battery

Rapid technological change is affecting what we mine, especially as many developing economies can now skip some of the stages of modernisation that advanced economies have been through.

Lithium Australia managing director Adrian Griffin has downplayed expert opinion that China is facing an oversupply of spodumene concentrates, claiming that it “may actually be short-lived.”

Altura Mining has signed an offtake agreement with Chinese lithium materials producer Shandong Ruifu from its Altura lithium mine in Pilgangoora, Western Australia.

Metso and Outotec are merging to create a “leading company in process technology, equipment and services” for the minerals, metals and aggregates industries.

Private exploration company Strategic Metals Australia (SMA) claims to have discovered a new lithium province in Georgetown, North Queensland. 

Pilbara Minerals has achieved record production at its Pilgangoora lithium-tantalum project in Western Australia during May with its stage one plant capacity reaching 85 per cent.

Queensland Pacific Metals (QPM), a subsidiary of Pure Minerals, has appointed Lycopodium to undertake a pre-feasibility study (PFS) for its battery materials refinery in Townsville.

Rio Tinto is strengthening a commitment to become a key supplier of materials for battery and electric technologies at the Jadar lithium project in Serbia and at its copper ventures around the world.

BHP has indicated it will keep the Nickel West business in Western Australia as the company looks to capitalise on the emerging global battery market.

Alliance Mineral Assets has formed a joint venture (JV) with China-based Jiangxi Special Electric Motor that will enable it to sell and produce battery-grade lithium hydroxide.

Northern Minerals is raising $15 million in funding to develop its Browns Range heavy rare earth pilot plant in Western Australia and to repay research and development costs.

The Australian Government is providing a $25 million grant to an industry-led battery research centre in Perth, Western Australia, which recognises the state as a global leader in the production and export of future battery materials, technologies and expertise.

Lithium Australia has acquired a significant interest in battery recycling company Envirostream in line with the Australian Government’s critical minerals ambition in 2019. 

Pilbara Minerals has exercised an option to enter into a joint venture (JV) with POSCO for the development of a lithium processing plant in South Korea.

Australians are urged to cut down their ownership of fossil fuel-based cars as an electric vehicle (EV) presence will arrive “much sooner than later”.

Rio Tinto has reaffirmed its transition to a low carbon future, emphasising it is the only major mining company without coal. 

Lepidico will concentrate its production of high purity lithium hydroxide rather than lithium carbonate, due to customer preferences for the battery compound. 

Galaxy Resources has continued to perform positively at its global operations in Australia, Argentina and Canada to finish with zero debt.

Mineral Resources and Hexagon Resources have signed their joint venture (JV) agreement over the McIntosh graphite project in northern Western Australia.

Lithium Australia is currently undertaking feasibility study as it progresses further into its large-scale pilot plant (LSPP) development plans. The process is expected to complete in March 2019.