MINEX Forum

Tag: lithium

  • European Metals Shares Surge After Czech Government Awards €360M Grant for Cinovec Lithium Project

    European Metals Shares Surge After Czech Government Awards €360M Grant for Cinovec Lithium Project

    European Metals Holdings (ASX, AIM: EMH) saw its shares soar on Friday after securing a Czech government grant of up to €360 million ($417 million) for the Cinovec lithium project, one of Europe’s most strategically important critical minerals developments. The funding package is among the largest government commitments ever made to a mining project within the European Union.

    Executive chair Keith Coughlan said the award reinforces Cinovec’s central role in Europe’s efforts to build a domestic electric vehicle (EV) supply chain. Recently designated a strategic asset under the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act, Cinovec will now benefit from accelerated permitting and enhanced access to financing. The Czech government has also formally classified the site as a strategic deposit, further streamlining regulatory processes.

    Located roughly 100 km northwest of Prague, Cinovec is home to the largest lithium resource in Europe and one of the world’s largest undeveloped tin deposits, according to the company. It previously received a $36 million grant from the EU’s Just Transition Fund as part of regional economic support initiatives.

    Cinovec’s location near major German automotive hubs — home to factories operated by Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volkswagen and Porsche — has strengthened its strategic appeal. Automakers across Europe are under growing regulatory pressure to expand electric vehicle production, increasing demand for locally sourced lithium for battery manufacturing.

    Following the announcement, European Metals’ stock surged 58% in Sydney to A¢38 and climbed 70% in London by mid-afternoon trading, raising the company’s market capitalization to £46.13 million ($61 million).

  • Ukraine’s Lithium Push: Opportunities and Risks as Kyiv Seeks a Place in the Global Battery Metals Race

    Ukraine’s Lithium Push: Opportunities and Risks as Kyiv Seeks a Place in the Global Battery Metals Race

    Ukraine is moving to position itself as a future player in the global lithium industry, as the government races to revive its mining and processing sectors and build a broader critical minerals base. The country will close applications on 12 December for its first-ever lithium Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) tender, the “Dobra” hard-rock project, a test case for how Ukraine could integrate into Western battery supply chains.

    The tender comes as Kyiv seeks to leverage its geological legacy, long-standing mining expertise and high-quality resource base at a time when governments and companies worldwide are scrambling to secure critical raw materials. Ukraine already has a track record in other strategic metals, including titanium, and until 2021 produced titanium sponge. Supporters of Ukraine’s critical minerals strategy argue that these strengths, combined with proximity to European industrial hubs, make the country a natural diversification option for Western supply chains.

    The renewed focus on lithium follows a turbulent five years for the sector. Once a niche material, lithium has become a cornerstone of modern industry, particularly for electric vehicles (EVs), energy storage systems and digital infrastructure. Over that period, global markets have experienced a full boom–bust cycle, with a spectacular price spike in 2022 followed by a sharp correction in 2023–2024. At the same time, the bankruptcy of prominent battery maker Northvolt, production curtailments at Australian mines, the rise of South American brines and the entrenched dominance of Chinese refiners have exposed the vulnerabilities of geographically concentrated supply chains.

    Despite the price volatility, analysts broadly agree that demand growth is structural. Forecasts from organisations such as the IEA and leading market consultancies suggest that global lithium demand could reach 3.5–4 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) by 2035—roughly three to four times today’s levels. The main drivers remain EVs and stationary energy storage, with additional momentum from the rapid build-out of AI data centres and high-tech grid infrastructure.

    Technological developments are reshaping the landscape but are not expected to displace lithium. Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistries have eaten into the market share of nickel-rich cathodes, sodium-ion batteries are emerging in low-cost applications and solid-state technologies could capture a slice of premium EVs by the mid-2030s. Yet these innovations mainly affect how much lithium is used per kilowatt-hour and in which segments, rather than removing the metal from the picture.

    On the supply side, the global project pipeline appears abundant on paper. If every announced brine, hard-rock, clay and direct lithium extraction (DLE) project were to proceed as planned, nameplate capacity could cover projected demand. In reality, sector observers highlight significant constraints, with many projects vulnerable to cost inflation, permitting delays and unproven technologies.

    Historically, lithium projects have tended to stumble for three main reasons: high operating and capital costs, slow and unpredictable permitting processes, and the technical challenges of scaling complex flowsheets such as DLE or clay leaching from pilot to commercial levels. The latest downturn, which saw prices fall from $70,000–80,000 per tonne in 2022 to around $10,000–15,000, quickly exposed high-cost operators and heavily leveraged projects. This has reinforced the view that, although global volumes may look sufficient over a decade-long horizon, availability in any given year can be tight, supporting long-term price expectations in the $15,000–20,000 per tonne LCE range.

    This dynamic is reflected in a sharply tiered cost curve. At the low end, Tier-1 producers—top-tier South American brines, the most efficient hard-rock operations and select DLE projects—can operate at $5,000–7,000 per tonne LCE and remain profitable even in deep downturns. Tier-2 operators, typically competitive hard-rock, some clay and maturing DLE projects, sit in the $7,000–10,000 range and can generate strong returns at mid-cycle prices if projects are well structured and debt is manageable. Tier-3 and Tier-4 projects, often involving complex clays, high-cost lepidolite or power-intensive flowsheets, form the marginal and speculative end of the market, entering only during price spikes and shutting down when conditions normalise.

    Price overshoots occur when demand growth or disruptions force the market to rely on these more expensive sources of supply, pushing prices far above long-term averages. For new entrants such as Ukraine, the central strategic question is where their projects will sit on this cost curve. Policymakers and investors are increasingly focused on creating conditions that allow new projects to land in Tier-1 or Tier-2, rather than relying on high-cost, short-lived capacity.

    Any assessment of Ukraine’s ambitions must also account for China’s entrenched position in the midstream. Chinese companies currently refine around two-thirds of the world’s lithium chemicals and produce more than 70% of battery cells, with domestic champions such as CATL and BYD dominating global markets. By 2035, some refining capacity will likely shift to Australia, East Asia, the US, Europe and the Gulf, but Chinese-owned or Chinese-financed plants are expected to remain deeply embedded across the value chain. Analysts note that Beijing has historically tolerated low margins and selective losses in parts of the chain when doing so secures long-term offtake or strengthens national champions.

    For new suppliers, this means they are competing not with a single “Chinese price” but with a spectrum of Chinese cost positions—from ultra-competitive assets to weaker Tier-4 operations—and with a system that can adapt quickly in downturns. Western governments have responded by pushing for “friendshoring” and diversification, expanding financing tools and promoting critical minerals partnerships. In that context, Ukraine is increasingly seen as a potential strategic partner, particularly for Europe.

    Experts argue that success for new lithium-producing countries hinges on several factors: a strong cost position, reliable routes to market and logistics, fast and predictable permitting, credible governance and ESG standards, integration into wider industrial and geopolitical blocs, access to R&D and technology alliances, and sustained investment in human capital. At the same time, they warn that many aspiring entrants will fall short due to capital constraints, policy volatility and over-reliance on unproven technologies.

    For Ukraine, the “Dobra” PSA and other prospective spodumene deposits could provide a foothold in the European market, particularly if lithium production can be coupled with by-product recovery of other rare and strategic metals. With titanium, zirconium, hafnium, germanium and gallium also part of its broader resource base, Ukraine hopes to evolve from a raw material holder into a strategic partner embedded in Western critical minerals supply chains.

    Analysts note that the coming decade, often described as a “New Age of Electricity”, will be driven by lithium, graphite, copper, nickel and uranium, alongside strategic metals such as titanium. Whether Ukraine can translate its geology into durable strategic capability will depend on its ability to deliver competitive Tier-2 projects, streamline permitting, maintain stable policy and deepen integration with Western alliances and investment frameworks. Otherwise, the country risks remaining a price-taking exporter, exposed to the cyclical swings that have defined the lithium market to date.

  • UK Unveils 10-Year Critical Minerals Strategy to Boost Domestic Supply and Cut Reliance on China

    UK Unveils 10-Year Critical Minerals Strategy to Boost Domestic Supply and Cut Reliance on China

    The United Kingdom has released a new 10-year Critical Minerals Strategy aimed at lifting the share of critical minerals sourced from domestic mining and recycling to 30% by 2035, up from roughly 6% today. The plan introduces legally binding targets requiring 10% of demand to be met through UK production, 20% through recycling and limiting reliance on any single foreign supplier to no more than 60% per mineral. The initiative aligns Britain with U.S., Canadian and EU efforts to reduce dependence on China-dominated supply chains.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said critical minerals underpin modern life and national security, arguing that cutting exposure to a small number of overseas suppliers would help shield the economy from future disruptions. Backed by up to £50 million in new funding, the strategy also aims to secure at least 50,000 tonnes of domestic lithium production by 2035 amid forecasts that demand for copper will nearly double and lithium demand will surge more than 1,100% as EVs, wind energy projects and AI data centres expand.

    The strategy draws on the British Geological Survey’s 2024 assessment, which expanded the UK’s list of critical minerals from 18 to 34, adding nickel, iron, aluminium, germanium and chromium while removing palladium. The update brings the UK’s list in line with Canada and the EU, though still shorter than the U.S. roster of 50 minerals.

    Several domestic hubs are central to delivering the plan: Cornwall’s major lithium resources, tungsten deposits in Devon, the Clydach nickel refinery in Wales and Less Common Metals’ alloy facility at Ellesmere Port, one of the West’s few producers of rare earth alloys used in wind turbines and F-35 fighter jets. Industry groups say these projects will create high-quality jobs and strengthen supply chain resilience. Cornish Lithium, which recently raised £31 million for its Trelavour and Cross Lanes projects, called government support “essential” for producing battery-grade lithium at scale.

    Tin and tungsten projects are also set to benefit. Cornish Metals welcomed the critical mineral designation for tin, supported by a £28.6-million National Wealth Fund investment in the South Crofty mine, expected to create over 300 direct jobs. Tungsten West’s Hemerdon project in Devon, one of the world’s largest tungsten deposits, is shaping up as an early test of the strategy, with plans to enter production in late 2026.

    Beyond mining, the UK is leaning heavily on midstream processing and recycling. Ionic Technologies in Belfast and Hypromag in Birmingham are developing rare earth magnet recycling solutions with significantly lower environmental impact than primary extraction.

    Internationally, the strategy is more targeted but smaller in scale compared with U.S. and Canadian approaches. While the UK’s funding remains limited—£50 million in new support on top of earlier commitments—the government aims to de-risk strategic projects and strengthen midstream capacity. Industry leaders say clarity of vision is as important as financial backing.

    The plan also responds to China’s dominance of global critical mineral supply chains, especially in rare earths, where Beijing controls about 70% of mining and 90% of refining. The UK is considering stockpiling key materials and coordinating with NATO partners. It also promises faster permitting via priority processing lanes and lower power costs for industry under the upcoming British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme.

    While the UK’s critical minerals sector currently contributes £1.8 billion to the economy and supports more than 50,000 jobs, experts warn that domestic mining, processing and recycling must scale rapidly to prevent supply bottlenecks. Questions also remain over minerals excluded from the UK’s critical list, such as copper, despite its central role in electrification.

    Communities in mining regions will weigh the economic benefits against environmental and cultural concerns, but industry leaders argue that Britain’s renewed focus on critical minerals marks a shift from its traditional role as a global financing hub to an active player across the value chain.

  • UK Unveils Critical Minerals Strategy to Curb Import Dependence and Boost Domestic Lithium Production

    UK Unveils Critical Minerals Strategy to Curb Import Dependence and Boost Domestic Lithium Production

    The UK government has launched a new Critical Minerals Strategy aimed at sharply reducing the country’s dependence on foreign supplies of vital materials used in everything from smartphones and fridges to electric vehicles and wind turbines.

    Announced by Prime Minister Keir Starmer on 22 November, the strategy sets a target for Britain to meet 10% of its critical mineral needs from domestic production and 20% from recycling by 2035. It also includes an ambition to produce at least 50,000 tonnes of lithium in the UK by that date — more than the weight of the Titanic.

    Backed by up to £50 million in new funding, the plan is designed to diversify supply chains and limit the UK’s exposure to geopolitical shocks, such as war or natural disasters. It responds to growing concern that China’s dominance in the sector — controlling about 70% of rare earth mining and 90% of refining — leaves Britain vulnerable as demand for clean energy and advanced technologies surges.

    Domestic demand is projected to rise sharply, with copper use expected to almost double and lithium demand forecast to increase by 1,100% by 2035. To counter this, the UK has set a goal that no more than 60% of its supply of any single critical mineral will come from one country by 2035.

    The government plans to capitalise on existing strengths across the UK, including Europe’s largest lithium deposit in Cornwall, significant tungsten resources, the Clydach nickel refinery in Swansea, and the only Western source of rare earth alloys used in high-performance magnets for wind turbines and F-35 fighter jets. More than 50 critical mineral projects are already based in the UK, and the sector currently contributes £1.79 billion to the economy and directly supports over 50,000 jobs.

    Prime Minister Starmer framed the strategy as central to both economic resilience and national security. “For too long, Britain has been dependent on a handful of overseas suppliers, leaving our economy and national security exposed to global shocks,” he said, adding that the government would “boost domestic production, ramp up recycling, and back British businesses with the investment they need to compete on the international stage.”

    Industry Minister Chris McDonald said the government was “taking the bold action needed to shore up our supply chains” and support new jobs and growth as part of its wider Plan for Change.

    Delivery of the strategy will be supported by up to £50 million in funding to help UK companies scale up extraction, processing, and recycling projects, alongside wider public finance tools such as the National Wealth Fund and UK Export Finance. In September, the National Wealth Fund committed £31 million to Cornish Lithium to advance the Trelavour Lithium Project and the Cross Lanes Geothermal Lithium Project.

    The government will also seek to cut industrial electricity costs through the British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme (BICS) and streamline permitting for innovative production and recycling projects via the Environment Agency’s priority tracked service. Skills development will be supported through collaboration with Skills England and the Department for Work and Pensions to build a workforce capable of delivering the strategy’s goals.

    The plan is closely tied to the UK’s modern Industrial Strategy, with critical minerals identified as a foundational sector underpinning advanced manufacturing, clean energy, defence, and high-tech innovation. Key regions such as the North East of England, Devon and Cornwall, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are expected to benefit from new investment and jobs, leveraging local geology, industrial capacity and research expertise.

    Industry reactions have broadly welcomed the move. Cornish Lithium CEO Jamie Airnes said the framework would help “accelerate domestic capability, unlock investment, and build strategic partnerships” to deliver lithium at scale. The Critical Minerals Association described the strategy as a “timely step forward” that can secure the UK’s position as a trusted global partner if implemented with intent, while industry figures from Vale Base Metals, Ionic Rare Earths and Hypromag highlighted the UK’s strengths in midstream processing, magnet recycling and rare earth technologies.

    To further bolster resilience, the UK will examine stockpiling options, including through defence procurement, and continue to work with allies via initiatives such as NATO’s Critical Mineral Stockpiling Project. The government also plans to deepen partnerships with resource-rich and like-minded countries, using Britain’s academic, R&D and financial capabilities to expand opportunities for UK businesses at home and abroad.

  • Germany Moves to Secure Bolivian Lithium as Serbia’s Jadar Project Stalls

    Germany Moves to Secure Bolivian Lithium as Serbia’s Jadar Project Stalls

    Germany is accelerating efforts to secure long-term lithium supplies from Bolivia while exploring domestic mining options, even as Rio Tinto’s Jadar project in Serbia remains effectively dormant. Ahead of his visit to La Paz, Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul emphasized Bolivia’s strategic importance, calling its vast lithium and rare earth reserves “indispensable” for Germany’s energy transition and electric mobility sectors.

    Wadephul is one of the first foreign officials to engage with Bolivia’s newly elected president Rodrigo Paz Pereira, stressing Germany’s readiness to strengthen cooperation and support the country’s economic recovery. Bolivia holds the world’s largest lithium reserves, but previous governments strictly limited foreign participation in mining projects.

    Germany’s intensified outreach comes as competition for lithium and rare earths escalates globally amid China’s market dominance and ongoing US–China trade tensions. Berlin has also indicated it may tap its national raw materials fund to support domestic lithium extraction projects, including those based on geothermal brines.

    Meanwhile, Rio Tinto’s Jadar project in Serbia—once seen as a cornerstone of Europe’s lithium supply strategy—has made little progress despite receiving strategic backing from the EU and Germany in 2024. Political instability in Serbia has slowed development, with officials now estimating that the environmental impact assessment will take at least 18 months to complete. Final approval remains uncertain, leaving Europe’s long-term battery supply ambitions in limbo.

  • Rio Tinto to Halt Serbia’s Jadar Lithium Project as Costs Rise and Progress Stalls

    Rio Tinto to Halt Serbia’s Jadar Lithium Project as Costs Rise and Progress Stalls

    Rio Tinto will suspend development of its long-delayed Jadar lithium project in Serbia, effectively mothballing what was once slated to become Europe’s largest lithium mine. The decision, first reported by Bloomberg and later confirmed by a company spokesperson, places the nearly $3-billion project into “care and maintenance” as the miner seeks to reduce spending and refocus its lithium strategy.

    The move ends Rio’s two-decade effort to unlock the massive Jadar deposit, discovered in 2004 and estimated to produce 58,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium carbonate annually. Despite the project’s strategic importance for Europe’s battery supply chain, Jadar has repeatedly stalled amid regulatory hurdles, political uncertainty and strong community opposition. Serbia revoked Rio’s licence in 2022 over environmental concerns and only reinstated it last year, but permitting made little progress.

    In the internal memo cited by Bloomberg, Rio said it could no longer justify the level of investment given the limited advancement of the project. Earlier this year, the company raised Jadar’s cost estimate to nearly $3 billion, citing the need to meet stringent EU environmental and human rights standards.

    The suspension is part of broader cost-cutting measures under new CEO Simon Trott, who has introduced restructuring efforts and workforce reductions across the company. With Jadar shelved, Rio is expected to concentrate its lithium ambitions on South America, including Argentina’s Rincon project and joint ventures in Chile.

    Analysts say the decision underscores Rio’s pivot away from hard-rock assets inherited through its merger with Arcadium, and some expect those projects could be sold. The halt also deals a blow to EU plans to secure domestic lithium supply, as Jadar was projected to cover nearly 90% of Europe’s current demand.

  • Savannah Resources Raises £9.2 Million in Oversubscribed Fundraise to Advance Barroso Lithium Project

    Savannah Resources Raises £9.2 Million in Oversubscribed Fundraise to Advance Barroso Lithium Project

    Savannah Resources Plc (AIM: SAV, FWB: SAV, SWB: SAV) announced it has successfully completed an oversubscribed £9.2 million (US$12 million) capital raise through a Placing and Subscription, with strong demand from existing and new institutional investors.

    The fundraising, managed through an accelerated bookbuild by SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP (Global Coordinator and Joint Bookrunner), alongside Canaccord Genuity Limited, Caixa-Banco de Investimento S.A., and Alantra Equities S.V. S.A., was significantly oversubscribed and scaled back as a result.

    The Company raised £5.9 million (US$7.6 million) via the Placing of 158.7 million shares and a further minimum £3.4 million (US$4.4 million) through a Subscription of at least 90.8 million shares, both at an issue price of 3.7 pence per share.

    Savannah’s Retail Offer remains open until 12:00 p.m. on 11 November 2025, after which final subscription totals will be confirmed.

    Use of Proceeds

    Net proceeds from the fundraise will strengthen Savannah’s financial position and accelerate development of the Barroso Lithium Project in northern Portugal — the largest battery-grade spodumene lithium resource in Europe and a European Commission “Strategic Project” under the Critical Raw Materials Act.

    Funds will be used to:

    • Acquire the Aldeia Mining Lease, which contains the highest-grade deposit within the Barroso Project area.

    • Advance Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) and long-lead item procurement.

    • Progress grid connection work and land control for infrastructure.

    • Cover project financing costs and provide additional working capital.

    CEO Statement

    Emanuel Proença, Chief Executive Officer, commented:

    “The strong demand from investors, which exceeded our US$12 million target, reflects growing confidence in the Barroso Lithium Project and renewed optimism in the lithium sector.

    With total cash reserves of approximately £20 million (US$26 million), Savannah is well positioned to move beyond the DFS and into pre-construction with confidence.

    The additional capital allows us to acquire the Aldeia Mining Lease and further progress critical workstreams ahead of construction.”

    Proença added that Savannah continues to expand its institutional investor base across Portugal, the UK, and Europe, with participation from both sector specialists and generalist investors. Retail investors are now able to participate through the open offer.

    Related Party Participation

    Key management and major shareholders took part in the subscription:

    Participant Subscription Shares Value (£) Resulting Shareholding
    Rick Anthon (Chairman) 550,676 £20,375 1,264,962 shares
    Emanuel Proença (CEO) 387,676 £14,352 3,124,556 shares
    Henrique Freire (CFO) 220,050 £8,135 2,520,050 shares

    Major shareholders also increased their stakes:

    • AMG Lithium B.V. subscribed for 39.1 million shares, bringing its total to 400.8 million shares.

    • Grupo Lusiaves SGPS, S.A. subscribed for 24.95 million shares (total 255.9 million).

    • Pluris Investments S.A. subscribed for 24.95 million shares (total 255.9 million).

    Their participation constitutes a related party transaction under AIM Rule 13. Independent directors Diogo da Silveira and Bruce Griffin reviewed the terms and deemed them fair and reasonable for shareholders.

    Admission and Next Steps

    Application has been made for the new shares to be admitted to trading on AIM. Dealings in the Placing and Subscription Shares are expected to commence at 8:00 a.m. on 12 November 2025.

    A separate announcement will follow for the Retail Offer results and Admission of additional shares.

    About Savannah Resources

    Savannah Resources Plc is a European lithium development company focused on the Barroso Lithium Project in northern Portugal. Once operational, the project is expected to produce around 190,000 tonnes per year of spodumene concentrate, enough lithium for approximately 500,000 electric vehicle battery packs annually.

    Through responsible development, Savannah aims to support Europe’s energy transition and contribute to the EU’s target of 10% domestic lithium supply by 2030.

  • ‘Europe’s Lithium Paradox’: Documentary Highlights Europe’s Struggle Between Green Ambitions and Mining Reality

    ‘Europe’s Lithium Paradox’: Documentary Highlights Europe’s Struggle Between Green Ambitions and Mining Reality

    Europe is facing a “critical crossroads” in its green transition, warns Dr. Peter Tom Jones, director of the KU Leuven Institute for Sustainable Metals and Minerals, whose new documentary Europe’s Lithium Paradox explores the continent’s mounting dilemma over lithium extraction.

    The one-hour film focuses on two key European lithium projects — in Portugal and Serbia — both stalled amid fierce public opposition and political hesitation. As Europe pushes to electrify transport and expand renewable energy, it finds itself torn between the need for raw materials and growing citizen resistance to mining.

    “You can’t recycle your way out of a fossil fuel economy,” Jones says. “You have to mine first — we simply don’t have enough scrap in Europe, and we won’t until at least 2035. That leaves us with a ten-year gap.”

    Europe’s Feedstock Crisis

    Jones argues that Europe’s transition to clean energy is being undermined by a lack of “feedstock” — the raw materials required for batteries, solar panels, and electric vehicles. While recycling giants like Umicore have proven high-level battery recovery is possible, the continent’s reliance on imported lithium remains a major vulnerability.

    He estimates that lithium mined in Serbia alone could power at least one million electric vehicles, potentially creating a “new ecosystem” including a refinery, battery recycling hub, and full supply chain infrastructure.

    “With ten or more industrial-scale mining sites — compared to just four today, one of which is idle — Europe could achieve self-sufficiency in lithium,” he insists. “We need to act now to avoid sleepwalking into the abyss.”

    A “Minerals Cold War”

    In the film, Jones warns that the geopolitical race for critical minerals is intensifying.

    “China and the U.S. aren’t playing by the rules — they’re making their own,” he says. “Donald Trump is pushing a capitalist model with minimum price floors for lithium, while China is restricting exports of technology metals. Europe is a bystander in this minerals cold war.”

    He argues that Europe’s regulatory delays, public protests, and political indecision risk leaving it strategically dependent on foreign supply chains — with devastating consequences for its industrial competitiveness.

    Between Industry and Activism

    Europe’s Lithium Paradox aims to spark informed debate, but its reception has been polarized. In both Serbia and Portugal, local communities refused to speak on camera, accusing the filmmakers of promoting mining interests. Ironically, mining companies also distanced themselves from the project, with some reportedly banning employees from watching it for being “too critical.”

    Jones acknowledges the tension but maintains that the documentary is “grounded in science, not politics.”

    “We’re trying to balance innovation with real-world concerns. I’ve heard the phrase ‘you can’t fight feelings with facts’ — but we can at least try to change the narrative,” he says.

    The film is currently touring European universities, R&D institutes, and industry conferences, and is also available on Amazon Prime.

    “Europe must move beyond entrenched positions and forge a united front,” Jones concludes. “This is not about taking sides — it’s about survival.”

  • Vulcan Energy Secures Approval to Build Commercial Lithium Extraction Plant in Germany

    Vulcan Energy Secures Approval to Build Commercial Lithium Extraction Plant in Germany

    Vulcan Energy Resources, the German-Australian company pioneering geothermal lithium production in Europe, has received construction approval for its commercial Lithium Extraction Plant (LEP) in Landau, Germany, marking a key milestone toward establishing Europe’s first carbon-neutral lithium supply chain.

    The City of Landau granted the permit for the facility in the D12 industrial zone, complementing previously approved construction permits for the site’s ORC geothermal power plant and 110/20 kV substation. According to Vulcan, it now holds all necessary permits to construct its combined geothermal and lithium extraction plant (G-LEP) in Landau.

    In the project’s first phase, Vulcan plans to produce several thousand tonnes of lithium chloride, which will be transported to Frankfurt-Höchst for further conversion into battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LHM). Once fully operational, annual production is expected to reach 24,000 tonnes of LHM — enough to supply approximately 500,000 electric vehicles per year.

    The company’s lithium extraction process uses geothermal brine from the Upper Rhine Valley, home to Europe’s largest combined geothermal and lithium resource. Vulcan’s technology captures geothermal heat for district heating and renewable electricity generation, while extracting lithium chloride from cooled brine before reinjecting it underground. The company notes that the entire operation will be “carbon neutral and fossil fuel-free over its life cycle.”

    Vulcan has already tested the process at pilot scale in Landau and Höchst. In April 2024, the company’s Lithium Extraction Optimisation Plant (LEOP) successfully produced the first lithium chloride from geothermal brine, later refined into battery-grade lithium hydroxide at the Central Lithium Electrolysis Optimisation Plant (CLEOP) in Höchst.

    The upcoming commercial-scale LEP will be built later this year, contingent on the completion of the €690 million financing package for both Landau and Höchst facilities. The German federal government and the states of Rhineland-Palatinate and Hesse have pledged €103.6 million in funding through the EU’s Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework (TCTF) under the “Resilience and Sustainability of the Battery Cell Manufacturing Ecosystem” program.

    In March 2025, the European Union designated Vulcan’s Landau facility as one of 47 strategic projects under the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA).

    To secure final financing, Vulcan is leveraging offtake agreements with several major customers. Its latest supply deal, signed with Glencore, covers 36,000–44,000 tonnes of LHM over eight years. The company has also revised earlier agreements with Umicore (23,000 tonnes over six years), LG Energy Solution (31,000 tonnes over six years), and Stellantis (128,000 tonnes over ten years).

    While construction will begin soon, deliveries are now expected later than initially planned. Once operational, Vulcan’s German facilities will play a central role in Europe’s battery supply chain, reducing dependence on imported lithium and advancing the EU’s green industrial strategy.

  • Imerys in Exclusive Talks to Sell Minority Stake in French Lithium Project

    Imerys in Exclusive Talks to Sell Minority Stake in French Lithium Project

    French industrial minerals company Imerys announced it is in exclusive negotiations with a potential investor to sell a minority stake in its large-scale lithium mining project in central France, a key development in Europe’s efforts to secure domestic supplies of critical materials for the energy transition.

    Chief Financial Officer Sébastien Rouge told reporters on Thursday that the company is confident a deal can be finalized by the end of January 2026, though he declined to disclose the identity of the potential investor. The update came during the presentation of Imerys’ third-quarter results.

    Imerys first revealed plans in July to seek a financial and strategic partner for the project, which aims to produce battery-grade lithium to support Europe’s fast-growing electric vehicle industry. Since then, the estimated cost of the mine and processing complex — located near Echassières in France’s Allier department — has risen from €1 billion to €1.8 billion ($2.1 billion), reflecting inflationary pressures, higher energy costs, and expanded project scope.

    Once operational, the facility is expected to become one of Europe’s largest sources of lithium, a mineral considered vital for meeting EU goals to reduce dependence on imports from China and bolster the continent’s battery manufacturing capacity.