As global focus on sustainable development intensifies, the recycling and reuse of metal resources can effectively reduce waste, alleviate environmental pollution, and drive the green transformation of the economy. With deeper global integration in the secondary metals industry, international scrap yards and traders are playing an increasingly vital role.

Sigma Lithium announced the delivery of 150,000 tonnes of high-purity lithium fines (with 1% lithium oxide) at the Port of Vitoria, Brazil, at a price of US$140 per tonne, with an additional 350,000 tonnes available for optional sale at market prices. The company stated that the successful commercialization of this low-grade lithium fines is enabled by the Greentech Plant’s dense media separation technology, allowing customers to recover over 60% through reprocessing into high-grade lithium concentrate (lithium oxide content above 4%). In addition, Sigma Lithium has resumed production of high-grade lithium concentrate, triggering prepayments under a US$96 million production-backed revolving facility, secured by 70,500 tonnes of high-grade lithium concentrate to be supplied in 2026.

[West Africa's First Lithium Mine Awaits Approval, Ghana Seeks Better Deal] Experts stated that Ghana hopes to benefit from the lithium resource race, but its reliance on miners' revenue and expertise weakens its ability to negotiate favorable terms. After civil society groups urged Ghanaian lawmakers to take more measures to ensure the project benefits the nation and supports green development, Ghana's legislators are weighing whether to approve one of Africa's largest lithium mines. Ghana granted Australian miner Atlantic Lithium a lease to develop the country's first lithium mine, aiming to capitalize on the silver metal boom driven by EVs, as the metal is used in EV batteries and other clean technology products. However, in December, while the agreement awaited parliamentary approval, Ghanaian activists and analysts warned that the terms might disadvantage the West African nation as it seeks to benefit from the battery minerals race, prompting the government to subsequently withdraw the agreement. Source: https://www.climatechangenews.com/ [Zimbabwe's Lithium Exports Transform as Local Processing Infrastructure Develops] Zimbabwe's lithium sector infrastructure development model shows that systematic capacity building is being achieved through substantial capital investment. Huayou Cobalt's processing facility investment reached $400 million, with a target annual capacity of 50,000 to 60,000 mt, expected to be commissioned in early 2026. Similarly, Zhongkuang Group's Bikita operation involves a $500 million investment in processing infrastructure, but the commissioning time remains pending final technical debugging stages. These investments reflect a strategy of deploying processing technology, focusing on developing sulphate production capacity rather than the traditional concentrate export model. Technical infrastructure specifications include advanced chemical treatment systems capable of converting spodumene concentrates into battery-grade lithium compounds through controlled precipitation and purification processes. Furthermore, these advancements align with the region's broader critical minerals strategic initiatives. Source: https://discoveryalert.com.au/ [Causes of Lithium Metal Battery Failure and the Key Role of Mechanical Mechanisms] With the rapid development of emerging applications such as EVs, grid-level ESS, and electric aviation, demand for high-capacity energy storage is accelerating. Lithium metal is considered an ideal anode material due to its extremely high theoretical capacity and low electrochemical potential. However, during repeated charge-discharge cycles, lithium is prone to uneven deposition, forming dendrites, inert "dead lithium," and unstable interface layers. These phenomena can trigger safety hazards, reduce efficiency, and shorten battery lifespan. Traditional approaches focusing solely on electrolyte chemistry or electrochemical kinetics have proven insufficient. Given these challenges, it is necessary to conduct in-depth research on regulating the electro-chemo-mechanical coupling processes of lithium metal anodes. Researchers from Chalmers University of Technology, Kunming University of Technology, and the Wallenberg Wood Science Center published relevant perspectives in *eScience* in December 2025. The study provides a comprehensive comment on lithium metal anode behavior by modeling the lithium deposition/stripping process as an electro-chemo-mechanical coupling process. The work covers liquid and solid-state battery systems, systematically analyzing how electrochemical reactions, mechanical stress, and interfacial chemistry collectively determine lithium's morphology, stability, and failure mechanisms. The research indicates that lithium metal deposition begins with ion desolvation and nucleation, followed by a growth process significantly influenced by current density, overpotential, temperature, pressure, and substrate properties. Low overpotential and controlled current density favor lateral growth of lithium, forming dense moss-like structures that are more reversible during cycling. In contrast, high overpotential promotes vertical growth and dendrite formation. Source: https://www.newswise.com/ [India's Lithium-Ion Battery Recycling and Second-Life Application Facilities Are Revolutionizing the Energy Storage Landscape] India's emerging infrastructure for lithium-ion battery recycling and second-life application facilities represents a strategic integration of environmental needs, resource security, and economic opportunities in the world's fastest-growing clean energy market. This breakthrough in battery recycling addresses the dual challenge of managing increasing battery waste while maximizing material value through systematic recycling and reuse processes. Industrial facilities with integrated recycling and second-life application capabilities are becoming key components of sustainable energy supply chains. Furthermore, these operations are creating unprecedented demand for advanced energy storage systems, fundamentally reshaping how the industry approaches the management of retired batteries. Source: https://discoveryalert.com.au/ [Sigma Lithium Resumes Mining Operations at Mine No. 1, On-Site Employee Count Exceeds 600] Global lithium producer Sigma Lithium announced the successful resumption of mining operations at its Mine No. 1 located in Brazil's Jequitinhonha Valley region. The company focuses on supplying responsibly sourced raw materials for the new generation of EV batteries. The restart proceeded as planned, marking a significant operational milestone following the comprehensive restructuring completed in Q4 2025. The resumption of mining activities signifies the completion of a full overhaul of Sigma Lithium's mining business, which was entirely guided and managed by the company's internal technical leadership team. During the restructuring process, close coordination was maintained with specialized subcontractors responsible for providing critical equipment services such as drilling and blasting, and a local workforce composed of drivers and heavy machinery operators was established. Currently, there are over 600 active employees on site, underscoring the scale of operations and the company's commitment to regional employment. The core objectives of the restructuring were to enhance safety standards and improve overall operational efficiency. Concurrently, Sigma Lithium focused on significantly expanding its earthmoving capacity to meet the growing processing demands of its Grota do Cirilo industrial plant. By deploying a larger fleet of off-road mining equipment, the company increased its earthmoving capacity to three times the original level, ensuring a consistent and stable supply of ore to support production increase targets. The restructuring plan was partially funded by the commercial success of the high-purity, low-grade lithium oxide fine powder produced by Sigma Lithium at its Green Technology Industrial Park, which is managed using a dry stacking process. Sales of these fine powders have begun to generate substantial gross revenue. Based on recent actual transaction prices and year-end available inventory levels, the potential revenue from fine powder sales is equivalent to the production value of several months of high-grade lithium concentrate output. In addition to the aforementioned revenue, Sigma Lithium continues to receive financial support from its global client base and financing partners. These stakeholders have provided working capital credit facilities and contract guarantees linked to future production, reducing the company's reliance on third-party external financing. Source: https://www.chemanalyst.com/ [Rose West Canada Drilling Program Aims to Expand Lithium Resources] The lithium-bearing pegmatite systems in the Eeyou Istchee region exhibit characteristic structural controls, which fundamentally influence resource distribution and exploration target delineation strategies. These northwest-trending geological corridors establish a predictable framework for pegmatite emplacement, wherein the tonalitic host rocks provide a favorable chemical environment for lithium enrichment and crystallization processes. At the Rose West project area, the 10,000-meter drilling program targets pegmatite systems within a surveyed area of 450 meters by 370 meters, with thickness variations ranging from 10 to 40 meters. Structural interpretations indicate a 100-meter displacement pattern in the eastern segment of the pegmatite body, reflecting regional tectonic events that affected the resource geometry throughout the corridor. The composition of the tonalitic host rocks is crucial for creating geochemical conditions favorable for lithium mineralization. These igneous compositions provide the necessary chemical gradients that promote pegmatite melt differentiation and subsequent spodumene crystallization. The subhorizontal pegmatite geometry, combined with the documented offset patterns, provides an exploration advantage by establishing predictable structural correlations that guide a systematic drilling approach. Source: https://discoveryalert.com.au/

• Sigma Lithium announces the sale of an additional 100,000 tons of high-purity lithium ore fines based on the SMM lithium concentrate price, at a price higher than the previous sale. • The company confirms that mine restart activities are progressing as planned and are expected to be completed by January 2026, consistent with its announcement on January 13, 2026. • Sigma Lithium strongly refutes recent media reports that inaccurately described an administrative procedure initiated by Brazil's Ministry of Labor and Employment regarding the company's waste piles as an "operational ban," labeling such reports as "fake news," and states it has notified relevant authorities. On January 23, Sigma Lithium announced the sale of another 100,000 tons of high-purity lithium ore fines. In its statement, the company reiterated that the remobilization of contractor equipment and personnel at the mine site is progressing according to plan and is expected to be completed in January 2026. The company firmly denied recent media reports that mischaracterized an administrative procedure initiated by the Ministry of Labor and Employment as an "operational ban," calling them "fake news." Regarding speculative reporting by some media based on this procedure about the safety of the company's waste piles, Sigma Lithium clarified that such claims are completely false and emphasized that this administrative procedure does not constitute a material event. High-Purity Lithium Ore Fines Sales Details The transaction was conducted based on the Shanghai Metals Market (SMM) lithium concentrate price, equivalent to an adjusted net price of USD 140 per ton for each 1% Li₂O content (the current SMM price quotation for 1.35% Li₂O content is USD 195 per ton). Sigma Lithium pointed out that the revenue from these high-purity fines sales represents a "green dividend" for its shareholders, made possible by the company's investment in environmental "cutting-edge technology" at its Greentech Plant. This technology enables dry-stacking of tailings and allows for the recovery of lithium by selling high-purity fines. Consequently, Sigma Lithium possesses one of the most environmentally sustainable lithium processing facilities in the industry, integrating dry-stacking, 100% water recirculation, zero use of toxic chemicals in lithium processing, and 100% renewable power supply. Clarification Regarding Inaccurate Media Reports Sigma Lithium has recently been the subject of multiple inaccurate reports. The company stated that this is part of an organized, funded online defamation campaign that has repeatedly disseminated false, inaccurate, and misleading information about the company and its management. The latest reports containing false statements about the Ministry of Labor and Employment's administrative inquiry into the company's waste piles and their safety align with the tactics of this ongoing "fake news cyber-smear campaign": approximately one month after the inquiry's initiation and merely two days after the company's positive operational update on January 13, 2026, several "paid-writer" style online media outlets suddenly published a flood of defamatory articles claiming the company had been shut down by the Ministry or even the "Brazilian Government." These allegations were primarily published by certain Brazilian online media outlets that publish sponsored content and were subsequently republished by some international mainstream online media and news agencies lacking rigorous fact-checking practices. This defamation campaign led to significant volatility in Sigma Lithium's share price on January 16, with trading volume exceeding four times the Nasdaq daily average and the stock price dropping approximately 30%, potentially benefiting short-sellers. The company has reported the matter to relevant authorities, including FINRA (under the U.S. SEC). The Brazilian Ministry of Labor and Employment initiated an administrative inquiry regarding the company's waste piles in mid-December, following a routine health and safety inspection. During this inspection, the Ministry acknowledged the company's outstanding safety record—over two years without a lost-time injury. Sigma Lithium's management believes that this inquiry did not, at its initiation nor does it currently, constitute material information requiring disclosure, and it does not affect the company's operations, including the ongoing mine restart plan. The company's restart plan is expected to sustain approximately 19,000 direct and indirect jobs in the Jequitinhonha Valley region. This objective aligns closely with the purposes of the Brazilian Ministry of Labor and Employment, the Brazilian Government, and Sigma Lithium. Sigma Lithium's commercial success significantly enhances Brazil's leadership in critical minerals, positioning the country as a key player in the global supply chain for Li₂O materials produced in an environmentally and socially sustainable manner, thereby supporting the energy transition.

[MaxVolt Enters Lithium Battery Recycling Sector with ReEarth Division] MaxVolt ReEarth aims to create an integrated lithium battery recycling solution, covering the entire battery life cycle treatment process. This solution includes standardized disassembly or crushing of end-of-life batteries to achieve second-life application. MaxVolt Energy, a global lithium battery producer and clean energy solutions provider, recently entered India's growing lithium battery recycling market by establishing a subsidiary, "MaxVolt ReEarth." MaxVolt stated in its announcement that this move aligns with its vision of building a sustainable, independent, and integrated ecosystem to promote the popularization of electric vehicles and energy solutions in the country. This initiative has sparked increasing interest and strategic moves from existing enterprises and traditional companies in the recycling sector, as they finally see a market that is both feasible and continuously growing. The integrated lithium battery recycling solution developed by MaxVolt ReEarth spans the entire battery treatment chain, covering standardized disassembly or crushing of end-of-life batteries for second-life application, followed by black mass production and the extraction of other valuable minerals. This closed-loop system ensures that battery resources are maximally retained within the value chain, reinforcing the circular economy principles of reuse, recycling, and regeneration. Source: www.saurenergy.com [Bolivia's Lithium Extraction Faces Complex Brine Chemistry Challenges] The global shift toward electric mobility has triggered unprecedented demand for lithium-ion batteries, fundamentally altering how countries develop their mineral resources. Against this backdrop, countries with substantial lithium reserves face increasing pressure to convert geological endowments into industrial capacity. This challenge extends beyond mining to encompass technological processes, regulatory frameworks, and structures of international cooperation, which collectively determine whether underground resources can be transformed into production capacity that meets market demands. Complex brine chemistry presents unique technical hurdles that traditional salt flat extraction methods struggle to overcome efficiently. High Mg/Li ratios, excessive impurity content, and stringent processing requirements create economic bottlenecks, creating a gap between resource potential and commercial feasibility. For investors, policymakers, and industry participants assessing long-term supply security in the global battery materials sector, understanding these technical dynamics has become crucial. Bolivia's lithium extraction projects epitomize these challenges—vast reserves coexist with complex technical and regulatory hurdles. Source: discoveryalert.com.au [MinRes Lithium Production Surges 18%, Exceeding Expectations] Australia's hard-rock lithium mining industry demonstrates how exceptional operations, combined with recovering commodity prices, can create opportunities for sustainable production expansion. Western Australia's Lithium Triangle has become a critical link in the global battery materials supply chain, with producers achieving over 70% beneficiation recovery rates while navigating price volatility and capital allocation decisions amid market transitions. The convergence of technological processing improvements, strategic partnership formations, and balance sheet optimizations provides a framework for understanding how Australia's lithium sector expanded capacity under favorable market conditions. This operational expansion was realized through systematic ore processing efficiency gains, maintenance of cost structures, and capital deployment strategies that prioritized both growth and financial stability. Australian lithium producers increasingly leveraged equity partnerships with downstream Asian manufacturers to secure both growth capital and demand certainty. The partnership between Mineral Resources and POSCO exemplifies this strategy—the South Korean steel producer acquired a 30% stake in the Wodgina and Mt Marion projects for $765 million. This deal structure injected substantial capital into the Australian projects while retaining operational control and ensuring access to Asia's battery materials supply chain. These partnerships signify an evolution from traditional offtake agreements toward integrated supply chain relationships. Asian partners gained direct exposure to hard-rock lithium production assets, while Australian operators secured funding for expansion without ceding operational control or strategic decision-making authority. Source: discoveryalert.com.au [India to Announce Lithium, Nickel Processing Incentives, Sources Say] India plans to soon offer incentives to enterprises setting up lithium and nickel processing plants to help boost production and meet growing demand for critical minerals, according to two sources and a government presentation reviewed by Reuters. India is seeking to accelerate its energy transition and cut emissions by promoting clean energy initiatives such as EVs, but it lacks the technology to process critical minerals, a capacity primarily dominated by China. Nickel and lithium are crucial for India's EV supply chain, especially for batteries, as New Delhi aims for EV penetration rates of 30% for cars and 80% for two-wheelers by 2030, up from the current rates of 4% and 6%, respectively. The incentive scheme proposes a 15% capital subsidy, subject to a cap, on eligible investments in lithium and nickel processing projects that commence on or after April 1, 2026, according to the presentation. One source described the 15% capital subsidy as "realistic." The Indian Ministry of Mines, which is responsible for the proposal, did not respond to an email from Reuters seeking comment. According to the presentation, under this plan, the incentives will last for five years, with the incentive cap for lithium processing plants set at 40% of annual net sales turnover, and 25% for nickel processing plants. To qualify for the incentives, lithium processing plants must have a minimum capacity of 30,000 mt, while nickel plants require at least 50,000 mt. Source: [Important Announcement from Sigma Lithium] Sigma Lithium, a leading sustainable global lithium producer headquartered in Brazil (TSXV: SGML; Nasdaq: SGML; B3: S2GM34), announced the sale of 100,000 mt of high-purity lithium concentrate at market price (linked to the SMM index, with an adjusted net price of $140 per mt, corresponding to 1% lithium oxide content), which is higher than previous sales. This revenue is defined as a "green return" to shareholders, stemming from the cutting-edge environmental technology employed at the company's green tech plant (dry-stacked tailings, 100% water reuse, zero toxic chemicals, 100% renewable energy). The company confirmed that its mine restart plan (reactivation of equipment/personnel contractors) is on schedule for completion in January 2026, as initially disclosed on January 13, 2026; this work sustains approximately 19,000 direct/indirect jobs in Brazil's Jequitinhonha Valley region and aligns with the Brazilian government's labor and economic objectives. Sigma Lithium strongly refuted the "fake news" in recent inaccurate media reports, which mischaracterized a routine administrative investigation by the Labor Ministry into its scrap storage area as an "operational ban" and falsely questioned the safety of the scrap storage. The Labor Ministry investigation, initiated in mid-December 2025, stemmed from a routine health and safety inspection (which confirmed the company's operational record of over two years without lost-time incidents) and is considered a non-material event with no impact on the company's operations or restart plan. Source: sigmalithiumcorp.com

RIO DE JANEIRO, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Brazil's Labor Ministry has shut down three waste piles at Sigma Lithium's (SGML.V), opens new tab ‌flagship mine in the state of Minas Gerais, citing a "grave and imminent" risk to workers and the local community, according to documents seen by Reuters.