The global manganese market is set to experience significant growth, driven by China’s reviving construction sector and supply disruptions following Tropical Cyclone Megan’s damage to South32’s GEMCO mine in Australia. Modor Intelligence reports that the global manganese market is expected to reach US$29.83 billion by 2028, up from US$24.45 billion in 2021. This is a…
Mercedes-Benz has announced a ground-breaking battery recycling facility in Kuppenheim, Germany, pioneering a closed-loop circular economy with a remarkable 96% recovery rate, according to the company in a statement released on Monday. With an annual capacity of 2,500 tonnes, the plant will recover materials to produce over 50,000 battery modules, significantly reducing waste and promoting…
Despite a decade of expansion in production and exploration, metal supply remains inadequate to meet soaring demand, BNEF’s Transition Metals Outlook 2024 reports. This supply crunch poses a risk towards the adoption of clean energy technologies. The report highlights that critical energy transition metals, including aluminium, copper, and lithium, may experience supply deficits within this…
Rio Tinto has agreed to buy U.S.-based Arcadium Lithium for $6.7 billion, it said this week, in a deal that will catapult it to become the world’s third largest miner of the metal used in electric vehicle batteries, according to Reuters. The demand for lithium, driven by electric vehicle (EV) batteries and renewable energy storage,…
Rio Tinto has officially confirmed its approach to Arcadium Lithium regarding a potential acquisition of the company. This announcement follows recent market speculation about the takeover. In a statement, the world’s second-largest mining firm stated that “The approach is non-binding and there is no certainty that any transaction will be agreed to or will proceed”. However, Arcadium,…
Sinomine Resource Group, a Chinese state-owned mining conglomerate, is aggressively expanding its presence in Southern Africa through strategic investments in critical minerals, including copper, lithium, and platinum. In a significant move, Sinomine committed $500 million to develop a lithium refinery in Zimbabwe over the next three to five years. Building on this momentum, the company…
In May 2024, just weeks before the pivotal elections that led to the establishment of the Government of National Unity, President Cyril Ramaphosa highlighted the achievements of South Africa’s automotive sector in his weekly column. He noted that the industry celebrated a significant milestone with the production of its six millionth vehicle, alongside reaching an…
Australia’s copper explorer Cobre Ltd has secured significant backing and endorsement from global mining giant BHP for its copper and silver potential in Botswana’s Kalahari Copper Belt (KCB). The two companies have executed a letter of intent (LoI) to form a joint venture (JV) focused on exploring copper and silver resources, specifically at Cobre’s Kitlanya West and East projects. The JV follows Cobre’s…
Riding on the success of South Africa’s GNU and the tailwinds of his successful mission to China, President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU) that the new wave of energy transition minerals, referred to as critical minerals, will not be allowed to take the colonial patterns where raw ore was exported…
South Africa’s Pivot to China: A Defining Feature of President Ramaphosa’s Legacy There is growing consensus amongst political economy observers that China-South Africa relations could define President Cyril Ramaphosa’s economic legacy. Building on the massively successful state visit ahead of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), President Ramaphosa’s delegations crafted multiple bilateral trade agreements with…
