The move continues a recent acquisition spree for Zijin and strengthens its foothold in the Balkans.

One of the biggest challenges facing the industry is raising capital to fund the projects needed to bring the minerals of the future to market.

Russia's Nornickel produces about 5,000 tonnes of cobalt a year as a byproduct of nickel.

The world's largest producer of rolled aluminium products expects demand to also be underpinned by a trend towards more electrically powered cars.

The EU has had a list since 2011, which it has revised every three years.

According to Wood Mackenzie, the Atlantic Copper smelter is one of the world's most efficient in terms of energy consumption per unit of copper in concentrate.