Dmitry Fedorov: I want our jewelry to be displayed at a museum in the future

Dmitry Fedorov is the founder of the eponymous jewelry house. His main focus is the creation of Orthodox-inspired premium luxury jewelry of high artistic merit. He told Rough&Polished about his journey in the jewelry industry, about choosing the ‘Orthodox...

28 october 2024

Responsible business practices ‘no longer optional’, says WDC President Feriel Zerouki

The president of the World Diamond Council takes time out of her busy schedule to tell Rough&Polished readers about the critical work of the WDC. Zerouki, the first female present of the body, which includes all the important industry organizations among...

14 october 2024

James Campbell: Botswana Diamonds optimistic as it enters uncharted territory of using AI for mineral exploration

London-listed Botswana Diamonds has expressed optimism about the company’s use of artificial intelligence (AI) to scan the exploration database in Botswana to look for new mineralised deposits. Company managing director James Campbell told Rough...

07 october 2024

Artur Salyakayev: For me, happiness is freedom to make my ideas happen and create valuable products

Artur Salyakayev is an art entrepreneur, founder of the International Jewelry Academy (IJA) and the INCRUA jewelry company. He has initiated and developed successful projects in jewelry industry and services sector. He is also a leading expert...

30 september 2024

Paul Zimnisky: China key for sustained recovery in demand for natural diamonds, prices

The curtailing of upstream and midstream natural diamond production in the past months is starting to have an effect on prices, according to the New-York-based independent diamond and jewellery analyst and consultant, Paul Zimnisky. He told Rough & Polished’s...

23 september 2024

Automaker GM to back US lithium project for $625 million

21 october 2024

In an effort to secure domestic supply of lithium, General Motors will back up Lithium Americas Corp. project with a $625 million investment.

The Thacker Pass project in northern Nevada hosts the largest known lithium deposit in North America and is expected to produce approximately 40 000 metric tons per year once it’s fully operational, providing GM with a crucial supply of the metal needed for battery electric vehicles.

According to Bloomberg, the cash-and-credit funding deal with project developer Lithium Americas builds on a $320 million investment that GM made in the Canadian company last year. It will be crucial toward the miner unlocking a $2.3 billion funding package the US Energy Department offered on a conditional basis in March.

GM will support Lithium Americas with an additional $430 million cash lifeline amid slumping lithium prices. The automaker will also form a joint venture with Lithium Americas and take a 38% direct stake in the mine as part of the deal.

The companies described the transaction as the biggest-ever publicly announced investment by a US manufacturer in a lithium carbonate project.

Theodor Lisovoy, Managing Editor, Rough&Polished