Groups pin hopes on technological breakthrough to produce metal critical for electric car transition
Second facility planned as EV battery supply chains begin to develop outside China
Savannah’s Barroso mine seen as a test of Europe’s ability to secure regional supplies of vital battery material
Carmaker seeks to reduce $7bn cost gap with rivals by simplifying ranges and supply chains
Two companies are combining in an all-stock merger worth $10.6bn
Key battery component lithium is pivotal as car industry switches to electric
Brine it on (sorry)
Australia, Argentina and African countries set to benefit as Santiago moves ‘urgently’ to take stake in key projects
Country’s president is betting long-term demand will provide the clout needed to keep overseas investors in place
Leftwing leader Gabriel Boric also promises to impose stricter environmental rules
Economic recovery may help market for battery metal but speculative frenzy has probably ended
China controls about 60 per cent of global lithium processing, through its vast network of refineries
Without homegrown supply of key battery component, Europe could struggle to compete with China
A rise in cost of the commodity would create relative advantage for better-hedged companies
Albemarle says market for key battery metal transformed by electric vehicle sales
International Edition