Battery industry developments: US lithium project approved and Kyushu Electric invests in ProLogium

The American Battery Technology Company (ABTC) has received approval from the US Bureau of Land Management for its Tonopah Flats Lithium Project in Nevada. The project, which includes both a mine and a refinery, targets one of the largest known lithium claystone deposits in the United States. This development is part of a federal effort to streamline permitting for critical mineral projects to bolster domestic supply chains for electric vehicles, data centers, and grid-scale energy storage systems.

In a separate development in the battery sector, Japan’s Kyushu Electric Power is transitioning its collaboration with Taiwanese solid-state battery developer ProLogium into a strategic capital investment. The partnership aims to explore the commercialization of next-generation battery technologies and investigate the establishment of battery module manufacturing capabilities in Japan. These modules are intended for use in demanding environments, such as construction machinery, where safety and performance are critical.