High Lithium Ore Prices in Australia will Drive Lithium Prices Rebound, Reasons Prevent Output to Grow

According to Reuters on September 1, India has revived talks with Zambia over investment opportunities in copper and other critical minerals, with officials from India’s Ministry of Mines holding preliminary discussions with the Zambian side on August 26. India’s state-owned overseas mineral investment platform, Khanij Bidesh India Ltd (KABIL), is also evaluating a number of overseas mining projects, including opportunities in Zambia. Indian mining industry representatives said that the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia could play an important role in meeting India’s future demand for critical minerals such as copper and cobalt. They also suggested that Indian companies prioritize projects that are already in production or close to commissioning, while securing resources through long-term offtake agreements. As India continues to expand its new energy, battery and manufacturing supply chains, its strategic push into overseas copper and cobalt resources is accelerating. If related investments or offtake agreements are eventually finalized, they could intensify international competition for African copper and cobalt resources and potentially affect regional trade flows and the longer-term supply landscape.

QatarEnergy Marketing has set its September 2026 Qatar Sulphur Price (QSP) at $880/t FOB Ras Laffan/Mesaieed, down $10/t from $890/t in August.

According to Electra Battery Materials on September 1, the company has appointed Douglas Geniti as Senior Advisor, Commercial Strategy, to support commercial planning for its North American cobalt sulfate refinery ahead of commissioning and ramp-up in 2027. Geniti has more than 35 years of experience in cobalt, nickel and minor metals, with a background covering global trading, raw material procurement, refining, logistics and customer contracts. In his new role, he will focus on raw material sourcing strategy, customer development, product marketing and commercial agreements, with particular attention to the U.S. industrial, battery and defense markets. Electra’s cobalt sulfate refinery in Ontario, Canada, has an initial designed annual capacity of 5,120 tonnes of battery-grade cobalt sulfate and is currently under construction, with mechanical completion targeted for the second quarter of 2027. The company has already secured all cobalt feedstock required for commissioning and ramp-up and continues to advance downstream customer engagement and long-term commercial partnerships. Electra said the project is intended to establish a domestic North American supply of battery-grade cobalt, reduce reliance on overseas refining supply chains, and serve growing demand from the battery, industrial and defense sectors. The company also plans to strengthen its commercial team to accelerate cooperation with both feedstock suppliers and end-users, laying the groundwork for stable operations and future production ramp-up.