Congo copper and cobalt miners cut chemical use as Iran war disrupts supplies, sources say

[Solid-State Battery: Qinghai 3,000 mt/year Lithium Sulfide Project Completes Filing] On August 10, 2026, the Online Approval and Supervision Platform for Investment Projects in Qinghai Province showed that Qinghai Weixiang Technology Co., Ltd.'s 3,000 mt/year lithium sulfide project completed the filing of an enterprise investment project. The project is located on the north side of Hanhai Road, Kunlun Economic Development Zone, Golmud City, Qinghai Province, with a total investment of 81.319 million yuan. It mainly involves building a 3,000 mt/year lithium sulfide production line and related supporting facilities, to be implemented in two phases (Phase I: 500 mt/year, Phase II: 2,500 mt/year), and is also capable of producing 10,000 mt of lithium sulfate. It is planned to be completed in July 2027. The core technology, "preparation of high-purity lithium sulfide by high-temperature low-pressure method," has been granted a national invention patent, jointly developed by Qinghai Weixiang Technology and the Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

[Solid-State Battery: Zhidongli Narrows H1 Loss, Strategically Positions in Solid-State Battery Materials] On August 21, 2026 (disclosed on August 22), Zhidongli (300686) released its semi-annual report. H1 revenue was 663 million yuan, down 13.7% YoY; net profit attributable to parent was a loss of 15.6069 million yuan, narrowing significantly compared to a loss of 40.98 million yuan in the same period last year. During the reporting period, the company actively expanded its new materials business, particularly making strategic investments in solid-state battery materials to optimize its industrial structure and achieve a second growth curve. Zhidongli plans to build a 5,000 mt/year high-purity lithium sulfide production site.