[Standard Lithium and Telescope Innovations Collaborate to Produce Next-Generation Solid-State Battery Materials] Standard Lithium Ltd. announced that, as part of its collaboration with Telescope Innovations, it has successfully produced battery-grade lithium sulfide. As previously mentioned, Standard Lithium has been working with its R&D partner, Telescope Innovations, to develop new and innovative conversion technologies for manufacturing next-generation battery materials. This new conversion process has now been successfully applied to convert lithium hydroxide, produced by Standard Lithium at its demonstration plant in southern Arkansas, into battery-grade lithium sulfide (Li(2)S). Samples of lithium sulfide have been shipped to solid-state battery companies in Asia and North America for ongoing testing and validation purposes. Lithium sulfide is a critical raw material required for many next-generation solid-state battery chemistries. However, despite its importance in next-generation battery technologies, lithium sulfide can only be produced commercially in very small quantities and at very high costs. The technological collaboration between the two teams has resulted in a novel, low-temperature, patented process with the following advantages: Raw material flexibility – Both lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate are viable raw materials; Impurity tolerance – Allows the use of technical-grade raw materials; Lower processing temperature (<100 °C) – Reduces equipment complexity and operating costs; and Enhanced manufacturing safety – Avoids high-temperature conditions and associated thermal risks. Source: juniorminingnetwork.com [Bolivian Court Suspends Sino-Russian Lithium Deal] It has been reported that Bolivia's plans to become a major lithium producer have hit a snag after a local court ordered the suspension of two major mining deals worth over $2 billion signed last year. These contracts were signed in 2023 and 2024 with China's CBC consortium (which includes battery manufacturer CATL) and Uranium One Group, a subsidiary of Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom, respectively. The deals were aimed at establishing direct lithium extraction (DLE) facilities at the Salar de Uyuni in southwestern Bolivia. This salt flat, which holds one of the world's largest lithium reserves, is part of a larger lithium triangle shared with Chile and Argentina. Last week, a mixed court in the village of Colcha K, located in the Potosí region, issued the suspension order following legal complaints from indigenous groups who argued that the projects violated their environmental rights and were allowed to proceed without formal consultation. Neither project has yet received legislative approval, but preliminary activities have already commenced on-site, which local groups claim were carried out without proper authorization or environmental assessments. Bolivia's state-owned lithium company, Yacimientos de Litio Bolivianos (YLB), holds a 51% stake in both enterprises. Omar Alarcon, the head of YLB, stated at a press conference last year that the proposed plant is expected to produce 35,000 mt of lithium carbonate annually. According to the Argentine newspaper Infobae , the court ruling will prohibit YLB and the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Energy from taking any administrative or operational steps related to the contract until the judicial process is concluded. However, the Bolivian government insists that it has not yet officially received notification of the court ruling and maintains that the legislative process surrounding the contract will continue until official notification is received. Source: mining.com [Gabon Plans to Ban Manganese Ore Exports, Leading to a Decline in Eramet's Share Price] Eramet's shares plummeted on Monday after Gabon announced a ban on the export of unrefined manganese starting from 2029, which could disrupt the production of large-scale export-oriented steel raw materials by the French mining group in this West African country. The Gabon government announced the plan in a statement over the weekend, which comes as several African countries—including Guinea , with bauxite, Zimbabwe , with lithium, as well as Mali and Tanzania—are seeking to shift from raw material exports to local processing. Global demand for manganese, used in steel production and increasingly in EV batteries, has been growing. Eramet is the majority shareholder of Comilog, a Gabon-based manganese mining company whose Moanda mine is the largest in the world. In a statement, Eramet said it had taken note of the Gabon government's intention to ban the export of crude manganese starting from January 1, 2029, and would continue to cooperate with the authorities "in a spirit of constructive partnership and mutual respect." The group added that it is committed to safeguarding the 10,460 Gabon jobs maintained by Comilog and Setrag, Comilog's railway transport unit. Eramet's share price fell nearly 5.5% before recovering, ending the day down about 4% as of 0800 GMT. President Brice Oligui Nguema , who overthrew former President Ali Bongo in a coup in 2023 and was elected last month, is seeking to revive Gabon's beleaguered economy . This West African oil-exporting country holds some of the world's richest manganese deposits, primarily operated by Comilog and Chinese companies that export to China, Europe, and the US. Comilog, in which Gabon holds a minority stake, processes some manganese locally but primarily exports ore. In recent years, the Moanda mine and the Weda Bay nickel mine in Indonesia have driven Eramet's growth, while its historical nickel mining operations in New Caledonia have dried up due to losses and social unrest. In Indonesia, where nickel ore exports were previously banned to develop the local industry, Eramet signed a memorandum of understanding with sovereign fund Danatama last week to explore potential investments in nickel processing. Source: reuters.com [Rio Tinto revises costs for Serbian lithium project] Chad Blewitt, Managing Director of Rio Tinto's Jadar lithium mine, said on Wednesday that the company is revising the costs for its Serbian lithium project, which has been identified by the European Commission as one of 13 strategic new critical raw materials projects . The project has been questioned by environmental groups and many Serbs on environmental grounds and sparked massive street protests in 2022, leading to the government revoking all of Rio Tinto's exploration licenses. The Constitutional Court overturned this decision last year and restored the licenses. Rio Tinto is the only major mining company betting on lithium (used in EV batteries), accelerating its development pace through three new deals in the past six months: acquiring US-based Arcadium Lithium for $6.7 billion and two projects in Chile for over $1 billion. The lithium market has slumped as a wave of new supply overwhelms weaker-than-expected demand for EV batteries. While demand forecasts for the metal are more optimistic over the next decade, it will take years to know whether this bet will pay off. If implemented, Rio Tinto's Jadar project could meet 90% of Europe's current lithium demand. But protesters in Serbia have threatened to block highways and railways if the project proceeds. "Whatever happens next will involve multiple stages of review and public consultation," Blewitt said. "It (the project) will place Serbia at the forefront of the green and digital revolution." Source: reuters.com

According to the Mining Journal, Gabon will ban the export of manganese ore to enhance its value chain. Last weekend, the Gabon government announced that it would prohibit the export of manganese ore starting from January 1, 2029. Gabon is the world's second-largest exporter of manganese ore after South Africa. Manganese is primarily used in steel production as an alloy material for stainless steel. A small amount is used in aluminum production and agriculture, and a tiny fraction is used in battery production, where it can serve as a cathode substitute for cobalt. Policy Shift In response to the news, manganese producer Eramet stated on Monday that it would cooperate with the government on the basis of consultation, joint construction, and mutual respect. "This move is one of the government's measures to consolidate the industrial base," Eramet said. Currently, the Gabon government has committed to implementing industrial and economic policy reforms. Eramet operates a large manganese mine in Moanda through its joint venture, Comilog. "Eramet will continue to monitor this policy shift and will seek further opportunities for cooperation to contribute to Gabon's long-term economic development while maintaining the continuous operation of its mining and metals business," Eramet said. "In particular, Eramet aims to preserve the strategic position of Comilog and Setrag as internationally significant manganese suppliers to the global steel industry, as well as the 10,460 jobs they provide in Gabon." Local Processing Gabon is the latest country to restrict the export of raw materials to support local processing. In 2020, Indonesia banned the export of nickel ore, leading to a surge in the country's smelting capacity. Subsequently, Zimbabwe began banning the export of lithium ore, although this failed to bring about a domestic processing industry. Gabon does not have a domestic steel industry to absorb the manganese ore that cannot be exported, but it can enhance its value chain by focusing on the production of ferromanganese alloys. Its intermediate product is high-manganese ferroalloy, with a small amount used in stainless steel production.

【SMM Analysis: Reduced Manganese Ore Shipments, Future Price Trends】 As of this Wednesday, northern ports: Australian lump at 49-49.5 yuan/mtu; Australian fines at 41.5-42 yuan/mtu; South African semi-carbonate at 38-38.5 yuan/mtu; Gabonese ore at 47-49 yuan/mtu; South African high-iron ore at 30-30.5 yuan/mtu. Southern ports: Australian lump at 44.5-45 yuan/mtu; Australian fines at 42.5-43 yuan/mtu; South African semi-carbonate at 36.5-37 yuan/mtu; Gabonese ore at 44-46 yuan/mtu; South African high-iron ore at 29.5-30 yuan/mtu. According to market information, CML's manganese ore shipments from Australia may be delayed from February to March due to the impact of a cyclone. Currently, flooding in Australia has disrupted inland transportation, and local mines have suspended operations. Additionally, market sources indicate that Comilog's Gabonese manganese ore terminal will undergo maintenance from February to early March, which is expected to reduce manganese ore shipments in the future. In terms of supply, future manganese ore shipments are expected to decrease slightly. Furthermore, port manganese ore inventory remains relatively low, suggesting a relatively tight supply of manganese ore in the future. Coupled with concentrated manganese ore ownership at ports and limited market circulation, large miners exhibit a strong sentiment to stand firm on quotes. In terms of demand, downstream alloy plants continue to operate at low rates, showing cautious procurement of manganese ore and low acceptance of high-priced manganese oxide ore. Particularly in south China, alloy plants face high production costs due to expensive manganese ore, and previously idled alloy plants show weak willingness to resume production. Additionally, alloy plants had sufficient manganese ore stockpiling before the Chinese New Year, leading to weak procurement enthusiasm at present.

Comilog's Gabonese lump is quoted at $9/mtu in August.

SHANGHAI, Apr 6 (SMM) - Eramet Comilog has lowered its manganese ore offers to Chinese buyers for shipments in May, with details below.

SHANGHAI, Mar 7 (SMM) - Eramet Comilog has lowered manganese ore prices it offered to buyers in China for shipments in April.