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

Hidden within the salt flats high in the #Andes mountains of #SouthAmerica are vast deposits of the #Lithium that #ElonMusk may need for his electric car revolution. But extracting the mineral from brine ponds created by Orocobre Ltd. has proved more difficult than expected.

Bad weather and pump glitches meant production at the Olaroz facility in northern #Argentina was 21 percent below Orocobre’s initial target in the year through June. While things are getting back on track, Chief Executive Officer Richard Seville says the company “either underestimated the complexity or overestimated our capability.”

Read more at: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-21/supplying-lithium-gets-trickier-as-electric-revolution-quickens

#Nickel producer #Vale #Indonesia said Indonesia’s recent policy shift to allow ore exports is helping keep global prices of the metal low, and complicating efforts to establish partnerships for new smelter investments.

#Japanese miner #Sumitomo Metal Mining Co Ltd is partnering with Vale on a nickel processing plant in Pomalaa in Southeast #Sulawesi.

But “they are now more concerned about the calculations of their internal rate of return, because this is a $2 billion project,” Kanter said.

Read more at: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-vale-indonesia-nickel-idUSKBN1AP1AP

#Nickel-rich chemistries are popular due to higher energy density and lower costs

A higher #Cobalt price should incentivize rapid adoption of more nickel-heavy technologies.

Nickel Sulphate production from the dissolution of refined nickel powder (350kt) is more attractive.

Read more at: http://www.bhp.com/-/media/documents/media/reports-and-presentations/2017/170809_energisingourfuture.pdf

 

#Terra E Holding GmbH will choose one of five candidate sites in #Germany or a neighboring country next month to build its 34 gigawatt-hour battery factory, #Frankfurt-based Chief Executive Officer Holger Gritzka said in an interview. The former #ThyssenKrupp AG manager has helped to assemble a consortium of 17 #German companies and won government support for the project, which will break ground in the fourth quarter of 2019 and reach full capacity in 2028, he said.

Read more at: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-03/germany-giving-gigafactory-a-home-in-latest-challenge-to-tesla

The outlook for greener transportation got a boost this year as the #UK joined #France and #Norway in saying it would ban fossil-fuel car sales in coming decades. That’s as #Volvo AB announced plans to abandon the combustion engine and #Tesla Inc. unveiled its latest, cheaper Model 3. Such vehicles will outsell their petroleum-driven equivalents within two decades, #Bloomberg New Energy Finance estimates.

Read more at: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-08-02/electric-car-revolution-is-shaking-up-the-biggest-metals-markets

#SEOUL (#Reuters) – Soaring #Cobalt prices are prompting #Asia’s top battery makers to tweak the recipe for #Lithium-ion batteries used to power electric cars and mobile phones – reducing the amount of #Cobalt and adding more #Nickel.

Read more at: http://in.reuters.com/article/southkorea-battery-cobalt-idINKBN1AJ0SC

#RIO DE JANEIRO — #Brazilian miner #Vale SA (VALE5.SA) said on Thursday it would seek out fresh #Copper mining options and stop expanding #Nickel production capacity after second-quarter net income plunged on forex losses, rising costs and weaker iron ore prices.

Read more at: http://www.thesudburystar.com/2017/07/28/copper-in-nickel-out–vale

 

Mr. Trump has discussed the country’s mineral deposits with President Ashraf Ghani, who promoted mining as an economic opportunity in one of their first conversations. Mr. Trump, who is deeply skeptical about sending more American troops to Afghanistan, has suggested that this could be one justification for the United States to stay engaged in the country.

Read more at: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/25/world/asia/afghanistan-trump-mineral-deposits.html?_r=0

The #Indonesian Resources Studies (IRESS) has revealed that 11 smelters were closed following the relaxation of concentrate exports by the government as miners prefer to directly export their products.

Read more at: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2017/07/20/11-smelters-closed-after-relaxation-of-concentrate-exports.html

The $17.3M charging network, which will be installed in #Ontario and #Manitoba, will allow drivers to charge their zero-emission cars in about 20 minutes.

Read more at: http://business.financialpost.com/transportation/fast-charging-stations-for-electric-vehicles-coming-to-trans-canada-highway/wcm/d28236c5-6904-4e2e-b89f-9d505ad79030