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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


Lithium Africa to advance Springbok project
7th October 2026 By: Tasneem Bulbulia

TSX-V-listed Lithium Africa has decided to advance the Springbok project, in South Africa’s Northern Cape province, toward the production of spodumene concentrate, targeting first production in the... 


Anson's DLE plant in Utah
Utah incentives bolster Anson Resources' Green River project NPV
7th October 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

Utah state incentives have bolstered the base case before-tax net present value (NPV) of ASX-listed Anson Resources' Green River lithium project from $1.37-billion to $1.52-billion - or from... 


Sigma Green Tech plant in Brazil
Sigma Lithium resumes operations in Brazil after court ruling
7th October 2026 By: Reuters

Lithium miner Sigma Lithium said on Tuesday it would resume mining and processing at its Grota do Cirilo project in Brazil after a federal appeals court upheld its environmental licences,... 


Askari completes district-scale soil programme to define new Uis priority targets
Askari completes district-scale soil programme to define new Uis priority targets
6th October 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

ASX-listed Askari Metals has completed a project-wide soil geochemical sampling campaign across an exclusive prospecting licence (EPL) at its Uis project in the Erongo region of Namibia. The... 


Andrada CEO Anthony Viljoe.
Latest Lithium Ridge drilling highlights upside potential
6th October 2026 By: Martin Creamer

London-listed and Namibia-focused Andrada Mining, a tin producer with a portfolio of critical minerals mining and exploration assets in Namibia, has announced more assay results from its Lithium... 


Premier African Minerals to raise £1.2m for Zimbabwe project
Premier African Minerals to raise £1.2m for Zimbabwe project
5th October 2026 By: Sabrina Jardim

London-listed Premier African Minerals has completed a subscription to raise about £1.2-million before expenses through the issue of 27.52-billion new ordinary shares of nil par value in the... 


Image of lithium in rock
Manna-Nova lithium project, Australia
2nd October 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

Global Lithium released the completed Manna–Nova integration study on September 16, 2026, following its July 2026 agreement to buy the Nova operation.  


Drill rig at the Prairie lithium project
Prairie lithium project, Canada – update
2nd October 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

The Canadian government has committed C$6.3-million in financing, which will support Phase 1 production. 


Kathleen Valley crushed ore stockpile, primary crusher and run-of-mine pad
Kathleen Valley lithium/tantalum project, Australia – update
2nd October 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

The expansion project has been approved. 


Image of lithium processing plant
Green River lithium project, US – update
2nd October 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

Anson Resources has signed a nonbinding memorandum of understanding with specialist metals and minerals trader Wogen Resources America and critical minerals financing adviser Xcelsior Capital... 


Lithium Argentina brines at Cauchari-Olaroz
Lithium Argentina outlines phased expansion plan for Cauchari-Olaroz
1st October 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

TSX-listed Lithium Argentina has confirmed the viable potential of a Stage 2 expansion project at Cauchari-Olaroz, in Argentina. A scoping study on the Stage 2 expansion contemplates additional... 


Mining Indaba logo
Africa's greatest mineral asset isn't underground
1st October 2026

The global race for critical minerals is entering a new phase. No longer defined solely by access to mineral reserves, it is increasingly being shaped by industrial policy, geopolitical... 


The Metals Company exploration vessel
Exxon veteran Liam Mallon joins TMC board ahead of seabed mining push
30th September 2026 By: Reuters

The Metals Company said on Tuesday it has appointed former ExxonMobil upstream chief Liam Mallon to its board as the company advances plans to begin commercial recovery of polymetallic nodules in... 


Kathleen Valley lithium mine
Liontown lifts FY27 capex guidance by nearly 35% after approving lithium mine expansion
30th September 2026 By: Reuters

Liontown Resources on Wednesday approved an A$389-million ($271.68-million) expansion of its flagship Kathleen Valley lithium mine in Western Australia, prompting the company to raise its 2027... 


Lithium brines
North American energy storage to drive lithium carbonate demand through 2031
29th September 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

Market research firm Mordor Intelligence expects the global lithium carbonate market to grow from 141-million lithium carbonate-equivalent (LCE) tons in 2026 to 3.93-million LCE tons by 2031,... 


Prairie Lithium's DLE unit
Prairie Lithium garners C$6.3m federal Canadian funding to reach initial production
29th September 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

The Canadian government has committed C$6.3-million in financing for ASX-listed Prairie Lithium's project in Saskatchewan, which will support Phase 1 production, including balance-of-plant systems... 


Image of lithium ore
Mt Marion lithium project, Australia
25th September 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

Mineral Resources plan to build a flotation plant and develop underground mining at Mt Marion. 


Location map of the Falchani project
Falchani lithium project, Peru – update
25th September 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

American Lithium Corporation has fully commissioned and started operating its Falchani lithium pilot plant. 


EMP Metals' Project Aurora demo plant
Canadian lithium miner EMP commissions demo plant
23rd September 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

Vancouver-based EMP Metals Corporation has successfully commissioned its Project Aurora demonstration plant, in Saskatchewan, with the facility now operating as a fully integrated, continuous-flow... 


Nth cycle critical minerals recovery
Nth Cycle inks $1bn minerals offtake with Glencore ahead of public listing
23rd September 2026 By: Reuters

US metals refining startup Nth Cycle has signed a $1-billion offtake agreement with Glencore to supply the commodities giant with lithium and other critical minerals extracted from recycled... 


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pqt: 0.025s - ct: 0.069s - 105pq - 2rq
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