“Deals continue to be done, but deals take longer,” a Sydney-based partner at law firm Ashurst LLP said.

The new company, to be called Arcadium Lithium, will be the world's third-biggest producer.

Geothermal Engineering is raising $737 million to produce low-carbon lithium.

The global energy transition may be eclipsed by a critical minerals supply-demand imbalance — unless alternatives are found, experts say.

Sibanye is currently awaiting a decision on appeals against an environmental permit it received for the Rapasaari mine and concentrator, part of the Keliber lithium project.

The agreed rules set targets for the region to mine 10% of the critical raw materials it consumes, such as lithium, and for the first time copper and nickel.

Company will go ahead with plans to add more capacity in Argentina.