EcoPro Group announced on July 1 that it will participate as a major shareholder in the BNSI smelter construction project within the International Green Industrial Park (IGIP), marking the second phase of its Indonesian nickel smelter investment. The project will have a nickel capacity of 90,000 mt, enough to supply batteries for around 2 million electric vehicles.

On July 1, two mandatory national standards—"Safety Requirements for Traction Batteries of Electric Vehicles" (GB 38031-2025) and "Safety Requirements for Electric Vehicles" (GB 18384-2025)—will officially come into force. This marks the first time in China's new energy vehicle sector that both battery‑specific and vehicle‑level core safety standards take effect on the same day. The new battery standard establishes "no fire, no explosion" as a mandatory requirement, replacing the previous technical threshold of "providing an alarm signal 5 minutes before fire or explosion." The updated standard also adds tests including bottom impact testing and safety testing after fast‑charging cycles. The vehicle standard requires the installation of an independent physical one‑button emergency power‑off device. The two standards will be implemented in phases: all newly applied vehicle models submitted after July 1 must fully comply with the new rules, while models already approved and on sale are granted a one‑year transition period until full compliance is required by July 2027. Industry players across the supply chain have already entered the final stages of certification review and production‑line retrofitting.

The South Korean government has begun work to establish a system that officially certifies the value of key minerals extracted from waste batteries, such as lithium and nickel, as recycled raw materials. The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment announced on June 25 that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for a pilot project on the battery recycled raw material production certification system at the President Hotel in Seoul, with six waste battery recycling companies and the Korea Environment Corporation participating. Through the pilot project, the government plans to verify the certification method in actual production processes before fully implementing the system in May next year. The battery recycled raw material production certification system is a scheme under which the government officially confirms that key battery materials, such as lithium, nickel and cobalt, produced by recycling waste batteries recovered from electric vehicles and other sources are recycled raw materials derived from waste resources. The certification will cover eight types of materials: lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide, nickel sulfate, cobalt sulfate, manganese sulfate, graphite, mixed metal precipitate and cathode active materials.

Eldorado Gold announced that its McIlvenna Bay underground copper and zinc project in Saskatchewan, Canada, achieved a major milestone by producing its first copper concentrate in June 2026. The site team is now focused on ramping up operations toward commercial production, which is anticipated in Q3 2026 with a nameplate processing capacity of 4,900 tonnes per day. As of June 2026, the volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) deposit hosts mineral reserves of 29.7 million tonnes, grading a significant 2.17% zinc and 1.21% copper, along with 0.44g/t gold and 14.4g/t silver. Once fully operational, the 18-year mine is projected to produce an average of 54 million lbs of zinc, 41 million lbs of copper, 20,000 oz of gold, and 444,000 oz of silver annually. Eldorado acquired the project via its C$3.8 billion acquisition of Foran Mining in April 2026. The modern underground operation utilizes battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) and conventional flotation circuits to produce separate premium copper and zinc concentrates for toll smelters.

SNEC 20th (2027) International Solar PV and Smart Energy & Energy Storage and Battery (Shanghai) Conference and Exhibition SNEC 20th (2027) International Photovoltaic Power Generation and Smart Energy Conference & Exhibition 2027 6 2-4 National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), China Songze Avenue, Qingpu District, Shanghai 333 Multi-Energy Complementarity and Integrated Development of PV, Energy Storage, and Hydrogen Pre- face: Co-organized by 25 international institutions and organizations including the Asian Photovoltaic Industry Association (APVIA), the Chinese Renewable Energy Society (CRES), the Renewable Energy Professional Committee of the China Association of Circular Economy (CREIA), the Shanghai Federation of Economic Organizations (SFEO), the Shanghai Science and Technology Exchange Center (SSTEC), and the Shanghai New Energy Industry Association (SNEIA), the “SNEC 20th (2027) International Solar PV and Smart Energy & Energy Storage and Battery (Shanghai) Conference and Exhibition” (hereinafter referred to as the “SNEC PV Conference and (Shanghai) Exhibition”) is scheduled to be grandly held in Shanghai, China, from June 2-4, 2027. The “SNEC PV Conference and (Shanghai) Exhibition” has grown from 15,000 m² at its first edition in 2007 to 360,000+ m² in 2026, attracting more than 2,800 enterprises from 95 countries and regions worldwide, with international exhibitors accounting for 30%, and has become the most influential international, professional, and large-scale PV event in China, Asia, and the world. The SNEC PV Exhibition is the world’s most professional PV exhibition, featuring exhibits including PV production equipment, materials, solar cells, PV application products and modules, as well as PV projects and systems, energy storage, mobile energy, and more, covering every segment of the PV industry chain. The SNEC PV Forum also offers an exceptionally rich and diverse range of formats, covering analysis of future market trends in the PV industry, strategies for cooperative development, policy directions of various countries, the industry’s most cutting-edge technologies, PV finance, and more, making it the best opportunity to showcase achievements to the industry. We look forward to gathering with relevant industry players from around the world in Shanghai, China, to take an industry-wide, problem-oriented perspective, jointly assess the solar PV power generation markets in China, Asia, and the world, and together lead the path of innovative development for the industry. May we meet in Shanghai in June 2026! Schedule: Move-in: May 30, 2027 13:30-18:00 May 31, 2027 & June 1, 2027 9:00-20:00 Exhibition: June 2-3, 2027 09:00-17:00 June 4 09:00-14:00 Move-out: June 4, 2027 14:00-24:00 Organizing Institutions: Approving Authority Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce Lead Organizers Asian Photovoltaic Industry Association (APVIA) Chinese Renewable Energy Society (CRES) Renewable Energy Professional Committee of the China Energy Research Society Shanghai Federation of Industrial Economics (SFIE) Shanghai Science and Technology Exchange Center (SSTEC) Shanghai New Energy Industry Association (SNEIA) Co-organizers Global Green Energy Industry Council (GGEIC) Asia-Pacific New Energy Industry Association (NEIAAP) China Electric Power Construction Enterprise Association (CEPCA) Photovoltaic Professional Committee of the Chinese Renewable Energy Society (CPVS) Renewable Energy Professional Committee of the China Association of Circular Economy (CREIA) Supporter Solar PV Products Sub-Council of China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME) Exhibition Organizers Shanghai Follow Me Technology Co., Ltd. Shanghai Solarun Exhibition Service Co., Ltd. Follow Me Int'l Exhibition USA Inc. Follow me International Exhibition Co., Ltd. Exhibit Scope (Exhibit Categories): Solar PV A. PV Production Equipment: Silicon rod, silicon lumps, and silicon ingot production equipment: complete production lines, casting ingot furnaces, crucibles, growth furnaces, and other related equipment Silicon wafer and wafer production equipment: complete production lines, cutting equipment, cleaning equipment, detection equipment, and other related equipment Battery production equipment: Complete production lines, etching equipment, cleaning equipment, diffusion furnaces, coating equipment/deposition furnaces, screen printing machines, other furnace equipment, testers and sorters, other related equipment Panel/Module production equipment: Complete production lines, testing equipment, glass cleaning equipment, tabbing/welding equipment, lamination equipment, etc. Thin-film panel production equipment: Amorphous silicon cells, CIS/CIGS cells, CdTe thin-film cells, DSSC dye-sensitized cells production technology and research equipment B. Solar Cells: Solar cell producers, module producers, module installers, agents, dealers and distributors, concentrator cells, etc. C. PV-Related Parts: Batteries, chargers, controllers, converters, recorders, inverters, monitors, mounting systems, tracking systems, solar cables, etc. D. PV Raw Materials: Polysilicon, silicon ingots/silicon lumps, silicon wafers, encapsulation glass, encapsulation film, other raw materials E. PV Application Products: Lighting products, power supply systems, portable chargers, water pumps, solar household products and other solar products F. PV Engineering and Systems: PV system integration, solar air conditioning systems, rural PV power generation systems, solar detection and control systems, solar heating system engineering, PV engineering process control, engineering management and software development systems G. System Construction Equipment and Safety Protection: Electrical construction equipment, construction vehicles, engineering machinery, maintenance tools, aerial work platforms/vehicles, scaffolding, electrical safety tools, personal protective equipment H. Others Solar Energy and Green Building: A. Solar Thermal Utilization: Solar central hot water systems, household solar water heaters, solar heat pump water heaters, solar thermal collection systems, solar heating systems, integrated solar thermal and PV products, solar water heater manufacturing equipment, solar water heater raw materials and accessories B. Solar PV and Solar Thermal Power Generation: Grid-connected PV power generation systems, off-grid PV power generation systems, PV-wind hybrid power generation systems, PV transmission and distribution equipment, PV modules and components and equipment, parabolic trough systems, tower systems, dish systems, heat collection tubes, thermal storage equipment and materials, heat exchange technology and products, high-temperature heat transfer technology and products, system control C. Solar Cooling Systems and Equipment: Solar cooling products and systems, air-source products, solar central air conditioning, ground-source heat pump air conditioning D. Solar Lighting and Building Materials: Solar lawn lights, garden lights, solar street lights and other photovoltaic lighting products, solar PV glass, solar roof modules, integrated building-integrated PV (BIPV) solutions, etc. E. LED Technology and Products: LED lighting, LED application products, display products/digital signage, parts, modules, kits, etc. F. Solar Accessories: Solar complementary automatic control devices and instruments, solar pipes and fittings, solar control systems, solar heat pipes, evacuated tube collectors, flat plate collectors, manifold headers, insulation materials, hot and cold water pumps, mounting structures, PV equipment accessories, batteries, and related production equipment and accessory materials International Energy Storage Technology and Smart Grid A. Energy Storage Technology, Equipment and Materials: Compressed air energy storage, pumped hydro storage, superconducting magnetic energy storage, flywheel energy storage, thermal/cold storage, hydrogen storage and other energy storage technologies, equipment and materials applicable to plug-in electric vehicles; various types of batteries (nickel–metal hydride batteries, lithium-ion batteries, lithium polymer batteries, lead-acid batteries, smart batteries, sodium-sulfur batteries), energy storage power supplies, supercapacitors, regenerative fuel cells, flow batteries and other technologies, equipment and materials B. Energy Storage Power Stations and EPC Projects: BMS battery management systems, PCS energy storage inverters, microgrids, EV charging and battery swapping stations and related supporting facilities C. New Energy Generation Grid Connection and Smart Transmission and Distribution: Grid-tie inverters, lightweight DC equipment, operation monitoring devices, grid-connection control systems, flexible transmission equipment, ultra-high voltage transmission equipment, high-temperature superconducting equipment, high-temperature superconducting cables, distribution automation systems and protection devices, intelligent switchgear, transformers, instrument transformers, smart components, digital substations, substation integrated automation, distribution network automation devices, online monitoring of transmission and distribution, fault diagnosis and self-healing devices, power quality monitoring, harmonic control and reactive power compensation, superconducting electrical technology, various new types of wires and cables, composite materials, safety protection D. Grid Dispatching and Automation Control: Smart grid dispatching system, integrated dispatching data platform system, grid security and control, intelligent inspection system, integrated measurement, control, protection and arc suppression line selection system, security and stability control system solutions, electric energy monitoring system and microcomputer-based relay protection, wide-area dynamic monitoring system, online grid stability monitoring system, intelligent reactive power compensation devices for distribution networks, control software, remote control and telemetry devices, large-screen display systems, power system simulation E. Smart Metering and Electricity Consumption Management: Smart meters and chips, remote/centralized meter reading systems, electricity consumption information collection systems, electricity consumption management information systems, load management terminals, monitoring systems, testing devices, metering cabinets and components, measuring instruments, sensors, semiconductors F. Smart Grid Information and Communication: IoT technology, cloud computing technology, multi-network convergence technology, transmission technology and equipment, access equipment, optical fiber cables, industrial Ethernet, data communication and network technology and related products, in-plant communication equipment, power line carrier devices, supporting equipment and instruments, digital microwave communication equipment, testing equipment and instruments, online network monitoring equipment G. Others International New Energy Vehicles and Charging Piles A. New Energy Vehicles (Passenger Vehicles / Commercial Vehicles): Electric buses and trucks, electric cars, electric sightseeing vehicles, electric golf carts, electric cleaning vehicles, hybrid buses and cars, solar EVs, light-duty EVs, hybrid vehicles (micro hybrid, mild hybrid, full hybrid, plug-in hybrid), pure electric vehicles, fuel cell vehicles, hydrogen, natural gas and other new energy clean fuels, hybrid vehicles and various low-emission, environmentally friendly and energy-saving vehicles; B. Powertrain and Drive Systems: Power batteries, battery management systems, fuel cells, hybrid systems, drive motors, electric control systems, engines, testing and repair equipment, relevant testing, monitoring and protection instruments, related technologies; C. Key Parts for New Energy Vehicles: Power capacitors, supercapacitors, flywheels, inverters, electric heat pumps, electric power steering, electric air conditioning, tires, wiring connections, electromagnetic technology, related materials; coatings, gearboxes, filters, carburetors, exhaust systems; axles, steering, braking, suspension systems; auto body accessories; motors and electrical appliances, electronic devices, electrical systems, circuits, wheel hubs, tires, etc.; D. Automotive Design: Complete vehicle design, system control design, etc. E. Charging Facilities: Charging stations, charging piles; smart network project planning and achievement display for charging stations, expansion of gas stations into charging (battery swapping) stations, display of integrated fueling and charging service stations, solar and wind energy complementary new energy vehicle charging station technology and products, charging station power distribution equipment, chargers, power monitoring systems, active power filters, transformers, distribution cabinets, cables, direct charging equipment, management auxiliary equipment, charging and swapping batteries and battery management systems, parking lot charging facilities, intelligent monitoring, charging station power supply solutions F. Others Exhibition Fees: Standard Booth (Premium, 3m x 3m ): Domestic enterprises: RMB 23,800/unit; Foreign-invested enterprises: US$4,900/unit Basic configuration: one information desk, two folding chairs, one wastepaper basket, one 220V/500W power socket, two spotlights, bilingual (Chinese and English) header board, and carpet within the booth. Indoor Bare Space (minimum 36 m²): Domestic enterprises: RMB 2,380/m 2 Foreign-invested enterprises: US$490/m 2 Notes for Exhibitors: 1. After confirming participation, exhibitors should complete the exhibition application form, affix their official seal, and fax or mail it to the organizing committee; 2. Upon receiving booth reservation fees, the organizing committee will allocate booths according to the principle of "first application, first payment, first allocation"; 3. Payment terms for exhibition fees: (1) The above exhibition fees do not include "construction deposit", "construction management fee", "facility rental fee", etc.; (2) Exhibitors who have signed contracts shall remit the deposit to the organizing committee's account within ten working days from the date of signing the contract, and fax the remittance voucher to the committee for verification; (3) The remaining exhibition fees must be remitted to the account designated by the organizing committee before December 31, 2026; 4. The order of advertisements in the conference booklet is based on the sequence of receiving advertising fees, with a deadline for inclusion of March 31, 2027; 5. The organizing committee will send the Exhibitor Manual to exhibitors in April 2027. Welcome to Inquire: Shanghai Fulimi Technology Co., Ltd. SNEC 20th (2027) International Solar PV & Smart Energy & Energy Storage & Battery (Shanghai) Conference & Exhibition Contact: Manager Wei Tel: +86-13817218765 (same as WeChat) E-mail: weiwei@snec.org.cn

In June 2026, the hydrogen energy transportation equipment sector in the Xixian New Area saw new progress. A Skyworth-brand hydrogen fuel cell low-floor city bus, with its hydrogen core power system independently developed by resident enterprise Shengshi Yingchuang Hydrogen Energy Technology (Shaanxi) Co., Ltd. and equipped with its hydrogen fuel cell system, recently rolled off the production line. This model has been included in the 389th batch of the "Announcement of Road Motor Vehicle Manufacturers and Their Products" by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, laying a foundation for commercial operation. With the roll-off, Xixian New Area has added new support for the demonstration application of hydrogen fuel cell buses and the green transformation of urban transportation. It is understood that the hydrogen core power system of this city bus was entirely led and developed by Shengshi Yingchuang. The vehicle is equipped with the company's independently developed 90 kW hydrogen fuel cell system , and a Type IV high-end on-board hydrogen supply system jointly created with Beijing Tianhai. Compared with traditional battery electric buses, hydrogen fuel cell buses offer differentiated advantages in refueling efficiency, low-temperature adaptability, and long driving range operation, making them more suitable for the high-frequency, long-duration operational demands of bus routes. A relevant person in charge of Shengshi Yingchuang stated that the vehicle's power system features independent controllability, strong adaptability, and stable operation, which can improve vehicle operational efficiency while ensuring safety. The vehicle's combined driving range reaches 550 km , and with its fast hydrogen refueling capability, it can alleviate issues such as driving range decay and long refueling times that battery electric buses face in low winter temperatures, offering strong adaptability to the climatic conditions of north-west China and urban public transportation scenarios. Hydrogen energy is regarded as an important direction for green and low-carbon transition. The "Medium and Long-Term Plan for the Development of the Hydrogen Energy Industry (2021–2035)" issued by the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration proposes to orderly promote demonstration applications in the transportation sector, focus on promoting the application of medium and heavy-duty hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and gradually form a complementary development pattern of fuel cell electric vehicles and lithium battery electric vehicles. In the Xixian New Area, the hydrogen energy industry chain is accelerating its agglomeration. At present, the new area has attracted over a hundred hydrogen energy upstream and downstream enterprises such as Xushun Times and Shengshi Yingchuang, covering fields including PV electrolysis hydrogen production, liquid and solid-state hydrogen storage, fuel cell manufacturing, hydrogen refueling station construction, and the R&D and production of hydrogen commercial vehicles. The number of related enterprises has accounted for more than one-third of the total number of hydrogen energy enterprises in Shaanxi Province and nearly 70% of similar enterprises in Xi'an, preliminarily forming an **integrated industry ecosystem of "R&D breakthroughs, equipment manufacturing, and demonstration applications."** Going forward, Xixian New Area will continue to expand the integrated application of hydrogen energy in transportation, energy, industry, and other fields, deepen industry-university-research collaborative innovation, improve industrial supporting facilities and enterprise service systems, and attract more high-growth enterprises for cluster development. As demonstration scenarios continue to expand, the hydrogen energy industry is expected to become a significant growth point for the new area's green and low-carbon transition and high-quality development.