Against the backdrop of downstream demand recovery and abundant raw material inventory, lithium carbonate production capacity is continuously being released. Recently, Zijin Mining has made new progress in the construction of a heavyweight project, which is expected to be put into operation within the year.

According to Longyan Integrated Media, the Zijin Lithium Yuan crude carbon preparation project with an annual output of 25000 tons of battery grade lithium carbonate, located in Jiaoyang New Materials Industrial Park, Shanghang Industrial Park, has recently reached an important milestone. The factory manager introduced that the installation of project equipment has been completed, and the plan is to conduct single machine testing in November and linkage testing in December.

Next, the park will actively promote project implementation, urge owners to accelerate progress while ensuring safety, and ensure that the project is completed and put into operation on schedule.

Lithium carbonate business is about to increase in volume

This is another important development for Zijin Mining in the lithium carbonate business, following the commissioning of the 3Q lithium salt lake lithium carbonate project. It is reported that the project is invested and constructed by Zijin Lithium Yuan Material Technology Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Zijin Mining Group, with a total investment of 265 million yuan. After the project reaches full capacity, it is expected to achieve an annual operating income of 1.991 billion yuan and an annual tax payment of 1.53 million yuan.

The project has made rapid progress since its launch: the construction permit was obtained in November 2024; Complete pile foundation construction by January 2025; Realize the topping out of the main factory building by April 2025; Complete the steel structure hoisting of the joint workshop by June 2025; Production equipment will be installed on site in October 2025.

At present, the project has completed the installation of key equipment, and after it is officially put into operation, Zijin Mining's lithium carbonate business will enter the stage of large-scale shipment.

According to data, Zijin Mining Group is a large multinational mining group engaged in the exploration, development, and technological application of metal mineral resources such as copper, gold, zinc, lithium, silver, and molybdenum worldwide. It is the largest producer of mineral gold, the third largest producer of mineral copper, and the sixth largest producer of zinc in China.

Zijin Mining has been laying out lithium resources for five years, but its products have not yet been mass-produced on a large scale. The company has acquired two lakes and two mines through acquisition and cooperation, but the production of lithium carbonate in the first three quarters of 2025 is only 11000 tons, including the production of 3700 tons from Zangge Mining since May.

However, in 2025, multiple projects of Zijin Mining will gradually enter the right track: two months ago, the annual production of 20000 tons of lithium carbonate project in the Lithium Industry Science and Technology 3Q Lithium Salt Lake was officially put into operation; Half a month ago, Hunan Zijin Lithium Multimetal New Materials Co., Ltd. made new progress in the planning of the supporting engineering for the annual production of 60000 tons of lithium carbonate project.

With the upcoming production of the Zijin Lithium Yuan lithium carbonate project, Zijin Mining's five-year layout of lithium carbonate business has finally entered a phase of mass production, and the domestic lithium salt market pattern may usher in new changes.

Lithium battery layout of mining giants

Not long ago, Zijin Mining released its third quarter report for 2025, which showed that the company achieved a net profit attributable to its parent company of 37.864 billion yuan in the first three quarters, a year-on-year increase of 55.45%. Among them, the net profit attributable to its parent company in the third quarter was 14.572 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 57.14%.

At present, the company's profits mainly come from four metals: gold, copper, zinc, and silver, and lithium carbonate is not the main profit point. The performance growth is mainly due to the release of gold production and the rise in gold prices: the mineral gold production in the first three quarters was 65 tons, a year-on-year increase of 20%; The average sales price of gold concentrate and gold ingots increased by 41% and 44% respectively year-on-year.

In contrast, the lithium carbonate market remains sluggish. In the first half of 2025, China's total output of lithium carbonate will be about 430000 tons, a year-on-year increase of 44%; The import volume is about 123000 tons, a year-on-year increase of 15%, and the pattern of oversupply in the market continues.

Expanding production against the trend during the industry downturn reflects Zijin Mining's judgment on the strategic value of lithium resources. The company has explicitly stated that lithium is a strategic mineral for new energy and a strategic resource that the board of directors has determined needs to be expanded.

Zijin Mining's counter trend layout of lithium carbonate is twofold: on the one hand, it is optimistic about the strategic position of lithium resources in the new energy industry, and on the other hand, it aims to secure a position in advance and lay the foundation for downstream expansion.

For example, in addition to the 25000 ton/year battery grade lithium carbonate project, Zijin Lithium Yuan has also planned a 20000 ton/year lithium iron phosphate precursor battery grade iron phosphate project and a 50000 ton/year lithium iron phosphate cathode material production project. The lithium carbonate produced by the project will be partially used in the lithium iron phosphate plant area, and the excess will be sold externally.

In addition, Zijin Mining has established the Zijin Changsha New Energy and New Materials Experimental Base in Yuelu High tech Zone, Xiangjiang New Area, Hunan Province. It is positioned as an applied technology research and development institution with industrialization as its purpose, mainly conducting research on the application of lithium-ion batteries, all solid state batteries, hydrogen production by electrolysis of water, and materials such as rubidium, cesium, and molybdenum. Keywords: New Energy Information Network, Latest News on New Energy

After all these projects are completed, it will comprehensively promote the industrial development of Zijin Mining in the field of new energy and new materials, and help the company extend from resource development to downstream industrial chain. Editor/Yang Beihua