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Chinese 5G rollout lifts lithium battery demand

  • Spanish Market: Metals
  • 19/03/20

The rollout of fifth-generation (5G) telecom networks is not only driving demand for electronic metals in network equipment, but increasing demand for lithium batteries to provide back-up power for base stations.

Lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) batteries are increasingly replacing lead-acid batteries in telecom networks as they provide higher energy density. And with the signal ranges in 5G networks running shorter than those in 4G networks, the rollout will require more base stations to provide coverage, particularly in cities, in turn requiring more back-up power.

Consequently, power consumption from the telecom industry is set to climb with the installation of 5G base stations. Typical power demand from 4G base stations is 780-930MW, while 5G base stations consume 3.4-3.7GW, according to investment bank Guotai Junan Securities. The bank expects demand for lithium batteries from the 5G sector to jump to 13.3GWh this year from 2.7GWh last year, rising further to 14.5GWh in 2021 and to 16GWh in 2022.

State-owned telecom service provider China Mobile and telecom infrastructure firm China Tower have recently issued tenders for 2GWh of LFP batteries for their 5G networks. China Tower has switched from using lead-acid batteries to procuring recycled LFP batteries from electric vehicles.

China Tower added a net 69,000 new network sites last year, bringing its total to 1.994mn, it said today, and expects it tower business to continue growing with the expansion of 5G. The company is expanding its energy business in tandem, with a portfolio of power back-up and generation, charging and battery exchange in line with growing demand for 5G base station co-location.

The Chinese government is set to release investment funds to accelerate the construction of new infrastructure, including 5G networks and data centres, according to the government's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). The installation of network equipment such as base stations and data servers is expected to raise demand for minor metals, including gallium, indium and silicon.

The NDRC approved 15.3bn yuan of investment in 19 projects in the first two months of this year, primarily in the transportation and technology industries.

The Chinese government has put forward plans to stimulate the economy by investing in seven areas — 5G networks, the industrial Internet of Things (IoT), transportation systems, data centres, artificial intelligence, ultra-high-voltage networks and electric vehicle charging stations. The NDRC is moving ahead with investments and working with provincial and municipal governments to reform the project management process for foreign investment.

China is expected to account for 70pc of global 5G connections in 2020, according to telecom industry body the GSM Association. Chinese telecom operators are expected to invest more than $180bn in 2020-25 in mobile capital expenditure, about 90pc of which will be on 5G networks.


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14/10/24

India industries confident of 2030 renewable energy aim

India industries confident of 2030 renewable energy aim

Mumbai, 14 October (Argus) — Indian industries are confident about reaching the country's renewable energy target of 500GW by 2030, senior executives said at the Financial Times' Energy Transition Summit in New Delhi last week. This is especially given strong capacity installation of solar and wind projects in the coming years, delegates heard. India's renewable energy capacity stands at 199.5GW as of August, a rise of 12pc on the year, data from the Central Electricity Authority show. "India's [renewable] power sector has already grown at a [compound annual growth rate] of nearly 20pc in the last 10 years … The pace at which some of the bids are coming, we should reach 500GW by 2030," said domestic utility Tata Power's chief executive officer Praveer Sinha. A record 69GW of renewable energy tenders were issued during the April 2023-March 2024 fiscal year, surpassing the government-mandated target of 50GW. Tata Power is operating 4.5GW installed capacity of renewable energy that produced 64.6Th of electricity in the April 2023-March 2024 fiscal year. It aims to add another 5GW of installed capacity in the coming years, underscoring its commitment to providing round-the-clock renewable energy through solar, wind, and pumped hydro storage projects, Sinha added. Indian steel manufacturer ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel (AMNS) also plans to add 1GW/yr of renewable energy capacity for its captive power consumption, managing director Dilip Oommen said. AMNS has developed a 975MW hybrid renewable energy project at Alamuru village in India's southern state of Andhra Pradesh. The project will generate 661MW of solar and 314MW of wind power capacity, which will be integrated with a pumped hydro storage facility owned by renewables developer Greenko to overcome the intermittent nature of wind and solar power generation, ensuring round-the-clock power. Power generated from the solar and wind sites will be connected from Andhra Pradesh's Kurnool district via a 400kV interstate transmission system up to AMNS' Hazria facility. The firm is also considering using hydrogen in its electric arc furnace, but remains skeptical about the cost economics. "At present, the cost of hydrogen is $3.50/kg," Oommen said, adding that if this falls below $2/kg, it would be feasible for commercial use at its facilities. The reduction in the cost of renewable power generation over the last few years has also raised interest in the sector, incentivising the coal-dominated eastern regions of India to adopt renewables, said Indian independent power provider Ampin Energy's chief executive officer Pinaki Bhattacharya. The domestic steel sector, one of the country's largest carbon emitters, is looking at ways to reduce emissions in light of the policies under the EU's carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), which will take effect on 1 January 2026. This was echoed during a session on 9 October when India's finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman noted that India has been consistent in promoting domestic investment in renewables and establishing transmission lines. But she described CBAM as "a trade barrier" that could hurt investment in India's heavy industries and hinderthe country's transition away from fossil fuels. CBAM is a "unilateral" and "arbitrary" measure, which would "not be helpful" for India, she said, adding that India's concerns "would definitely be voiced" with the EU. Her sentiments were in line with that of commerce minister Piyush Goyal, who said last year that India will not accept any unfair taxes on steel that the EU imposes under the CBAM. Coal to renewables switch "We are not on track yet to displace coal," said Indian not-for-profit thinktank Centre for Science and Environment's director general Sunita Narain, when asked about India's transition from coal to renewables, considering that coal still dominates the country's electricity mix. Renewable energy generation capacity has currently increased to 13pc of the total electricity mix, but the country needs to hit the 35pc target by 2030, she added. India's power generation continues to rely on coal because of an abundant supply of the fuel as well as its cheaper price over other alternatives. Out of India's total installed capacity of 451GW, coal comprises 48.27pc, followed by solar at 19.84pc and wind at 10.47pc, as of August, data from government think tank Niti Aayog show. By Ankit Rathore Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Korea's Posco starts output at new NCA cathode plant


14/10/24
14/10/24

Korea's Posco starts output at new NCA cathode plant

Singapore, 14 October (Argus) — South Korean battery materials producer Posco Future M, a subsidiary of conglomerate Posco, has begun producing nickel-cobalt-aluminum (NCA) cathodes at its plant in Pohang ahead of schedule, citing "customer requests". The 30,000 t/yr NCA cathode plant that sits in North Gyeongsang province's Pohang city was originally planned to start production and sales in 2025. Posco Future M has another NCA plant under construction in South Jeolla province's Gwangyang city, which will have a production capacity of 52,500 t/yr. The firm in 2023 signed a 10-year deal to supply fellow battery manufacturer Samsung SDI with high-nickel NCA cathodes, which will come from some of the lines at the upcoming Gwangyang plant, it said. The company expects to reach 248,500 t/yr of cathode material production capacity by 2026, with 106,000 t/yr from Pohang and 142,500 t/yr from Gwangyang, because of the continuing electric vehicle (EV) market slowdown, it said on 14 October. These capacities are markedly lower from a goal of 320,000 t/yr by 2025 that the firm said in July last year. Posco Future M earlier in September suspended plans to build a nickel sulphate and battery precursors plant with major Chinese lithium-ion battery metal and cathode active material (CAM) manufacturer Huayou Cobalt because of an EV "chasm". The term typically refers to the adoption gap in new technologies between early adopters and mass market consumers, which may be the cause of the slowdown in ex-China EV sales. The firm in September also disclosed that it is pushing back the timeline to complete a 30,000 t/yr high-nickel CAM plant in Canada's Quebec , which is a joint venture with US automaker General Motors, citing "local conditions". The plant was supposed to be completed in the second half of 2024. By Joseph Ho Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Turkey levies HRC anti-dumping duties on four countries


11/10/24
11/10/24

Turkey levies HRC anti-dumping duties on four countries

London, 11 October (Argus) — Turkey's ministry of trade announced that it is implementing anti-dumping duties on Chinese, Indian, Russian and Japanese hot-rolled coil (HRC) ranging from 6.10-43.31pc, effective immediately. Turkey had launched an investigation that found imports from China, India, Russia and Japan have damaged domestic production. The anti-dumping duty will be paid as a percentage of the CIF value, in addition to the existing 13-15pc tax on steel products for local consumption. The investigation was launched just after a petition was submitted by Turkish steelmakers' association TCUD on behalf of producers Colakoglu, Erdemir, Habas and Toscelik. Turkish customers, though, remain exempt from the measures if products are imported using the inwards processing regime, with a promise to process and re-export the finished product. Turkish authorities are currently to change to the inward processing regime measure. "Right now, 84pc of the exports are import-dependent," a re-roller told Argus in August. "If you prevent the inward processing regime, imports will be cut, which will negatively affect exports." Turkish mills withdrew their HRC offers today, some market participants said. By Carlo Da Cas Turkish anti-dumping duties Companies Dumping margins ( pc ) China Han Steel Group Hanbao Iron and Steel 36 Qian'an Iron & Steel of Beijing Shougang 23 Rizhao Steel Holding Group 28 Shanghai Meishan Iron and Steel 15 Shanxi Taigang Stainless Steel 17 Shougang Jingtang United Iron & Steel 24.6 Zhangjiagang Hongchang Plate 26.4 Others 43.3 India Tata Steel 6 Others 9.0 Japan All companies 9.0 Russia Magnitogorsk Iron and Steel Work 6,1 Novolipetsk Steel 6.1 Others 9.0 — Turkish trade ministry Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Malaysia starts AD investigation on wire rod imports


11/10/24
11/10/24

Malaysia starts AD investigation on wire rod imports

Beijing, 11 October (Argus) — Malaysia's Ministry of Investment, Trade & Industry (MITI) announced on 10 October that it has started an anti-dumping investigation on imports wire rod imports from China, Indonesia and Vietnam, in response to complaints from a local producer. The investigation will cover imports of wire rod under the HS code of 7213.91.1000, 7213.91.2000, 7213.91.9000 and 7227.90.9000, following a petition lodged by a local producer, Southern Steel in Pulau, Pinang. MITI did not mention the investigation period for the case. It said that Southern Steel has provided evidence that imports of the subject merchandise (wire rod) from China, Indonesia and Vietnam have increased in terms of absolute quantity, causing injury to Malaysian domestic industry. Indonesia was the biggest supplier of wire rod to Malaysia at 120,000t under the above HS code over January-July 2024, up by 8.6pc on the year, according to GTT. Deliveries of wire rod from China to Malaysia rose by 6.4pc on the year to 82,000t over January-July, while those from Vietnam fell by 41.8pc on the year to 23,500t over the same period. Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

Mexico’s Sep inflation slows with energy prices


10/10/24
10/10/24

Mexico’s Sep inflation slows with energy prices

Mexico City, 10 October (Argus) — Lower energy prices supported an easing in Mexico's consumer price index (CPI) in September for a second consecutive month. The CPI slowed to an annual 4.58pc in September, down from 4.99pc in August, Mexico's statistics agency Inegi said on 9 October. This was lower than both Mexican bank Banorte's own 4.59pc estimate and its analysts' consensus estimate of 4.61pc. Energy inflation eased for a second month, dropping to 6.9pc from 7.9pc in August and 9.2pc in July, with LPG prices — the largest component — slowing to 14.7pc in September from 16.8pc in August and 25.6pc in July. Seasonal rains, now ending, have largely reversed the price spikes in farm goods caused by extreme drought earlier this year, with fruit and vegetable inflation slowing to 7.65pc in September from 12.6pc in August, making it the first single-digit rate since November 2023. "Despite the positive performance of agricultural items since August, lingering risks could turn them negative again," Banorte said in a note, emphasizing that above-normal rainfall will be needed in the coming months to avoid a return to drought and price spikes next year. For now, Mexican weather agency Conagua still estimates relatively heavy rains in October, but "more adverse" conditions for November and December, with no state forecast to exceed the upper range of historical rainfall. Core inflation, which strips out volatile food and energy, eased in September to 3.9pc from 4pc, moving within the central bank's 2pc to 4pc target range for the first time since February 2021. Inside core, said Banorte, packaged and manufactured goods continue to improve, standing at 2.9pc from 3pc in August. Services also moderated, adjusting to 5.1pc from 5.2pc. "A downward trend in the latter is needed to corroborate additional gains for the core," Banorte said. "This will still take some time, especially given that the margin for additional declines in goods may be running out." The Mexican bank added that within this context, it maintains its estimate for full-year 2024 core inflation to hold to 3.9pc. Though less weighted than core inflation, the bulk of September's easing in the headline was due to non-core inflation, including prices on more volatile items such as fuels and farm goods. Inegi reported non-core moving to 6.5pc in September from 8pc in August. Despite two months of better-than-expected price improvements, Banorte warned that "risks remain," with energy prices susceptible to gains amid "geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and economic stimulus in China." Still, there is "room to adjust gasoline subsidies" to cushion these effects, it added. By James Young Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2024. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.

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