South32 aims to accelerate development of the first new US manganese mine for decades as carmakers rush to secure supply of the metal needed in EV batteries.

$1 million was provided in capital funding to the Health Sciences Centre, the rest to BCIT Trades and Technology Complex.

Lithium demand is forecast to almost triple by mid-decade from last year’s level, BloombergNEF said in a July report.

The miner forecasts surging demand for wind and solar farm equipment to boost steel demand by 2% in 2030 and by 4% in 2050.

Prime Minister Anibal Torres said during a conference between executives of large mining firms that the new "attitude" aimed to promote local and foreign investment.

The deal, valued at $3.3 billion, gives Rio Tinto a 66% stake in the giant Oyu Tolgoi copper-gold mine in Mongolia.

Some buyers have said they are shunning Rusal's metal, while others are securing price discounts at the same time as the industry negotiates supply deals for 2023.

Both the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and United Association of South Africa (UASA) have accepted the company's offer.