Finland Inaugurates First Hydrogen Electrolyzer Amid Sluggish Industry Demand

Belgian metals recycling company Umicore announced plans to reduce its capital expenditure by €1.4 billion ($1.51 billion) between 2025 and 2028, bringing total investments down to €1.6 billion. The company’s battery cathode materials division will bear the brunt of these cuts, with €800 million slashed from its budget due to weaker-than-expected electric vehicle (EV) sales…

Norway is emerging as a pivotal player in Europe’s critical raw materials supply chain, driven by strategic partnerships and resource development projects. The country’s mineral reserves, including nickel, cobalt, and copper, are becoming increasingly essential for clean energy technologies such as electric vehicles and renewable energy infrastructure. In 2024, Norway and the EU signed a…

Elliott Associates, a U.S.-based hedge fund, is reviewing its options for further legal action against the London Metal Exchange (LME) after Britain’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) fined the exchange £9.2 million ($11.9 million) for its handling of the 2022 nickel price crisis. The fine, announced on March 20, 2025, marks the first enforcement action against…

Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) is set to begin operations as a standalone company under the name Valterra Platinum on May 28, following its demerger from parent company Anglo American. The new name, a combination of “Value” and “Terra” (Latin for earth), reflects the company’s focus on maximizing shareholder value and its connection to natural resources….

Spot rhodium prices have climbed to their highest levels in 20 months, driven by increased buying interest from Anglo American Platinum (Amplats) and tight first-quarter supply from South Africa. Prices have risen 20% this month, breaking above $5,000 per troy ounce before reaching $6,040 on Tuesday—the highest since June 2023—before retreating to $5,640 on Wednesday….

The World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC) has published its Platinum Quarterly report for Q4 2024 and the full year, providing an updated forecast for 2025. The platinum market recorded a significant deficit of 995 koz in 2024, exceeding earlier projections by 46%, as total demand surpassed 8 Moz for the first time since 2019. Strong…

Russia’s Nornickel, the world’s top supplier of palladium, a metal mainly used in car manufacturing, is pushing to expand its industrial applications as demand from automakers decline. In collaboration with the Krasnoyarsk Non-Ferrous Metals Plant, Russian state-owned refinery, and with support from the Chinese Precious Metals Committee, the company introduced palladium-based bushings as an alternative…

Scientists from the Tokyo University of Science (TUS) have developed a low-cost palladium-based nanosheet catalyst that matches platinum’s efficiency in hydrogen production. This breakthrough aims to address the affordability challenges of large-scale hydrogen generation, which has traditionally relied on expensive platinum-based catalysts. The research, published in Chemistry – A European Journal, introduces bis(diimino)palladium coordination nanosheets…

Palladium prices have plummeted from a peak of approximately $3,440 per ounce in March 2022 to around $921 per ounce, significantly impacting profitability. As a result, Implats’ first-half profit fell 43% to 1.85 billion rand ($100.23 million), leading the company to halt dividend payments. Last year, Implats announced plans to reduce the lifespan of the…