MaterialsBattery maker clears key hurdle to end suspension that shook marketChinese battery giant CATL holds a Tech Day event ahead of the Auto China show in Beijing in April. © ReutersJuly 7, 2026 17:25 JSTBEIJING (Reuters) -- China's CATL has obtained a safety production permit for its flagship Jianxiawo mine, clearing a key regulatory hurdle to restart production following a suspension that lasted nearly a year.The Chinese battery giant secured the permit on June 29, which would be effective until Feb. 27, 2028, according to information posted on Credit China, a state-run website tracking corporate and individual compliance.In August, CATL said it had suspended operations at the Jianxiawo mine in eastern China's Yichun city when its previous license expired.The halt triggered a temporary surge in the prices of lithium futures and lithium-miner stocks, while sparking speculation about a broader Chinese crackdown on supply to rein in excess capacity.CATL had to tap external suppliers for lithium ore after the mine closed, Reuters reported in October, citing sources with direct knowledge of the matter.The Jianxiawo mine has an annual production capacity equivalent to about 46,000 metric tons of lithium carbonate, accounting for 3% of 2025 global output, according to data from the Australian government.