【SMM New Energy News】Deye to Invest in 9GWh C&I Energy Storage Production Line Project

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ARECOMS requires companies to utilize their first-half export quotas by July 5, after which any unused volumes will be withdrawn and reallocated.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.

Tinci Materials announced that its subsidiary Nantong Tinci has terminated its planned 243,000-tpy lithium battery and fluorochemical materials project. The company said the decision was driven by an oversupply in the electrolyte industry, intensified market competition, and changes in the fluorochemical market, which weakened the project's expected returns. Tinci has begun evaluating new product plans for its Nantong facility.