Toshiba, a Japanese electronics and industrial conglomerate, has begun delivering samples of its new rechargeable lithium-ion battery, the ‘SCiB Nb’, to manufacturers. Developed in partnership with Brazilian niobium producer CBMM and Japanese trading company Sojitz Corporation, the battery utilizes a niobium-titanium oxide (NTO) anode to deliver an estimated service life of 15,000 cycles and an...
READ MOREHunan Zhongke Electric, one of China’s leading lithium-ion battery anode material suppliers, has committed to investing $1.1 billion (8 billion yuan) in a manufacturing facility at Oman’s Sohar Port and Freezone, marking the largest battery materials investment in the Middle East. The project will establish an integrated production base with annual capacity of 200,000 metric...
READ MOREFrench mining group Eramet is evaluating lithium extraction opportunities in Kazakhstan’s Aral Sea region while examining rutile and zirconium sand deposits across the country. Aerospace manufacturer Safran is simultaneously exploring potential rhenium supply agreements with Kazakhstan, according to Industry and Construction Minister Ersayin Nagaspayev during the Kazakh-French Investment Forum held in Astana on May 28....
READ MORENigeria is set to commission two large lithium processing plants this year, marking a major step away from exporting raw minerals and toward building value within the country. Mining Minister Dele Alake announced that a $600 million lithium processing facility near the Kaduna-Niger border will be commissioned this quarter, while a $200 million refinery near...
READ MORERio Tinto and Chile’s state-owned Codelco have signed a binding agreement to form a joint venture aimed at developing and operating a major lithium project at the Salar de Maricunga in northern Chile. Under the terms of the agreement, Rio Tinto will acquire a 49.99% stake in Salar de Maricunga SpA, the entity holding the...
READ MORENorway-based Transition Elements has applied for an exclusive permit to explore lithium potential in France’s Hérault department, with a 218 km² area under consideration across 22 communes between Bédarieux and Clermont-l’Hérault. The application, submitted in October 2023, is currently under administrative review and has not yet been approved, according to the Hérault prefecture. The project...
READ MOREChile’s state-owned copper producer Codelco increased its copper output by 22% in April 2025 compared to the same month last year, reaching an estimated 105,000 metric tons. Chairman Maximo Pacheco announced the figures at the company’s annual shareholders meeting, noting that the world’s largest copper miner is recovering from a 25-year production low and is...
READ MOREIGO Ltd has reduced its fiscal 2025 capital expenditure forecast for the Greenbushes lithium mine in Western Australia, now expecting to spend A$700 million to A$800 million (USD $447–$511 million), down from its previous estimate of A$850 million to A$950 million (USD $543–$607 million). The company attributed the cut to a review and optimization of...
READ MOREMarula Mining has entered into a binding agreement to acquire up to a 70% interest in the highly prospective Boteti Lithium Brines Project, located in Botswana’s Makgadikgadi Desert Salt Pan. This project, covering 188,140 hectares, is recognized for its significant mineral potential, including lithium and potash, and has been designated the ‘Makgadikgadi Lithium Zone’ by...
READ MOREVulcan Energy Resources reported further progress on its Phase One Lionheart Project in Germany during the quarter ending 31 March 2025, including the production of Europe’s first fully integrated, battery-quality lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LHM). The company also achieved several permitting and commercial milestones as it moves toward full construction. During the quarter, Vulcan’s Central Lithium...
READ MORELyten, a California-based supermaterial company and developer of lithium-sulfur batteries, has produced the United States’ first battery-grade lithium-metal foil using U.S.-made lithium alloys and domestically sourced lithium-metal. This achievement marks a major step in establishing a fully localized and tariff-free battery supply chain in the U.S., as Lyten already manufactures its sulfur cathode domestically and...
READ MOREAustralia’s government has announced plans to establish a $1.2 billion (USD 760 million) strategic reserve of critical minerals, aiming to reduce dependence on China and strengthen the country’s position in global supply chains. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese detailed the initiative on April 24, stating that the reserve will focus on 31 minerals vital for modern...
READ MORENeptune Energy, working with KBR, has produced battery-grade lithium carbonate from gas field brine at the Altmark site in Germany. The process uses KBR’s PureLi technology to refine lithium chloride, which was initially extracted using Geolith’s direct lithium extraction method. The resulting lithium carbonate has reached a purity of 99.5%, meeting industry standards for use...
READ MOREStandard Lithium and ExxonMobil subsidiary Saltwerx LLC are seeking approval from the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission (AOGC) to establish lithium brine production units covering over 77,000 acres in Lafayette, Miller, and Columbia counties. The applications, set for review on April 22, mark a critical step toward commercial lithium extraction in the Smackover Formation, which...
READ MORELithium plays a central role in the production of lithium-ion batteries, used extensively in electric vehicles and energy storage technologies. Yet, while demand continues to rise globally, supply growth has lagged, heightening concerns around future shortages and price volatility. Munk’s latest study, published in Economic Geology, focuses on lithium brines found in closed basins—one of...
READ MORECleanTech Lithium has announced a partnership with DuPont Water Solutions to test an advanced nanofiltration membrane for lithium extraction, aiming to improve efficiency and reduce costs in the production of battery-grade lithium carbonate. The new technology, developed by DuPont, is designed to selectively remove impurities while maximizing lithium recovery. CleanTech will evaluate its performance within...
READ MOREFrench industrial firm Arverne Group has commenced construction of a Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) demonstration plant in the Bas-Rhin region of Alsace, advancing efforts to produce battery-grade lithium from geothermal brines. The facility represents a significant milestone in the company’s strategy to integrate geothermal energy and lithium production in the Rhine basin. Supported by public...
READ MORELevertonHelm has launched a new £30 million (US$40 million) lithium chloride production plant in Basingstoke, marking a significant investment in the UK’s battery materials infrastructure. With a production capacity of 10,000 tonnes per year, the plant is now the largest of its kind in Europe, converting lithium carbonate—imported primarily from South America—into a 40% lithium...
READ MORELithium Argentina and Ganfeng Lithium have signed a letter of intent to jointly develop and consolidate the Pozuelos-Pastos Grandes (PPG) basins in Argentina, aiming to create one of the world’s largest lithium brine operations. The agreement covers Ganfeng’s wholly owned Pozuelos-Pastos Grandes project, the jointly owned Pastos Grandes project (85% Lithium Argentina, 15% Ganfeng), and...
READ MOREArverne Group has launched construction of its Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) demonstration plant in the Bas-Rhin region of Alsace, marking a critical step toward developing geothermal lithium production in France. The facility aims to test the viability and performance of extracting lithium from geothermal brines in the Rhine basin using innovative, low-impact methods. The project,...
READ MORELyten, a leader in lithium-sulfur battery technology, has announced a major breakthrough in U.S. battery manufacturing with the production of the nation’s first battery grade lithium-metal foil made entirely from domestically sourced lithium and alloys. The development marks a significant step toward establishing a resilient, tariff-free U.S. battery supply chain. The company, which already uses...
READ MOREThe U.S.-China trade war has intensified, with the Trump administration imposing a sweeping 104% tariff on Chinese goods. This escalation comes after Beijing refused to remove retaliatory levies on U.S. exports, prompting fears of further disruptions in global supply chains, particularly for critical minerals like lithium and rare earth elements. China dominates the global production...
READ MOREGeoFrame Energy announced on Tuesday that it will begin construction this summer on a lithium extraction facility in East Texas, aiming to address the growing demand for battery-grade lithium carbonate in the United States. The project is set to leverage innovative Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology powered by geothermal energy, marking a significant step toward...
READ MOREArgentina, 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,...
READ MORE
