Rio Tinto secures majority control of Nemaska Lithium in Quebec
Control transfer and management: In a pivotal ownership change, Rio Tinto assumed majority governance at the Quebec-based lithium outfit, shifting decision authority to the miner’s executive team. This rearrangement follows earlier transactions that placed key processing and mining assets under a common corporate umbrella, and it consolidates day-to-day oversight for development and operations. The provincial partner retains a sizeable stake and remains in the capital structure as a co-sponsor.
Financing, assets and schedule: Both partners agreed to continue injecting capital into the program, keeping construction momentum for the downstream hydroxide complex and upstream mine. A mid-decade milestone on the production calendar is in view, with the processing facility targeted to reach initial output by 2028. The deal builds on a prior asset purchase that brought the spodumene deposit and the Becancour plant into the same portfolio, shortening the path from ore to battery-grade chemical.
Strategic fit for North American EV supply: By combining mining and chemical conversion under a single operational chain, the partners aim to create a more predictable source of lithium hydroxide for vehicle makers in the region. The arrangement reduces some upstream risk through public-private funding alignment while leaving headline execution risks — permitting, construction and Indigenous consultation — in plain view. Expect active commercial outreach to automakers and battery makers as the project moves from build to ramp-up.
Read Our Expert Analysis
Create an account or login for free to unlock our expert analysis and key takeaways for this development.
By continuing, you agree to receive marketing communications and our weekly newsletter. You can opt-out at any time.
Recommended for you
American Lithium Minerals Expands Quebec Critical‑minerals Footprint
American Lithium Minerals closed three Quebec property acquisitions that add high‑priority REE, copper and precious‑metal targets across ~17,000 hectares and 539 claims, shifting the company to a multi‑commodity explorer with several drill‑ready options. Industry precedents show demand‑side memoranda (conditional offtake MoUs) can de‑risk financing, but the company will need rapid QA/QC drill confirmation, metallurgical validation and permitting to convert optionality into binding commercial engagement.
SQM Signals 25% Lithium Demand Surge; Q4 Sales Exceed 66,000t
SQM projects global lithium demand will expand roughly 25% this year and reported Q4 sales above 66,000 metric tons . The company’s outlook arrives alongside evidence of Chilean upstream ramping and independent forecasts of stronger battery deployments, creating a tension between rising near‑term demand and incremental supplier volumes that will shape pricing and contract dynamics.
Exiro-led consortium to commit up to US$200M to Thompson nickel assets
A new investor group led by Exiro, with Orion and the Canada Growth Fund, will form Exiro Nickel and inject up to US$200 million to operate the Thompson Mine Complex while Vale Base Metals retains a minority stake and an offtake role. The deal, aimed at preserving jobs and unlocking exploration potential across the Thompson Nickel Belt, targets completion by end-2026 and follows a strategic review of the site.
REalloys Secures Kazakhstan Feedstock to Rebuild North American Rare-Earth Conversion
REalloys has locked a long-term feedstock arrangement with AltynGroup to route Kazakhstan rare‑earth concentrates into North American metallization and alloying capacity, creating an operational feed‑to‑finish chain tied to existing conversion plants. The deal strengthens near‑term defense procurement leverage but does not eliminate multi‑year metallurgy qualification, permitting and financing hurdles that still dictate when fully resilient domestic supply chains will arrive.
Century Lithium advances Angel Island feasibility with $4.01B after-tax NPV and integrated chlor-alkali design
Century Lithium's 2026 feasibility raises Angel Island's after-tax NPV to $4.01B and shows a 27.4% IRR while cutting Phase 1 capex to about $997M and lowering unit operating costs to ~$4,389/t LCE. The study highlights an integrated chlor-alkali co-product strategy, pilot-validated DLE metallurgy, and FAST-41 permitting visibility — all major factors for North American battery supply chains.
Shareholders Approve New Gold Sale to Coeur; Deal Set to Close in First Half of 2026
New Gold shareholders voted decisively to approve a transaction that will transfer all New Gold shares to a Coeur Mining subsidiary in exchange for Coeur stock. The deal carries a 0.4959 share exchange ratio and would leave Coeur with roughly 62% ownership of the combined group if it closes in H1 2026, subject to regulatory and court approvals.
Summit Explore raises $8M to accelerate Western lithium brine pipeline
Summit Explore closed an $8 million seed round to fast-track brine projects in Chile, Argentina and the U.S., pairing Summit Nanotech’s denaLi DLE and a BOOM execution model to shorten development timelines. Independent pilot results from other DLE pilots—reported in the mid‑80s recovery range—underscore a key technical risk: scaling headline recovery rates to continuous commercial throughput and resolving integrated chemistry and permitting needs will determine whether Summit’s playbook re‑rates brine assets or merely compresses early-stage timelines.
U.S.-backed consortium moves to buy 40% of Glencore copper and cobalt assets in the DRC
Glencore and the Orion Critical Mineral Consortium have signed a non-binding MoU that would give Orion CMC a 40% interest in Glencore’s Mutanda and Kamoto Copper Company operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo, implying a combined enterprise value near $9 billion. The deal would grant the consortium governance rights over board representation and the ability to direct the sale of its share of production under the U.S.-DRC strategic framework, while Glencore would continue operating the sites pending approvals and due diligence.