Read the full transcript from episode 5 of Fast Forward podcast on lithium and navigating the future of energy storage with Albemarle's Eric Norris.

In the fifth episode of Fastmarkets' critical minerals podcast Fast Forward, Albemarle's president of energy storage, Eric Norris, said that economics need to support growth in energy transition's future

Sigma Lithium is “pacing, not racing” the expansion of its capacity in the current lithium market cycle, but has an acceleration plan in case of an improvement in conditions, chief executive officer Ana Cabral said.

Seaborne prices for high-grade manganese ore delivered to China fell sharply in the week to Friday August 16, in the wake of growing resistance from buyers to high prices, Hebei Steel’s cut in August alloy tender price and reduced downstream demand

Signals of oversupply are caused by newly signed contracts and delays in seaborne logistics, said cobalt traders

Africa is known for being home to many key resources, including copper and cobalt, but it’s equally known for its persistent logistics issues, such as trucking strikes, shortages of transport capacity and congested ports, which have caused constant delays in shipments from the region.

Concerns over battery security have escalated the debate over nickel cobalt manganese (NCM) and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery origins in South Korea following an electric vehicle (EV) fire due to a faulty battery according to sources

A domestic price mechanism for lithium in the US is essential to bring transparency to the industry in order to successfully secure supply of the critical mineral, Graham Harris, chairman and director at Surge Battery Metals, told Fastmarkets in an interview.

Several Chinese lithium producers are considering production cuts or complete suspension to mitigate losses from high costs amid the ongoing lithium price decline and muted demand, sources told Fastmarkets.

Lithium metal batteries are set to give traditional lithium-ion technologies a run for their money and represent the holy grail of energy storage, according to the chief executive officer of US-based Pure Lithium.