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Tesla in talks with Brazil-based startup to access lithium supply for EV batteries
Tesla is reportedly looking to strike a deal with Sigma Lithium Resources Group, a Brazilian startup company that can supply Tesla with lithium, a key ingredient of electric car batteries.
Sigma was granted a license to begin mining lithium by the Environmental Authority of the State of Minas Gerais, the Council of Environmental Policy on June 11, 2019. The license will allow Sigma to mine hard rock lithium, a crucial piece of automotive-grade lithium-ion batteries, for six-years, making the company an extremely valuable asset for automakers pursuing electric mobility.
It should be noted that Brazil was ranked No.7 among countries with the highest concentration of lithium. A large percentage of the metal, used primarily for the production of glass and batteries, is available in the Minas Gerais area.
Sigma has previously met with Tesla’s current lithium supplier, Ganfeng Lithium, a Chinese-based company that is currently the country’s largest supplier of the material. Tesla reportedly organized the meeting between both parties that unfortunately did not end in a deal. Sigma CEO Calvyn Gardner cited the Brazilian startup company could not meet the financial or production needs that Ganfeng requested.
“There’s a bunch of other things that they [Ganfeng] need, not just prices, but other demands which are a little more complicated that sort of restricts Sigma to almost supplying purely into China. It’s not really what we think we should be doing over the long term,” Gardner remarked at a mining conference in Brazil.
Gardner, who calls himself a “fan” of Tesla, was interested in purchasing a Model 3 for himself but ran into roadblocks as Tesla does not have a sales office in the South American country. After import taxes would have more than doubled the cost of the Model 3, he decided to hold off.
Striking a deal with Tesla would directly benefit both companies. Tesla currently uses Gigafactory partner Panasonic as its battery supplier but appears to be seeking to expand it lineup of partners, especially after the Japanese electronics conglomerate has cut its profit outlook due to China’s trade war with the US. Tesla’s acquisition of Maxwell Technologies, an ultracapacitor producer, also hinted at the electric car maker’s plans to pursue battery technology beyond its Panasonic partnership.
It would be beneficial for both Tesla and Sigma to strike a deal directly, with the Brazilian company shipping the lithium to the electric car maker. Unfortunately, this could only happen once makers of cathodes, another primary component of batteries, set up facilities in the United States.
Other large automakers that are bursting into the electric transportation market, such as Volkswagen and BMW, have held talks with Sigma already. Gardner, a graduate of the University of South Africa, is optimistic over the talks with both German automakers. “Having options to get lithium from other jurisdictions and that you can supply over the long term,” he said. “That’s what all of them are interested in and we think Sigma can do that.”
There is no shortage of money or optimism in the lithium mining industry. Sigma has recently received a $30 million loan from Japanese trading group Mitsui, according to Reuters. The money is planned to be used in building Sigma facilities, and will be repaid in a big way: a third of Sigma’s planned output of lithium from its Minas Gerais mining facility.
Elon Musk
Tesla Megapack powers $1.1B AI data center project in Brazil
By integrating Tesla’s Megapack systems, the facility will function not only as a major power consumer but also as a grid-supporting asset.
Tesla’s Megapack battery systems will be deployed as part of a 400MW AI data center campus in Uberlândia, Brazil. The initiative is described as one of Latin America’s largest AI infrastructure projects.
The project is being led by RT-One, which confirmed that the facility will integrate Tesla Megapack battery energy storage systems (BESS) as part of a broader industrial alliance that includes Hitachi Energy, Siemens, ABB, HIMOINSA, and Schneider Electric. The project is backed by more than R$6 billion (approximately $1.1 billion) in private capital.
According to RT-One, the data center is designed to operate on 100% renewable energy while also reinforcing regional grid stability.
“Brazil generates abundant energy, particularly from renewable sources such as solar and wind. However, high renewable penetration can create grid stability challenges,” RT-One President Fernando Palamone noted in a post on LinkedIn. “Managing this imbalance is one of the country’s growing infrastructure priorities.”
By integrating Tesla’s Megapack systems, the facility will function not only as a major power consumer but also as a grid-supporting asset.
“The facility will be capable of absorbing excess electricity when supply is high and providing stabilization services when the grid requires additional support. This approach enhances resilience, improves reliability, and contributes to a more efficient use of renewable generation,” Palamone added.
The model mirrors approaches used in energy-intensive regions such as California and Texas, where large battery systems help manage fluctuations tied to renewable energy generation.
The RT-One President recently visited Tesla’s Megafactory in Lathrop, California, where Megapacks are produced, as part of establishing the partnership. He thanked the Tesla team, including Marcel Dall Pai, Nicholas Reale, and Sean Jones, for supporting the collaboration in his LinkedIn post.
Elon Musk
Starlink powers Europe’s first satellite-to-phone service with O2 partnership
The service initially supports text messaging along with apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Google Maps and weather tools.
Starlink is now powering Europe’s first commercial satellite-to-smartphone service, as Virgin Media O2 launches a space-based mobile data offering across the UK.
The new O2 Satellite service uses Starlink’s low-Earth orbit network to connect regular smartphones in areas without terrestrial coverage, expanding O2’s reach from 89% to 95% of Britain’s landmass.
Under the rollout, compatible Samsung devices automatically connect to Starlink satellites when users move beyond traditional mobile coverage, according to Reuters.
The service initially supports text messaging along with apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Google Maps and weather tools. O2 is pricing the add-on at £3 per month.
By leveraging Starlink’s satellite infrastructure, O2 can deliver connectivity in remote and rural regions without building additional ground towers. The move represents another step in Starlink’s push beyond fixed broadband and into direct-to-device mobile services.
Virgin Media O2 chief executive Lutz Schuler shared his thoughts about the Starlink partnership. “By launching O2 Satellite, we’ve become the first operator in Europe to launch a space-based mobile data service that, overnight, has brought new mobile coverage to an area around two-thirds the size of Wales for the first time,” he said.
Satellite-based mobile connectivity is gaining traction globally. In the U.S., T-Mobile has launched a similar satellite-to-cell offering. Meanwhile, Vodafone has conducted satellite video call tests through its partnership with AST SpaceMobile last year.
For Starlink, the O2 agreement highlights how its network is increasingly being integrated into national telecom systems, enabling standard smartphones to connect directly to satellites without specialized hardware.
Elon Musk
Elon Musk’s Starbase, TX included in $84.6 million coastal funding round
The funds mark another step in the state’s ongoing beach restoration and resilience efforts along the Gulf Coast.
Elon Musk’s Starbase, Texas has been included in an $84.6 million coastal funding round announced by the Texas General Land Office (GLO). The funds mark another step in the state’s ongoing beach restoration and resilience efforts along the Gulf Coast.
Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham confirmed that 14 coastal counties will receive funding through the Coastal Management Program (CMP) Grant Cycle 31 and Coastal Erosion Planning and Response Act (CEPRA) program Cycle 14. Among the Brownsville-area recipients listed was the City of Starbase, which is home to SpaceX’s Starship factory.
“As someone who spent more than a decade living on the Texas coast, ensuring our communities, wildlife, and their habitats are safe and thriving is of utmost importance. I am honored to bring this much-needed funding to our coastal communities for these beneficial projects,” Commissioner Buckingham said in a press release.
“By dedicating this crucial assistance to these impactful projects, the GLO is ensuring our Texas coast will continue to thrive and remain resilient for generations to come.”
The official Starbase account acknowledged the support in a post on X, writing: “Coastal resilience takes teamwork. We appreciate @TXGLO and Commissioner Dawn Buckingham for their continued support of beach restoration projects in Starbase.”
The funding will support a range of coastal initiatives, including beach nourishment, dune restoration, shoreline stabilization, habitat restoration, and water quality improvements.
CMP projects are backed by funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act, alongside local partner matches. CEPRA projects focus specifically on reducing coastal erosion and are funded through allocations from the Texas Legislature, the Texas Hotel Occupancy Tax, and GOMESA.
Checks were presented in Corpus Christi and Brownsville to counties, municipalities, universities, and conservation groups. In addition to Starbase, Brownsville-area recipients included Cameron County, the City of South Padre Island, Willacy County, and the Willacy County Navigation District.
Tesla Megapack powers $1.1B AI data center project in Brazil
Starlink powers Europe’s first satellite-to-phone service with O2 partnership
