In 2026, the European Critical Raw Materials Centre (ECRMC) will be officially launched. This initiative is one of the solutions to accelerate the development of an independent supply chain, preventing the situation of “a single country supplying more than 65% of demand”. The center will have three main functions: monitoring and assessing the raw materials demand of member countries, conducting joint procurement on behalf of members, and stockpiling and delivering inventory when necessary. ECRMC, as some have commented as a “Tinder for metals,” will work with stakeholders to design a minimum pricing mechanism and framework. The first joint purchasing activity will begin in March 2026 through a platform that connects suppliers and purchasers.

Neo Performance Materials of Canada and Cyclic Materials announced that they have reached a rare earth recycling agreement. Neo will supply Cyclic with magnet production scrap from its European plants, which Cyclic will recycle into mixed rare earth oxides for Neo to manufacture alloys and magnets. This move aligns with the objectives of the EU Critical Raw Materials Act and enhances rare earth processing and recycling capacity. Neo operates a 2,000 mt/year magnet facility in Estonia and is expected to expand it to 5,000 mt/year. Cyclic is building a recycling campus in South Carolina, with initial capacity of 2,000 mt/year for magnet processing and 600 mt/year for mixed rare earth oxides, which will increase to 6,000 mt/year and 1,800 mt/year, respectively, after expansion.

The global strategic resource reserve system is undergoing rapid restructuring, and a resource security battle centered on critical minerals has quietly begun.

When Trump announced the launch of a $12 billion "Gold Reserve Plan" at the White House to procure and stockpile critical minerals such as rare earths, gallium, and cobalt for manufacturers, the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association (CNIA) was also studying the inclusion of copper concentrates in the national reserves. The global strategic resource reserve system is undergoing rapid restructuring, and a resource security battle centered on critical minerals has quietly begun. In early February 2026, the world's two largest economies almost simultaneously announced strategic reserve plans for critical minerals. The Trump administration officially launched a $12 billion critical mineral reserve project named the "Gold Reserve Plan." This plan aims to establish a 60-day emergency mineral reserve, utilizing $10 billion in loans from the US Export-Import Bank and approximately $2 billion in private capital to procure and stockpile critical mineral resources such as rare earths, gallium, and cobalt. From the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act setting clear recycling rate targets to the US’s tax incentive policies, a global policy network covering legislation, subsidies, and standards is taking shape. For China, the recycling industry of rare and precious metals is not only a vital component of resource security but also a key link in achieving the "dual carbon" goals and ensuring supply chain autonomy and control.

Australia's Alpha HPA has broken ground on the second phase of what is planned to be the world's largest single-site ultra-high-purity alumina refinery. Located on a 10-hectare site in Gladstone, Australia, the project will utilize proprietary licensed solvent extraction and refining technology to produce alumina products with purity levels as high as 99.99% in commercial quantities, supplying critical raw materials for global industries such as lithium batteries, LED lighting, and semiconductor manufacturing. It is reported that the second phase will build upon the established first-phase operations. The company's initial facilities, already housed in a smaller building at the site, have been producing a range of high-purity alumina and aluminum products on a scaled basis.

[Elevra and Mangrove Lithium Sign Non-Binding MOU for Spodumene Concentrates Offtake] North American lithium producer Elevra Lithium Limited ("Elevra") is pleased to announce the signing of a non-binding memorandum of understanding to supply spodumene concentrates produced by NAL to Mangrove Lithium ("Mangrove"). Elevra and Mangrove may enter into a binding definitive agreement in the future, subject to Mangrove reaching a final investment decision on the construction of its lithium conversion facility by June 2027 and the parties agreeing on the final terms of the agreement. Under the terms of the non-binding MOU, Elevra and Mangrove intend to negotiate a definitive agreement whereby Elevra would supply Mangrove with up to 144,000 mt of spodumene concentrates annually at market-related prices, with floor and ceiling prices, ensuring NAL generates positive cash flow at any stage of the pricing cycle. The proposed supply has an initial term of five years, commencing in 2028, and is expected to ramp up to the full annual volume of 144,000 mt by 2030, representing approximately 46% of projected sales. Mangrove plans to process the spodumene concentrates into battery-grade lithium hydroxide in Eastern Canada to support the establishment of a resilient domestic battery supply chain in Canada. Mangrove's designed annual capacity is 20,000 mt of battery-grade lithium, equivalent to the demand for 500,000 EVs. Source: https://news.smm.cn/ [Albemarle Announces Idling of Kemerton Lithium Hydroxide Processing Plant on February 11 Local Time] Albemarle decided to immediately idle and place into a state of care and maintenance the operational Train 1 production line at its Kemerton plant in Western Australia. This represents a further contraction following the idling of Train 2 in 2024 and the halting of the Train 3 and 4 expansion projects. Although lithium prices have recovered recently, the levels are not enough to support the cost pressures associated with hard-rock lithium conversion operations in the West. This move aims to improve financial flexibility and preserve future options. It is expected to have an accretive effect on adjusted EBITDA starting from Q2 2026, without affecting the sales target for the year, as customer demand will be met through other channels. Albemarle emphasized that its upstream lithium mine interests and exploration rights in Australia, such as Greenbushes and Wodgina, remain unaffected and are still a strategic core. Source: https://www.albemarle.com [Ultra-Thin, Compact Lithium-Ion Rechargeable Battery "EnerCera" Supports Tohoku University's Tsunami Balloon Project Demonstration Experiment] NGK Insulators, Ltd. (hereinafter "NGK") announced that it supported the demonstration experiment for Tohoku University's tsunami balloon project by manufacturing and supplying its ultra-thin, compact lithium-ion rechargeable battery, EnerCera®. The project aims to establish a new disaster prevention system that automatically deploys balloon-type evacuation markers during tsunamis, visually indicating the locations of tsunami evacuation facilities, such as evacuation towers and evacuation buildings, from the air. EnerCera powers the light sources installed in the balloons, making the evacuation sites clearly visible at night or under poor visibility conditions. In the demonstration experiment, EnerCera was used as the power source for the balloon-type evacuation marker lighting unit, which activated immediately after a tsunami. The experiment verified whether sufficient brightness was achieved when the balloons were deployed and whether the system met practical usage requirements. EnerCera combines a thin and lightweight design with high output and excellent environmental resistance, enabling stable operation in outdoor environments. By enabling wireless lighting control, the system is expected to enhance the visibility of tsunami evacuation facilities at night and help prevent evacuation delays. The Tsunami Balloon Project is an initiative led by a technical team from Tohoku University, aiming to develop a system that automatically releases balloons into the air upon receiving disaster information, such as tsunami warnings and emergency earthquake alerts, issued via the Quasi-Zenith Satellite System "Michibiki". In the demonstration experiment, a series of operational tests were conducted: upon receiving a tsunami warning (test signal), gas was rapidly injected into the balloon, inflating it to a diameter of approximately 2 meters and raising it to a height of about 40 meters within approximately 2 to 3 minutes. The balloon is marked with a person pictogram, allowing people to identify the evacuation facility simply by looking up at the sky. To improve nighttime visibility, EnerCera was integrated as the light source. Source: https://www.mynewsdesk.com/ ["Sacrifice Zone" or a Clean Energy Future? EU Court Considers Portuguese Lithium Mine Project] The risks in this case escalated further after EU officials refused in November to revoke the "strategic" status of the Barroso mine. A long-standing controversy over lithium mining in northern Portugal has reached the European Union's highest court. Environmental and community organizations have filed a lawsuit with the European Court of Justice against the European Commission's decision to grant the Barroso lithium project "strategic" status. The residents' association "United Defense Association of the Barroso Valley" and the environmental law organization ClientEarth raised objections on Thursday, February 5, arguing that the Commission failed to reassess the project after new evidence emerged regarding environmental, social, and safety risks. The core dispute in this case revolves around the EU's Critical Raw Materials Act of 2024. Projects designated as "strategic" gain fast-track access to permitting processes, financing channels, and the supply of raw materials for green products such as EVs and batteries. Source: https://www.euronews.com/ [How Argentina's Lithium and Uranium Boom Could Undermine Its Energy Sovereignty] Argentina possesses abundant critical natural resources, the demand for which is increasingly growing as the global energy transition continues to accelerate. However, although Argentina's potential geopolitical advantages have opened new avenues for economic growth, as world superpowers fiercely compete for the country's lithium and uranium resources, this may also entail significant trade-offs in energy sovereignty. The Argentine economy has finally seen a rebound after decades of painful recession. This shift is largely attributed to the radical austerity policies implemented by the right-wing President Javier Milei, elected in 2023. While Milei's aggressive financial reforms have had some positive effects on the economy, his approach has been highly controversial both domestically and internationally. Part of Milei's strategy involves forming a close alliance with the Trump administration. As part of this shift, he has shown a new willingness to cooperate with the US and other international partners in new nuclear energy plans. Milei declared his country an "unconditional ally of the US," with Argentina becoming the first partner country to sign the Trump administration's "Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technologies" initiative. Source: https://oilprice.com/