The 2026 SMM (3rd) Global Renewable Metal Industry Chain Summit & Battery Recycling Forum will be held in Tokyo, Japan, from May 11–12, 2026. The summit aims to bring together leading global enterprises, research institutions, industry experts, and policymakers in the fields of renewable metals and battery recycling.

[SMM Steel] During the Progressive Punjab Investors’ Summit, major steel players announced massive CAPEX plans fueled by new ease-of-business policies. ArcelorMittal will invest over INR 60,000 crore, while Tata Steel and JSW Group committed INR 3,200 crore and INR 3,000 crore respectively for new plants and capacity expansions. These investments mark Punjab’s strategic transition from an agricultural hub to a major manufacturing and steel production base.

Only 15 days remain until the opening of the 14th Energy Storage International Summit and Exhibition, ESIE 2026! New business models, new products, and new technologies in the global energy storage industry will be showcased in a concentrated manner on the ESIE 2026 platform! The countdown has begun, and the world’s largest, highest-level, and most influential gathering of ideas and technologies in the global energy storage industry is about to open! ●Exhibition Dates: April 1–April 3 ●Summit Dates: March 31–April 3 ●Venue: Beijing · Capital International Exhibition & Convention Center Scan the QR code above for free exhibition admission Six themed exhibition halls, over 160,000 m² of exhibition space, 800+ exhibitors/sponsors—the full detailed floor plan for all halls of ESIE 2026 is officially unveiled! Save and bookmark it to locate the brands and exhibition areas you are interested in! Detailed forum schedules have been released: Cutting-Edge Technology Led by 9 academicians! Detailed agenda for the 9th Energy Storage Frontier Technology Conference released Mechanism Innovation Detailed agenda released | ESIE 2026 Themed Forum: New-Type Energy Storage and the Electricity Market Detailed agenda released | Regional Characteristic Market Forum, Generation-Grid-Load-Storage and Green Electricity Direct-Connection Integration Forum Market-Driven Growth Detailed agenda released | ESIE 2026 Themed Forum: Development and Operation of Standalone ESS Projects Detailed agenda released | ESIE 2026 Themed Forum: Coordinated Development of Energy Storage + AIDC Detailed agenda released | ESIE 2026 Themed Forum: Energy Storage + New Business Models and New Development Global Perspective Detailed agenda released | ESIE 2026 Themed Forum: Development and Trends in the Global Energy Storage Market A Barometer of the Development of China’s Energy Storage Industry The 14th Energy Storage International Summit and Exhibition ESIE 2026 Exhibition Dates: April 1, 2026–April 3, 2026 Summit Dates: March 31, 2026–April 3, 2026 Venue: Beijing · Capital International Exhibition & Convention Center

Recently, Kawasaki Heavy Industries of Japan and Kobe Steel jointly announced that the world’s first next-generation hydrogen-fueled power generation system for hydrogen-based power generation had officially commenced operation. The system features a liquid hydrogen energy supply model and is designed to provide stable power for future large gas turbine generators, filling the global technological gap in direct liquid hydrogen supply for power generation. The newly commissioned system was developed under the NEDO-funded project in Japan, “Development of Technologies to Improve Hydrogen-Fueled Power Generation Efficiency and Performance Under the Hydrogen CGS Regional Model,” and was deployed at the Kobe Hydrogen Energy Center on Port Island in Kobe. It is the world’s first hydrogen supply power generation system to adopt an intermediate fluid vaporizer (IFV) for hydrogen together with a liquid hydrogen pump , enabling liquid hydrogen to be pressurized above critical pressure and directly supplying hydrogen fuel to power plants in a stable manner. The project had a clear division of responsibilities: Kawasaki Heavy Industries was responsible for optimizing the liquid hydrogen pressurization fuel supply system for gas turbine generators, while Kobe Steel focused on the R&D of IFV equipment utilizing the cold energy of liquid hydrogen. At present, demonstration tests have successfully delivered hydrogen fuel to a wet gas turbine, and subsequent hydrogen supply tests for a dry gas turbine will be carried out, with a focus on verifying operating performance under high summer temperature conditions as well as the long-term operational reliability of the liquid hydrogen pump.

According to a March 12 post on “Kegong Weibo,” the official account of the State Administration for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, China announced its accession to the Triple Nuclear Energy Declaration at the second Nuclear Energy Summit held in Paris, France, on March 10, 2026. Jointly launched by 22 countries including France, the core goal of the Triple Nuclear Energy Declaration is to triple global installed nuclear power capacity by 2050 from its 2020 level, in order to help achieve global net-zero emissions around the middle of this century and the global temperature control target set out in the Paris Agreement.

The Premier Academic Event in the Energy Storage Field—the 9th Energy Storage Frontier Technology Conference is expected to open soon. The conference is scheduled to be held from March 31 to April 3, 2026, at the Beijing·Capital International Exhibition & Convention Center, and is hosted by the Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences; the China Energy Research Society; and the Zhongguancun Energy Storage Industry Technology Alliance. This conference features nine major tracks: the Academician Forum, Advanced Energy Storage Materials, Energy Storage Design and System Integration, Grid-Forming ESS , Battery Cells, Hydrogen Energy, Long Duration Energy Storage (LDES), Short-Duration High-Frequency Energy Storage, and Safety and Standards . Led by nine academicians, with more than 50 experts from universities and research institutes and more than 70 representatives from leading enterprises gathering together, the conference will jointly explore frontier technologies, development trends, and future challenges in the ESS sector. Established in 2017, the Energy Storage Frontier Technology Conference is an important academic brand event actively developed by the Energy Storage International Summit and Exhibition (ESIE) . The conference aims to provide a platform for experts and scholars in the ESS sector to share research achievements and discuss frontier technologies. By showcasing the latest advances in energy storage technologies, it stimulates innovative thinking and drives technological breakthroughs; grounded in the integration of academic research and industry needs, it offers new ideas for the innovative development of the energy storage industry. Conference Highlights Led by Academicians, with a Strong Lineup Nine academicians will take the lead, with more than 50 experts from universities and research institutes and more than 70 representatives from leading enterprises gathering together to discuss frontier research achievements and share in-depth industry insights. Focused on the Frontier, Comprehensive Coverage Covering hot topic areas such as advanced energy storage materials, battery cells, hydrogen energy, long duration energy storage (LDES), short-duration high-frequency energy storage, grid-forming ESS, energy storage design and system integration, and safety and standards, it provides a comprehensive interpretation of the current development status and future trends of each technology pathway. Industry–Education Integration, Jointly Seeking Development Building a high-level platform for industry–academia–research exchange and cooperation, promoting the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, and pooling efforts to drive the high-quality development of the energy storage industry. Zhongguancun Energy Storage Industry Technology Alliance Student Registration Channel for Attendance 1、 The main forum and all technical tracks of the 9th Energy Storage Frontier Technology Conference are free of charge for enrolled students. The Zhongguancun Energy Storage Industry Technology Alliance has set up a dedicated student registration channel; attendance is permitted after approval by the organizers. 2、 Registration for the General Public Please contact the organizer Zhao Han 18210188771 Visitor Registration Channel Exhibition Dates: April 1–3, 2026 Exhibition Venue: Beijing·Capital International Exhibition & Convention Center How to Visit: Scan the QR code above to make a free reservation to visit the exhibition The Wind Vane for the Development of China’s Energy Storage Industry The 14th Energy Storage International Summit and Exhibition ESIE 2026 Exhibition Dates: April 1, 2026–April 3, 2026 Summit Dates: March 31, 2026–April 3, 2026 Venue: Beijing·Capital International Exhibition & Convention Center

SMM News, March 11: According to the official announcement from Nandan County Nanfang Nonferrous Metals Co., Ltd., a public tender for 147 mt of refined bismuth ingots began today, with a specification of 99.99%; implementation standard: GB/T915-2010. The settlement method was payment before delivery. The payment schedule required a prepayment deposit equal to 10% of the total cargo value within two working days after winning the bid, with the remaining balance to be paid in full within two working days after the contract was signed. For this tender, quotes currently needed to be submitted directly on the platform. Users could search for the "Nanfang Nonferrous Metals Group" official account on WeChat, log in to the Nanfang Nonferrous Bulk Materials Sales Platform → User Login → and submit a quotation. The deadline for this quotation was 15:00 on March 12, 2026. No reserve price was set for this bidding sale. If the bidding price deviated significantly from market transaction levels, Nandan County Nanfang Nonferrous Metals Co., Ltd. reserved the right to cancel the bidding. This tender was expected to test the trading activity of the bismuth ingot market, and SMM would continue to follow and report on it.

Australia's Summit Minerals has signed a binding letter of intent and is expected to acquire the Mundo Novo niobium-rare earth project located in central Brazil. The transaction is subject to Summit's completion of financial, legal, and technical due diligence. The Mundo Novo project is located approximately 6 kilometers east of Mundo Novo, about 40 kilometers north of Nova Crixás in Goiás state, and approximately 326 kilometers northwest of Brasília, the capital of Brazil. The total project area covers 17.2 square kilometers. According to Summit, the exposed surface carbonatite in the area is rich in niobium, rare earths, and phosphates.

[Tibet Summit: The Company's Actual Control of Its Argentine Grandson Company Has Obtained Environmental Impact Assessment Approval] Today, Tibet Summit announced that the company, through two-tier channel companies such as Tibet Summit Resources (Hong Kong) Limited, which it controls 87.5%, is currently in actual control of its Argentine grandson company, Lithium Potassium Argentina, located in the Salta Province of the Argentine Republic. It is advancing the investment and construction of the "Annual Output of 30,000 tons Lithium Carbonate Extraction Project from Lithium Salt Lake" of the Angeles Lithium Salt Lake mining right group. On June 28, 2024, local time in Argentina, the "Annual Output of 30,000 tons Lithium Carbonate Extraction Project from Lithium Salt Lake" in Angeles officially obtained the "Declaration of Environmental Impact" (DIA) issued by relevant departments of Salta Province.

Conference Background With the rapid development of global electric vehicles, batteries, as key energy storage devices, are gradually becoming an indispensable part of people's daily lives. However, the production and recycling of batteries have brought serious negative impacts on the environment, such as resource waste and pollution, which are becoming increasingly prominent. To address this challenge, governments, enterprises, and research institutions around the world are intensifying their efforts to promote battery recycling and circular utilization. Global Lead-Acid Battery Recycling Status: Lead-acid batteries have been widely used in fields such as automobiles and UPS, with a relatively high recycling rate. However, due to the harmful substances contained in lead-acid batteries, improper handling can cause serious harm to the environment and human health. Therefore, governments around the world have introduced policies to support the recycling and reuse of lead-acid batteries, while strengthening supervision and encouraging active participation from enterprises and the public. Global Lithium Battery Recycling Status: Compared to lead-acid batteries, the recycling rate of lithium batteries is relatively low, and due to the presence of rare metals and other resources, their value is higher. To promote the circular utilization of lithium batteries, policies on their recycling and reuse are gradually becoming stricter, and related industry chain enterprises are actively researching and developing new recycling technologies and processes to promote the sustainable development of lithium batteries. In this context, the international conference on battery recycling and circular utilization has emerged, aiming to promote global exchange and cooperation in battery recycling and reuse, drive innovation and development of related technologies, jointly address the environmental issues brought by repeated battery use, and contribute to the sustainable development of the clean energy industry. Conference Highlights 01 Supply and Demand Exchange and Cooperation The conference provided a platform for face-to-face networking, allowing enterprises to introduce their core products and main businesses on-site, promoting in-depth understanding among enterprises and the discovery of potential customers. 02 Discussion on Lead and Lithium Battery Recycling Markets To promote sustainable development and build a resource-saving society, strengthen the management and supervision of waste battery recycling, and promote the healthy development of the recycling market, the conference invited recycling industry associations and enterprises to interpret current battery recycling policies and market analysis. 03 Closed-Door Meetings Closed-door meeting on the progress of secondary refined lead delivery, closed-door seminar on power battery recycling 04 Interpretation of Tax Issues One year after the introduction of the reverse invoicing policy and the cancellation of local fiscal tax rebate policies in the battery recycling industry, industry professionals were invited to interpret the policies issued by various regions and provide feedback on the implementation of the recycling market. 05 Domestic and International Market Situation and Macro Analysis The conference invited industry experts to interpret the macro situation at home and abroad, discuss commonalities in the lead and lithium recycling markets, analyze the overseas market for lead ingots, and analyze the feasibility of recycling enterprises going global for investment. 06 Awards and Recognition Establishment of a high-quality recycler selection activity Conference Personnel Structure Previous Attendee List Lead Battery Recycling Enterprises Zhejiang Tianneng Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd. Zhejiang Chaowei Bafang Circular Industry Co., Ltd. Shanghai Xinyun Rare Metal Recycling Co., Ltd. Anhui Hongyuqian Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd. Jiangmen Leien Renewable Resources Co., Ltd. Nantong Lishi Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd. Chengdu Xupai Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd. Suzhou Langang Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd. Sichuan Rongsheng Changhong Renewable Resources Recycling Co., Ltd. Jiangsu Jieyu Renewable Resources Co., Ltd. Jiang Kuai New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. Power Battery Recycling Enterprises GEM Co., Ltd. Guangdong Brunp Recycling Technology Co., Ltd. Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt Co., Ltd. Guangdong Guanghua Sci-Tech Co., Ltd. Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium Group Co., Ltd. Jiangxi Miracle Golden Tiger Cobalt Co., Ltd. Ganzhou Haopeng Technology Co., Ltd. Zhejiang New Era Zhongneng Technology Co., Ltd. CNGR Advanced Material Co., Ltd. Anhui Xunying Power Energy Technology Co., Ltd. Ganzhou Tengyuan Cobalt New Material Co., Ltd. Xiamen Tungsten Co., Ltd. Shanghai BYD Co., Ltd. Lvxun New Energy Technology (Foshan) Co., Ltd. Secondary Lead Smelters Taihe County Dahua Energy Technology Co., Ltd. Anhui Lukong Environmental Protection Co., Ltd. Camel Group (Anhui) Renewable Resources Co., Ltd. Anhui Tianshuo Metal Materials Co., Ltd. Jiangsu New Chunxing Resource Recycling Co., Ltd. Zhejiang Tianneng Resource Recycling Technology Co., Ltd. Henan Yuguang Gold and Lead Co., Ltd. Jiyuan Hongda Resource Comprehensive Utilization Co., Ltd. Jiyuan Juxin Resource Comprehensive Utilization Co., Ltd. Jiangsu Haibao New Energy Co., Ltd. Battery Enterprises Tianneng Battery Group Co., Ltd. Chaowei Group Leoch International Technology Ltd. Guangzhou Great Power Energy Technology Co., Ltd. Gotion High-tech Co., Ltd. REPT Battero Energy Co., Ltd. Phylion Battery Co., Ltd. SVOLT Energy Technology Co., Ltd. Zhuhai CosMX Battery Co., Ltd. Shenzhen Desay Battery Technology Co., Ltd. EVE Energy Co., Ltd. Farasis Energy (Ganzhou) Co., Ltd. Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium Group Co., Ltd. Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited BYD Co., Ltd. Shenzhen Haopeng Technology Co., Ltd. SEVB Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd. Jiangsu Haibao New Energy Co., Ltd. Xupai Power Supply Co., Ltd. Jingjiu Power Technology Co., Ltd. Fengfan Co., Ltd. Jujiang Power Manufacturing Co., Ltd. Camel Group Co., Ltd. Zhejiang Just Electrical Appliances Co., Ltd. Conference Schedule Sponsorship Pricing Conference Contact Qi Lv 18361710903 lvqi@smm.cn