https://www.miningweekly.com

Receive our free daily newsletter:

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


LibertyStream lithium refining facility in Texas
LibertyStream delivers first lithium carbonate to US customer
Updated 44 minutes ago By: Marleny Arnoldi

TSX-V-listed LibertyStream Infrastructure Partners has delivered its first tonne of lithium carbonate to a US-based industrial customer from the company’s direct lithium extraction (DLE) unit and... 


India flag
India to soon unveil incentives for lithium, nickel processing with $313m outlay, sources say
Updated 2 hours 48 minutes ago By: Reuters

India's federal Ministry of Mines is expected to shortly unveil a policy with incentives to process lithium and nickel with an outlay of around 30-billion rupees ($313.48-million), according to two... 


American Lithium project site in Peru
Emerging miner American Lithium welcomes Peru's national importance decree for uranium, lithium
3rd June 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

TSX-V-listed American Lithium Corporation has welcomed the Peruvian government's issuance of a Supreme Decree formally declaring the national importance of both uranium and lithium, while declaring... 


CTL drilling in Cornwall
Cornish Tin & Lithium discovers more larger-than-expected lithium resources in Cornwall
3rd June 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

Cornish Tin & Lithium (CTL), formerly Cornish Tin Limited, a company focused on the discovery and development of high-grade tin and hard-rock lithium resources in Cornwall, has announced... 


ECA Southern Africa regional director Eunice Kamwendo
UN ECA launches large-scale project to strengthen SADC critical minerals value chains
3rd June 2026 By: Lumkile Nkomfe

The UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) has launched a €15-million regional project to strengthen environmentally and socially responsible critical minerals value chains across the Southern... 


Lithium ore
TG Metals requests mining lease for 'quick start' direct shipping ore operation in WA
1st June 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

ASX-listed TG Metals has applied for a mining lease over the Burmeister lithium deposit, as part of the Lake Johnston lithium project, in Western Australia. Metallurgical testwork and the shallow... 


An image of AVEVA World Milan 2026
AVEVA supports mining, metals companies to meet increasing demand
1st June 2026 By: Tasneem Bulbulia

Mining and metals companies are working to maximise production and ensure they produce high-quality products with the lowest possible environmental impact and at competitive prices, and industrial... 


Supplier ready to engage, showcase at WAMPEX
29th May 2026 By: Natasha Odendaal

As a global supplier of engineering solutions for minerals and mining applications, Weir is preparing to showcase its range of solutions for the mining sector at the West African Mining and Power... 


Samukelo Madlabane - Event Director – Mining VUKA Group
Africa’s mining future takes shape at DRC Mining Week 2026
29th May 2026

Few countries on earth hold the geological potential of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). From copper and cobalt to lithium, manganese, tin, and rare earths, the DRC is not only central... 


Galan Lithium ponds in Argentina
Galan Lithium reaches first lithium chloride production in Argentina, now ramps up
28th May 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

Western Australia-headquartered Galan Lithium has achieved first processed lithium chloride at its Hombre Muerto West (HMW) project, in Argentina. This marks the end of wet plant commissioning,... 


Upper Rhine Valley Brine Field, in Germany
Vulcan reaches financial close on $3.9bn Lionheart lithium hydroxide monohydrate plant
28th May 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

ASX-listed Vulcan Energy has achieved financial close on the €2.2-billion, or $3.9-billion, funding package required to fund construction of the zero-carbon Lionheart lithium and renewable-energy... 


Codelco and SQM's lithium joint venture project in Chile
Codelco, SQM budget $3bn for lithium project in Chile
27th May 2026 By: Bloomberg

Chilean mining companies Codelco and SQM are budgeting $3-billion to deploy new extraction technologies at their lithium joint venture in the Atacama Desert. The companies' Novandino Litio... 


Uis project
Andrada secures conditional Uis mine funding, completes expanded Lithium Ridge drilling programme
27th May 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

Aim-listed Andrada Mining has secured conditional strategic funding of N$98-million, or about £4.4-million, through ten-year loan facilities from Namibian-owned institutions Bank Windhoek and the... 


The Grande Côte mineral sands operation
Eramet appoints CFO, partially restarts Senegal mineral sands processing after Feb fire
27th May 2026 By: Creamer Media Reporter

Diversified metals miner Eramet has appointed Simon Henochsberg to succeed Abel Martins as group CFO and has announced the partial restart of mineral sands processing at its Grande Côte operation,... 


An SQM mine
SQM boosts lithium guidance as earnings top estimates
27th May 2026 By: Bloomberg

Chilean copper miner SQM reported a sharp increase in first-quarter profit and raised its lithium sales forecast, betting that robust demand from battery storage systems will keep the market... 


American Lithium project area in Peru
American Lithium welcomed as member of US Defence Industrial Base Consortium
26th May 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

TSX-V-listed American Lithium Corporation has been accepted as a member of the Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC), which is a US Department of Defense collaborative initiative established to... 


Mt Marion lithium mine
MinRes, Jiangxi Ganfeng to invest $351m in Mt Marion lithium project
26th May 2026 By: Reuters

Australia's Mineral Resources (MinRes) said on Tuesday it has reached a final investment decision, alongside its joint venture partner Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium, to invest about A$490-million... 


Illegal mining operations in Africa
Congo suspends mining activities in parts of South Kivu province
25th May 2026 By: Reuters

The Democratic Republic of Congo has imposed a three-month suspension of mining activities in parts of the country's South Kivu province, a mines ministry directive showed. The suspension was in... 


Lithium ore stockpile
Helix acquires first lithium prospect in Pilbara
22nd May 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

ASX-listed Helix Resources has successfully acquired a 50% interest in the Weerianna gold/lithium project, in the West Pilbara region of Australia, from a company called Western Metals for... 


Location map of the Prairie project
Prairie lithium project, Canada – update
22nd May 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

Prairie Lithium has started with factory acceptance testing at its commercial-scale direct lithium extraction unit, representing another important step towards commissioning of the project. 


1
2 3

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







pqt: 0.202s - ct: 1.315s - 275pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now