What changed
2026-07-29 03:48 UTC → 2026-07-29 03:49 UTC ·
added
removed
Scandium supply‑demand supply gap and mining initiatives widens; projects scale up in Canada, AU
In early July 2026, Building on Mount Ridley Mines announced that it had obtained Mines’ July CSIRO funding to advance downstream research on scandium, signalling a push to develop processing capabilities for the metal. By the end of July, scandium downstream research, a new EY‑Parthenon market study commissioned by for Scandium Canada revealed a widening confirms that global shortfall: projected demand for scandium oxide is expected to could reach about 706 tonnes per year by 2050, while far outstripping a projected supply may only total about of roughly 266 tonnes annually. tonnes. The study highlighted the need for new production capacity, noting that shortfall may emerge as early as 2035 and expand thereafter, driven primarily by aerospace, defence and automotive applications, with aluminium‑scandium alloys identified as a key catalyst. Scandium Canada’s Canada is moving ahead with its Crater Lake Project project in Quebec aims to output Quebec, targeting 91 tonnes of primary scandium oxide each year, annually and commercialising alloys through its Scalium+ subsidiary. In parallel, Australian Mines Limited is expanding its Flemington project fast‑tracking a pre‑feasibility study to potentially raise production boost output from the Flemington deposit from the current 60 tonnes to as much as 180 tonnes per year. year, responding to rising demand from solid‑oxide fuel‑cell and data‑centre energy systems linked to Bloom Energy’s expansion. Together, the research funding funding, market outlook, and the scaling‑up of mining projects illustrate industry efforts an industry‑wide effort to address bridge the anticipated scandium supply gap driven by aerospace, defence, and automotive applications. gap.