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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Environment
Jonathan Barrett Senior business reporter

Australia’s ‘white gold’ was supposed to fuel the EV transition – then prices for battery minerals collapsed

lithium Australia Gold Jake Whitehead nickel Martin Jackson electric vehicle CRU
An employee holds processed lithium for a photograph in Australia
As EV demand increased, the resources sector rushed to build new lithium projects. An oversupply is now forcing some to close. Photograph: Bloomberg Creative Photos/Getty Images

Minerals crucial to electric vehicle batteries have become sought after by carmakers tapping into the electrification of the automotive industry.

But recently something counterintuitive has happened – the prices of lithium, nickel and other battery minerals have collapsed.

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