Recently, two battery-grade lithium carbonate projects with a combined annual capacity of 105,000 tons have announced new developments. These are: Hunan Dazhonghe's 80,000 tons/year lithium carbonate project is expected to be completed in 2028, and Zijin Mining's 25,000 tons/year lithium carbonate project is about to start trial operation.
Hunan's 80,000 Tons/Year Lithium Carbonate Project to be Completed in 2028
On October 30, 2025, Hunan Dazhonghe announced a new 80,000 tons/year battery-grade lithium carbonate project, planned for completion in 2028. Leveraging the newly acquired mining rights for the large-scale Jijiaoshan lithium mine, the project boasts dual advantages in resources and technology.
This project represents a major upgrade from the original 40,000 tons/year plan, marking the company’s in-depth layout in the lithium battery industry chain. It is worth noting that the project is still in the early construction stage, with the first phase (20,000 tons/year) expected to be put into production in 2026 ahead of schedule.
In terms of resource guarantee, in October 2025, its subsidiary Chenzhou Chengtai officially obtained a 30-year Mining License for the Jijiaoshan lithium mine in Hunan. The verified and recorded lithium ore resources of the mine reach 489 million tons, equivalent to approximately 3.2443 million tons of lithium carbonate.
Regarding mining capacity, the open-pit mining scale of the mine has been approved at 20 million tons/year. Based on industry experience and the company's tests, this mining volume can support the production demand of 80,000 tons of lithium carbonate per year.
Zijin Mining's 25,000 Tons/Year Lithium Carbonate Project Is About to Start Trial Operation
Recently, according to a report by the Longyan City Media Center, the "Zijin Liyuan 25,000 tons/year Battery-Grade Lithium Carbonate Project" located in the Jiaoyang New Material Industrial Park of Shanghang Industrial Park has completed the installation of main equipment. It is scheduled to carry out single-machine trial operation in November and integrated commissioning in December.
The project is invested and constructed by Zijin Liyuan New Material Technology Co., Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Zijin Mining Group, with a total investment of 265 million yuan.
Source：EnergyTrend