Page 171 - CW E-Magazine (7-1-2025)

News from Abroad News from Abroad

CONSOLIDATION technology that can produce up to 3.5-tpa
Arcadium Lithium shareholders approve $6.7-bn of gallium. The Government of
Quebec has committed up to C$7-mn
Rio Tinto deal for the demonstration phase. Eventu-
ally, the extraction potential of a com-
mercial-scale plant could reach 40-tpa,
Arcadium Lithium said about 98% of representing 5-10% of current world
its shareholders have voted in favour of gallium production.
a $6.7-bn sale to mining giant Rio Tinto.
Primary gallium is used in key
Approval from government regula- sectors, including the manufacture of
tors in fi ve countries, including China integrated circuits, which are of vital
and Australia, is now required to fi nalise importance in many new technologies
the merger. The deal, expected to close in such as high-performance radar, smart-
mid-2025, will catapult Rio Tinto to the phones, electric cars and laptops.
world’s third-largest lithium miner posi-
tion, just behind Albemarle and SQM. In addition to aluminium, copper,
iron ore and titanium dioxide, Rio Tin-
Arcadium is facing legal hurdles, as to already produces a wide range of aluminium alloys, tellurium for solar initiatives are ongoing to evaluate the
some shareholders have fi led lawsuits critical minerals in its North American panels and molybdenum for steel possibility of extracting new materials
against it alleging misrepresentation, facilities, including scandium used in alloys. Other research and development from the company’s existing operations.
concealment and negligence regarding
the takeover deal, the company revealed (EVs), especially in Europe and the US, slow that they did not expect to pay a GC, Econic, and Allnex to jointly explore advanced
in a regulatory fi ling earlier in December has impacted the battery metals market. dividend next year.
2023. Since hitting a price peak of more than polymer systems from captured carbon
$8,000 a tonne two years ago, lithium IGO and Tianqi jointly own Tianqi
Rio Tinto had said it would pay $5.85 hydroxide, a commonly traded form of the Lithium Energy Australia (TLEA), which Thailand’s PTT Global Chemical By integrating Econic’s sion resistance, and aesthetic
per share in cash for Arcadium, nearly a material, has fallen to less than $800 per operates a metal refi nery at Kwinana, Public Company Ltd. (GC) has signed a technologies, GC and Allnex properties,” a press note re-
90% premium to the stock’s closing price tonne. The fall has forced most Australian near Perth in Western Australia. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aim to reduce the environmen- leased on the occasion said.
on October 4. lithium mines to close or have operations fi rst stage of the plant was recently shut with Econic Technologies, a UK-based tal footprint of their businesses
suspended. However, Rio Tinto’s CEO for maintenance and debottlenecking deep-tech company specialising in re- and promote the development “By combining our re-
The Australian miner will gain access Mr. Jakob Stausholm has said he is un- with the benefi ts of the work expected newable carbon solutions, and Allnex, of eco-friendly polymer pro- newable carbon technology
to Arcadium’s lithium mines, processing concerned with the current low price for to be felt in the fi rst quarter of next a leading manufacturer of industrial ducts. “Econic’s technologies with their extensive expertise
facilities and deposits in Argentina, lithium because it is a metal of the future. year though that could be delayed coating resins and additives. The part- can reduce the carbon footprint in coatings, we are poised to
Australia, Canada and the US as well as because of the tough lithium market. ners will explore business and research of some products by 30 percent drive signifi cant advancements
customers including Tesla, BMW and In the latest sign of a market under In a statement fi led with the Australia opportunities to develop advanced poly- or more. The technologies also have the in polymer science that align with global
General Motors. pressure, IGO, an Australian company Stock Exchange, IGO said TLEA had mer systems and processes for coatings potential to improve the performance of sustainability goals,” said Mr. Keith
and Tianqi, a Chinese company, warned experienced a build of inventory at made from captured carbon. coatings by enhancing durability, corro- Wiggins, CEO of Econic.
Tough times for lithium that sales from a jointly owned lithium Kwinana, which is expected to continue
Sluggish demand for electric vehicles hydroxide processing plant were so in the short term. Mitsubishi Chemical set to raise synthetic silica

CRITICAL MINERAL powder capacity
Rio Tinto explores development of gallium extraction Japan’s Mitsubishi Chemical Group by its ultra-high purity, is employed as a ingot manufacturing process, to prevent

process in Canada (MCG Group) has decided to increase raw material for quartz crucibles used in the inclusion of impurities that can signi-
its production capacity of synthetic silica the production of semiconductor silicon fi cantly degrade wafer quality. According
powder used in the semiconductor manu- (ingots) and for high-purity quartz parts in to MCG, its product boasts high competi-
As part of a R&D programme, global strategic mineral already present in the When the preliminary phase of facturing process at its Kyushu-Fukuoka semiconductor manufacturing equipment. tiveness in this application by achieving
mining & metals giant, Rio Tinto, is bauxite processed in its alumina refi - technology development is conclusive, plant in Japan. Operations are scheduled to the “world’s highest level of purity” for
assessing the potential for extracting nery in Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, the Rio Tinto plans to build a demonstra- start in September 2028. The company’s The surface of the quartz crucible must sand-type silica using manufacturing
and valorising gallium, a critical and only one in Canada. tion plant in Saguenay for extraction synthetic silica powder, characterised be extremely pure, particularly during the technology perfected over many years.

170 Chemical Weekly January 7, 2025 Chemical Weekly January 7, 2025 171

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