News
Electra and LG Energy sign three-year cobalt supply deal
Blue View 23 Sep 2022Yesterday, Electra Battery Materials announced the signing of a three-year agreement to supply battery-grade cobalt to lithium-ion battery player LG Energy.
Solvay broadening its rare earth value capture to NdPr
Blue View 23 Sep 2022Solvay announced that the company will extend its rare earth separation capabilities to permanent magnet materials through an expansion at its La Rochelle plant in France.
Are European Battery Raw Materials supply plans toxic?
Blue View 22 Sep 2022The European Battery Raw Materials conference in Barcelona addressed a number of key challenges for building out an effective European battery supply chain. Constrained supply outlooks for battery-grade lithium and graphite were key points of discussion, with plans to classify lithium as toxic in Europe a notable potential own goal.
Portugal awaits assessment of lithium mines before launching auction
Blue View 22 Sep 2022Energy Secretary Joao Galamba confirmed that the country will not commit to setting a new date for an auction of lithium mining licences as it awaits the conclusion of ongoing environmental impact studies at two potential mine sites.
US$2.8Bn metals park to be built in Zimbabwe
Blue View 21 Sep 2022Chinese investors Hong Kong Eagle International Investment and Pacific Goal Investment are set to build plants equipped to process metals including platinum, chromium, lithium and nickel.
Perpetua awarded DoD funding for military-grade antimony trisulphide
Blue View 21 Sep 2022The US Department of Defense (DoD) has awarded Perpetua Resources US$200,000 of funding to evaluate producing military-grade antimony trisulphide from its Stibnite Gold project in Idaho.
Largo provides update on Largo Physical Vanadium (LPV)
Blue View 20 Sep 2022LPV aims to offer “pure play” exposure to physical vanadium while also addressing the costs associated with using vanadium in VRFBs.
NdPr metal production commissioned at South Korean plant
Blue View 20 Sep 2022Australian Strategic Materials’ subsidiary KSM Metals has signed a binding agreement with Korean company NS World for the sale of up to 10t of neodymium-praseodymium (NdPr) metal ingot from September to December 2022.
White House publishes details on EV plan
Blue View 15 Sep 2022The briefing note asserts that the President’s economic plans have generated an American, EV manufacturing boom.
European Critical Raw Materials Act announced
Blue View 15 Sep 2022In her 2022 State of the European Union address, European Commission President von der Leyen noted that without secure and sustainable access to the necessary raw materials, Europe’s ambition to become the first climate-neutral continent is at risk.
Vale Indonesia signs HPAL deal with Huayou Cobalt
Blue View 14 Sep 2022The partners have agreed to build a second HPAL plant to produce MHP in Indonesia.
TISCO and Vale invest in JV for Indonesian ferronickel
Blue View 14 Sep 2022PT Vale Indonesia and China’s Taiyuan Iron & Steel (TISCO) are setting up a 49:51 JV in Bahodopi, in the Morowali district in Indonesia, to produce 73-80ktpy of ferronickel. The ferronickel plant is planned to be commissioned in 2025 at an estimated cost of US$21Bn.
European steel: switched off
Blue View 13 Sep 2022During the past few weeks, a large number of steel mills have stopped their operations, because of higher electricity prices and weaker demand.
Oman Chromite Company ramps up mine output in H1 2022
Blue View 13 Sep 2022Oman Chromite Company (OCC) produced 25.9kt of chromite ore in H1 2022, up 177% year-on-year. Profits were up 145% year-on-year, supported by higher ore prices in H1 as well as lower costs, according to the company.
Ferroalloy production cuts announced in Spain
Blue View 12 Sep 2022FerroAtlantica, the Spanish subsidiary of Ferroglobe, has announced the suspension of the last two furnaces in operation at its ferromanganese and silicomanganese plant in Boo.
Tesla eyes lithium refinery in the USA
Blue View 12 Sep 2022The EV maker is considering the construction of a lithium hydroxide refining facility in Texas.
Ferrochrome furnace suspensions in Finland and Zimbabwe
Blue View 08 Sep 2022Outokumpu, the integrated Finnish stainless steel producer, and Zimasco, the Chinese-owned ferrochrome producer in Zimbabwe, have announced suspensions of ferrochrome furnaces at their flagship operations.
Redwood Materials advancing on expansion into European markets
Blue View 08 Sep 2022Redwood Materials, a Li-ion battery recycler and parts remanufacturer, is seeking further expansion into Europe, a move that would allow it to strengthen and expand its newly formed collaboration with VW America.
Tesla reportedly behind on its 4680 cell plans
Blue View 07 Sep 2022Tesla is reportedly having issues ramping up its 4680 battery cell production.
AMG Lithium signs lithium hydroxide deal with European cathode plant
Blue View 07 Sep 2022AMG’s German plant will provide EcoPro’s Hungarian cathode plant with battery-grade lithium.
First Solar to invest US$1.2Bn in USA
Blue View 06 Sep 2022First Solar has announced plans to invest in scaling US production of photovoltaic (PV) solar modules.