Mangrove Lithium has commissioned North America’s first commercial electrochemical lithium refinery in Delta, British Columbia, with capacity to produce 1,000 tonnes per year of battery-grade lithium hydroxide—enough for about 25,000 EVs—using an electrolyser and membrane system that regenerates sulfuric acid and eliminates sodium sulfate waste. The plant can process feed from brines, hard rock, clays, geothermal direct lithium extraction and battery recycling, reducing chemical consumption and carbon intensity versus conventional routes. Backed by up to C$116 million from the Canada Growth Fund and C$21.9 million in conditional federal support, Mangrove is advancing a 20,000 t/y Quebec refinery and has an MoU to source spodumene from the North American Lithium mine.

Copper futures in New York climbed more than 5% this week to $6.11/lb ($13,480/t), nearing January’s record close as satellite data show Chinese smelters running at unprecedented levels. Earth-i’s SAVANT index reports China’s inactive capacity at just 3.9%, driving an all-time high active capacity of 10.73 Mt, 775,000 t above a year ago, while North American smelter inactivity has surged to 32.3%. Spot TC/RCs have flipped from +$50/t in January 2024 to about –$78.50/t, with Antofagasta’s 2026 benchmark with a Chinese smelter settling at zero, the lowest on record.

BHP Invent has signed two Memorandums of Understanding with China ENFI, a subsidiary of China Metallurgical Group Corporation, and BGRIMM Technology Group to co-develop technologies for mineral processing, leaching and complex ore treatment. The partnerships focus on flowsheet innovation and metallurgical testwork for challenging ores, including operations in high-altitude environments common to western China. For miners, this signals potential new process routes and reagent schemes for low-grade or refractory deposits, with Chinese engineering houses positioned as key design and pilot-plant partners.