Lithium - Copperbelt Katanga Mining

Kabanga says Tanzania mine may answer Elon Musk’s nickel plea

November 19, 2021November 19, 2021 Janet

Kabanga Nickel Ltd. is seeking to raise $1.3 billion for a massive mining project in Tanzania that the company says could help ease electric-vehicle manufacturers’ insatiable demand for nickel. “We are accelerating this kind of discussions as quickly as possible,” Chief Executive Officer Chris Showalter, a former investment banker, said in an interview. “Because of the quality of the project, we have developed a substantial interest.” Kabanga is trying to secure funding for a $950 million mine and $350 million refineries that would be developed simultaneously in the northwest part… Read More Here

Battery Metals Lithium

Rio Tinto invests in European EV battery producer InoBat Auto

November 19, 2021November 19, 2021 Janet

Rio Tinto (ASX, LON, NYSE: RIO) announced Tuesday it is investing in European battery technology and manufacturing company InoBat Auto. InoBat is leading the construction of a 290,000 square-foot, first-of-its-kind electric vehicle battery R&D center and pilot line in Slovakia, where it plans to integrate research and development activities together with battery cell-manufacturing capabilities. The world’s second-largest miner is expanding its footprint in Europe — in July committing $2.4 billion to the Jadar lithium-borates project in Serbia, one of the largest greenfield lithium projects in development. Rio said last month 60 Jadar mines wouldn’t fill… Read More Here

Battery Metals Lithium

Rise in battery costs to keep lithium price rallying — report

November 16, 2021November 16, 2021 Janet

Lithium prices have rallied in 2021 and are now at record-high levels, amidst the sharp acceleration in demand during a global supply struggle. In its latest industry report, market analyst Fitch Solutions revised up significantly both its lithium carbonate and hydroxide price forecasts from 2021 to 2026, to incorporate higher global EV sales assumptions from its Autos team and subsequent stronger lithium demand for batteries. Fitch was expecting prices to remain on an uptrend over 2021-2022. The analyst launched the new lithium price forecast in May 2021, but lithium prices have rallied beyond… Read More Here

Battery Metals Cobalt International Lithium

Researchers push for more accurate battery metals demand forecasts

November 15, 2021November 15, 2021 Janet

Common assumptions that state that demand for battery metals will continue to increase for the foreseeable future, as they are essential for high-performance lithium-ion batteries, may be misleading, a new report by CSIRO states. According to Australia’s national science agency, unsophisticated models based on current supply levels and basic recycling rates are promoting many mischaracterizations of the real opportunities in both metal mining and recycling. In the view of the experts at CSIRO, such models ignore the dynamics of materials flows on a global scale and the expected changes in underlying technologies. “Metal… Read More Here

Battery Metals Cobalt Copper Lithium

The commodity boom is starting to push battery prices higher

November 5, 2021November 5, 2021 Janet

The world’s biggest battery market is showing the strain of surging commodity prices. Chinese manufacturer Gotion High-tech Co. sent a letter to customers in mid-October seeking to adjust battery prices, citing a jump in the cost of cathode materials and electrolyte to copper and aluminum foil. The company said it “has tried its best to reduce the cost impacts but with little effect.” Gotion’s move underscores a key hurdle the world faces in its transition to cleaner, greener energy sources. Electric-vehicle sales have soared as companies were able to make… Read More Here

Battery Metals International Lithium

TESLA SIGNS THREE YEAR LITHIUM SUPPLY DEAL WITH CHINA’S GANFENG LITHIUM

November 5, 2021November 5, 2021 Janet

Tesla has signed a three-year deal to buy lithium from Ganfeng Lithium, as it secures supplies of the battery raw material following a rapid rise in prices this year. The agreement for battery grade lithium hydroxide will start at the beginning of next year, Ganfeng said, without giving further details. “The actual purchasing quantity and sales amount will depend on the purchasing orders placed by Tesla,” Ganfeng said. The deal comes following a 91 per cent increase in lithium hydroxide CIF Asia prices this year to $19,250 a tonne, according… Read More Here

Battery Metals Lithium Mining in DRC Tin

AVZ Announces Quarterly Activates for the period ended 30 Sept 2021.

October 29, 2021October 29, 2021 Janet

AVZ Minerals Limited (ASX: AVZ, “the Company”) presents its Quarterly Activities Report for the period ended 30 September 2021 and is pleased to provide the following commentary and update to shareholders.AVZ Managing Director, Mr. Nigel Ferguson said: “The cornerstone investor deal with CATH marked one of the most significant days in our Company’s short history and clearly indicated to the world how important our Manono Lithium and Tin Project is.”“AVZ is very excited to have someone of the calibre of Mr. Pei Zhenhua and Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited (“CATL”) as… Read More Here

Battery Metals Lithium Mining in DRC Tin

Manono Lithium and Tin Project Corporate Update

October 20, 2021October 20, 2021 Janet

AVZ Minerals Limited (ASX: AVZ or “the Company”) is pleased to provide an operational update on the progress of various matters relating to its flagship Manono Lithium and Tin Project (“Manono Project”).Transaction Implementation Agreement (“TIA”) As previously announced on 27 September 2021, the Company has entered into a deal with CATH to develop the Manono Project.Proceeds from the transaction will fund a majority of project development capital. CATH has now paid the US$20 million break fee (held in an escrow account). The completion of the transaction is subject to the… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Battery Metals International Lithium

Chinese to plough US$400m into AVZ lithium project

September 30, 2021September 30, 2021 Janet

AVZ Minerals has locked down US$400 million in funding, a new off-take partner and Chinese backers with very deep pockets and an intimate understanding of lithium battery manufacturing. It looks like it’s game on now for AVZ’s extraordinary Manono lithium project in the DRC after Suzhou CATH Energy Technologies, or “CATH” agreed to pick up 24 per cent of the project for US$240 million and also stump up its share of the project’s CAPEX. In total, the transaction will inject more than US$400 million into the project, which AVZ says… Read More Here

Battery Metals Lithium Mining in DRC

Expansion study at Manono starts

September 29, 2021September 29, 2021 Janet

ASX-listed AVZ Minerals has started an expansion scenario study for its Manono lithium and tin project, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The study will investigate an increase in throughput at Manono dense media separation (DMS) plant, up from the 4.5-million tonnes considered in the project’s definitive feasibility study. The expansion scenario was raised in the recent $400-million transaction with Chinese investment firm CATH Energy Technologies, under which CATH would earn a 24% interest in a multi-faceted joint venture (JV) to develop the Manono lithium and tin project. CATH… Read More Here