[9.15 Lithium Battery Express] Zijin Mining's Argentina-Based 20,000 mt Lithium Carbonate Project Commences Production | Eight Departments Further Promote Auto Consumption

[Eight Departments: Further Intensify Efforts to Promote Auto Consumption and Facilitate Graded and Replacement Consumption]Eight departments, including the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, issued the "Work Plan for Stabilizing Growth in the Auto Industry (2025-2026)". The plan proposes to further intensify efforts to promote auto consumption. In accordance with documents such as the "Notice of the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Finance on Strengthening and Expanding the Implementation of Large-Scale Equipment Renewal and Consumer Trade-in Policy in 2025" (NDRC Environmental Resources [2025] No. 13), support will be provided for auto trade-in, renewal of new energy city buses and power batteries, and promotion of graded and replacement consumption in the auto sector. Pilot reforms in auto circulation and consumption will be carried out to expand aftermarket consumption, including auto modification, leasing, racing, and RV camping. Auto purchase restriction areas are encouraged to optimize their policies, gradually shifting from purchase management to usage management. Convenience measures such as "reverse invoicing" for used car sales and cross-region transaction registration will be implemented, and the establishment of an online transaction management system will be explored. Information sharing and openness in the auto sector will be strengthened, and the accuracy and authority of used car information query platforms will be enhanced to promote efficient circulation of used cars.

[Zijin Mining's Argentina Project with Annual Production of 20,000 mt Lithium Carbonate Commences Operation]According to Zijin Mining, on September 12 local time in Argentina, the commencement ceremony for Zijin Mining's Liex 3Q Salt Lake project with an annual production of 20,000 mt lithium carbonate was held in Fiambalá, Catamarca Province. It is understood that preliminary work for the second-phase project, including permit approvals, is progressing in an orderly manner. The planned capacity for lithium carbonate is 40,000 mt per year. Once both phases reach full production, the annual capacity is expected to reach 60,000-80,000 mt. (Cailian Press)

[CSC: Maintain Bullish View on ESS and Lithium Battery Sectors, Focus on Long-Term Application Trend of Green Methanol]CSC research report stated that for ESS, it continues to highly recommend the ESS sector. Recently, the discount on mechanism electricity prices in Shandong has been significant, boosting owners' willingness to voluntarily allocate energy storage; Ningxia, following Gansu, introduced a capacity electricity price, which helps enhance owners' investment enthusiasm. For lithium batteries, the lithium battery sector has already reflected the better-than-expected market demand in 2025. The current core issue is whether the demand expectations for 2026 will be further revised upward. Subsequent attention should be paid to ESS tender and installation data, the credibility of 2026 guidance, the continuation of policies such as the 2026 auto trade-in, and lithium battery production schedule information. It remains bullish on lithium batteries and ESS. For hydrogen energy, the power demand gap in North America continues to validate and strengthen the industry trend of SOFC (solid oxide fuel cell), and it remains optimistic about the cost advantages per kWh brought by SOFC cost reduction; the long-term application trend of green methanol is an inevitable outcome of shipping decarbonization, with IMO rules accelerating the pace of cost parity and expanding the industry space. (Cailian Press)

[Canmax: Plans to Acquire 75% Equity in Suzhou Tianhua Era for 1.254 Billion Yuan, Transferring the Actual Controller's Investment and Development in Lithium Ore Resources to the Publicly Listed Firm] Canmax (300390.SZ) announced that it plans to acquire 75% of the equity in Suzhou Tianhua Era New Energy Industry Investment Co., Ltd., held by the controlling shareholder and actual controller Pei Zhenhua, at a transaction price of 1.254 billion yuan. This transaction constitutes a related-party transaction but does not constitute a significant asset reorganization. The target company focuses on overseas lithium ore resource investment and development. The company intends to transfer the actual controller's investment and development in lithium ore resources to the publicly listed firm through this acquisition, thereby eliminating potential risks of competition from affiliated businesses. (Cailian Press)

[Yahua Group: Plans to Start Construction of Lithium Sulphide Pilot Line in 2026] Yahua Group (002497.SZ) released an investor relations activity record, stating that the company is actively promoting the R&D and industrialisation of lithium sulphide, a key raw material for solid-state batteries. It is collaborating with some enterprises/universities to advance the R&D and industrialisation of lithium sulphide and sulphide-based solid electrolytes. The company expects to complete sample production and customer delivery within the year and start the construction of the pilot line in 2026. (Cailian Press)

[Great Power Energy: Solid-State Battery Pilot Line Expected to be Basically Completed by End of Q3] Great Power Energy stated on the interactive platform that the solid-state battery technology released in August last year follows the oxide technology route. The company's solid-state battery pilot line is under construction and is expected to be basically completed by the end of Q3. (Cailian Press)