Chinese battery giant CATL's Jianxiawo lithium mine in Jiangxi Province remains shut as it awaits environmental approval, according to state media reports on Friday.
The facility, located in the city of Yichun, is also undergoing maintenance, further complicating any near-term restart of production.
This development underscores the persistent regulatory headwinds facing critical mineral extraction projects in China, where environmental compliance has become a decisive factor in operational continuity.
The closure adds to a growing list of supply disruptions in the global battery mineral sector.
Just recently, Brazilian environmental authorities suspended operations at Sigma Lithium's mine in Minas Gerais due to serious regulatory breaches, while political uncertainty continues to cloud the fate of the shuttered Cobre Panama mine.
These concurrent events highlight the fragility of the supply chain for lithium and other battery-grade materials, which are essential for the energy storage and electric vehicle industries.