POSCO Group is redirecting capital toward lithium development, anchoring its strategy on Argentine brine operations and Australian hard-rock deposits. The conglomerate aims to commission a 173,000-tonne annual production network by 2033, which will incorporate 30,000 tonnes of new ore-based lithium refining capacity. Corporate projections indicate that lithium-related operating profits will exceed 1.8 trillion won by 2035.
Meanwhile, LS MnM has secured priority procurement rights for mixed hydroxide products through its Indonesian nickel processing operations. Its Ulsan Wonsan facility, designed to yield 24,000 tonnes of nickel sulfate annually, is scheduled to enter full commercial production in December, directly feeding into downstream precursor and cathode manufacturing lines.
In parallel, Korea Zinc is advancing its Tennessee Crucible initiative, which consolidates mining and smelting assets to extract zinc, lead, copper, and thirteen additional metals such as germanium and gallium. With a targeted trial run in 2029 and full operational status by 2030, these coordinated expansions underscore South Korea’s strategic push to fortify domestic processing capabilities and reduce reliance on external critical mineral networks.