Lithium - Copperbelt Katanga Mining

Delays and Controversy Cloud Manono Lithium Mining Project in DRC

June 7, 2024June 7, 2024 Constance

Announced at the start of 2023, the lithium mining project in Manono, Tanganyika province, remains stalled. Despite high hopes for transforming the Greater Katanga region, the project has yet to launch. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which previously mined tin in the area, now faces questions about why this promising project is delayed. Manono, located in the southeastern DRC, holds the world’s largest lithium reserve. With an estimated 100,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs), the region’s natural resources have attracted global attention, especially with the discovery of lithium. The demand… Read More Here

International Battery Metals Lithium

Zimbabwe lithium miners table refinery plans under govt pressure

May 24, 2024May 24, 2024 Constance

Four lithium mining companies have tabled plans to produce battery-grade lithium in Zimbabwe, a government official said on Monday. Zimbabwe, Africa’s top producer of lithium, which is used in electric vehicle batteries and to store renewable energy, is prodding miners to refine the mineral locally as it hopes to boost its economy. Currently, Chinese lithium miners, who dominate the sector in Zimbabwe, only produce lithium concentrates which they ship to China for further processing. Last November, Zimbabwe’s finance minister Mthuli Ncube said the government had given miners up to March… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Cobalt Copper Lithium

Zijin Mining to Boost Copper Production with Focus on DRC Expansion

May 24, 2024May 24, 2024 Constance

Zijin Mining Group, China’s leading copper producer, has announced plans to significantly increase its production targets in response to anticipated continued rises in copper prices driven by persistent supply shortages. This strategic move will accelerate the development of its mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), according to sources. Zijin Mining aims to increase its copper production to 1.22 million tonnes by 2025, which is a 4% rise from its previous forecast. By 2028, the company targets an ambitious production range of 1.5 to 1.6 million tonnes, marking a… Read More Here

International Battery Metals Cobalt Lithium Nickel

Critical Minerals Market Value Projected to Soar to $770 Billion by 2040

May 20, 2024May 20, 2024 Constance

The market value of critical minerals is projected to rise from its current $325 billion to $770 billion by 2040 under the Net Zero Emission (NZE) scenario, which aims for carbon neutrality by 2050. This projection is part of the “Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2024,” a study released by the International Energy Agency (IEA) on May 17, 2024. The report attributes the expected increase in market value to the surging global demand for minerals essential for the energy transition, including lithium, cobalt, copper, nickel, and rare earth elements. This demand… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Battery Metals Lithium

CNPAV Urges Probe into Cominière’s Handling of Manono Lithium Deposit

May 12, 2024May 12, 2024 Constance

In a press release issued on Friday, May 10, the Congo Is Not for Sale (CNPAV) coalition demanded an official investigation into the management of the Kitotolo-Manono lithium deposit by Cominière, a state-owned mining company in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The CNPAV alleges that Cominière received $70 million from Zijin Mining, a Chinese company headed by Jean David E’ngazi, who also sits on the board of directors of Cominière. The “donation,” as termed by CNPAV, was part of a joint venture agreement for the exploitation of the Kitotolo-Manono… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Lithium Mining Personality

Tantalex Lithium Resources Corp. Announces Private Placement and Appointment of Senior Advisor

May 1, 2024May 1, 2024 Constance

Toronto, Ontario, April 29th, 2024 – Tantalex Lithium Resources Corp. (CSE: TTX – FSE: DW8 – OTCQB: TTLXF) (“Tantalex” or the “Corporation”) is thrilled to unveil a non-brokered private placement initiative, representing a significant milestone for the company’s growth trajectory. The private placement comprises approximately 117,090,857 common shares (the “Common Shares”) at a favorable price of $0.035 per Common Share, aiming to generate gross proceeds of up to USD$3,000,000 (the “Private Placement”). The primary allocation of the proceeds from the Private Placement will be directed towards critical project expenditures geared… Read More Here

Lithium Battery Metals International

Africa’s lithium supply to almost triple this year – Benchmark Mineral Intelligence

April 25, 2024April 25, 2024 Constance

Lithium production from Africa is projected to almost triple in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence. Chinese companies hold a virtual monopoly on lithium extraction in Africa, with over 90% of the continent’s projected lithium supply for this decade stemming from projects partly owned by Chinese entities, as estimated by Benchmark. Most of the increased supply is expected to come from Zimbabwe. It is estimated that the country produced 3,400 tonnes in 2023, placing it among the seven largest producers globally. The country is home… Read More Here

Battery Metals Cobalt Lithium Mining in DRC

Sub-Saharan Africa’s Energy Transition Minerals Valued at $2 Trillion by 2050

April 23, 2024April 23, 2024 Constance

Sub-Saharan Africa is poised to play a significant role in the global energy transition, with the potential to generate nearly $2 trillion from the production of essential metals by 2050, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In a paper released on Friday, the IMF outlined that global revenue from mining key metals such as copper, cobalt, lithium, and nickel could soar to $16 trillion over the next 25 years, as projected by the International Energy Agency (IEA). Sub-Saharan Africa is expected to contribute around 12% of this total output.… Read More Here

International Copper Lithium

Chile’s mining production up 7.7% in February

April 3, 2024April 3, 2024 Constance

Chile’s mining production is starting to turn the corner after months of a sustained output slump, with the country’s total output up 7.7% in February from the same month last year. The country’s top commodities, copper and lithium, were behind the overall production increase, according to data published by the National Institute of Statistics (INE). Metal extraction grew by 5.5% on the back of rising copper output, which grew 9.95% to 420,242 tonnes. The country accounts for almost a quarter of the world’s copper supply, equivalent to about 5.2 million… Read More Here

International Battery Metals Cobalt Lithium Press Release

Electra and Eurasian Resources Group Sign Cobalt Supply Agreement

April 3, 2024April 3, 2024 Constance

Electra Battery Materials Corporation (NASDAQ: ELBM; TSX-V: ELBM) (“Electra”, “Company”) and Eurasian Resources Group (“ERG”, “The Group”), a leading diversified natural resources group headquartered in Luxembourg, announced today that they have signed a binding letter of intent for the long-term supply of ERG’s cobalt hydroxide to North America’s first battery grade cobalt sulfate refinery. This transaction supports efforts to onshore the battery supply chain and reduce reliance on foreign refiners. .Starting from 2026, under the three-year supply agreement, ERG will deliver 3,000 tonnes per annum of IRA-compliant cobalt to Electra’s… Read More Here