Early works and long‑lead procurement have started for Liontown Limited’s planned expansion of the Kathleen Valley Lithium Operation in Western Australia, ahead of a formal Final Investment Decision targeted for the end of Q1 FY2027. The programme covers critical items and packages whose fabrication and delivery times could otherwise delay ramp‑up of the underground mine and processing plant. Early commitment to these components signals a push to lock in key OEM capacity and manage schedule risk in a tight lithium project pipeline.

Metals Australia plans a C$2.05 billion high‑purity graphite refinery near Baie‑Comeau, Quebec, designed to process 75,000 tonnes per year of flake graphite concentrate into 51,000 tonnes of battery‑grade products over a 25‑year life, with a projected 25.6% internal rate of return and 227 permanent jobs. Feedstock will come from its Fermont project averaging 10.2% graphite, about 2.4 times higher grade than publicly reported for Nouveau Monde Graphite, and the site leverages rail‑ferry links plus a deep‑water port. The company will bypass a traditional PFS, moving directly to final feasibility while running parallel community and Indigenous engagement to meet Canada’s 2040 graphite mine and refinery targets.

Kodiak Copper and Teck Resources are combining their Mohave and Copper Hill Arizona porphyry projects into Kay Copper via a three-cornered amalgamation, each receiving 20 million Kay Copper shares at C$0.25 and ending with 28% ownership apiece of an expected 70.3 million-share vehicle. Kay Copper plans a TSXV listing backed by a C$4 million subscription receipt financing at C$0.25 and a C$830,000 private placement at C$0.10, leaving legacy Kay shareholders with 9% and new investors with 35%. Mohave (17 km², last drilled 2011) and Copper Hill (35 km², three mapped porphyry centres) are both drill-ready with multiple untested geochemical and geophysical targets.