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Lithium

Lithium is a soft, silvery-white alkali metal that has become a critical commodity in the global transition to clean energy and electric mobility. It is the lightest metal and the least dense solid element, with unique electrochemical properties that make it essential for rechargeable battery technology. The metal is primarily extracted from two sources: hard-rock mineral deposits, particularly spodumene, and lithium-rich brine deposits found in salt flats and desert basins. Major producing regions include the lithium triangle of South America, encompassing Chile, Argentina and Bolivia, as well as Australia, which dominates hard-rock production, and China, which controls much of the refining capacity. Lithium's primary application is in lithium-ion batteries, which power electric vehicles, consumer electronics and grid-scale energy storage systems, driving exponential demand growth as countries pursue decarbonisation targets. The metal also finds use in ceramics, glass manufacturing, lubricating greases, pharmaceuticals and metallurgy. Pricing is volatile and influenced by supply constraints, technological advances in extraction and processing, and the pace of electric vehicle adoption globally. Extraction methods are evolving, with direct lithium extraction technologies emerging as alternatives to traditional evaporation ponds, which are water-intensive and slow. Environmental and social concerns around water use, land rights and ecological impact in extraction zones have intensified scrutiny of the industry. Lithium's strategic importance has prompted governments to classify it as a critical mineral, spurring investment in domestic supply chains and processing infrastructure.

Lithium News


Bags of lithium concentrate being loaded onto a truck
Sinomine secures additional Zimbabwe lithium export quota
25th August 2026 By: Reuters

Sinomine Resource Group has secured an export quota for an additional 300,000 metric tons of lithium concentrate from Zimbabwe, the company has said. Zimbabwe, Africa's top producer of battery... 


McDermitt project area
Jindalee, subsidiary investigate magnesium potential at McDermitt further
25th August 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

ASX-listed Jindalee Lithium subsidiary HiTech Minerals has successfully produced high-grade magnesium oxide from the McDermitt lithium project, in Oregon, ahead of its merger with Constellation... 


Pozuelos-Pastos Grande lithium project, in Argentina
Lithium Argentina secures $180m funding from JV partner Ganfeng
25th August 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

TSX- and NYSE-listed Lithium Argentina has secured an investment of $180-million from the world's largest lithium metals producer Ganfeng Lithium Group, with the companies having entered into... 


PLS awards TOMRA Mining contract for a 22-sorter installation at Pilgangoora, the world’s largest sensor-based sorting plant
PLS awards TOMRA Mining contract for a 22-sorter installation at Pilgangoora, the world’s largest sensor-based sorting plant
24th August 2026

TOMRA Mining has been awarded a contract by Pilgangoora Operations Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of PLS Group Limited (PLS), for the supply of sensor-based ore sorting equipment for the proposed P2000... 


Pilgangoora lithium operation
Lithium miner PLS Group bullish on price outlook, eyes expansion
24th August 2026 By: Bloomberg

Australia’s biggest lithium producer PLS Group flagged a supply shortfall of the battery metal in the coming years and said it was nearing a final investment decision on expanding its capacity, as... 


Nickel mixed hydroxide precipitate
US Department of Energy considers up to $100m grant for Nth Cycle black mass refinery
21st August 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

US-based critical minerals midstream refining company Nth Cycle has been selected by the US Department of Energy to enter into award negotiations for up to $100-million to develop and construct a... 


Bandeira project area
Lithium Ionic adds lithium stalwart Ortega to board
21st August 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

TSX-V-listed Lithium Ionic has appointed two new independent directors John Turner and Ernie Ortiz Ortega. The company says these appointments strengthen the board's governance, legal, mining... 


Elevra's NAL mine in Canada
Canada-focused lithium miner Elevra gets price floor for supply deal
21st August 2026 By: Bloomberg

North America-focused Elevra Lithium secured a price-floor structure in a deal to supply a new processing facility in Canada, as western countries seek to bolster their critical-mineral supply... 


Mine trucks lined up
Coal India plans Singapore trading hub in hunt for critical mineral assets, sources say
20th August 2026 By: Reuters

The world's largest coal producer, Coal India, is setting up its first overseas trading office in Singapore, aiming to diversify into trading iron-ore and critical and strategic minerals, two... 


Critical Metals' Tanbreez rare earths project in Greenland
Critical Metals, European Lithium amend share scheme transaction ratio ahead of merger
20th August 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

Nasdaq-listed Critical Metals Corporation and ASX-listed European Lithium have announced an amendment to the previously fixed share scheme transaction ratio under its proposed merger deal, with the... 


SQM lithium brines
Chile's SQM beats quarterly profit estimates on higher lithium sales, prices
19th August 2026 By: Reuters

Chile's SQM, the world's second-largest lithium producer, beat second-quarter net profit estimates on Wednesday owing to higher prices and sales volumes. The company posted a net profit of... 


Lithium ore
BMI revises its yearly lithium price forecasts, driven by resilient energy demand
17th August 2026 By: Lumkile Nkomfe

BMI, a Fitch Solutions company, has revised its lithium price forecasts for this year to $20 100/t for mainland Chinese lithium carbonate and $19 600/t for mainland Chinese lithium hydroxide... 


Locomotives produced by Traxtion
South Africa's Traxtion bets on regional rail reforms and mineral boom
17th August 2026 By: Reuters

South African rail services provider Traxtion is positioning itself to profit from a regional mineral boom and sweeping reforms across the continent that are opening up freight rail networks to... 


UN ECA executive secretary Claver Gatete
SADC can be a testing ground for turning African minerals into development – UN ECA
14th August 2026 By: Schalk Burger

Demand for critical energy transition minerals, including cobalt, copper, graphite, lithium, manganese, nickel, platinum group metals (PGMs) and rare earth elements, could more than triple by 2030... 


Brine well for lithium extraction
Duke University, UCT make tangible investment recommendations ahead of lithium, rare earths boom
14th August 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

A first-of-its-kind report from researchers at Duke University and the University of Cape Town (UCT) has mapped the most credible research and development opportunities for lithium and rare earth... 


McDermitt project area
Australian miner to start drilling at McDermitt lithium prospect in Oregon once fire risk eases
14th August 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

ASX-listed Jindalee Lithium and US its subsidiary HiTech Minerals has secured all the major approvals required for a Phase 1 drill programme at the McDermitt lithium project, in Oregon. The... 


CATL lithium mine in China
CATL mine’s unclear future clouds China’s nascent lithium market
14th August 2026 By: Bloomberg

A year after Contemporary Amperex Technology’s flagship lithium mine was first shuttered, speculation over its fate is still driving wild price swings, prompting growing concerns among traders and... 


Swabbing unit at Mandrake Resources' Evelyn Chambers #1 brine extraction well in Utah
Australian lithium developer Mandrake starts bulk brine production in Utah
12th August 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

ASX-listed lithium developer Mandrake Resources has started swabbing activities at its Evelyn Chambers #1 well in Utah. Mandrake's work on the well is partly supported by a $1-million federal... 


Barroso project area
Savannah Resources inks vital land access agreements for Portuguese lithium project
12th August 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

Aim-listed Savannah Resources has signed three benefit-sharing agreements with local communities that hold and manage communal lands around the company's Barroso lithium project, in Portugal.... 


Lithium brine pool in Chile
Coal India weighs buying Canada's Wealth Minerals unit for Chile lithium assets, sources say
11th August 2026 By: Reuters

Coal India, the world's largest coal miner, is considering acquiring a unit of Canada's Wealth Minerals with lithium mining assets in Chile, two sources familiar with the matter said. The move... 


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pqt: 0.131s - ct: 0.192s - 275pq - 2rq
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