CATL's Jianxiawo lithium mine has EIA revoked

CATL's Jianxiawo lepidolite mine, China's largest lithium mine by capacity, is back in care and maintenance after a brief and informal restart in July. Any return to production is now gated by an environmental review since the mine’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was revoked. Completing the review could stretch into the fourth quarter or into 2027. Benchmark has cut its 2026 mined output forecast for Jianxiawo to 32,000 tonnes LCE, from 62,500, almost halving the mine's expected contribution, while its 2027 forecast is so far unchanged at around 99,000 tonnes.