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Critical minerals news
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14 Oct 2026 · The Northern Miner
South African producer samples battery-grade manganese sulphate and seeks funds for larger plant
Privately held Manganese Metal Co. is producing customer samples from a 6,000 tonne-a-year high-purity manganese sulphate plant in Mbombela and expects commercial sales from late 2027. It is seeking about ZAR 500 million for a second plant of 24,000 to 30,000 tonnes a year, with the IDC and the European Investment Bank doing due diligence, while China made 97% of battery-grade manganese sulphate last year according to Project Blue.
8 Oct 2026 · Ecofin Agency
Lithium Africa plans small-scale spodumene output in South Africa's Northern Cape from 2027
Lithium Africa said it plans to begin small-scale spodumene concentrate production at its Springbok project, which includes the former Norrabees mine, in the second half of 2027, starting with existing stockpiles. A resource estimate and economic assessment are expected in the first half of 2027, and no annual output target was given.
25 Sept 2026 · Ecofin Agency
South Africa proposes critical-minerals investment partnership with the United States
On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, South Africa's trade and industry minister outlined a proposed critical-minerals partnership with the US, including a joint investment platform involving US finance agencies and a bilateral working group. Pretoria's central condition is that investment extends into local refining and processing of minerals such as PGMs, manganese, chromium and vanadium.
24 Sept 2026 · Ecofin Agency
Phalaborwa rare earths project in South Africa signs offtake and technical MoU with Neo
Rainbow Rare Earths signed a memorandum of understanding with Neo Performance Materials covering technical support and offtake of 40% of Phalaborwa's planned NdPr output and 65% of its SEG+ output. Definitive commercial agreements are still required; a prefeasibility study is scheduled for Q4 2026 and a definitive study for H1 2027.
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