Mexico does not yet have commercial lithium production, though close to a dozen foreign companies hold contracts to explore potential deposits.

the declaration comes after the processing plant showed results of two months of operating at 80% of its nameplate capacty of 1,250 t/d.

Mexico is looking to build five large solar plants, to help remodel car factories for electric vehicles and produce batteries and semiconductors in the state of Sonora.

EBP represents Calibre’s third major environmental mine development approval within three years.

Revenues stood at $3.12 billion, down 14.6% from the year-ago period and missing a Refinitiv forecast of $3.19 billion.

Executives from Phoenix-based Freeport recently toured the Hayden smelter -- owned by Grupo Mexico unit Asarco -- to appraise the operation.