Australia's EV battery metals industry faces Indonesia, China challenges

SYDNEY -- A prolonged slump in the price of metals used in electric vehicle batteries has spotlighted the challenges Australia faces in its quest to become a key player in the global green transition.

Several Australian nickel miners announced this month that they were slowing or halting operations because of weak prices, while a downgrade in the outlook for lithium saw lenders withdraw a $500 million loan for a planned project.