery Metals Cobalt

Chile Launches $3-$4 Million Initiative to Extract Cobalt and Rare Earths from Mining Waste

January 22, 2025January 22, 2025 Constance

SANTIAGO – Chile’s development agency, Corfo, has launched a call for studies focused on extracting cobalt and rare earths from mining waste, offering $3 million to $4 million per project for a three-year period. This initiative is part of Chile’s strategy to tap into its nearly 800 tailings deposits across the country. Mining companies are increasingly looking for ways to extract valuable metals from these waste deposits, especially as global demand for metals like cobalt and copper surges with the energy transition. “These are strategic minerals, particularly cobalt and rare… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Battery Metals Lithium New Mining Projects

Zijin Mining to Begin Lithium Production in the DRC Amid Legal Disputes

January 9, 2025January 9, 2025 Constance

China’s Zijin Mining Group Co. is set to commence lithium production in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) early next year, leveraging one of the world’s largest deposits of the battery metal. Zijin is ramping up development at the Manono project in southeastern Congo, despite an ongoing legal dispute with Australia’s AVZ Minerals Ltd. AVZ has initiated arbitration against the DRC government, claiming the project’s exploration license was unlawfully reassigned. The Manono project, slated to begin production in Q1 2026, will be the first operational lithium mine in Congo, a… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Battery Metals Cobalt Corporate News

CMOC Group Achieves Record Cobalt Production with African Expansion

January 8, 2025January 8, 2025 Constance

China’s CMOC Group set a new benchmark in global cobalt production in 2024, thanks to a rapid increase in output from its African mining operations. The company announced it produced 114,165 tonnes of cobalt last year, nearly doubling the 55,526 tonnes achieved in 2023. This output far exceeded its 2024 guidance of 70,000 tonnes, solidifying CMOC’s status as the world’s leading cobalt supplier. In 2023, CMOC overtook Glencore as the largest global cobalt producer, driven by significant production gains from its Kisanfu mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC),… Read More Here

International Battery Metals

China Strengthens Export Controls on Battery Technology to Safeguard Strategic Advantage

January 4, 2025January 4, 2025 Constance

China has announced plans to tighten export controls on critical battery technologies, a move aimed at securing its supply chain and bolstering its dominance in the global new energy sector. The proposal, unveiled by the Ministry of Commerce in a notice seeking public feedback, highlights restrictions on technologies related to lithium refining and battery chemical production. This development follows earlier export bans on key materials like gallium, germanium, antimony, and superhard materials, targeting the United States and other markets. According to state-run Xinhua News Agency, the restrictions are intended to… Read More Here

Mining in Zambia Battery Metals

Zambia’s EV Battery Plant Nears Market Rollout Amid Manufacturing Sector Growth

December 15, 2024December 15, 2024 Constance

Commerce, Trade, and Industry Minister Chipoka Mulenga has announced that the Electric Vehicle (EV) battery plant in Chibombo, operated by the Zambia Jiangxi Multi-Facility Economic Zone, is conducting battery trials. The batteries are expected to enter the market by January 2025. Speaking at the 38th Annual General Meeting of the Zambia Association of Manufacturers (ZAM) in Lusaka, Mulenga emphasized the pivotal role of the manufacturing sector in achieving Zambia’s Vision 2030 to become a prosperous middle-income nation. During the event, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Ministry of… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Battery Metals Cobalt

Cobalt Demand Gives DRC Strategic Edge in Europe’s Green Energy Race

November 27, 2024November 27, 2024 Constance

The surging demand for materials critical to electromobility, particularly cobalt, has thrust the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) into the spotlight, offering it newfound leverage as Europe scrambles to secure resources for its energy transition goals. Marie-Pierre Vedrenne, a member of the European Parliament, emphasizes the need for a united EU approach to ensure a sustainable and ethical supply of raw materials. “The extraction processes must align with our vision of avoiding exploitation and eradicating child labor under horrendous conditions,” Vedrenne, from the pro-European Renew Europe group, told DW. Cobalt, a… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Battery Metals Cobalt

Tackling Traceability Challenges in the Congolese Cobalt Supply Chain

November 16, 2024November 16, 2024 Constance

The Congolese mining sector has long grappled with mineral traceability issues, particularly within its cobalt supply chain. In April 2024, the NGO Ressource Matters published a study titled “Study the Risks in Your Cobalt Supply Chain”. This research mapped over 280 entities spanning the cobalt supply chain—from miners to end consumers—highlighting the social and environmental risks associated with cobalt extraction. The study aimed to assist companies in aligning with international standards for responsible sourcing. The Complexities of Traceability Ressource Matters identifies the foremost challenge for companies using cobalt: tracing its… Read More Here

International Battery Metals

Sibanye-Stillwater Gains from U.S. Regulatory Changes on Critical Minerals

October 30, 2024October 30, 2024 Constance

Sibanye-Stillwater has received a significant boost from the United States following the publication of final regulations that provide incentives for mining critical minerals, including palladium and platinum. These incentives are part of the Inflation Reduction Act’s (IRA) Section 45X, which now allows for a 10% ‘Advance Manufacturing Production’ credit. The previous version of the Act restricted this incentive to refiners, excluding miners, but has since been amended. “We welcome the amendments to the Section 45X regulations made by the U.S. Treasury and applaud its foresight in understanding our industry and… Read More Here

International Battery Metals Cobalt Lithium

African Nations Called to Invest in Beneficiation of Critical Minerals for Industrial Growth

October 30, 2024October 30, 2024 Constance

Africa has the potential to be a key player in the global energy transition due to its rich reserves of critical minerals like lithium and cobalt. However, maximizing this potential requires a robust strategy for building manufacturing capacity, scaling up production, and increasing exports. This perspective was shared during a panel discussion at the recent Manufacturing Indaba, highlighting how resource extraction and industrialisation offer African nations opportunities to advance along the value chain, create high-skilled jobs, and drive technological innovation. “We need to explore ways to deepen those value chains,… Read More Here