Zijin Mining accelerates new energy layout: 500 million yuan invested in building an experimental base, aiming at the global lithium battery production giant

Recently, the Zijin Changsha New Energy and New Materials Experimental Base with a total investment of over 500 million yuan started construction in Yuelu High-tech Zone. The project mainly develops international cutting-edge technologies including lithium-ion batteries, all-solid-state batteries, water electrolysis hydrogen production, and new energy materials such as rubidium and cesium molybdenum. The comprehensive R&D building is expected to be fully completed and put into use by the end of 2025.

Zijin Mining invests 500 million yuan to enter new energy: Changsha experimental base sets sail to accelerate lithium resource layout and circular economy construction

Zijin Mining, a non-ferrous metal giant, has a market value of over 400 billion yuan and is advancing its new energy strategy at an unprecedented speed. Recently, Zijin Mining held a grand groundbreaking ceremony for a new energy and new materials experimental base with a total investment of over 500 million yuan in Yuelu High-tech Zone. The project focuses on the research and development of cutting-edge new energy materials such as lithium-ion batteries, all-solid-state batteries, water electrolysis hydrogen production, and rubidium and cesium molybdenum, marking a solid step forward in Zijin Mining's exploration of new energy technologies. The comprehensive R&D building is expected to be fully completed and put into use by the end of 2025, injecting strong impetus into Zijin Mining's new energy industry.

The experimental base is positioned as an "industrial-oriented application-oriented science and technology R&D highland", aiming to gather top R&D forces and build an innovation engine in the field of new energy and new materials. The completion of the base will greatly promote Zijin Mining's in-depth layout in the new energy industry chain, promote the group's resources from mining to deep processing and terminal applications, and realize the comprehensive upgrade of the industry value chain.

What is particularly striking is that Zijin Mining has also spared no effort in the layout of upstream resources in lithium batteries. In the 2023 annual report, Chen Jinghe, chairman of the company, stated that Zijin Mining will be among the leaders in the global lithium production field in the next five years. According to the plan, by 2025, Zijin Mining's annual production capacity of lithium carbonate will reach 120,000 to 150,000 tons equivalent, demonstrating its ambition in the field of lithium resources.

At present, Zijin Mining has rich lithium resources of about 12 million tons equivalent of lithium carbonate, ranking among the top nine major mining companies in the world, and its lithium carbonate reserves account for as much as 43% of the total domestic reserves. This resource advantage is mainly due to the strategic layout of "two lakes and one mine" - Argentina's 3Q Salt Lake, Tibet's Lagocuo Salt Lake and Hunan Daoxian Xiangyuan Lithium Polymetallic Mine, which together contribute more than 10 million tons of lithium resources.

Even more exciting is that Zijin Mining has achieved remarkable results in promoting lithium resource projects. The first phase of the 3Q Salt Lake lithium mine in Argentina, the Lagocuo Salt Lake lithium mine in Tibet, and the Xiangyuan lithium mine in Dao County, Hunan Province have been successfully completed and put into operation. In addition, the company was invited to lead the exploration and development of the northeastern part of the world-class Manono lithium mine, further broadening the channels for obtaining lithium resources.

While actively deploying lithium resources, Zijin Mining is also committed to building a circular economy system for the new energy materials industry. Through the development model of "non-ferrous metals-new materials-green and low-carbon", the company is gradually realizing the efficient utilization and recycling of resources. In the field of lithium battery recycling, the 20,000-ton lithium iron phosphate battery recycling project jointly promoted by Zijin Lithium Yuan Materials, a subsidiary of Zijin Mining, and the joint venture Zijin Youli will be put into production in 2025, contributing to the company's green and sustainable development.Editor/Zhang Chun hui