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Category: Battery Metals

Chile Invests in Direct Lithium Extraction and Rare Earth Recovery Research 1 International Battery Metals Lithium 

Chile Invests in Direct Lithium Extraction and Rare Earth Recovery Research

Constance
Chile Awards $5.8 Million to Advance Direct Lithium Extraction and Rare Earth Recovery Technologies Chile’s state-owned development agency, Corfo, has awarded up to $5.8 million in funding to two research and development projects focused on direct lithium extraction (DLE) and rare earth element recovery, as part of efforts to strengthen mining innovation and create new, high-value business lines. The first project will receive up to $1.9 million over a period of up to two years to identify, assess, and validate DLE technologies suitable for brines from Chile’s salt flats and… Read More Here
DRC Cobalt Prices Stall at $52,100 per Ton as Global Demand Outlook Remains Uncertain 2 Mining in DRC Battery Metals Cobalt 

DRC Cobalt Prices Stall at $52,100 per Ton as Global Demand Outlook Remains Uncertain

Constance
Cobalt Prices Stabilize After Rapid December Surge Amid Market Uncertainty After a period of rapid growth through December 22, 2025, cobalt prices have stabilized on the international market. Having climbed from USD 50,958 to over USD 52,000 per ton in just a few weeks, the price of this strategic mineral—of which the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the world’s leading producer—has now plateaued. Data for January 5–10, 2026, indicate cobalt export prices at USD 52,107 per ton, slightly below the previous week’s USD 52,111, reflecting a marginal decline. This… Read More Here
Resource Matters Warns of Weak Lithium Permitting Oversight in the DRC 3 Battery Metals Lithium Mining in DRC 

Resource Matters Warns of Weak Lithium Permitting Oversight in the DRC

Constance
Resource Matters Criticizes DRC Authorities Over Lack of Transparency in Lithium Mining Permits In a white paper published in December 2025 on value creation in strategic minerals such as copper, cobalt, and lithium, the NGO Resource Matters highlights significant shortcomings in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) lithium permitting process. The organization, which advocates for transparency and good governance in the extractive sector, points to a lack of rigor by Congolese authorities in granting exploitation permits for lithium, a critical mineral for the global energy transition. According to Resource Matters,… Read More Here
Vingroup Advances Green Mobility Project in Kinshasa with VinFast EV Initiative 4 Mining in DRC Battery Metals 

Vingroup Advances Green Mobility Project in Kinshasa with VinFast EV Initiative

Constance
Vingroup Plans 120,000 Electric Vehicles in Kinshasa, Launching Sustainable Urban Transport Ecosystem Vietnam’s Vingroup has provided new details on its planned green mobility project in Kinshasa, following a preliminary agreement signed with the city in October 2025. In a statement on December 29, Vingroup said it signed a trilateral memorandum of understanding on December 24 with Kinshasa’s Provincial Ministry of Transport and Urban Mobility and Congolese company Exposure Sarl. The memorandum establishes a framework for cooperation to develop a modern, sustainable, and accessible urban transport system. Through its electric vehicle… Read More Here
DRC Extends Cobalt Export Quotas to March 2026 Amid Logistical Challenges 5 Mining in DRC Battery Metals Cobalt 

DRC Extends Cobalt Export Quotas to March 2026 Amid Logistical Challenges

Constance
DRC Extends Cobalt Export Quotas to Support Producers After 2025 Export Delays The Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has extended the validity of cobalt export quotas for the last quarter of 2025 until March 31, 2026. The announcement was made by the Congolese regulator in a press release dated December 28, 2025. The extension comes in response to difficulties experienced by producers during the resumption of exports following the February 2025 embargo on cobalt, a strategic metal for the electric vehicle battery industry. Although the ban was… Read More Here
DRC Encouraged to Build Regional and Global Partnerships to Strengthen Cobalt Value Addition 6 Mining in DRC Battery Metals Cobalt 

DRC Encouraged to Build Regional and Global Partnerships to Strengthen Cobalt Value Addition

Constance
DRC Cobalt Sector: Resource Matters Urges Strategic SADC Partnerships for Electric Vehicle Battery Production To accelerate the development of its cobalt sector and achieve local processing into precursors for electric vehicle (EV) batteries, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is being encouraged to establish strategic partnerships, particularly with member countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC). This recommendation is outlined in a white paper published by the NGO Resource Matters on increasing value addition to Congolese copper, cobalt, and lithium prior to export. According to Resource Matters, such… Read More Here
China Launches First High-Capacity All-Solid-State Battery Production Line 7 International Battery Metals 

China Launches First High-Capacity All-Solid-State Battery Production Line

Constance
China Advances Electric Vehicle Technology with Breakthrough All-Solid-State Battery Production China has completed construction of its first high-capacity all-solid-state battery production line, marking a significant milestone toward the commercialization of next-generation battery technology widely regarded as critical to the future of electric vehicles. The production line was developed by state-owned automaker GAC Group and is currently undergoing small-scale trial production. It is the first facility in China capable of manufacturing automotive-grade all-solid-state batteries with capacities exceeding 60 amp-hours. All-solid-state batteries differ from conventional lithium-ion batteries by replacing liquid electrolytes with… Read More Here
DRC Urged to Tie Cobalt Export Quotas to Local Processing to Boost Battery Value Chain 8 Mining in DRC Battery Metals Cobalt 

DRC Urged to Tie Cobalt Export Quotas to Local Processing to Boost Battery Value Chain

Constance
DRC Cobalt Policy: Resource Matters Calls for Local Processing Rules in Export Quota System The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) should use its emerging cobalt export quota system to accelerate local mineral processing and capture more value from the electric vehicle battery supply chain, according to a new white paper published in December 2025 by the NGO Resource Matters. The report, which focuses on the local processing potential of strategic minerals such as cobalt, copper, and lithium, urges the Congolese government to integrate value addition as a core criterion for… Read More Here
DRC Suspends Artisanal Copper-Cobalt Processing to Strengthen Mining Sector 9 Mining in DRC Artisanal mining Battery Metals Cobalt Copper 

DRC Suspends Artisanal Copper-Cobalt Processing to Strengthen Mining Sector

Constance
DRC Minister of Mines Suspends Artisanal Copper and Cobalt Processing Amid Traceability Push The Democratic Republic of Congo’s Minister of Mines, Louis Watum Kabamba, has taken decisive action by signing Ministerial Order No. 00964/CAB.MIN/MINES/01/2025 on December 19, 2025, suspending all mining and marketing activities carried out by entities processing minerals from artisanal copper and cobalt mining. The suspension specifically targets processing units, including purchasing offices and similar structures, involved in the acquisition, processing, and marketing of minerals sourced from artisanal mining sites. Legally established industrial mining operations are not affected.… Read More Here
DRC Cobalt Prices Rally as Export Controls Reshape Global Supply 10 Mining in DRC Battery Metals Cobalt 

DRC Cobalt Prices Rally as Export Controls Reshape Global Supply

Constance
Cobalt Prices Surge in 2025 as DRC Export Suspension and Quotas Tighten Global Supply Cobalt, a strategic mineral for which the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) remains the world’s leading producer, has recorded a strong price recovery on international markets since November 2025. Widely used in electronics, electric vehicles, and energy transition technologies, the metal is benefiting from policy measures introduced by the Congolese government, particularly the suspension of exports after prices fell to nearly USD 21,000 per metric ton earlier in the year. Market data compiled by Deskeco shows… Read More Here

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