Thomas Kavanagh, Editor - Battery Materials, provides an overview of battery materials market with key updates on electric vehicles, lithium, cobalt, nickel and more, including:
- EV market update: tariff wars heat up
- Lithium: production cuts
- Cobalt: Chinese exports increase
- Nickel: uncertainty reigns
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Graphjet launches Malaysian biomass-to-graphite plant
Graphjet launches Malaysian biomass-to-graphite plant
Singapore, 20 November (Argus) — Nasdaq-listed Graphjet Technology has started operations at its artificial graphite plant in Malaysia, which will produce battery-grade graphite using recycled palm kernel shells (PKS), the firm said on 19 November. Graphjet's facility has the capacity to produce 3,000 t/yr of graphite by recycling up to 9,000 t/yr of PKS, which is sufficient to produce batteries for 40,000 electric vehicles (EVs)/yr. The firm has already received its first shipment of PKS, it said. Graphjet has another artificial graphite production facility planned in US' Nevada, and it plans to produce hard carbon at the Malaysian facility to use as feedstock at the Nevada facility. The Nevada facility is expected to have the capacity to recycle 30,000 t/yr of PKS to produce 10,000 t/yr of battery-grade artificial graphite and is slated to begin production in 2026, said Graphjet in April. China, the dominant producer of graphite, added a number of graphite products into its export licensing scheme at the end of last year. The move back then alarmed its neighbours, Japan and South Korea , which are major battery-producing countries and they have since been looking to reduce their dependency on Chinese graphite. China's graphite flake exports fell by 23pc to 44,103t during January-September following the exports curb, according to Chinese customs data. By Joseph Ho Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Japan, Peru sign deal to enhance copper supply chain
Japan, Peru sign deal to enhance copper supply chain
Tokyo, 19 November (Argus) — The Japanese and Peruvian governments have signed a strategic partnership to bolster the copper supply chain, with a comprehensive road map to promote bilateral business opportunities for natural resources. This agreement came as Japan accelerates efforts to secure copper supplies, while Peru is a key global copper supplier. The two countries rolled out a comprehensive road map for enhancing political and economic relationships on 17 November. This includes organising an annual bilateral meeting for mining and energy investment as well as conducting joint research on efficient mining operations, such as removal of impurities from copper ores, according to the road map. Unlike conventional initial agreements that are typically signed without a specific closing date, the Japanese-Peruvian road map has set a 10-year timeline that will end by 2033. This seems to reflect Japan's sense of urgency in securing base metal supply including copper. "Japan would like to continue to co-operate with Peru to strengthen the resilience of the supply chain of mineral resources such as copper", said Japanese prime minister Shigeru Ishiba in Peru on 17 November. Japan's current strategic energy plan that was revised in 2021 aims to lift base metal self-sufficiency to 80pc by 2030, up by around 30 percentage points from the 2018 level. But the strategy appears to not be on track, the country's ministry of trade and industry Meti reiterated in late October without disclosing the current rate. Japan appears to be especially concerned about copper supply. Meti forecasts global copper demand to double to around 50mn t in 2035 following the global electrification of applications including electric vehicles, while there will likely be a 10mn t/yr supply shortage. The country's domestic copper ingot demand is forecast to exceed 1.4mn t by 2030, according to Meti, up by 400,000 t from the 2022 level. This is partially attributed to the adoption of more artificial intelligence, it added. Japan is making efforts to diversify copper supply sources, given the deterioration in quality of copper supplied by the world's biggest producer Chile, Meti said. Peru and Argentina are prominent suppliers in the region, according to Meti, adding that Japanese government support is essential for acquiring stakes in upstream operations in those countries, given their higher risks. By Yusuke Maekawa Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Cop: Progress on actions to cut emissions uncertain
Cop: Progress on actions to cut emissions uncertain
Baku, 18 November (Argus) — Progress on mitigation — actions to cut greenhouse gas emissions — is uncertain at the UN Cop 29 climate summit, as talks on a specific text related to the issue are at risk to be pushed back to 2025, losing any progress made in the past year. Some countries had proposed using the mitigation work programme — a work stream focused on reducing emissions — to progress the commitment made at Cop 28 in 2023 to "transition away" from fossil fuels. But talks have stalled and could end without a conclusion at the summit. Developed countries as well as developing nations including some small island states and countries in Latin America — such as Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Mexico — have expressed disappointment about how mitigation talks were going. New Zealand called on countries to follow up on last year's decision on mitigation at Cop 28 and Norway added that these issues deserved "more than silence on mitigation". Switzerland complained that mitigation was "held up by a select few", and said that the discussion was critical for increased commitments for next year's 2035 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). NDCs are countries' climate plans that include emissions reduction targets. Cop parties are due to submit new versions by February 2025. The US also said that Cop 29 needed to "reaffirm the historical Global Stocktake decision" taken last year. And developed nations, led by the EU, called for the discussion to continue this week — the second week of Cop 29. But countries including Bolivia, Iran and Saudi Arabia, for the Arab Group, pushed back on this. The mitigation work programme is "not… open to reinterpretation", Saudi Arabia's representative said today. The country said earlier that it did not want new targets to be imposed, complaining about the "top-down approach" taken by developed countries. India reminded developed countries that they have yet to deliver on their new finance commitment — a crucial step for more ambitious NDCs in developing nations. But "Cop 29 cannot and will not be silent on mitigation", the summit's president, Mukhtar Babayev said today. "On mitigation we have been clear that we must make progress, "he said, adding that he has asked ministers from Norway and South Africa to consult on what an outcome on mitigation could look like. EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra today said that it is "imperative that we send a strong signal this week for the next round of NDCs", he said. Points related to mitigation — including transitioning away from fossil fuels and phasing out inefficient fossil fuels subsidies — are currently mentioned in the draft text for the new finance goal, known as the new collective quantified goal (NCQG). It is the key issue at Cop 29. Developed countries agreed to deliver $100bn/yr in climate finance to developing nations over 2020-25, and Cop parties must decide on the next stage — including the amount. Developed countries are likely push for the fossil fuel language to stay in the finance goal text, especially if mitigation talks stall elsewhere. But countries such as Saudi Arabia have long opposed this, while developed countries have received some criticism for still not having given an amount for the new finance target. By Georgia Gratton, Prethika Nair and Caroline Varin Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Cop: G20 momentum key to Cop climate finance outcome
Cop: G20 momentum key to Cop climate finance outcome
Baku, 18 November (Argus) — The outcome of the G20 leaders' summit in Brazil taking place on Monday and Tuesday on climate financing will be key to the success of the UN Cop 29 climate conference in Baku, Azerbaijan, summit president Mukhtar Babayev said today. "We cannot succeed without [the G20], and the world is waiting to hear from them," Babayev said. The leaders' summit takes place at the beginning of the second week of the Cop 29 conference. Progress at Cop 29 last week towards agreeing a new climate finance target for developing countries — the so-called NCQG — was not sufficient, Babayev said. He is concerned that parties are not moving towards each other fast enough. Little progress was made in the first week on three main areas of disagreement: the amount of climate finance which should be provided, how it should be structured, and which countries should contribute. Babayev urged G20 leaders, including US president Joe Biden who will be present in Brazil, to send a "positive signal of commitment to solving the climate crisis," and deliver clear mandates for Cop 29. The talks in Baku move from the technical to the political phase this week. Ministers typically have more authority to move red lines. But parties should focus on wrapping up less contentious issues early in the week so as to leave time for major political decisions, according to Simon Stiell, executive secretary of UN climate body the UNFCCC. Babayev expects talks on the amount of climate financing which will be on the table to continue until the last day of the summit at the end of this week, he said. The Cop presidency has invited former and upcoming Cop hosts the UK and Brazil to advise and "ensure an ambitious and balanced package of negotiated outcomes." Both countries have in the past week communicated more ambitious emissions reduction targets, which have been broadly welcomed. The EU today called for the Cop presidency to step up its role in the process. "We do need a presidency to lead, to steer us in the direction of a safe landing ground," European commissioner for climate action Wopke Hoekstra said. Hoekstra declined to be drawn on the amount of climate financing that the EU would like to see. Developing countries have pushed for a high goal of $1.3 trillion/yr, well above the previous target of $100bn/yr. The EU today reiterated instead its desire for the base of contributor countries to be enlarged beyond the current roster of countries defined as developed under the UNFCCC, and for as much private finance to be mobilised as possible to add to public finance. By Rhys Talbot Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
