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Category: Battery Metals

Manono’s Lithium Dream Stalled Amid Rising Local Frustration 1 Mining in DRC Battery Metals Lithium 

Manono’s Lithium Dream Stalled Amid Rising Local Frustration

Constance
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is home to one of the world’s largest lithium deposits, a resource that is increasingly vital for the global shift to renewable energy. In the town of Manono, located in the Tanganyika province in the southeast of the country, an estimated 6.6 million tonnes of lithium lie beneath the soil. This mineral is essential for the production of rechargeable batteries used in electric vehicles and electronic devices. Despite the promise of economic transformation and international interest—including from the United States—progress on the Manono lithium… Read More Here
Friedland’s Ivanhoe Atlantic Pushes for U.S. Critical Mineral Status for High-Grade Iron Ore 2 International Battery Metals 

Friedland’s Ivanhoe Atlantic Pushes for U.S. Critical Mineral Status for High-Grade Iron Ore

Constance
Mining billionaire Robert Friedland’s new company, Ivanhoe Atlantic, is actively lobbying the U.S. government to include high-grade iron ore on its official list of critical minerals — a move aimed at aligning with national defense priorities and reducing reliance on foreign steel inputs. The campaign supports the company’s flagship project in Guinea, the Nimba iron ore mine, which is set to begin production of 2 to 5 million tonnes of premium iron ore later this year, with output expected to ramp up to 25 million tonnes annually within seven years.… Read More Here
Zimbabwe Lithium Miners Urge Delay of Export Tax Until Refining Plants Are Operational 3 Lithium Battery Metals International 

Zimbabwe Lithium Miners Urge Delay of Export Tax Until Refining Plants Are Operational

Constance
Lithium producers in Zimbabwe are calling on the government to postpone a proposed 5% export tax on lithium concentrate until domestic refining facilities are fully operational. The Zimbabwe Lithium Exporters (ZLE), an industry body that includes major players like Chengxin Lithium Group, has formally requested the deferral from the Ministries of Mines and Finance. The group is asking for a two-and-a-half-year grace period, allowing time for the construction and commissioning of plants that will produce higher-value lithium sulfate, expected to be completed by 2027. Zimbabwe has rapidly become a key… Read More Here
CMOC and Glencore Clash Over Future of DRC Cobalt Export Ban 4 Mining in DRC Battery Metals Cobalt 

CMOC and Glencore Clash Over Future of DRC Cobalt Export Ban

Constance
China’s CMOC and Switzerland’s Glencore have taken opposing stances on how to proceed after the suspension of cobalt exports from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which supplied 76% of the world’s cobalt in 2024. CMOC is advocating for a swift end to the export embargo, while Glencore-affiliated traders argue that the market must stabilize before Congolese cobalt re-enters the global supply chain. The issue was addressed during the recent Cobalt Congress in Singapore, in a meeting attended by DRC’s Minister of Mines, Kizito Pakabomba. CMOC Vice-President Kenny Ives emphasized… Read More Here
Congo’s Cobalt Export Ban Nears Expiry Amid Market Uncertainty 5 Mining in DRC Battery Metals Cobalt 

Congo’s Cobalt Export Ban Nears Expiry Amid Market Uncertainty

Constance
In February, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) imposed a four-month ban on cobalt exports, a measure now under review according to the country’s Minister of Mines, Kizito Pakabomba. He made the announcement on May 14 at the Cobalt Congress 2025 in Singapore. At the time the ban was enacted, the country’s regulatory body for strategic minerals, Arecoms, stated that an assessment would be conducted three months into the measure, with possible adjustments or a full reversal depending on the findings. With the ban set to expire on June 22,… Read More Here
CMOC, Glencore, and ERG Dominate as DRC Supplies 70% of Global Cobalt in 2024 6 Mining in DRC Battery Metals Cobalt 

CMOC, Glencore, and ERG Dominate as DRC Supplies 70% of Global Cobalt in 2024

Constance
According to the latest report from the Cobalt Institute, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) reinforced its position as the cornerstone of the global cobalt supply chain in 2024, accounting for over 70% of global mined output. Remarkably, 85% of the country’s cobalt exports were handled by just three companies: CMOC, Glencore, and Eurasian Resources Group (ERG). Production soared to new records, largely driven by CMOC’s output from its Tenke Fungurume (TFM) and Kisanfu (KFM) operations, which together yielded 114,000 tonnes—31% above previously projected capacity. However, this production boom contributed… Read More Here
Artisanal Cobalt Mining in the DRC Shrinks to Record Low Amid Industrial Surge and Price Pressures 7 Mining in DRC Artisanal mining Battery Metals Cobalt 

Artisanal Cobalt Mining in the DRC Shrinks to Record Low Amid Industrial Surge and Price Pressures

Constance
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), artisanal cobalt mining—a sector that has historically contributed between 10% and 30% of national output—is facing a sharp decline. According to the Cobalt Institute’s annual report released on May 14, 2025, artisanal mining accounted for just 2% of the country’s cobalt production in 2024. This marks a historically low level of contribution from small-scale miners, sharply contrasting with previous years. “In 2018, when cobalt prices peaked above USD 40 per pound, artisanal miners represented around 10% of the DRC’s output,” the report states.… Read More Here
DRC Reaffirms Global Cobalt Leadership and Push for Traceability at Cobalt Institute Conference 8 Uncategorized Battery Metals Cobalt Mining in DRC 

DRC Reaffirms Global Cobalt Leadership and Push for Traceability at Cobalt Institute Conference

Constance
At the opening of the Cobalt Institute’s 8th Annual Conference in Singapore, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Minister of Mines, Kizito Pakabomba, emphasized the country’s pivotal role in the global energy transition. He noted that over 70% of the world’s cobalt originates from the DRC, underscoring its strategic importance in meeting the energy challenges of the 21st century. Addressing a gathering of industry experts, mining operators, and investors, Minister Pakabomba reaffirmed the DRC government’s commitment to promoting traceability of critical minerals. This, he said, is part of a broader effort… Read More Here
China’s Cobalt Supplies Remain Resilient Despite DRC Export Ban 9 Cobalt Battery Metals Mining in DRC 

China’s Cobalt Supplies Remain Resilient Despite DRC Export Ban

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 Market Set to Swing into Deficit by Early 2030s Amid Soaring EV Demand 10 Cobalt Battery Metals 

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

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

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