Rare earths sector at risk of more substitution if prices spike

The world's largest miner has revised up expectations for electric vehicle sales and market penetration, but warns the electrification of the transport sector will proceed only as fast as the development of charging infrastructure does.

The Australian miner, the world's only major producer of rare earths outside China, said the A$500 million-plan ($346 million) aims to boost production, appease Malaysian regulators and fend off takeover attempts.

No decision will be made until the end of 2020, when the company expects to have completed a study on the Jadar, which is estimated to contain 10% of the world's lithium reserves.

Talison Lithium, a partnership between China’s Tianqi and U.S. group Albemarle, obtained an environmental approval for the A$516-million ($361m) expansion of the Greenbushes mine in Western Australia.

Lithium prices remain under pressure despite new report showing record 9.8GWh of battery capacity was deployed globally in March.

The new legislation goes further than ever before, looking at not only the domestic mineral resources but the supply chains that refine the raw materials for electric vehicles.

The electric vehicles pioneer is worried about the effects of booming demand for EVs will have on the supply of minerals needed to manufacture rechargeable batteries.

Commercial production at the tin mine, which is surrounded by dense forest, deeply weathered soils and experiences high rainfall, is expected in the second half of the year.

Joint venture with Jiangxi Special Electric Motor, a major Chinese maker of engines for electric vehicles, will allow Alliance to participate in the downstream lithium products market without having to incur the capital costs or risk associated with the construction of a conversion facility.