The lithium mine Zijin Mining Group Co. plans to open this year in the Democratic Republic of Congo is set to be one of the world’s biggest suppliers of the battery metal.The Chinese company – which has grown at breakneck speed to become a top producer of copper and gold – has been developing the Manono lithium project in southeastern Congo since it secured the prized deposit in 2023.

Rio Tinto expects Resolution Copper mine to open by mid-2030s, may export some concentrate HOUSTON, March 24 (Reuters) – Rio Tinto aims to bring its Resolution Copper project in Arizona online by the mid-2030s, but may need to export some copper concentrate due to challenging economics for smelting in the U.S., a senior executive said on Tuesday. The mining giant recently gained control of key acreage for the project after a lengthy court battle.

SMM Morning Meeting Summary: Overnight, LME copper opened at $12,016.5/mt. After dipping to $11,955.5/mt in early trading, its center rose sharply to a high of $12,160/mt, and then continued to hover at highs, finally closing at $12,092.5/mt, down 1.05%. Trading volume reached 23,000 lots, open interest stood at 293,000 lots, up 406 lots from the previous trading day, mainly reflecting increased short positions overall. Overnight, the most-traded SHFE copper 2605 contract opened at 93,600 yuan/mt and touched a low of 93,480 yuan/mt at the open. Its center then moved higher to a high of 94,990 yuan/mt, after which copper prices maintained a fluctuating trend at highs, finally closing at 94,670 yuan/mt, up 0.17%. Trading volume reached 51,000 lots, open interest stood at 198,000 lots, down 533 lots from the previous trading day, mainly reflecting reduced short positions throughout the day.

[SMM Daily Brief Review of Coking Coal and Coke] In terms of supply, with costs remaining high, most coke producers saw wider losses and began to push for a coke price hike, but losses remained within an acceptable range, and coke production stayed stable. On the demand side, steel trading improved somewhat, steel mills became more willing to produce, and daily average hot metal production continued to increase, further boosting rigid demand for coke. Overall, coke fundamentals shifted toward tightness, but steel mills showed only average acceptance of higher coke prices, and the coke market may remain generally stable with slight rise in the short term.

Australia's Atlantic Lithium has obtained approval from Ghana's parliament to develop the Ewoyaa project—the country's first lithium mine—and will be subject to revised royalty terms linked to market prices.

[China Iron Ore Brief Review: Iron Ore in Shandong May Continue to Edge Higher] This week, at mines and beneficiation plants in Shandong, the ex-mine quote for 64 grade alkaline fines on a dry basis, before tax and settled by bank acceptance, was 899, up 17 yuan/mt. Steelmakers raised prices in tandem, most miners maintained normal production, and some mines slightly increased output. Steel mills showed moderate willingness to purchase, mainly under long-term contracts, while shipments from small plants and traders were also relatively good, with overall transactions improving; after a large mine in Zaozhuang resumed production