Battery Metals - Copperbelt Katanga Mining

China’s Cobalt Supplies Remain Resilient Despite DRC Export Ban

May 15, 2025May 15, 2025 Constance

Chinese cobalt smelters continue to maintain stable supplies of the critical battery metal, despite the four-month export ban imposed by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)—the world’s top cobalt producer—earlier this year, according to delegates at the Cobalt Congress 2025 held in Singapore. Shirley Wang, General Manager at Shanghai Metals Market, told the conference that Chinese downstream users have stockpiles of intermediate cobalt products ranging from two weeks to six months. “Large-scale users in China have up to six months of inventory. However, smaller companies with only half a month’s… Read More Here

Cobalt Battery Metals

Cobalt Market Set to Swing into Deficit by Early 2030s Amid Soaring EV Demand

May 14, 2025May 14, 2025 Constance

Global demand for cobalt is expected to outpace supply growth in the coming years, gradually eroding the current market surplus and pushing the market into deficit by the early 2030s, according to a new report by the Cobalt Institute, prepared by Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. The shift is driven largely by the rapid expansion of the electric vehicle (EV) sector, which uses cobalt in lithium-ion batteries. Cobalt demand is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7%, reaching 400,000 metric tons by the early 2030s—up from 222,000… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Battery Metals Cobalt

DRC’s Cobalt Export Suspension Shakes Global Markets

May 11, 2025May 11, 2025 Constance

In February 2025, the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) made a bold move by suspending cobalt exports for four months. The decision, announced by the Strategic Mineral Substances Market Regulatory and Control Authority (ARCOMS), aimed to stabilize the oversupplied market and increase national revenue from this critical mineral. The impact was immediate. Within just one week, cobalt prices soared by 27% on global markets. By May 2025, the price had climbed to USD 33,630.99 per tonne—up from USD 30,000—underscoring the market’s heavy reliance on Congolese supply. According… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Battery Metals New Mining Projects

DRC Launches First-Ever Manganese Mining Project in Kongo-Central Province

May 11, 2025May 11, 2025 Constance

For the first time in the history of the Democratic Republic of Congo’s mining sector, manganese will soon be commercially exploited in Kongo-Central province—an area traditionally known for its oil reserves. The announcement was made during the 43rd Council of Ministers meeting on Friday, May 9, 2025, through a briefing by Minister of Mines, Kizito Pakapomba. The project will be carried out in Luozi territory by Asia Mineral Limited, a Japanese company ranked among the world’s top manganese exporters. The firm is recognized for its expertise in the extraction, processing,… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Battery Metals Cobalt

DRC Prioritizes Cobalt Governance and Value Addition in Talks with IMF

May 10, 2025May 10, 2025 Constance

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is intensifying efforts to assert greater control over its cobalt sector—one of the world’s most strategic mineral resources—following a high-level meeting held on May 8, 2025, between the Minister of Mines, Kizito Pakabomba Kapinga Mulume, and a delegation from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) led by Calixte Ahokpossi. The meeting was part of the IMF’s first review of the DRC’s Economic Program, backed by the Extended Credit Facility (ECF). Key representatives from ARECOMS and the Technical and Coordination Unit of Mining Projects (CTCPM) also… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Battery Metals Corporate News Lithium New Mining Projects

KoBold Seeks Lithium Stake in DRC’s Manono Amid Legal Dispute and Geopolitical Shifts

May 9, 2025May 9, 2025 Constance

KoBold Metals, a U.S.-based mining company backed by prominent investors including Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, is intensifying efforts to secure rights to the Manono lithium deposit in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)—a site widely regarded as a potential world-class lithium mine. A January 2024 estimate suggests Manono holds 669 million tonnes of resources with an average grade of 1.61% lithium. On May 6, 2025, KoBold and Australia’s AVZ Minerals issued a joint statement titled Developing Manono for Peace and Prosperity, signed by their CEOs, Kurt House and Nigel… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Battery Metals Cobalt Lithium Uranium

Belgium Signals Stronger Role in DRC’s Critical Minerals Sector

April 30, 2025April 30, 2025 Constance

Belgium is ready to deepen its involvement in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) critical minerals sector, according to Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot, who is currently visiting the Central African country as it seeks to diversify its investment partnerships. The DRC holds some of the world’s largest reserves of copper, cobalt, lithium, and uranium. However, persistent instability and insecurity—particularly in the east—have long hindered the scale of foreign investment required to fully develop the sector’s potential. Amid growing interest from global powers, Kinshasa is actively looking to attract new… Read More Here

Lithium Battery Metals Corporate News International

Premier African Minerals Signs LOI with Glencore for Zulu Lithium Concentrate

April 28, 2025April 28, 2025 Constance

Premier African Minerals (Premier) has signed a non-binding Letter of Interest (LOI) with Glencore International regarding the potential sale of spodumene concentrate from its Zulu Lithium and Tantalum Project in Zimbabwe. The LOI outlines preliminary terms for a future binding agreement, contingent on the Zulu Project meeting specific production standards, particularly in grade and volume. Premier aims to finalise the binding agreement within the next three months, with support from Canmax Technologies. Located approximately 80 km from Bulawayo, the Zulu Project is one of Zimbabwe’s largest undeveloped lithium-bearing pegmatites, covering… Read More Here

International Battery Metals New Mining Projects

Trump Administration Fast-Tracks 10 Strategic Mining Projects to Boost U.S. Critical Mineral Supply

April 25, 2025April 25, 2025 Constance

The Trump administration has fast-tracked ten mining projects across the United States in a major push to increase domestic production of critical minerals and reduce dependence on foreign supply chains. The selected projects—covering copper, lithium, gold, potash, coal, bromine, and phosphate—involve major industry players such as Rio Tinto, Hecla Mining, Albemarle, Warrior Met Coal, and Perpetua Resources. These initiatives form the first wave under President Trump’s executive order aimed at strengthening American mineral independence. Projects approved for expedited federal permitting include: Rio Tinto’s Resolution Copper project in Arizona Perpetua Resources’… Read More Here

International Battery Metals Lithium

Andrada Confirms High-Grade Lithium, Tin, and Tantalum at Uis Project in Namibia

April 13, 2025April 13, 2025 Constance

Aim-listed Andrada Mining has announced encouraging initial drill results from 13 polymetallic pegmatites at its Uis mining licence in Namibia, reinforcing the scale and quality of mineralisation at the project, according to CEO Anthony Viljoen. The pegmatites, located within a 3 km radius of the existing Uis tin mine processing plant, form part of a broader swarm of approximately 180 mineralised pegmatites identified within the licence area. The current drilling campaign aims to validate historical data and evaluate the by-product potential of these previously mined areas. The programme includes 44… Read More Here