MINEX Forum

Tag: lithium

  • Tajikistan Aims to Become a Key Producer of Critical Metals for the Green Transition

    Tajikistan Aims to Become a Key Producer of Critical Metals for the Green Transition

    Tajikistan holds reserves of ten out of twelve metals essential for the global green transition and is actively developing their production, Minister of Industry and New Technologies Sherali Kabir announced on October 14 at the Dushanbe – 2025 International Investment Forum. According to the minister, six of these critical metals are already being produced domestically, with plans to further expand operations and integrate into the new global supply chain of rare earth elements.

    Critical metals, such as those used in solar and wind power systems as well as electric vehicles, are vital to green technologies. Kabir highlighted that during the Soviet era, only three plants in the entire USSR produced rare earth metals—two of them located in Tajikistan and one in Russia. Negotiations are currently underway with several international companies to modernize these facilities. “I am confident that in the near future we will see very good results,” Kabir said.

    Special focus has been placed on elements like antimony and stibnite, which play an important role in the green transition. “Tajikistan ranks second in the world in terms of antimony reserves,” Kabir noted, adding that four antimony plants are currently under development, ranging from feasibility studies to active construction stages.

    The minister also reported that Tajikistan has launched copper production—a key metal for the green economy—and plans to significantly increase output by attracting investment. Gold production is growing at around 20% annually, while the country also possesses large reserves of nickel and lithium. “We will be the first country in the CIS to produce lithium,” Kabir declared.

    Enterprises such as Azot and TALCO Gold are being positioned not only as regional leaders but as integral players in the global critical metals market. State programs are already in place to develop the mining sector, with Kabir expressing confidence that Tajikistan will soon secure a prominent place in the international market for metals vital to the green transition.

    He emphasized that international cooperation remains the main driver of growth for the metallurgical industry and that establishing new supply chains for rare earth and critical metals is essential to stabilizing global markets. The country’s president has made rapid industrialization a national priority—an approach that has already doubled Tajikistan’s industrial output over the past five years.

  • Tajikistan Targets Role in Global Rare Earth Supply Chain, Eyes Lithium and Antimony Production Expansion

    Tajikistan Targets Role in Global Rare Earth Supply Chain, Eyes Lithium and Antimony Production Expansion

    Tajikistan holds deposits of 10 out of 12 metals critical for the global energy transition, with six already being mined, Minister of Industry and New Technologies Sherali Kabir said at the Dushanbe 2025 International Investment Forum, according to Asia-Plus.

    Kabir outlined the government’s vision for Tajikistan to become an active player in the global rare earth supply chain, emphasizing that the country was once a hub for rare earth production within the former Soviet Union. Of the three rare earth processing plants that existed in the USSR, two were located in Tajikistan and one in Russia.

    Authorities are now in talks with international partners to modernize these facilities, with Kabir noting that the government expects “very good results” from these negotiations in the near future.

    Tajikistan is also doubling down on antimony, one of its most abundant resources. The country ranks second globally in terms of antimony reserves. Four new processing plants are in the pipeline, at various stages ranging from feasibility studies to construction.

    The minister also highlighted the growing copper industry, confirming that domestic production has already begun and that the government plans to significantly expand output by attracting foreign investment.

    Kabir further revealed that Tajikistan has large deposits of nickel and lithium ores, adding that the country’s ambition is to become the first among CIS nations to launch lithium production — a crucial material for batteries and clean energy technologies.

  • Vulcan Energy Signs Eight-Year Lithium Supply Deal with Glencore

    Vulcan Energy Signs Eight-Year Lithium Supply Deal with Glencore

    Vulcan Energy Resources has announced a major supply agreement with mining and commodities giant Glencore, under which it will deliver 36,000 to 44,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide monohydrate from its Lionheart Project over an initial eight-year period.

    The deal represents roughly 20% of Vulcan’s planned output from the Lionheart Project during that timeframe and marks a key milestone for the company’s Phase One project financing.

    The agreement with Glencore adds to Vulcan’s growing roster of high-profile partners, which already includes Stellantis, Umicore, and LG Energy Solution. Vulcan said the Glencore deal will be the final offtake contract needed for its first project phase, while negotiations with additional European automakers are ongoing.

    “Vulcan has now achieved a good mix of offtake partners for Phase One lithium production: an automaker, a battery maker, a cathode manufacturer, and a commodities trader, all with a strong European focus,” said Cris Moreno, CEO and managing director of Vulcan Energy.

    Located on the French-German border, the Lionheart Project is regarded as Europe’s largest lithium resource. Vulcan’s development strategy focuses on producing climate-neutral lithium to support the region’s fast-growing electric vehicle and battery industries.

  • European Lithium Nets $50 Million from Partial Sale of Critical Metals Stake

    European Lithium Nets $50 Million from Partial Sale of Critical Metals Stake

    European Lithium (ASX: EUR) has generated an additional $50 million (A$76 million) through the sale of 3.85 million shares in Nasdaq-listed Critical Metals Corp (CRML) to a single U.S. institutional investor.

    The off-market transaction was executed at $13 per share, representing a 12% discount to CRML’s Friday closing price of $14.98. The sale follows a notable surge in CRML’s share price and trading activity on the Nasdaq, reflecting strong investor confidence in the company’s strategic position within the global critical minerals market.

    Executive chairperson Tony Sage said the deal underscored the robust demand for CRML stock.

    “The recent price increase and the large trading volumes on the Nasdaq show the demand for CRML shares is huge,” Sage commented.

    Following the sale, European Lithium retains 56 million CRML shares, valued at approximately $854 million (A$1.29 billion) based on the latest closing price.

    “The company’s holding in CRML equates to A$0.89 per EUR share,” Sage added. “EUR also holds a direct 7.5% interest in the Tanbreez project, and given CRML’s current market valuation of A$2.3 billion, this equity interest is very strategic.”

    European Lithium continues to advance its exploration and development portfolio across Austria, Ireland, Ukraine, and Australia, focusing on lithium and rare earth elements critical to the clean energy transition.

    Meanwhile, Critical Metals Corp (CRML) is strengthening its position as a major supplier of critical minerals to Western markets. Its flagship Tanbreez rare earth project in Greenland ranks among the world’s largest deposits, while its Wolfsberg lithium project in Austria—the first fully permitted lithium mine in Europe—is expected to play a key role in supporting the region’s battery and electric vehicle industries.

    CRML also holds a 20% interest in several Austrian mineral projects previously owned by European Lithium, building what it describes as a “strategic asset portfolio” supporting next-generation technologies and the global energy transition.

  • Von der Leyen Calls for Removal of Barriers to AI and Lithium Projects in Push for EU Competitiveness

    Von der Leyen Calls for Removal of Barriers to AI and Lithium Projects in Push for EU Competitiveness

    European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has urged the removal of obstacles hindering the growth of key sectors such as artificial intelligence start-ups and lithium processing, while also calling for stronger infrastructure and trade partnerships to boost the EU’s competitiveness.

    Speaking in Brussels at a high-level conference marking one year since the Draghi Report, von der Leyen said Europe must act urgently to close the investment gap with the United States and China. The report estimated the EU needs an additional €800 billion annually, more than 4% of its GDP, to stay competitive.

    Von der Leyen highlighted the need to strengthen the EU’s single market, noting that internal barriers currently equate to tariffs of 45% on goods and 110% on services. “An AI start-up from Portugal or Romania should be able to grow without problems across our continent, and currently this is often not the case,” she said.

    She also pointed to the importance of securing critical raw materials, citing lithium processing in Portugal as an example of initiatives that need both financial support and timely licensing. On energy, she pledged further investment in interconnections, including the Bay of Biscay project, which will double capacity between France and Spain. She announced plans for a “network package” and an “energy motorways initiative” to address eight key bottlenecks in European energy infrastructure.

    In terms of global partnerships, von der Leyen underscored the EU’s distinctive approach to resource projects, pointing to the Lobito corridor linking Angola’s copper belt as a strategic initiative. “Other powers are only interested in extraction, [but] we build local processing industries and value chains because that is how we strengthen our own security,” she said.

    She also expressed determination to secure trade agreements, including with India by year-end, as well as advancing negotiations with South Africa, Malaysia, and the UAE.

    Acknowledging the EU’s slow progress on Draghi’s recommendations — only 11.2% have been fully implemented — von der Leyen stressed the need for urgency. She also reiterated the importance of greater European independence in defence, while cautioning that such efforts “will not happen overnight.”

  • U.S. and Ukraine Earmark $150 Million for Minerals Deal

    U.S. and Ukraine Earmark $150 Million for Minerals Deal

    The United States and Ukraine have committed $150 million to establish a reconstruction investment fund designed to channel foreign capital into Ukraine’s natural resources sector.

    Announced on 17 September by Ukraine’s Economy Minister, Oleksii Sobolev, the fund will see Washington and Kyiv invest $75 million each, with the U.S. contribution provided through the International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). Ukraine will finance its share in two instalments, drawn from this year’s and next year’s budgets.

    “This is definitely enough to make the first proper large-scale investments,” Sobolev told journalists.

    The initiative forms part of a wider U.S.-Ukraine resources agreement, signed in April, granting Washington favourable access to projects in natural resources, infrastructure, and defence. The fund will operate on a project-by-project basis, with both parties contributing only once an investment is approved.

    DFC officials visited Ukraine earlier this month, inspecting potential starter projects such as titanium, zirconium, and hafnium deposits in Kirovohrad Oblast. Mateo Goldman, DFC’s Senior Vice President for Investments, said: “Our $75 million investment is a major step to activating the fund and opening the Ukrainian market to new investment opportunities.”

    The fund’s board is expected to finalise its structure by late November, including the appointment of an administrator and approval of investment guidelines.

    Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko described the initial funding as a demonstration of “trust and long-term commitment” from Washington, noting that reinvested profits over the next decade will bolster Ukraine’s economic recovery.

    With U.S. interest in Ukraine’s critical raw materials and gas reserves, Kyiv hopes the partnership will accelerate both energy security and post-war reconstruction.

  • France’s EMILI Project: A Game-Changer for European Lithium Production

    France’s EMILI Project: A Game-Changer for European Lithium Production

    The EMILI project in Beauvoir, France, has taken a major step forward following the visit of Minister of Industry and Energy Marc Ferracci. Recognised as a project of major national interest, EMILI is home to Europe’s largest lithium deposit and the fourth largest globally.

    A recently completed pre-feasibility study revealed a higher-than-expected lithium grade, extending the project’s lifespan from 25 to 50 years. This long-term outlook cements EMILI’s role in bolstering European sovereignty over critical battery materials and supporting the continent’s electric vehicle ambitions.

    “Beneath our feet lies a lithium deposit recognised as a project of major national interest, the fourth largest in the world and the largest in Europe,” said Guillaume Delacroix, Senior Vice President Performance Minerals EMEA & APAC.

    EMILI benefits from France’s new regulatory framework that accelerates mining development, alongside eligibility for €200 million in tax credits once operations commence. With a focus on high environmental and social standards, the project is poised to become a cornerstone of Europe’s clean energy future.

    Learn more here.

  • EU Urged to Prioritise ESG in Central Asia’s Raw Materials Push

    EU Urged to Prioritise ESG in Central Asia’s Raw Materials Push

    The EU must prioritize Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles in its dealings with Central Asia to secure its access to crucial raw materials, commentators warn.

    The bloc arrived in Samarkand this April with a hefty €13.2 billion Global Gateway package, signaling a desire to move beyond merely buying raw materials from the region. A significant portion, €2.5 billion, is earmarked for new mining and processing projects in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and beyond. This drive is born out of necessity: the EU still relies entirely on China for its heavy rare-earth imports and faces the growing risk of vulnerability.

    While geographically late to the game, Europe has a unique advantage: a reputation for robust ESG practices. Local executives cite European partners as “a sign of quality” due to their unwavering adherence to these standards, something often lacking in Chinese or Russian counterparts. However, this edge relies on Brussels consistently embedding ESG into every euro invested. This means robust monitoring and auditing of remediation plans, transparent royalty structures, and genuine upfront consultation with local communities.

    The EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA) sets ambitious goals: attaining 10 percent mining, 40 percent processing, and 25 percent recycling of Europe’s annual CRM demand domestically or in trusted partner states by 2030.

    Realising these goals in Central Asia necessitates investment in sustainable technologies. This includes financing water-efficient processing plants, closed-loop waste systems, and solar-powered smelters, rather than simply opening more exploitative mines.

    The EU’s efforts are beginning to take shape, with the spotlight falling on graphite. Kazakhstan’s Sarytogan deposit has been placed on the EU Commission’s list of “strategic projects” eligible for expedited permits and loan guarantees under the CRMA. Meanwhile, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has taken a significant stake in the mine operator, marking a direct investment in the region’s CRM sector. The EU is now actively seeking downstream investors to refine indigenous graphite into anode-grade product, capturing added value that historically flowed to Chinese refiners.

    Lithium development is following a similar trajectory. A partnership between HMS Bergbau and Kazakhstan’s Creada Corporation aims to unlock the potential of Kazakh spodumene through extraction, processing, and refining into battery-ready lithium hydroxide. This would be a direct response to the EU’s new battery-passport regulations, which require materials of a certain purity.

    However, Europe faces a formidable competitor: China. The PRC Mineral Resources Law mandates environmental remediation planning before mining commences, setting a new baseline for responsible resource extraction. While welcomed, the application details remain vague, lacking guarantees on local community engagement and enforcement mechanisms, potentially creating loopholes for exploitation.

    Adding to the pressure, Chinese capital is expanding downstream. East Hope Group’s landmark $12 billion investment in Kazakh non-ferrous metals signifies a vertical integration approach—from mining and smelting to fabrication and renewable power generation. This $12 billion vertical integration project in Kazakhstan showcases China’s willingness to build a fully controllable supply chain.

    Europe must act strategically to counter these challenges.

    Firstly, financial aid should be contingent on stringent ESG benchmarks. EU financing must go hand-in-hand with clear, enforceable standards – ISO-compliant tailings dams, methane monitoring, gender-balanced workforce plans, and robust penalties for non-compliance.

    Secondly, the EU should focus on fostering value-adding industries beyond mining. This means investing in processing plants and recycling facilities, not just mines. By creating domestic processing hubs for cathode powders or rare-earth magnets, the CRMA’s 40 percent processing target can be achieved, generating jobs, technology transfer, and increased tax revenue for beneficiary countries.

    Finally, the EU must simplify visa requirements for Central Asian technical personnel. A targeted visa-facilitation agreement could allow them to train in Europe and return, strengthening the region’s skilled workforce.

    Securing a stable and sustainable supply of raw materials is a critical challenge for the EU. While China’s economic clout is undeniable, Europe has the opportunity to win this race by leveraging its commitment to ESG principles and building a truly sustainable, transparent, and trust-based partnership with Central Asia.

    Time is of the essence. The next 18 months, before China’s revised mining law takes full effect and East Hope’s megaproject begins construction, provide a crucial window for the EU to demonstrate its commitment to ESG beyond rhetoric. The stakes are high, as the fate of Europe’s essential raw materials supply hangs in the balance.

  • IEA Warns of Growing Global Supply Risks in Critical Mineral Markets

    IEA Warns of Growing Global Supply Risks in Critical Mineral Markets

    The International Energy Agency (IEA) has raised concerns over the increasing concentration of critical mineral supplies and the growing use of export restrictions, warning that these trends heighten the risk of severe disruptions to global markets. In the latest edition of its Global Critical Minerals Outlook, the agency provides a detailed analysis of supply chains, demand, investment, and policy trends across vital energy-related minerals, including lithium, copper, cobalt, graphite, and rare earth elements (REEs).

    According to the report, the global supply of critical minerals has become more concentrated, particularly in refining and processing. In 2024, the average market share held by the top three producers rose to 86%, up from 82% in 2020. China remains the dominant player in most mineral supply chains, while Indonesia leads in nickel.

    While demand, especially for battery metals like lithium, continues to grow—lithium demand jumped by nearly 30% in 2024—investment momentum has slowed. Capital spending on critical minerals rose just 5% this year, a sharp decline from 14% in 2023. Exploration activity has also plateaued, signaling a pause in growth and increasing long-term supply risk.

    The IEA projects that even under current policy settings, supply diversification will advance slowly over the next decade. This raises alarm for markets like copper, where a looming supply shortfall of up to 30% by 2035 is expected due to insufficient mine development.

    Additionally, the report reveals that over half of strategic energy minerals are now subject to some form of export control. China holds an average 70% market share in the refining of 19 out of the 20 critical minerals analyzed and remains central to processing technologies for emerging battery chemistries like lithium-iron-phosphate and sodium-ion.

    IEA Executive Director Dr. Fatih Birol warned that critical minerals have become “a frontline issue” in global energy and economic security. The report urges countries to accelerate efforts to diversify supply chains, boost investment, and build resilience to geopolitical and trade-related shocks.

  • Europe’s Lithium Paradox: New Documentary Explores EU’s Critical Mineral Dilemma

    Europe’s Lithium Paradox: New Documentary Explores EU’s Critical Mineral Dilemma

    A new documentary, Europe’s Lithium Paradox, produced by Storyrunner and SIM² KU Leuven and distributed by Journeyman Pictures, delves into the European Union’s struggle to secure a sustainable and self-sufficient supply of lithium—a metal essential for electric vehicle batteries and renewable energy storage.

    Despite possessing significant lithium reserves, Europe lacks operational mines and remains heavily dependent on imports, particularly from China. The film investigates the challenges hindering the development of domestic lithium mining, including slow permitting processes and opposition from environmental groups.

    Featuring insights from policymakers, industry experts, and civil society representatives, the documentary examines key projects across the continent, such as Serbia’s Jadar mine and Portugal’s Mina do Barroso. It also addresses the broader implications of Europe’s reliance on external sources for critical raw materials and explores potential pathways toward a more resilient and environmentally conscious supply chain.