Articles tagged with "critical-minerals"
US, India, Japan, Australia unite to cut China’s mineral dominance
The United States, India, Japan, and Australia, collectively known as the Quad, have launched the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative aimed at reducing global dependence on China for critical minerals essential to modern technologies like electric vehicles, batteries, and semiconductors. The initiative seeks to secure and diversify supply chains amid concerns over China’s dominant position in key minerals, particularly graphite, which is vital for electric vehicle batteries. The announcement coincides with a Quad foreign ministers’ meeting in Washington hosted by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, signaling a strategic pivot toward Asia by the U.S. administration and emphasizing the need for supply chain diversification to counter economic coercion and supply disruptions. While the Quad’s joint statement did not explicitly name China, it expressed serious concerns about provocative actions in the South and East China Seas that threaten regional peace and stability, underscoring the group’s commitment to a “free and open Indo-Pacific.” Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar stressed the importance of regional autonomy and freedom
critical-mineralssupply-chain-diversificationelectric-vehicle-batteriesQuad-alliancematerials-securityenergy-materialssemiconductor-materialsRussia captures Europe’s richest lithium site spanning 100 acres
Russian forces have seized control of a significant lithium-rich site near the village of Shevchenko in Ukraine’s Donetsk region. Spanning about 100 acres, this site is among Europe’s largest lithium reserves, a mineral critical for electric vehicle batteries, aerospace alloys, energy storage, and electronics. Despite the village’s limited tactical value, the subsurface lithium resources hold growing strategic importance amid rising global demand driven by decarbonization and military modernization. The capture strengthens Russia’s hold over Ukraine’s natural resources and fits a broader pattern of targeting key industrial assets to undermine Ukraine’s economic recovery and future investment prospects. The seizure directly challenges a recent US-Ukraine bilateral agreement aimed at fostering investment in Ukraine’s critical mineral sector, including the Shevchenko deposit. This move complicates Western efforts to develop resilient, non-Chinese supply chains for battery-grade lithium and other essential minerals, which are vital for energy transition, defense manufacturing, and economic stability. By controlling this resource corridor, Russia enhances its
lithiumenergy-storageelectric-vehicle-batteriescritical-mineralsresource-controlindustrial-supply-chainsenergy-materialsClean recycling breakthrough turns dead batteries into power for US
The article highlights a significant breakthrough by the US startup Nth Cycle, which has developed an innovative, environmentally friendly method to refine critical industrial metals from battery scrap and electronic waste. Currently, about 85% of global refining of essential minerals like cobalt, nickel, lithium, and rare Earth elements occurs in China, creating a strategic vulnerability for the US in producing electric vehicle batteries, defense equipment, and other advanced technologies. Nth Cycle’s modular, electrically powered refining platform called “The Oyster” uses electro-extraction—a process that replaces traditional high-heat, chemical-intensive refining with electricity and filtration—enabling smaller-scale, localized, and low-emission metal recovery operations across the US and Europe. Nth Cycle’s first commercial unit in Fairfield, Ohio, processes over 3,000 metric tons of scrap annually, producing cobalt and nickel while reducing reliance on foreign refining. The company’s approach, described as “refining as a service,” allows customers to maintain ownership of recovered metals while Nth Cycle operates
energybattery-recyclingcritical-mineralselectro-extractionsustainable-refiningcobalt-recoverynickel-recoveryUS: World-first lithium plant uses oilfield water with 97% recovery
A US company, Gradiant, through its lithium-focused subsidiary alkaLi, has launched the world’s first fully integrated lithium production facility that extracts lithium from oilfield produced water in Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale Formation. Expected to begin commercial operations by early 2026, this facility uses an innovative extract, concentrate, and convert (EC²) process that achieves up to 97% lithium recovery and 99.5% purity, surpassing industry standards. The plant is designed to supply up to 50% of the US lithium demand, addressing the growing need for domestic lithium amid rising electric vehicle and energy storage markets. AlkaLi’s vertically integrated model bypasses lengthy permitting processes, enabling faster deployment of battery-grade lithium production with lower capital and operating costs. The EC² platform combines Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) with concentration and conversion in a streamlined system that uses less water, energy, and produces less waste, enhancing both economic and environmental sustainability. The company has secured a
lithium-productionenergy-storagebattery-grade-lithiumsustainable-miningcritical-mineralselectric-vehiclesresource-recoveryIn a 1st, China pulls 99.9% ultra-pure rubidium from salt lake brine
Chinese scientists at the Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes (ISL), part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, have developed a novel method to extract ultra-pure rubidium chloride (99.9% purity) from brine containing extremely low rubidium concentrations (0.001%). This breakthrough enables China to tap into its abundant but previously commercially unviable rubidium resources found primarily in salt lake brines of Qinghai province and Tibet. The new process involves a comprehensive approach including ore washing, leaching, enrichment, solvent extraction, and purification, and was successfully tested on potassium chloride from the Qarhan Salt Lake. This advancement significantly reduces China’s reliance on foreign rubidium imports, which currently stand at over 66%, mainly from Canada and Zimbabwe. Rubidium is a strategically important alkali metal used in atomic clocks, aerospace systems, perovskite solar cells, specialized glass, and medical imaging. China’s previous challenge was that over 97% of its rubidium reserves are locked in
materialsrubidium-extractioncritical-mineralsultra-pure-metalsChina-technologystrategic-metalsresource-securityOntario budget sees some wins for the clean economy but misses opportunities for long-term affordability and economic security - Clean Energy Canada
The Ontario 2025 budget includes strategic investments aimed at preparing the province’s economy for the future, with some notable wins for the clean economy. Clean Energy Canada welcomed the $92 million boost to the ChargeON program, which supports the expansion of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure, having already facilitated over 1,300 charge points. This investment is seen as crucial for promoting EV adoption, reducing reliance on imported gasoline, and enhancing energy security by using locally generated electricity. However, the organization urged the government to extend support for EV chargers in multi-unit residential buildings to ensure equitable access to convenient home charging for all Ontarians. Additionally, the budget allocates $500 million to a critical minerals processing fund, aiming to refine minerals mined in Ontario locally. This move leverages Canada’s rich mineral resources to strengthen the EV battery supply chain, attract investment, and increase competitiveness on the global stage, particularly against countries like China. The budget also includes $50 million for the Ontario Together Trade Fund to boost interprovincial trade infrastructure, supporting the vision of a unified Canadian economy. Despite these positive steps, Clean Energy Canada expressed concern over proposed changes in Bill 17 that could undermine municipal authority on Green Development Standards, potentially compromising energy efficiency and long-term affordability in housing development. Overall, while the budget takes important steps toward economic growth, supply chain resilience, and clean energy leadership, Clean Energy Canada emphasizes the need for more comprehensive support for clean growth sectors and stronger provincial standards to ensure sustainable, affordable development. Thoughtful implementation of these initiatives is deemed essential to protect households, support workers, and secure Ontario’s economic future.
energyclean-energyelectric-vehiclesEV-charging-infrastructurecritical-mineralsbattery-supply-chainenergy-efficiencyTrump administration to claw back $3.7B in clean energy and manufacturing awards
energyclean-energymanufacturinglow-carbon-materialscritical-mineralscement-productionnatural-gasTrump administration may sell deep-sea mining leases at startup’s urging
robotdeep-sea-miningautonomous-vehiclescritical-mineralsenvironmental-impactunderwater-technologyresource-extractionCritical Minerals Bottleneck Unblocked By Weed (Seaweed, That Is)
critical-mineralsseaweedphytominingrare-earth-elementssustainable-energymarine-resourcesindustrial-farmingThe Geopolitics Of Critical Minerals: China’s Grip & The West’s Response
energycritical-mineralsdecarbonizationrenewable-energyindustrial-policiesgreen-hydrogenbattery-technologies