Columnist Clyde Russell calls miners' motivation to tackle climate issues into question.

The deal ups Zijin’s holding to 13.88% from 9.8% and reduces Friedland’s to 13.2%, leaving two Chinese companies as the Canadian miner’s top shareholders.

It will provide at least 61,200 tonnes of cobalt hydroxide, or about a quarter of its annual production, to the Chinese company.

The mining and metals sector is facing greater scrutiny from end consumers, demanding a transparent, ethical supply chain.

A joint action plan being drafted by senior officials in the two countries will be presented to the political party that forms the next government after the Oct. 21 election.

The Caucharí-Olaroz lithium project is now expected to produce 40,000 tonnes of battery-quality lithium carbonate annually for 40 years.

Chinese production up 9.4% so far this year, despite Beijing's pollution fight and slowing construction.