【SMM Analysis】Overseas Lithium News from April 21 to April 25

Keda Mining Announces Completion of Mining License Transfer for Bougouni Lithium Mine Project

Keda Mining, a mineral exploration and development company, announced that the Foulaboula mining license has been approved for transfer from Future Mining Co., Ltd. to Bougouni Lithium Mine Company (LMLB), a subsidiary of Keda Mining UK Ltd.

The mining license is a key permit for the fully funded Bougouni lithium mine project, located in southern Mali.

The transfer is effective immediately, and the license is confirmed to be in good standing. Discussions regarding the export permits required for the project's spodumene concentrates production are ongoing, with the company expecting to commence exports in the next quarter.

Keda Mining confirmed that all compliance issues related to the inclusion of the Malian government as a shareholder in LMLB were finalised and approved prior to the transfer approval.

Source: globalminingreview

Founders Factory and Rio Tinto Invest in Low-Impact Mining

Founders Factory announced its latest six investments, in collaboration with Rio Tinto, aimed at reshaping the future of the industry through low-impact mining and other breakthrough technologies.

The Mining Tech Accelerator, a partnership between Founders Factory and Rio Tinto, focuses on investing in technologies that accelerate, optimise, and decarbonise the mining value chain. They plan to invest in twelve startups globally each year.

The six investments include:

• Rock Zero: A zero-waste, cost-effective process for extracting lithium from hard rock deposits (Cambridge, US).

• Terra AI: Artificial intelligence for mineral exploration to reduce drilling costs and improve accuracy (Palo Alto, US).

• Ekion: Electrokinetic in-situ recovery (EK-ISR) technology to extract metals from stranded deposits with minimal waste and emissions (Perth, Australia).

• Rainstick: Utilises electric fields to simulate natural lightning effects for agriculture and natural restoration, enhancing seed yield faster and more sustainably (Cairns, Australia).

• Thunderstone: Uses underground electrical stimulation for low-impact mining to extract critical metals with minimal waste and cost (US).

• Stealth Startup: Exploration automation.

Source: globalminingreview

Chile Advances Lithium Projects in Three Salt Flats

The Chilean government stated that it is advancing a streamlined process to award lithium contracts in three salt flats, the Ministry of Mining said on Tuesday.

The agency reported that it has accepted applications from Eramet for the Aguamarina salt flat; Eramet, Quiborax, and state-owned copper giant Codelco for the Ascotán salt flat; and the Calichera Consortium for the Coipasa salt flat. Leftist President Gabriel Boric proposed a plan in 2023 to strengthen state control over lithium, a critical lightweight metal for EVs and the energy transition, and to form public-private partnerships to expand the industry.

Source: mining.com

Benchmark Minerals and ICE Collaborate to Launch Battery Materials Futures

The prices of battery materials lithium and cobalt, as assessed by consultancy Benchmark Mineral Intelligence (BMI), will be adopted by the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) in contracts launching in June, BMI told Reuters.

For price reporting agency (PRA) BMI, this marks a significant step as its prices are used to settle exchange-traded derivative contracts, a field currently dominated by information firms Fastmarkets and S&P Global Commodity Insights.

BMI stated that the agreement signed with ICE earlier this year covers the prices of lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide, spodumene concentrates, and cobalt hydroxide. Spodumene concentrates contain lithium.

These are key materials for lithium-ion batteries used in EVs, playing a crucial role in the global energy transition.

BMI noted that the contracts will be cash-settled and listed on ICE Europe Futures Exchange in London. New contracts typically require regulatory approval.

ICE declined to comment.

"BMI is the benchmark for lithium and critical mineral prices, which determine the settlement of billions of dollars in contracts," said Simon Moores, Executive Chairman of BMI.

Source: mining.com

Codelco Signs Energy Agreements to Achieve 100% Clean Energy Matrix by 2030

Chilean copper giant Codelco has signed two energy contracts as part of its goal to fully utilise clean electricity by 2030.

The state-owned miner stated that these agreements will provide 1.5 billion kWh of green electricity annually from 2026, sourced from Generadora Metropolitana, jointly owned by Chile's AME Group and France's EDF, as well as GR Power Chile.

The contracts, awarded through public tenders, include lithium-ion battery energy storage systems and span from January 2026 to December 2040. They will meet Codelco's current and future operational energy needs.

"With these contracts, we are strengthening our plan to fully decarbonise the power grid by 2030," CEO Ruben Alvarado said in a statement. "This reinforces our path towards sustainable mining, aligning with our goal to be a pillar of sustainability in Chile and globally."

Source: mining.com