Guinean villagers in communities around the mine filed a complaint in 2019 alleging contraventions by miner Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinée SA of its commitments around resettlement and pollution.

Once all trials are completed, the companies plan to target the LED lighting and lithium-ion battery markets.

Commodities have seen four supercycles over the past 100 years — with the last one peaking in 2008 after 12 years of expansion.

Some major mining executives have ruled themselves out, and there is not a long list of acceptable candidates.

Ghana’s Minister for Lands and Natural Resources said this goal is achievable as production hasn’t stopped.

The government claims that mining should go ahead because not all the Atewa Forest Reserve is protected.

The market analyst believes that adding lithium, titanium, bauxite and strontium to its list of critical materials brings the EU one step closer to its goal.