The West is now challenging China's tight grip on the mineral riches lying beneath the soil of the Congo and Zambia.

Share divestment is a condition required by authorities to extend Vale Indonesia's mining permit, which will otherwise end in 2025.

The move opens the way for the crisis-hit industry to access billions of dollars in cheap government loans.

The company last fall announced its long-anticipated plan to filter lithium from the Smackover brine formation that flows under Arkansas.

Lithium prices have dropped more than 80% in the past year.

Prony Resources is one of three nickel processors in the French territory that face insolvency as high costs and political tensions have hit profitability.

Nigeria-based Africa Finance Corp. last week signed an expression of interest to provide $100 million in financing to the facility.