Global Energy Recycling Initiative Unveiled in Munich: CATL, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and BASF Discuss Green Transformation in the Automotive Industry

Yunnan Energy announced that it has been selected as the developer of the 100MW/400MWh Ninglang independent shared energy storage project in Lijiang, Yunnan Province. The project, which has been included in Yunnan's 2026 new shared energy storage project list, will adopt a grid-forming vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) energy storage system and is scheduled to be commissioned within two years. The company said the project will strengthen its new energy business, although it remains subject to regulatory approvals.

SQM and Codelco's lithium joint venture, Novandino, has outlined plans in an environmental impact assessment (EIA) filing to increase annual lithium production capacity from around 270,000 mt currently to as much as 470,000 mt. The expansion is aimed at meeting long-term demand from electric vehicles and grid-scale energy storage. According to the filing, production will first gradually rise to around 300,000 mt before transitioning over seven years to an integrated production system incorporating direct lithium extraction (DLE), with additional capacity expected to come online over several years.

According to an industry letter seen by Reuters, exporters have been unable to submit export declarations through the customs platform since July 1 because ARECOMS, the Democratic Republic of Congo's strategic minerals regulator, has not formally notified customs to continue processing export quotas. As a result, major producers including CMOC Group, Glencore, Eurasian Resources Group (ERG) and Huayou Cobalt have been unable to complete export procedures. Meanwhile, ARECOMS requires companies to utilize their first-half export quotas by July 5, after which any unused volumes will be withdrawn and reallocated. Industry sources estimate that around 60%–75% of companies are unlikely to meet the deadline due to administrative delays. If the issue is not resolved promptly, up to 20,000 tonnes of cobalt exports, worth approximately US$1.1 billion at current prices, could be affected. CMOC alone could lose almost all of its second-quarter export quota. SMM will continue to monitor developments.