Glencore Technology is pushing its Jameson Cell from traditional cleaner/scavenger roles into primary rougher flotation duties to lift recovery and cut energy use in constrained concentrators. Recent installations, including at Lundin Gold’s Fruta del Norte plant in Ecuador, use the cell’s downcomer-based, high-intensity aeration and small footprint to debottleneck existing rougher banks without major civil works. For plant designers, this signals growing interest in retrofitting compact, low-maintenance flotation units to handle higher throughputs within fixed grinding and tailings capacities.

Canaccord Genuity forecasts a “material” lithium market deficit from 2026 through to at least 2035, as constrained mine investment fails to match EV battery demand growth even under scenarios of higher prices in 2027–28. The outlook assumes no further supply disruptions beyond the recent suspension of a major Chinese operation and Zimbabwe’s ban on raw lithium exports, both of which have already driven prices sharply higher. Analysts say “significant” long-term capital deployment into new hard-rock and brine projects will be required to stabilise supply.

Gold prices stabilised on Wednesday, with spot gold briefly up 1.1% before settling just above $4,700/oz after US President Donald Trump announced an extended ceasefire with Iran, easing fears of further disruption in the Strait of Hormuz. Bullion is still down more than 10% since the war began nearly two months ago, but remains 8.5% higher year-to-date and about 60% above 2025 levels. DWS Group’s Darwei Kung reports “cleaner” positioning and an overweight stance in gold, while BMO notes three weeks of consistent ETF inflows but selling pressure in Asia around $4,850/oz.