Latest news with #MinistryOfIndustry
News.com.au
6 hours ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Monsters of Rock: The shape of the lithium recovery, plus copper investments ramp up Down Under
Lithium prices remain subdued, but demand continues to rise Could deficit send spodumene prices back to US$1500/t next year? Copper investments ramp up as ASX options dry up Lithium prices remain very sick indeed, with lithium carbonate barely trading above US$8000/t and spodumene concentrate, the kind of product shipped to China by WA's hard rock miners, down around US$612.50/t, according to Fastmarkets. Few miners make enough cash at those prices to generate a profit, certainly not once capital costs are accounted for. June quarterlies will make for curious reading. There's more negativity on the supply side with the entry of Chevron into the Smackover Formation, a potential oil field brine source of lithium all the energy supermajors are keen on as they look to hedge their oil and gas businesses with exposure to 'new energy'. At the same time demand is still surging. China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology reported a 68% lift in lithium ion battery output in the first four months of 2025 to 473GWh, with export values up 25% to US$21.6bn. With demand for lithium continuing to grow, a modest deficit could emerge soon, some analysts say. "Spot spodumene prices have continued to decline and we have lowered our near-term price outlook to reflect this. We believe a price recovery is likely to be rapid once the market swings to a modest deficit, but the cycle is likely to be shorter given the volume of brownfield capacity that can be brought on-line, largely in Australia," Argonaut head of research Hayden Bairstow said in a note to clients. "We now expect spot spodumene prices to peak at US$1500/t in late 2026, which is likely to trigger a re-start of existing capacity. A return to a balanced market is then forecast for 2027 before the widening deficit pushes prices higher in the long-term. The changes have driven material cuts to earnings for the spodumene miners. We retain our positive view on the sector, with most stocks factoring in weaker spot prices for longer." Argonaut has buy labels on Pilbara Minerals (ASX:PLS), IGO (ASX:IGO) and Liontown Resources (ASX:LTR), with spec buys on Core Lithium (ASX:CXO), Wildcat Resources (ASX:WC8) and Patriot Battery Metals (ASX:PMT), the latter upgraded from a hold in the most recent update. Watch this space. Aussie copper investments accelerate ASX copper investors are facing a conundrum with more and more options taken off the table and heading overseas. Those that do remain in Aussie hands are trying to ramp up as many investments as they can to hit some sort of critical mass. On the outta here list are New World Resources (ASX:NWC) and MAC Copper (ASX:MAC), though there is at least some intrigue emerging at the former. While MAC Copper is yet to pull in competition to Harmony Gold's $1.6bn bid for it and the CSA copper mine in Cobar. But PE firm Kinterra Capital has emerged as a potential challenger to NWC's takever by Central Asia Metals. The bid from CAML was ratcheted up from 5c to 5.3c, lifting its consideration from $185m to $197m, with CAML also making a $10m placement at 5.3c (~5% of NWC) to meet bonding requirements on a quicker than expected Arizona state permitting timeframe for its Antler mine in the US state, as long as no competing proposal is lodged before COB on July 4. Kinterra, which recently emerged with a ~12% stake in NWC, has taken its grievance over the placement to the Takeovers Panel, which has yet to make any interim orders. Meanwhile, capital is being splurged from the top to the bottom of the mining sector on the critical mineral, expected to play a major role in the expansion of green energy and modern technologies. BHP (ASX:BHP) this week announced plans to spend $1.5bn in an arrangement with logistics provider Aurizon Holdings (ASX:AZJ), which will see much of its haulage of copper concentrate, cathode and inbound freight shift from road to rail haulage between Pimba and Port Hedland. Rail's a lot more efficient, creating cost savings as BHP looks to nearly double the scale of its SA copper business, including Olympic Dam, Carrapateena and Prominent Hill by the mid 2030s to 500,000tpa. The mining giant says 13m kilometres of truck movements will be taken off SA's regional roads annually, or 11,000 total truck movements. At a far smaller scale, AIC Mines (ASX:A1M) in Queensland has announced a $55m placement and US$40m prepayment facility ($61m) with Trafigura, which will be used to complete a $77.6m plant expansion led by GR Engineering Services (ASX:GNG) for its Eloise copper mine. The development will grow the Eloise plant from 725,000tpa to 1.1Mtpa to increase its production capacity from ~12,500tpa of copper to 20,000tpa after commissioning in the December 2026 quarter. It will also include the installation of oversized equipment, enabling the company to ramp up to a processing rate of 1.5Mtpa in the future. This all comes as the Queensland government mulls the future of the nearby Mt Isa copper complex, with the underground mine owned by Glencore set to close in the coming month and work now going on both behind and in front of the scene to keep the smelter that is the lifeblood of the town – known as Stack City for its iconic candy striped smoke stack – open up to and beyond its planned closure date in 2030. The ASX 300 Metals and Mining index fell -4.36% over the past week. Which ASX 300 Resources stocks have impressed and depressed? Making gains Capricorn Metals (ASX:CMM) (gold) +11.2% IperionX (ASX:IPX) (titanium) +9.2% Adriatic Metals (ASX:ADT) (silver) +8.6% Newmont Corporation (ASX:NEM) (gold) +7.9% Eating losses Patriot Battery Metals (ASX:PMT) (lithium) -17.9% ioneer (ASX:INR) (lithium) -16.5% Coronado Global Resources (ASX:CRN) (coal) -16.7% Vulcan Steel (ASX:VSL) (steel) -14.8%
Zawya
a day ago
- Business
- Zawya
Jordan's stock of wheat covers 10 months — Ministry of Industry
AMMAN — The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply announced on Wednesday that the Kingdom's wheat reserves are sufficient to cover domestic consumption for 10 months, while barley stocks will last for eight months. Ministry Spokesperson Yanal Barmawi said that the ministry continues to issue tenders to secure additional quantities, with imports coming from "key" suppliers such as Romania, Bulgaria and Russia, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. Construction is under way on new grain storage facilities in Qatraneh with a capacity of 600,000 tonnes. Once completed by the end of the year, Jordan's total grain storage capacity will reach 2.31 million tonnes, Barmawi added. He said that current storage includes 710,000 tonnes in vertical silos and one million tonnes in horizontal warehouses, stressing that the ministry is committed to safeguarding the Kingdom's strategic reserves and securing as much stock as possible. The increase in storage capacity, he noted, will allow Jordan to maintain wheat reserves sufficient for more than 16 months. Barmawi also highlighted that supply chains continue to operate normally and are being closely monitored to ensure the availability of essential foodstuff and other goods, sourced both locally and through imports from various origins. © Copyright The Jordan Times. All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Arab News
a day ago
- Business
- Arab News
Industrial cities in Saudi Arabia's Qassim region hit 77% occupancy rate, official reveals
RIYADH: Industrial cities in Saudi Arabia's Qassim region are performing at occupancy rates of up to 77 percent, with 158 factories currently in operation, reflecting strong growth and a supportive business environment, according to a top official. During a meeting organized by the the area's chamber of commerce, the Kingdom's Deputy Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources for Industrial Affairs Khalil Ibrahim bin Salamah explained that the value of industrial investments in the region during the first quarter of 2025 reached SR700 million ($186 million), with the city of Buraydah accounting for the largest share, the Saudi Press Agency reported. This reflects the Kingdom's National Industrial Strategy, introduced in October 2022, which aims to increase the number of factories in the Kingdom to approximately 36,000 by 2035. This approach is designed to attract investment, scale up local production, and strengthen non-oil exports. The SPA statement said: 'The meeting aimed to introduce the most prominent ministerial services and programs and discuss the sector's aspirations to achieve continued growth in development and investment.' It added: 'The meeting addressed several topics related to the industrial sector, including standard incentives for the industrial sector, which enhance the competitive sustainability of the industrial sector in the Kingdom.' The statement further revealed that the assembly addressed the environmental impact of industrial facilities and presented solutions to help improve efficiency and quality. It also included a review and introduction to the Factories of the Future Program, as well as the process of converting these facilities to adopt modern manufacturing practices, automation, and digitization, which directly contribute to the development of the industrial sector in the Kingdom. The gathering also saw a review of the Industrial Links Program, which connects manufacturers with major projects to achieve the goals of the national strategy for increasing local content. The Qassim region experienced 25 percent growth in its business sector over the past seven years, reflecting increased economic activity and contributing to the Kingdom's goal of balanced development, the Ministry of Commerce reported in a post on its official X account in May. The number of commercial records in the central region rose from 68,000 in 2018 to 85,000 by the end of the first quarter of this year, the ministry said at the time. In 2024, Qassim Municipality announced that the region had successfully concluded 711 investment contracts, with a total value exceeding SR740 million. The municipality also provided 1050 diverse investment opportunities aimed at supporting economic development and enhancing the quality of life in the region. The increase comes as the Kingdom pushes ahead with its economic diversification strategy, aiming to increase the private sector's share of the gross domestic product from 40 percent to 65 percent by 2030.
Zawya
2 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Jordan: Foreign trade unaffected by Hormuz tensions
AMMAN — Jordan's foreign trade routes remain secure and largely unaffected by tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Supply, which confirmed that the Kingdom relies on the Bab Al Mandab Strait for its international trade operations. Ministry spokesperson Yanal Barmawi told Al Mamlaka TV on Sunday that Jordan's strategic stockpile of essential food commodities is 'safe and very comfortable,' with reserves of key staples such as wheat and barley exceeding national requirements. 'Supply chains are operating normally and are being closely monitored to ensure the continued availability of goods, particularly food items, whether imported or produced locally,' Barmawi said. He added that food supplies remain 'plentiful' across markets and that prices are stable despite regional disruptions. Barmawi noted that the ministry is 'actively monitoring the situation in the Red Sea and surrounding waters, particularly in light of recent military escalations between Israel and Iran.' He emphasised that Jordan's trade routes, both for imports and exports, primarily utilize the Bab Al Mandab Strait and nearby ports, not the Strait of Hormuz. To mitigate any potential disruptions, he said that the ministry has prepared contingency plans to maintain the flow of goods. 'These include alternative shipping routes through Syrian ports such as Tartus and Latakia, as well as land transit options through Syria to reach Eastern Europe, Turkey, Russia, and other destinations.' The spokesperson highlighted Jordan's 'proven' ability to respond to global challenges, citing the 'Kingdom's effective handling of supply chains during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Israeli attacks on Gaza, the Russia-Ukraine war, and other geopolitical crises.' 'The government has implemented a range of measures aimed at sustaining supply chains, safeguarding food stocks, and minimising the impact of rising shipping costs on the local market,' he said. © Copyright The Jordan Times. All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Sustainability Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Sustainability Times
'Japan Reinvents Solar Power': These Ultra-Thin Flexible Panels Could Revolutionize Global Energy Markets in the Next 12 Months
IN A NUTSHELL 🌞 Japanese scientists have developed ultra-thin, flexible solar panels made from perovskite. made from perovskite. 🚀 These panels have the potential to generate electricity equivalent to 20 nuclear reactors by 2040. by 2040. 🏙️ The flexibility and resilience of perovskite panels allow integration into diverse surfaces, from car roofs to skyscraper windows. of perovskite panels allow integration into diverse surfaces, from car roofs to skyscraper windows. 🔋 Perovskite panels offer a higher efficiency than traditional silicon cells, capturing up to 90% of light even on cloudy days. Japanese researchers have recently made significant strides in solar energy technology by developing ultra-thin, flexible solar panels that promise to revolutionize the industry. Made from a material they describe as miraculous, these panels could potentially generate as much electricity as 20 nuclear reactors. With the looming energy crisis and the pressing need for sustainable solutions, such innovations are of paramount importance. The use of this new material, perovskite, could vastly improve energy efficiency and be a game-changer in our transition to renewable energy sources. The Miracle of Perovskite At the heart of this breakthrough is perovskite, a material that's increasingly being hailed as the future of solar energy. According to a Japanese Ministry of Industry energy plan, these solar panels, made from perovskite, have the potential to produce 20 gigawatts of electricity by 2040. This is a remarkable feat when compared to traditional silicon-based cells. Perovskite cells boast a theoretical efficiency limit of 43%, significantly higher than the 29% limit of standard silicon cells. This increase in efficiency could lead to more effective harnessing of solar energy and a substantial reduction in our reliance on fossil fuels. The enhanced efficiency of perovskite is not just theoretical. These panels have shown real-world potential to outperform conventional solar cells. They offer a promising avenue for the development of renewable energy technologies, providing a viable solution to meet the growing global demand for clean energy. As the world seeks alternatives to fossil fuels, perovskite's potential to transform the solar industry cannot be overstated. World's Most Powerful Flexible Solar Cell: Japan's Stunning Breakthrough Reaches 26.5% Efficiency, Setting Unprecedented Global Performance Standard Applications and Adaptability One of the standout features of perovskite solar panels is their flexibility and resilience. This adaptability opens up a plethora of applications, from automotive roofs to the curved windows of skyscrapers. Such versatility means that they can be integrated into a variety of surfaces, making them an ideal choice for urban environments where space is at a premium. Moreover, significant research into this technology has led to rapid advancements, with several companies already commercializing perovskite technology on an industrial scale. The potential applications don't end there. The ability of these cells to capture up to 90% of light, even on cloudy days, enhances their appeal. This capability ensures a more consistent energy supply, which is crucial for regions with less sun exposure. By outfitting buildings and vehicles with these flexible panels, cities can significantly boost their renewable energy output, paving the way for a more sustainable future. 'World Scientists Stunned': Breakthrough Material Converts Sunlight Into Heat With Record-Breaking Efficiency, Shattering All Expectations Comparing Efficiency: Perovskite vs. Silicon To better understand the potential of perovskite, let's compare its efficiency with traditional silicon cells. The table below outlines the key differences: Material Theoretical Efficiency Limit Real-World Application Perovskite 43% Ultra-thin, flexible panels adaptable to various surfaces Silicon 29% Rigid panels primarily used in large solar farms This table illustrates how perovskite's efficiency far surpasses that of silicon, offering a more versatile and higher-performing alternative. The ability to create flexible solar panels means that perovskite can be used in locations where traditional panels would not be feasible, thus expanding the reach and impact of solar energy. Swiss Startup Stuns the World by Powering Trains With the First-Ever PV Solar Plant Built Directly on Active Railway Tracks Commercialization and Future Prospects The commercialization of perovskite solar technology is already underway, with numerous companies exploring its vast potential. As research continues to progress, the cost of production is expected to decrease, making these panels more accessible to a wider market. This affordability, coupled with their superior efficiency and adaptability, positions perovskite panels as a leading contender in the renewable energy sector. Looking ahead, the integration of perovskite panels into everyday infrastructure could significantly alter the energy landscape. As more industries and consumers adopt this technology, the cumulative impact on global energy consumption could be profound. By reducing dependency on non-renewable resources, perovskite panels could play a pivotal role in addressing climate change and achieving energy sustainability. In conclusion, the advent of perovskite solar panels represents a major leap forward in renewable energy technology. Their unprecedented efficiency, combined with their flexibility and adaptability, offers exciting opportunities for innovation in energy generation. As we continue to explore the potential of this groundbreaking material, one question remains: how will the widespread adoption of perovskite panels reshape our approach to energy consumption and sustainability in the coming decades? Our author used artificial intelligence to enhance this article. Did you like it? 4.5/5 (27)
