Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) has secured the final safety production permit for its Jianxiawo lithium mine in Yichun, Jiangxi province, clearing the last regulatory hurdle ahead of the mine’s restart. According to sources close to the company, all production-related certificates are now in hand, enabling CATL to resume lithium extraction operations. Local workers who are employed at the site have begun training in preparation for reopening, and on June 28 observers reported seeing electric mining trucks parked at the mine entrance.
Production at Jianxiawo was suspended on August 10, 2025, when its previous mining license expired. That stoppage briefly tightened domestic supply of lithium carbonate—a critical component in battery manufacturing—and contributed to a temporary rise in prices within a market already facing overcapacity. Since then, CATL has obtained approval for its reserve report in late September 2025 and received notification of the mining rights fees it must pay. Although local media had anticipated a restart around the Lunar New Year, the mine did not resume at that time.
Lithium carbonate and iron phosphate feed into lithium iron phosphate batteries, which are widely used in electric vehicles and energy storage systems. Yichun’s region, rich in spodumene and other lithium-bearing minerals, has long been considered one of Asia’s principal lithium production hubs. For CATL—currently the world’s largest power battery supplier with a market share exceeding 40% in early 2026—access to secure raw materials is a strategic priority.
In parallel with resuming mine operations, CATL has intensified its investment in sodium-ion battery technology to mitigate rising lithium costs. The company expects to equip 10,000 to 20,000 electric vehicles with sodium-ion cells this year and plans to invest 5 billion yuan in building 40 GWh of sodium-ion battery capacity in Fujian province.
Source: China News Electric Vehicle Post
