Battery Metals - Copperbelt Katanga Mining

Bikita Minerals Completes Dual Lithium Processing Plant in Zimbabwe

July 11, 2023July 11, 2023 Constance

Chinese mining conglomerate Sinomine Resource Group has completed the construction of a dual lithium processing plant at the group’s 10.8-million-ton Bikita mine in Zimbabwe. Commissioned in January 2022 following the Chinese group’s acquisition of the mine in a $180 million transaction, the plant will produce up to 300,000 metric tons of spodumene concentrate and 480,000 tons of petalite per year. The processing facility comprises a Gravity Separation Plant and a Flotation plant, enabling the mine to start processing spodumene while increasing the production of petalite from the current 50,000 tons… Read More Here

Battery Metals

African Resources will be Critical for the Global Energy Transition

June 27, 2023June 27, 2023 Constance

As the world transitions to cleaner forms of energy, Africa will play a crucial role in the supply of critical minerals required for the development of renewable energy technologies. Robert Friedland, Executive Co-Chairperson of mining firm Ivanhoe Mines, considers these resources to be integral to the future global economy, with “the fate of humanity on the African continent.” With demand for critical minerals expected to reach annual revenues of $400 billion by 2050, Africa is poised to lead the global mining industry while stimulating socioeconomic growth and development. Speaking… Read More Here

International Battery Metals Lithium

Lake Resources to develop Kachi lithium in two stages

June 25, 2023June 25, 2023 Constance

Argentine lithium brine play Lake Resources (ASX: LKE) has decided to further de-risk its Kachi project by adopting a two-stage development schedule. For its 50,000 tonnes per annum production target, the company will now have a phased approach of two 25,000tpa operations. This also allows Lake to accelerate the development timeline, bringing forward production. Full production by 2030 Now the timetable allows for the first stage, handling 25,000tpa, by 2027, with the second phase now due to come online in 2030. Kachi is located in Catamarca province of Argentina, within the “lithium… Read More Here

International Battery Metals Copper

Saudi Arabia’s PIF Leads Bidding for $2.5 Billion Vale Base Metals Stake

June 25, 2023June 25, 2023 Constance

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund is emerging as the leading bidder to acquire a stake in Vale SA’s multibillion-dollar nickel and copper operations, people with knowledge of the matter said. PIF is in advanced discussions with the Brazilian miner about a deal for a roughly 10% holding in its base metals unit, according to the people, who asked not to be identified discussing confidential information. The stake could be valued at around $2.5 billion, they said. The wealth fund is poised to beat out rival bidders including Japanese trading house Mitsui & Co. and the Qatar… Read More Here

International Battery Metals

Critical Materials Price Index Reaches 12-Month Low

June 22, 2023June 22, 2023 Constance

The critical materials price index, monitored by Project Blue, reached its lowest point in the past year in May. However, the energy transition market intelligence firm now suggests that this decline marked the low point in the cycle for the basket of 30 metals and minerals. The index had reached its peak in March of the previous year, benefitting from a post-COVID economic recovery. However, it experienced a swift decline due to a weakening global macroeconomic situation, surging energy costs, and a less-than-inspiring recovery in China, which accounts for the… Read More Here

Mining in Zambia Battery Metals Copper

Is Zambia really unattractive to mining investors?

June 22, 2023June 22, 2023 Constance

Zambia was once again among the world’s five least attractive jurisdictions for mining investment – that is, according to the Fraser Institute’s latest Annual Survey of Mining Companies. For members of Zambia’s Government, mining industry insiders, finance professionals – and anyone who follows the Canada-based think-tank’s annual report and saw our 2022 score – a return to the bottom five in this internationally-recognized report might seem like a bad joke. The report is widely considered a global benchmark for investors’ perceptions and, for years, Mining For Zambia highlighted its findings with you, our readers.… Read More Here

Battery Metals Copper International Nickel

Bill Gates-backed KoBold Metals is the Silicon Valley’s newest unicorn

June 22, 2023June 22, 2023 Constance

Berkeley-based mining company KoBold Metals has hit the $1 billion unicorn valuation, the Wall Street Journal reported. Its most recent $200 million round included money from Breakthrough Energy Ventures, a Bill Gates-backed venture capital firm that invests in clean energy companies on behalf of people including Jeff Bezos and Jack Ma. Founded in 2018, KoBold uses machine learning to look for deposits of critical minerals like copper, nickel, lithium and cobalt. “Our proprietary A.I. tools build on a concept we call efficacy of information (EOI), enabl KoBold to determine which data to… Read More Here

Battery Metals International

Chinese unicorn startup develops all-weather EV Battery

June 11, 2023June 11, 2023 Constance

A young battery startup in China claims its latest cell technology is able to alleviate a major issue for EV owners today – the loss of charging performance and range in inclement weather, especially cold climates during winter. By utilizing superconducting materials, Greater Bay Technology says its new cells can charge and function as normal within six minutes, no matter the temperature outside. Guangzhou Juwan Technology Research Co., Ltd. – better known as Greater Bay Technology is a battery startup spun out of GAC Motor as recently as 2020. In that short time,… Read More Here

Battery Metals International Technology & Innovation

Breakthrough in Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling Could Revolutionize Power Grid

April 30, 2023April 30, 2023 Constance

Despite recent technological breakthroughs, lithium-ion battery recycling continues to vex scientists in several ways. Battery recycling remains an expensive process that often requires melting down entire batteries in order to recycle small amounts of precious metals. However, great minds are increasingly finding ways to repurpose and recycle batteries that are past their prime, as scientists at Oak Ridge National Laboratory recently did when they discovered that batteries of differing ages, sizes, and origins could be combined to form a unique kind of energy storage system. In a paper written for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers’ (IEEE) Electrical Energy Storage… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Battery Metals Copper

CMOC Resolves Mining Royalties Dispute in DRC

April 19, 2023April 19, 2023 Constance

China’s CMOC Group Ltd. has made a breakthrough in its long-running dispute with state-owned partner Gécamines over mining royalties in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This development could enable CMOC to begin exporting its stockpile of battery metals to global markets. According to a filing made by CMOC on the Hong Kong stock exchange on Wednesday 19th April, both companies have reached a “consensus on the royalties issue” at the Tenke Fungurume operation. The exports from Tenke, a major source of copper and one of the world’s largest cobalt… Read More Here