Argentina, the world’s fifth-largest lithium producer, is set to increase its lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) production by 75% in 2025, reaching an estimated 130,800 metric tonnes. This growth will be driven by new operations in Salta and expansions in Catamarca and Jujuy, the northern provinces with the largest lithium mining activities, according to Alejandra Cardona,...
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Rain City Resources has announced the arrival of its ACCELi mineral extraction pilot plant in Springfield, Pennsylvania, where operations are set to begin this week. The pilot will focus on extracting lithium and other critical minerals from wastewater brine associated with natural gas production in the Marcellus Shale Formation. The ACCELi Plant represents a pre-commercial...
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Aqua Metals, based in Reno, Nevada, has announced the successful completion of bench-scale testing and engineering analysis for its innovative process to recycle lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery materials. This milestone positions the company as a leader in addressing the recycling challenges posed by LFP batteries, which are becoming the dominant chemistry for electric vehicles...
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Sayona Mining has announced updates on its proposed merger with Piedmont Lithium, a transaction that will result in the formation of a new entity named Elevra Lithium Limited, pending shareholder approval. The combined company aims to become a major player in the North American lithium industry. Upon completion of the merger, the Elevra Lithium Board...
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Singapore’s three major banks—OCBC, UOB, and DBS—are under scrutiny for their financing of Indonesia’s Harita Nickel, a mining company whose smelting and refining operations rely heavily on coal-powered captive plants. Environmental advocacy group Market Forces flagged the banks for providing loans to Harita despite their pledges not to finance new coal-fired power plants. OCBC tops...
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Chilean Mining Minister Aurora Williams has projected that copper prices could stabilize at $7,800 per metric ton as global trade tensions continue to influence market dynamics. Her comments, made during an interview with *Diario Financiero*, highlight the role of ongoing negotiations between the United States, China, and the European Union in shaping copper’s future value....
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U.S.-based GreenMet has entered a strategic partnership with Critical Metals Corp to develop the Tanbreez rare earth project in southern Greenland, aiming to reduce Western reliance on Chinese critical minerals. The project, one of the largest undeveloped rare earth deposits outside China, holds 45 million tonnes of ore containing 0.4% total rare earth oxides (TREO),...
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Chile’s state copper commission, Cochilco, announced on Monday that copper prices have likely reached their highest point for 2025 due to escalating trade tensions between the United States and China. The commission forecasts average copper prices will remain above $8,000 per ton this year but warns that ongoing geopolitical and economic uncertainties could weaken future...
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Arizona’s Morenci copper mine, owned by Freeport-McMoRan Inc., is pioneering sulfide leaching technology to recover low-grade copper from waste rock piles. After 154 years of operation, all easily accessible copper has been extracted, leaving nearly 10 million tons of low-grade copper in towering piles of waste rock. Freeport-McMoRan aims to produce 400,000 tons of copper...
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Chile’s state-owned Codelco, the world’s largest copper producer, has announced it will begin supplying copper concentrates this year to India’s Adani Group for its $1.2 billion Kutch Copper smelter in Gujarat. The smelter, recognized as the world’s largest single-location facility of its kind, began operations in 2024. The agreement was finalized during a meeting between...
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Gold prices, which recently hit record highs above $3,000 per ounce, have fallen below this threshold for the first time in weeks. As of April 7, gold futures are trading at $2,997.6 per ounce, marking a 1.2% drop from the previous close. Copper prices also experienced significant declines, falling by 7.7% on the London Metal...
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The European Union, in collaboration with Fraunhofer Chile, has officially launched the OPTIMINER project in Santiago, Chile. This initiative aims to optimize the extraction and processing of critical raw materials (CRMs) such as copper and lithium, which are essential for renewable energy technologies and global decarbonization efforts. Funded by the Horizon Europe program with €7.3...
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Hyundai Mobis has announced a $42.3 million (KRW 62 billion) deal with Emirates Global Aluminum (EGA) to secure a 15-kiloton supply of low-carbon aluminum to reduce carbon emissions in manufacturing. The South Korean auto parts manufacturer plans to use the material for lightweight mobility solutions, incorporating it into key automobile components like chassis. The exact...
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Panasonic Energy has introduced a closed-loop recycling program for nickel used in lithium-ion battery cathodes, partnering with Sumitomo Metal Mining. The initiative, which repurposes battery scrap into new battery materials, marks Panasonic Energy’s first such recycling scheme in its automotive battery production in Japan. Under the agreement, nickel scrap from Panasonic Energy’s Suminoe Factory in...
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China has unveiled a comprehensive plan to enhance the quality and sustainability of its aluminum industry by 2027, setting ambitious targets for resource security, green transformation, and technological innovation. The plan, spearheaded by ten government departments including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), arrives as the nation’s aluminum production capacity nears its government-imposed...
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Hindalco Industries plans to invest Rs 45,000 crore (USD 5.4 billion) over the next three years to strengthen its operations in aluminium, copper, and specialty alumina, with a focus on upstream capabilities and high-precision engineered products, according to Aditya Birla Group Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla. Speaking at the launch of Hindalco’s new brand identity, Birla...
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China’s leading copper smelters have opted not to set treatment and refining charges (TC/RCs) guidance for the second quarter, signaling deepening concerns over a severe shortage of copper concentrate. This decision, made during a China Smelters Purchase Team (CSPT) meeting in Shanghai, reflects the industry’s struggle to secure sufficient supplies. The decision underscores the unprecedented...
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Vedanta, an Indian resources company, has named Rajiv Kumar as the new CEO of its Aluminium Business, effective March 26, 2025. He will also hold the title of Senior Management Personnel. Kumar, formerly with Tata Steel, brings over three decades of experience in the steel and mining sectors to his new role. Kumar’s appointment is...
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Global alumina production fell by 10.3% month-on-month to 11.54 million tonnes in February 2025, according to data from the International Aluminium Institute. However, compared to the same period last year, production saw a modest increase of 1.5%, rising from 11.37 million tonnes. Average daily global alumina output also dropped slightly to 412,100 tonnes in February...
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Century Aluminum has upgraded the cooling tunnels at its Mt. Holly smelting plant in South Carolina, addressing operational challenges caused by outdated controls. The facility processes approximately 230,000 tonnes of aluminum annually, producing standard-grade ingots, extrusion billets, and other products. The modernization effort reflects broader trends in the aluminum industry as producers seek to enhance...
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Russia has retained its position as the leading supplier of aluminum to South Korea for the fifth consecutive month, a dominance not seen since 2012. In February 2025, South Korea imported 37,600 tons of raw aluminum from Russia, valued at $105.5 million This represents a year-over-year increase of nearly 40% in physical volume and 1.7...
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The European Union has announced a list of 47 strategic projects aimed at enhancing the domestic extraction, processing, and recycling of critical raw materials essential for its energy transition and industrial security. These projects align with the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), which sets ambitious targets for 2030: extracting 10%, processing 40%, and recycling 25%...
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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...
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The European Commission has introduced countervailing duties on Moroccan aluminum wheel exports, citing subsidies that allegedly harm the European industry. Under Implementation Regulation No. 2025/500, issued on March 14, tariffs of 31.45% will apply to Dika Morocco Africa and 5.60% to Hands 8. This decision follows an investigation initiated in February 2024 after a complaint...
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