Tag Archives: electric-vehicles

#DRC – #Kinshasa on verge of winning its bet on the #Cobalt market

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Illustration of the Democratic Republic of the Congo highlighted on a map of Africa, featuring a mining scene with a mineral processing plant and various minerals like cobalt, copper, coltan, and lithium. The country's flag is prominently displayed.

Fully focused on its goal of regulating the precious mineral sector, Félix Tshisekedi’s presidency expects significant fiscal returns this year. The authorities, however, have had to contend with pressure from Chinese operators eager to obtain larger quotas, as well as the reluctance of certain administrations.

Read more at: https://www.africaintelligence.com/central-africa/2026/04/07/kinshasa-on-verge-of-winning-its-bet-on-the-cobalt-market,110698845-eve

Under the presidency of Félix Tshisekedi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is aggressively reshaping its role in the global mineral market, specifically targeting the cobalt and gold sectors to maximize state revenue and economic sovereignty. 

Fiscal Returns and Strategic Control 

For 2026, the Congolese Treasury has set ambitious financial targets tied to its newfound status as a market “price maker”. 

  • Projected Revenue: The government expects roughly $2.3 billion in public revenue this year from cobalt alone.
  • Market Influence: By implementing a strict quota system (capped at 96,600 tonnes for 2026), Kinshasa successfully pushed prices from $21,000 in early 2025 to over $56,000 as of April 2026.
  • Alternative Scenario: Authorities estimate that without these regulatory interventions, revenues would have been limited to approximately $617 million. 

Friction with Chinese Operators

The administration is navigating complex relationships with Chinese mining companies, which currently dominate much of the DRC’s mineral extraction. 

  • Quota Resistance: Major Chinese firms, notably CMOC Group, have vocally opposed the 2026 quotas, arguing they are too restrictive compared to their production capacity.
  • Processing Ultimatum: The Ministry of Mines is leveraging these quotas to force Chinese operators into local processing agreements, aiming to shift the country away from being a mere raw material exporter.
  • Audit of Legacy Deals: In March 2026, the government launched a comprehensive technical and financial audit of the Sicomines “infrastructure-for-minerals” deal to ensure compliance and fair returns. 

Administrative and Geopolitical Hurdles

Domestic and international pressures continue to complicate the regulatory rollout:

  • Bureaucratic Reluctance: Delays in implementing new export procedures at the end of 2025 caused bottlenecks at key transit points like the Kasumbalesa border post, forcing the government to refine its administrative arrangements.
  • The “U.S. Pivot”: Under a strategic partnership signed in late 2025, the U.S. is pushing for access to critical minerals to counter Chinese dominance. This includes a 44-project shortlist handed to Washington in February 2026, creating additional geopolitical friction.
  • New Enforcement Measures: To counter administrative weakness, the state recently partnered with Quantum to establish a “tax brigade” for better oversight of mining operators. 

#US government backs #Aclara’s separation facility study for #REE

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Canada’s Aclara Resources announced on Wednesday a collaboration with the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration to find the best location for its planned rare earth separation facility.

This partnership, through the SelectUSA program, aims to find a cost-effective site for the plant, and to contribute to a resilient supply chain for critical materials essential in the U.S. high-tech sectors.

The location study will evaluate potential sites for Aclara’s separation facility with a focus on operational efficiency, cost management, and project timelines, the rare earths developer said in a statement.

“Aclara believes that it can contribute towards securing a resilient and independent supply chain for rare earths, which are critical materials for electromobility and other key high-tech sectors of the U.S. economy,” chief financial officer François Motte said.

Aclara aims to produce high-purity mixed rare earth concentrate (MREC) from its Penco module in Chile and the Carina project in Brazil. The company plans to use its patented technology designed to extract heavy rare earths from ionic clays. 

Read more at: https://www.northernminer.com/fast-news/us-government-to-assist-aclara-with-location-study-for-new-facility/1003873185/

#DOE Announces $2.26 Billion Loan to #Lithium Americas Corp.

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As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), through its Loan Programs Office (LPO), today announced the closing of a $2.26 billion loan to Lithium Americas Corp’s subsidiary, Lithium Nevada Corp. (including $1.97 billion of principal and $289.7 million of capitalized interest), to help finance the construction of facilities for processing lithium at Thacker Pass in Humboldt County, Nevada.

The project is located next to a mine site that contains the largest confirmed lithium resource in North America. Once fully operational, the facilities are expected to produce approximately 40,000 tonnes per year of battery-grade lithium carbonate—supporting good-paying, high-quality jobs while helping ensure the United States can meet anticipated skyrocketing demand for the critical minerals necessary for the clean energy future. Today’s announcement reinforces the Biden-Harris Administration’s whole-of-government approach to building America’s clean transportation future, boosting America’s global manufacturing competitiveness, and securing reliable domestic critical minerals supply chains.  

Read more at: https://www.energy.gov/lpo/articles/doe-announces-226-billion-loan-lithium-americas-corp

#China metals firms see #US rules unlikely to upend supply chains

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Chinese firms producing and processing battery materials see new US rules aimed at limiting Beijing’s grip on the electric-vehicle industry as less stringent than feared, allowing them to preserve a key role in the global supply chain.

Washington’s move, which seeks to cut China out of US tax credits and curb the country’s control over joint ventures, created uncertainty at the end of last week, with questions swirling around the status of Chinese-owned battery-material operations outside the mainland, and over the impact on the wider car and battery industry.

Read more at: https://www.mining.com/web/china-metals-firms-see-us-rules-unlikely-to-upend-supply-chains/