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

#Outokumpu is introducing a #Graphite electrode upcharge for all stainless steel products with immediate effect, the #Finnish producer said Wednesday.

“The tight supply situation within the graphite electrodes market has led to limited global availability of graphite electrodes and sharp increases in their prices. This has in turn led to significant increase in the production costs of stainless steel,” the company said in a statement.

Read more at: https://www.platts.com/latest-news/metals/london/outokumpu-adds-graphite-electrode-upcharge-to-26811230

World number one mining company #BHP said 2017 will go down in history as the year when key changes took place in the #ElectricCars market, making them more accessible to customers and so boosting demand for commodities from #Copper to #Nickel.

BHP recently revealed plants to transform itself into the world’s biggest suppliers of #Nickel sulphate — a key component in #Lithium-ion batteries that power electric cars.

The company is spending $43 million on a plant in Australia that will generate 100,000 tonnes of sulphate per year and which is expected to begin production by April 2019.

Read more at: http://www.mining.com/bhp-says-2017-tipping-point-electric-cars/

#Germany’s #Volkswagen is moving to secure long-term supplies of #Cobalt, a vital component of rechargeable batteries, as the group accelerates its ambitious shift to electric cars. Cobalt industry sources told #Reuters that #VW, the world’s largest automaker, has asked producers to submit proposals on supplying the material for up to 10 years from 2019.

Read more at: http://www.euronews.com/2017/09/22/exclusive-volkswagen-moves-to-secure-cobalt-supplies-in-shift-to-electric-cars

Thanks to QUT, #Australia’s first facility to produce commercial grade #Lithium-ion batteries is up and running.

It is the only place in the country capable of making the batteries – which are in the same format as those used to power #Tesla cars – because of it’s low humidity electro-manufacturing dry rooms.

“Importantly, as part of this project we identified the best lithium-based powders to use to create a battery of the highest energy-efficiency standards possible,” said Professor Peter Talbot from QUT’s Institute for Future Environments.

Read more at: https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2017/09/scientists-just-manufactured-australias-first-lithium-ion-battery/

#China’s aggressive environmental protection campaign has tightened supplies of #Graphite electrodes used in steelmaking, boosting the fortunes of big producers like Fangda Carbon as mills search far and wide for a material now in short supply.

#Beijing’s campaign for clearer skies has closed thousands of mills and mines producing low-quality steel and coal, and makers of electrodes, particularly those near big cities, have not been spared.

Read more at: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-steel-graphiteelectrode/the-graphite-fix-inside-chinas-newest-commodity-addiction-idUSKCN1BW0S2

Read more at: https://phys.org/news/2017-09-graphene-carbon-nanomaterials-scarce-metals.html#jCp

 

The global shortage of #Carbon #Graphite electrodes is threatening to “strangle #EU steel production”, the #European steel association, Eurofer, said on Monday September 18.

Read more at: https://www.metalbulletin.com/Article/3751801/Carbon-steel/Shortage-of-graphite-electrodes-threatens-to-strangle-EU-steel-production-Eurofer-warns.html

#Suzuki Motor will invest more than Rs 1,150 crore along with #Japanese partners #Toshiba and #Denso to set up #India’s first #Lithium ion battery facility in #Gujarat.

The announcement by the parent of the country’s largest carmaker, Maruti Suzuki, is a major boost to the government’s ambitious vehicle electrification and Make in India initiatives.

Read more at:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/60515331.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

#Canadian and #Swedish dignitaries and a host of business executives traveled to Saint-Eustache for the opening of a new plant that will produce #Titanium powder. The fine, sandlike metal powder is what 3D printers fuse together, layer by layer, to build jet engine and gas turbine parts from the ground up. It’s also used in medicine to make hip replacements and skull implants.

Read more at: http://www.ge.com/reports/atomize-metal-powder-canadian-plant-will-fire-3d-printing-revolution/

#Lithium players have enjoyed strong gains this week after the government of the world’s most populated country indicated it would ban petrol and diesel-powered vehicles.

While #China’s government did not give a date for the proposed ban, it said it was working with its regulators on a deadline that would mandate the introduction of low-emission electric vehicles.

Read more at: https://thewest.com.au/business/mining/chinese-plan-to-phase-out-petrol-lifts-lithium-ng-b88597254z