A Blog for Browsing Mining, Mineral Processing, and Metals Info

The world’s biggest mining companies are ratcheting up their response to the booming demand for battery raw materials. #RioTinto Group is developing a #Lithium project in #Serbia, while #Glencore Plc plans to double production of #Cobalt and is effectively “a one-stop-shop” for investors seeking exposure to EV gains, Sanford C. Bernstein Ltd. said in a note this month.

The good luck for #BHP is that only about 40 to 45 percent of existing #Nickel mine supply is suitable for processing into a battery-grade chemical product, #Melbourne-based UBS Group AG analyst Lachlan Shaw said by phone. “BHP’s Nickel West fits into that category.”

Read more at: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-01-10/world-s-no-1-miner-is-building-an-ev-hub-it-doesn-t-want-to-keep

A London-based research company modelled metal requirements across the supply chain – from generation and grid infrastructure through to storage, charging and vehicles – based on relatively modest penetration of EVs in the total global vehicle market out to 2030.

According to the study as early as 2020, when #EVs would still make up only 2% of new vehicle sales, related metal demand already becomes significant, requiring an additional 390,000 tonnes of #Copper, 85,000 tonnes of #Nickel and 24,000 tonnes of #Cobalt.

Read more at: http://www.mining.com/much-copper-nickel-cobalt-electric-vehicle-world-needs/

#Canadian developers of #Cobalt and #Lithium mines stand to benefit from a round of investments from the makers of #ElectricVehicles and the batteries powering them, a potential game-changer for small miners short on money to develop deposits of these critical battery ingredients.

Read more at: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-mining-evbatteries-canada-analysis/small-canadian-miners-in-pole-position-for-electric-vehicle-battery-boon-idUSKBN1E50EB

As per #SMM independent research, in 2017 battery-grade nickel sulfate output reaches 209,800 tons and electroplate-grade output reaches 86,800 tons. In 2018 battery-grade nickel sulfate output is estimated to rise 35% on yearly basis and 5% for electroplate-grade.

#LSE-listed exploration and development company #Rainbow #RareEarths has exported its first shipment of rare earth concentrate from its Gakara project, in #Burundi, making it #Africa’s only rare earths producer.

Read more at: http://www.miningweekly.com/article/rainbow-ships-first-rare-earths-from-burundi-mine-2017-12-05

Surging demand for metals like #Copper, #Nickel and #Cobalt for use in #ElectricVehicles promises to overturn the balance of power between mining companies and their customers, according to billionaire investor Robert Friedland.

Read more at: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-30/-miner-s-revenge-is-coming-with-electric-cars-friedland-says

The #German car industry risks running short of key raw materials for automotive batteries, hampering a planned boost in the production of #ElectricVehicles (#EVs), #Germany’s largest industry association BDI warned.

Read more at: https://www.reuters.com/article/germany-materials-electromobility/german-car-makers-warned-of-possible-battery-materials-shortage-welt-am-sonntag-idUSL8N1NW0I4

Sourcing of #Cobalt and other materials is “the most important” question #BMW has to address before it decides whether to produce its own battery cells, board member Oliver Zipse said at a media briefing. Currently BMW assembles, but doesn’t produce its own battery cells.

Read more at: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-11-24/bmw-joins-race-to-secure-cobalt-for-electric-vehicle-batteries

#Australia is blessed with the stuff. For more than a quarter of a century it has not had a recession, thanks largely to #Chinese demand for its raw materials. It is only a few years since the end of one such China-led boom, in base metals such as iron ore. A new speculative flurry has started in minerals such as #Lithium, #Cobalt and #Nickel to feed another #China-related craze—making batteries for #lectricVehicles (#EVs).

Read more at: https://www.economist.com/news/business/21731676-chinas-electric-vehicle-industry-piling-are-speculators-australia-new-frontier

#SouthAfrican power utility #Eskom is set to test a #Vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) solution developed by #Bushveld Energy at its research, testing, and development (RT&D) centre in #Rosherville.

The test is a result of market studies commissioned by Bushveld Energy and the Industrial Development Corporation of South Africa (IDC) to evaluate the demand of VRFB in #Africa, as well as the potential demand and requirements of vanadium electrolyte worldwide, reported Engineering News.

Read more at: https://www.power-technology.com/news/south-africas-eskom-test-vanadium-redox-flow-battery-solution/