The Chinese firm, which is struggling to repay a $3.5 billion loan taken out to buy a stake in Chilean miner SQM in 2018, said in a filing to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange it made a 696.57 million yuan ($101.47 million) net loss in January-June. That compared with a net profit of 193.41 million yuan a year earlier and means Tianqi has now racked up losses of 6.87 billion yuan, or $1 billion, over the last four quarters, company filings and Refinitiv Eikon data show.
With Roskill forecasting spodumene prices to remain subdued for the next 12-18 months, many producers look set to remain under pressure. Collectively, they face the dilemma of upping production (and utilisation rates) to generate the economies of scale needed to lower their cost base, while not exacerbating an already oversupplied market and deepening and/or prolonging the situation.
"While our financial performance was clearly impacted by continued weak demand for lithium raw materials, our team responded to these challenges with the deployment of a production moderation strategy," Brinsden said. "We have delivered on this strategy on several fronts; firstly, the combination of moderated production and improved lithium recoveries helped us reduce operating costs. Secondly, a $111.5 million equity raising strengthened our balance sheet and put us in a strong position to weather the storm."
Amazon.com Inc said on Friday it had ordered 1,800 electric vans from Mercedes-Benz for its European delivery fleet, as part of the online retailer’s plans to run a carbon neutral business by 2040. A majority of the electric vehicles from Daimler AG’s car and vans division will go into service this year, the company said, adding that it had ordered 1,200 of Mercedes-Benz’s larger eSprinter models and 600 of the midsize eVitos.
While global electric vehicle sales are back to a healthy growth trajectory, significant investment in mining capacity is required if EVs are to become anything more than a niche market, says mining entrepreneur Robert Friedland’s Clean TeQ Holdings. Citing industry forecaster Benchmark Minerals, he states that global battery demand will rise from 166 GWh in 2020, to almost 800 GWh by 2025, requiring nickel consumption in batteries to grow from 140,000 t in 2020 to 570,000 t in 2025.
Swedish battery maker Northvolt says Europe is catching up with Asian rivals in the manufacturing of car batteries but warns that more efforts are needed to build a complete supply chain “ecosystem” in the EU.
Portuguese financial newspaper Expresso reported Monday that the country’s second solar PV tender for 700MW had made history, with “another world record for the lowest price for photovoltaic energy,” with two lots reportedly closed with contracts equivalent to $US13 a megawatt hour.
Ganfeng Lithium , one of the world’s top lithium producers, said on Tuesday its net profit almost halved in the first six months of 2020 as prices for the commodity used in electric vehicle batteries continued to slump. The Chinese company’s net income reached 156.49 million yuan ($22.6 million) in January through June, down 47.1% from the same period a year earlier, it said in a filing to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, adding that the coronavirus had affected its performance and the whole lithium industry.
AGL Energy is set to transition its 400-strong company vehicle fleet to electric vehicles by 2030, and has become the first Australian company to sign on to the global EV100 initiative, which encourages businesses to shift to electric vehicles.
The out-of-court agreement signed between the Atacameña de Camar Community and SQM, takes place within the framework of the company's approach to the communities surrounding the salar. And it adds to the agreements already signed with the communities of Toconao in March and Talabre in January. The approach to the Peine community is pending.
General Motors Co is planning an electric car offensive in China with more than 40% of its new launches in the country over the next five years set to be electric vehicles (EVs), the U.S. carmaker said on Wednesday. GM’s electric vehicles, many of which will be all-electric battery cars, will be manufactured in China with almost all parts coming from local suppliers, the company said in a statement released at its Tech Day event in Shanghai.
Despite the existence of significant stocks and weak lithium prices, lithium demand from the battery market has continued to show strong growth. Roskill forecasts demand from battery applications to drive lithium demand to in excess of 1.0Mt LCE by 2026, which is expected to outpace the drawing down of stocks and expansions at existing producers.
Panasonic will boost production capacity of batteries for Tesla next year in an investment expected to exceed $100 million, Nikkei learned on Wednesday. The investment will be made in Gigafactory 1, a battery plant in the U.S. state of Nevada with 13 production lines. Panasonic will add another line, increasing capacity by 10% to 39 gigawatt-hours per year. Panasonic is also upgrading the batteries being produced at Gigafactory, raising each battery's storage capacity by 5%, starting in September.
Currently, big batteries are categorised as both ‘generators’ and ‘loads’ within the national energy rules, but AEMO argues their unique ability to participate on both sides of the market as a single entity is problematic, and better rules could be written by recognising storage projects as a distinct participant category that can trade power in two directions. Developers have been frustrated by the limitations of the current rules and regulations, which make it not only difficult to site big batteries next to wind and solar farms, but also fail to recognise the huge “value stack” of the multiple services that battery storage can provide to the grid. This has made it near impossible to extract the full value from their investment.
Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Nio Inc has launched a battery leasing service that will allow drivers to buy an EV without owning the battery pack - one of the most expensive EV components - thereby lowering the starting price of its cars. The service, called “battery as a service” (BaaS), entails drivers paying a monthly rental fee for use of the batteries.
Chilean miner SQM achieved record second-quarter sales of lithium even as low prices ravaged profits, the world’s No. 2 producer of the metal used in electric car batteries said on Wednesday. Production was in line with an annual rate of 70,000 tonnes, the company said, allowing it to build higher levels of inventory ahead of an expected demand boom.
French renewable energy developer Neoen has filed its development application for the huge $3 billion Goyder South wind, solar and storage project in South Australia which includes a proposed big battery than it nearly 10 times bigger than the expanded “Tesla big battery” at Hornsdale. The plan proposes a total of 1,200MW of wind energy, 600MW of solar PV, and 900MW/1800MWh of battery storage, an “extremely large” battery as Neoen describes it that will dwarf the 150MW/194MWh “Tesla” battery known officially as the Hornsdale Power Reserve.
Western Europe’s electric-vehicle sales pulled ahead of China’s last month after countries including Germany and France boosted government subsidies to stimulate demand that had been decimated by the pandemic. The roughly 500,000 plug-in hybrid and battery-electric vehicles registered in Europe during the first seven months of the year exceeded China’s sales by about 14,000 units, according to a report from Matthias Schmidt, an independent auto analyst in Berlin.
The new battery type will be different from existing NCA, NCM and LFP batteries and will have no expensive metals like nickel or cobalt, Meng Xiangfeng, a senior executive at CATL, told an industry conference held by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers in Shanghai.
Northvolt AB, the Swedish battery cell maker, got a $525 million loan guarantee from Germany for a pilot plant, marking its support for the technology across Europe. The guarantee is a stepping stone to the battery cell maker’s plan to operate with Volkswagen AG a “Northvolt Two” plant in Salzgitter, Germany, from 2024, the country’s Economy and Energy Ministry said in an email Monday. Volkswagen and BMW AG are participating in the Swedish project.
Indigenous groups in Chile´s lithium-rich Atacama salt flat, fresh off a resounding legal victory earlier this week, said on Friday they will push to see top lithium miner SQM´s environmental permits revoked and its operations shut down.
European battery makers are gearing up to take advantage of massive “green” stimulus packages unveiled since the coronavirus pandemic though many acknowledge it will be tough to match the Asian giants that dominate the mainstream market. Now, China hosts 80% of the world’s lithium-ion cell production – the type of battery expected to power the fast-growing EV industry – and most of the capacity coming online in Europe over the next five years belongs to Asian firms. But the European Union has committed 550 billion euros ($647 billion) to climate protection and clean technologies over the next seven years, and these plans hinge on batteries to store renewable energy - and to power EVs.
Texas-based energy company Vistra Corp has reportedly been granted permission to expand an already under construction battery storage system alongside a gas-fired power plant to provide up to 1,500MW, or 6,000MWh of energy storage.
Another project has been agreed for the key component of electromobility: Porsche and the cell manufacturer Customcells want to jointly develop and manufacture battery cells for the next generation of sports cars. The location of the Cellforce Group founded for this purpose is Tübingen, the Tagesspiegel learned from industrial circles.
AGL Energy has set a goal of installing 1,200MW of new battery storage and demand response capacity by 2024, and is tying the bonuses for executives and senior management to hit growth targets for the company’s clean energy and storage portfolio.
Hyundai has sought to put the fear of range anxiety to bed with a new test that shows Hyundai Kona Electric cars with 64kWh battery can drive more than 1,000km on a single charge, underlining the advantage that EVs have over petrol cars when it comes to noise and tailpipe emissions. The three Kona Electric electric SUVs were each able to drive more than 1,000km (the best at 1,026km) without needing to recharge – more than double the driving range determined for the Hyundai Kona electric using the most common metric known as the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP).
Wholesales of new-energy vehicles, consisting of pure electric cars, plug-in hybrids and fuel-cell autos, advanced for the first time this year, rising 19% in July from a year earlier to 98,000 units, CAAM said.
Chinese cathode and anode producer, BTR, this week listed on the National Equities Exchange as the company looked to raise capital to fund its latest expansions plans. In June, the company had announced its intentions to pursue an IPO to raise $204 million (RMB 1.4 billion) to fund the construction of a 15,000 tpa high nickel cathode project and a 40,000 tpa anode project, both to be situated in Huizhou, Guangdong province.
SK Innovation will become the world's first battery maker to commercialize nickel cobalt manganese (NCM) batteries that contain 90 percent nickel, according to industry sources Monday. The South Korean battery maker will supply lithium-ion batteries that contain 90 percent nickel, 5 percent cobalt and 5 percent manganese inside cathodes to Ford F-150 electric pickup trucks set for release in 2023, they said.
The program of large scale, major scientific and collaborative research initiatives, will be aimed at solving some of Australia’s greatest challenges, focused on outcomes that lead to positive impact, new jobs and economic growth. On the centenary of CSIRO’s first mission, to eliminate Prickly Pear, it will direct $100 million annually to the co-creation of missions, working with the brightest minds across the research sector and industry, to help Australia achieve these outcomes [including to] create new industries that transform raw mineral commodities into unique higher-value products like critical energy metals that build Australia’s value added offering, jobs, and sovereign supply.
Korean automaker Hyundai Motor Co is creating a family of electric vehicles it will sell under the Ioniq brand as part of its drive to become the world’s third-largest seller of EVs by 2025, the company said on Sunday. Hyundai said the elevation of Ioniq from an individual vehicle nameplate to a brand will help support its goal of capturing 10% of global EV sales in 2025.
Despite mining delays as well as restarts of some auto plants following coronavirus lockdowns, prices for the metal used in electric-vehicle batteries remain at multiyear lows. But the head of Albemarle’s lithium business says hefty incentives for consumers to buy EVs in Europe, as well as changes to encourage carmakers to build greener cars globally will help lithium demand.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has dented demand for electric vehicles this year, a South Korean supplier expects its battery sales to reach a new high thanks to strength in Europe and a contract with Tesla's factory in China. Revenue at LG Chem's battery business will reach a record of about 13 trillion won ($11 billion) this year, before hitting 30 trillion won in 2025, CEO Hak Cheol Shin said in an interview at his office in Seoul.
General Motors Co. is pondering a provocative move based on a predicament it has faced for years: Pure plays on electric vehicles are all the rage, while old-school auto manufacturing can’t get any love. The idea -- to spin off GM’s electric-vehicle operations as a standalone entity -- was raised with Chief Executive Officer Mary Barra during the automaker’s earnings call last week. It’s no wonder she voiced openness to the concept: People familiar with the matter say it was floated internally back in 2018.
“If every EV company took their 2023 plans and went to the lithium market today, they’d probably only get about 15% of their needed supply of lithium,” he said.
The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies has welcomed the Western Australian government’s decision to invest A$13.2-million to attract a global cathode active materials production facility for lithium-ion batteries. The cathode active manufacturing initiative includes incentives to offset project costs, such as land lease rates on industrial land to help businesses establish and keep local jobs in Western Australia. This will strengthen the state's position as a world leader in future battery minerals, materials, technology and expertise in global battery supply chains - and supports the implementation of the Western Australian Future Battery Industry Strategy, said Premier Mark McGowan.
The electric vehicle industry has quietly hit one of its biggest milestones to date, as the number of public charging plugs around the world ticks above the 1 million mark.
Sichuan Zhiyuan Lithium, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Guangdong Weihua Corp, has signed a supply agreement for micro-grade lithium hydroxide with LG international Corp, an investment and trading company owned by LG Group. Zhiyuan Lithium will sell 1,500 tonnes of micro-grade lithium hydroxide to LG International to be delivered between July and December 2020, while the purchasing volume for 2021 will be settled by both companies before the end of this year. Zhiyuan Lithium has a total lithium production capacity of 23,000 tonnes per year, while it is expected to reach 43,000 tpy by the end of 2020, according to Guangdong Weihua Corp.
Transport delays from South Africa against a backdrop of increasingly robust Chinese demand have fuelled a price rally for cobalt hydroxide, used to make chemicals for electric vehicle batteries.
Mercedes-Benz and CATL have today announced an enhanced partnership in the field of battery technology. The electric luxury sedan Mercedes-Benz EQS will launch next year with a WLTP range of over 700 km, equipped with CATL cell modules. Mercedes-Benz and CATL will jointly boost the industrialization of lithium-ion batteries in Germany. The Stuttgart-based luxury car maker is accelerating its "Electric First" strategy with advanced, CO2-neutrally produced battery cells, modules and systems supplied by CATL, a technology leader in lithium-ion batteries.
Tesla Inc. could be on track to complete its new plant near Berlin more quickly than its Shanghai facility, according to a local government minister. The U.S. carmaker has said it wants to finish the factory in Gruenheide by the middle of 2021, and faster than the Chinese operation, which went up in less than a year.
The COVID-19 crisis has exacerbated concerns across the lithium-ion battery industry about China’s dominance of the supply chain. The pandemic has also highlighted the need for local supply chains, in order to improve sustainability and work towards net zero targets.
Chilean regulators have rejected lithium producer SQM’s $25 million environmental compliance plan for the Atacama salt flat, requesting the miner to start again from scratch, a filing showed.
from the ASX...Altura Mining Limited (ASX Code: AJM) requests that a voluntary suspension be placed on its securities immediately pursuant to ASX Listing Rule 17.2 in order to enable the Company to finalise with its lenders proposed changes to its current financing arrangements. The Company expects to be able to make an announcement to the market before the commencement of trading on Tuesday 18 August 2020.
Altura Mining Limited (ASX Code: AJM) requests an extension of the voluntary suspension currently in place on its securities under ASX Listing Rule 17.2 pending the finalisation of proposed changes to its current financing arrangements. The Company expects to be able to make an announcement to the market before the commencement of trading on Tuesday 25 August 2020.
Advanced battery materials development company Australian Mines Limited advises that it has successfully received firm commitments to raise approximately A$5.2 million (before costs) in new equity via a fully committed share placement to institutional, sophisticated and professional investors.
Binding MOU with RHI Magnesita (RHIM). RHIM and BEM to work together to produce “tailor-made” natural graphite concentrate samples and products for RHI Magnesita. The MOU follows positive initial test work undertaken by RHI Magnesita on graphite from BEM’s Maniry Project in Southern Madagascar.
The Northern Territory Government Local Jobs Fund (LJF) offers to invest $5 million in the Finniss Lithium Project through a low-cost business investment concessional loan (Finance Facility). Concessional Finance Facility will contribute to lower start-up capital costs. Finniss Lithium Project will create over 250 jobs in the Northern Territory and is expected to generate significant socio-economic benefits and enterprise opportunities. NT Government finance building foundation for FID as Core engages with Project Finance Markets. NT Government support boosts Core Lithium's progress towards becoming the next Australian lithium producer.
Offtake partner discussions and negotiations culminate in Core signing a non-binding term sheet (MOU) for Finniss Lithium Project offtake with leading lithium player. MOU for 20,000-30,000tpa offtake of Core's high-quality lithium concentrate and potential to participate in Finniss project finance. Growing offtake interest and recently extended Finniss mineral resource and life of mine (LOM) offer significant upside opportunities. $1M at-market strategic placement to Xinfeng to fund further Finniss project optimisation.
Evaluation of key underground Pre-Feasibility Study findings identifies significant opportunities to further add value resulting from recent increases to the Finniss Lithium Project's Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves and doubling of life of mine (LOM) including: Increasing Finniss’ production capacity, based on growing offtake interest and expanded LOM, with only minor change to start-up capex. Assessing the growth potential of the Grants prospect. Optimising the balance between initial Grants open pit and new Grants underground mining operation to minimise strip ratio and start-up capex. Assessing grid connection for the Finniss Project to reduce power cost and emissions footprint. Further increases to Resource, Reserve and LOM. Update to the June 2020 PPS to Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) level in Q1 2021 to include these opportunities. COVID-19 has influenced a positive world-wide pivot toward EVs as part of the global green economic recovery, but lockdown also has delayed EV sales volumes and slowed lithium demand. New Lithium price forecasts predict increasing lithium prices in 2022 and accelerating upward in 2023. Finniss final investment decision (FID) in 2021 timed for expected post-COVID-19 recovery in global lithium demand and prices. DFS update aimed to maximise Project outcome without delaying Core's capability to achieve target FID. Core has approvals in place to build and operate the Finniss Lithium Project as soon as global COVID-19 economy and lithium sector recovers and can be ready if the world economy recovers sooner than expected.
Completion of conceptual pond modelling at HMW Project shows its exceptional potential with concentration grade over 50% higher than Candelas (4.8% Li vs 3.1% Li). Both projects show excellent capabilities, with Galan’s Board and project team now primarily focused on the development of the HMW Project. With optimised concentrated brine yielding up to 4.8% Li (25.6% LCE*), suitability for a world class lithium carbonate plant arises. Modelling results indicate that HMW may have smaller pond and processing plant footprints indicating competitive Capex and Opex. Due to the project’s high-grade/low impurity settings, Galan’s HMW project ranks very favourably amongst new lithium projects in the lithium triangle for Li recovery and pond size. Brine samples have been extracted from the HMW site and are ready to be sent to a laboratory as soon as transport permits are available. PEA and Scoping Studies for HMW remain on track with process design and pond layout set to be completed during October with final Study results expected in Q4 2020.
ioneer Ltd, an emerging lithium-boron supplier, is pleased to announce the Plan of Operations for the Company’s Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project in Nevada has been deemed complete and formally accepted by the Bureau of Land Management, marking a major milestone toward the completion of the National Environmental Policy Act process.
Lithium Australia raises $4 million via heavily oversubscribed placement to institutions and sophisticated and professional investors. Lithium Australia launches Share Purchase Plan ('SPP'). Funds to be used to accelerate growth of Lithium Australia subsidiaries Envirostream Australia Pty Ltd (battery recycling) and Soluna Australia Pty Ltd (supplier of renewable energy storage systems). SPP allows eligible shareholders to subscribe for equity on terms identical to those for the placement to sophisticated and professional investors.
High-performance battery cells produced using lithium recovered from mine waste and spent lithium-ion batteries ('LIBs'). Low-cost lithium used for battery cell production recovered as lithium phosphate ('LP') via proprietary Company technology. Testing of cells achieved results in excess of the capacity specifications of commercial battery-cell manufacturers. There is potential for Australia to become more competitive in terms of battery production.
Lithium Australia NL (ASX: LIT) (Company) requests a voluntary suspension of the securities of the Company, effective immediately. The Company provides the following information in relation to this request in accordance with ASX Listing Rule 17.2: 1. The voluntary suspension is requested pending the release of an announcement by the Company concerning a proposed agreement in regards to a recycling supply agreement with a major company. 2. The Company requests that the voluntary suspension remain in place until the earlier of the commencement of normal trading on Wednesday 26 August 2020 or when the anticipated announcement is released to the market. 3. The Company is not aware of any reason why the voluntary suspension should not be granted or of any further information necessary to inform the market about the trading halt.
Envirostream Australia Pty Ltd has signed recycling agreements with two additional batteries suppliers. Over the past 2 years, Envirostream has trialled the recycling of end-of-life battery packs from six different types of electric vehicles. The significance of these contracts are that Envirostream will become a first mover in the recycling of EOL EV batteries in Australia Envirostream expects to begin regular recycling of EOL EV battery packs over the next few weeks. Worldwide, numbers of spent lithium-ion batteries, including EV battery packs, are expected to grow rapidly, underpinning Envirostream’s business model.
Clean lithium developer Lake Resources NL (ASX:LKE; 0TC:LLKKF) has appointed Hazen Research Inc (Hazen), a Colorado-based independent assay laboratory, to produce larger samples of battery quality lithium carbonate for supply to potential off-takers and other interested parties.
In accordance with Listing Rule 17.1, Lake Resources NL. (the “Company”) requests an immediate trading halt on its securities (ASX: LKE) pending the release of an announcement to the market in relation to a material capital raising. The trading halt is requested until the earlier of the release of the announcement or prior to commencement of trading on Wednesday, 26 August 2020.
Lake closes partially underwritten, oversubscribed private placement, securing $2.55 million before costs from sophisticated and professional investors. Funds to help complete production of larger, high purity lithium carbonate samples for downstream off-takers and testing of the lithium chloride product from Lilac’s pilot plant, in addition to initiating a definitive feasibility study for Lake’s Kachi Lithium Brine Project.
Lake appoints respected Novonix Battery Technology Solutions in Nova Scotia, Canada, to produce high-performance lithium-ion battery test cells using Lake’s lithium carbonate samples compared to industry leading materials. Data from battery technology and materials company Novonix will allow potential users and off-takers of Lake’s high purity, responsibly sourced product to make direct comparisons of its performance.
Queensland Department of State Development, Tourism and Innovation approves feasibility study. iM3TSV Board approves investment decision to proceed with the Townsville Lithium—ion Battery Plant. Financing discussions progress with local, state and in particular federal government agencies along with public and private entities. Development Application being finalised for submission to Townsville City Council.
Magnis Energy Technologies Limited [“Magnis”, or the “Company”] [ASX: MNS] announces that it has terminated the employment of Dr Frank Houllis and that he has ceased his role as Chief Executive Officer of the Company effective as of today’s date. Messrs Frank Poullas, Executive Chairman, and James Dack, Executive Director, will continue to oversee the Company’s operations.
World renowned agency Abt Associates conducts report on batteries produced by C4V. Report sponsored and funded by New York State Energy Research and Development Authority [NYSERDA]. C4V Generation—1 lithium—ion batteries with its qualified supply chain highlighted as potentially the greenest in the market. iM3NY to be the first factory to make these batteries at Gigawatt scale.
Promising FY20 full year result despite significant pricing and COVID 19 impacts. Olaroz Stage 2 to deliver a significant reduction in cash costs and step up in volumes. Orocobre has entered into a non-binding MOU with PPES, a joint venture between Toyota Motor Corporation (Toyota) and Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic), for a sizeable long-term contract which would, if a binding agreement is executed on the anticipated terms, minimise Orocobre's exposure to spot prices and significantly improve the customer mix. The Equity Raising delivers financial flexibility to support Stage 1 ramp up and Stage 2 development through a range of operating and pricing environments, as well as capital for future growth initiatives.
Orocobre Limited advises that a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed by Orocobre, Sales de Jujuy (SDJ, the operator of the Olaroz lithium facility), Toyota Tsusho Corporation (TTC), Toyotsu Lithium Corporation (TLC, the TTC subsidiary in Naraha joint venture) and Prime Planet and Energy Solutions Inc. (PPES) for the supply of battery grade lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate for use in PPES battery production supply chain.
A$126 million raised through an oversubscribed institutional placement. Demonstrates strong endorsement for Orocobre's enhanced financial flexibility and future outlook. Non-underwritten Share Purchase Plan to raise up to A$30 million (SPP) will open to existing eligible shareholders in Australia and New Zealand shortly.
Piedmont Lithium Limited (”Piedmont" or ”Company") is pleased to announce that it has completed its previously announced placement of 120,000,000 fully paid ordinary shares to non-U.S. institutional and sophisticated shareholders to raise gross proceeds of A$10.8 million (”Private Placement"), following shareholder approval received at a general meeting held on July 31, 2020.
Piedmont Lithium Limited is pleased to announce that it has completed its previously announced placement of 120,000,000 fully paid ordinary shares to non-U.S. institutional and sophisticated shareholders to raise gross proceeds of A$10.8 million, following shareholder approval received at a general meeting held on July 31, 2020.
Drilling has commenced testing new target areas on the Company’s Core and Central properties. Drilling will also test previously identified regional drill targets in the prolific Tin—Spodumene Belt. Piedmont is focused on increasing its Mineral Resources and potential increased production of American sourced lithium
Arcadia achieves lithium to iron ratios suitable for the premium glass and ceramics market. Opportunity to be the only lithium mine in the world able to supply both spodumene and petalite to the premium glass and ceramics market; ICP analysis confirm: Spodumene product achieved 6.1% Li2O and 0.18% Fe2O3; Petalite flotation product achieved 4.5% Li2O and 0.02% Fe2O3;
Prospect signs offtake agreement with Belgium-based Sibelco N.V for ultra-low iron petalite production from the Arcadia Lithium Project. Arcadia to be the world’s largest ultra-low iron petalite supplier. Seven-year term for up to 700,000 dry metric tonnes (dmt).
Renascor’s recently completed Battery Anode Material Study confirmed that Siviour is able to produce Purified Spherical Graphite (PSG) at amongst the lowest cost of any graphite development in the world. Independent qualification tests now confirm that Siviour PSG meets product specifications required for integration of PSG into lithium-ion battery anodes. Tests undertaken by a German graphite specialist have demonstrated that Siviour PSG meets strict anode specifications for physical and chemical properties, including particle size, surface area, tap density and impurities. The tests, which were performed on Siviour spheronised graphite that had been purified to 99.97% carbon PSG through caustic roast purification, further support Renascor’s ability to process Siviour graphite into high-value PSG through the more environmentally-friendly caustic roast purification method. PSG is experiencing significant demand growth, with a forecasted annual growth rate of up to 29% per year through 20302. The test results validate Renascor’s plan to be a low-cost supplier of PSG in the first integrated in-country mine and battery anode materials operation outside of China. The results are an important step in qualifying Siviour PSG for use by anode manufacturers and will be used to support continuing offtake discussions.
Québec lithium industry restructure picking up speed, with foreign investors seen spearheading turnaround. Amid Nemaska Lithium restructuring, monitor extends bid deadline for North American Lithium (NAL) to end August, in line with expected closure of Nemaska Lithium bidding process.
Sayona expands Tansim Lithium Project, Québec to 15,998 hectares with addition of 39 claims spanning 2,234 hectares of prospective lithium acreage. Move strengthens Sayona’s plans for development of new lithium hub in Abitibi, encompassing Authier Lithium Project, Tansim and North American Lithium (subject to successful bid). Québec lithium sector picking up speed, with analysts pointing to economic, strategic and environmental benefits of province as key supply source for North American battery market.
New field work underway at Sayona’s Authier Lithium Project, as Company progresses various environmental and geotechnical studies; critical follow-up work contracts awarded, targeting year-end completion. Flagship project to form key part of Abitibi lithium hub, as Sayona advances its Québec expansion to service growing North American, European and global battery market.
Completed feasibility work on the start-up phase (Stage 1) of the Project show highly positive outcomes which will be refined further in the upcoming commercial Detailed Feasibility Study (DFS). Improvements in Project performance identified in the latest feasibility work include: Project development to proceed directly to commercial phase with Project commissioning in 2022 and commercial production in 2023, subject to commercial DFS planned for Q1 2021. Yield of Talnode-C (from graphite concentrate) increased to 99%, up from 88% in PFS. Total recovery of Talnode-C (from graphite ore) increased to 90%, up from 80% in PFS. Energy savings of 30% in graphite concentrate production. Successful piloting of proprietary sustainable purification process producing battery-grade graphite concentrate without use of industry standard hydrofluoric acid (HF). Ability to produce Talphene graphene products for battery and polymer composite applications from anode refinery stream. Positive feedback on Talnode-C from major battery manufacturers including high capacity and fast-charge performance during qualification tests. Refinement of Talnode-C coating treatment based on input from automotive OEM customers. Pre-production scale Talnode-C pilot plant to satisfy larger automotive OEM qualification process. Further cost optimisations and growth opportunities identified including resource expansion and underground mining options.
Battery anode and graphene company Talga Resources Ltd (ASX:TLG) is pleased to announce it has received firm commitments from a select group of institutional, sophisticated and professional investors to raise gross proceeds of A$10.0 million.
Lithium concentrate has been successfully produced from Upper Rhine Valley geothermal brine during a series of successful bench-scale Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) tests commissioned by Vulcan. Two different, pre-selected DLE adsorbents were tested and in both cases the lithium recovery rate exceeded 90% on first pass. The tested DLE adsorbents are of a type already used commercially on lithium brines worldwide, which reduces development risk, in line with Vulcan’s strategy of utilising established technologies. The demonstrated DLE process will result in much reduced water usage and environmental footprint compared to traditional, evaporative methods used by producers in South America. Use of renewable power and heat from geothermal brine would make Vulcan the lowest CO2-eq. footprint supplier of lithium hydroxide for electric vehicles in the world. Results will inform Vulcan’s Pre-Feasibility Study (PPS) towards achieving the world’s first Zero Carbon LithiumTM Project. Additional test work, including optimisation of controlling parameters such as pressure and brine chemistry, is ongoing.
“Taro” Exploration License granted within the Vulcan Zero Carbon Lithium Project, in the Upper Rhine Valley Project area of southwest Germany (URVP). Announcing upgrade from Taro as an Exploration Target to a JORC Inferred Li—Brine Resource Estimation of 1.42 Mt contained Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE) at a grade of 181 mg/l Li. Further work under way toward advancing the confidence category of the Taro resource to a higher resource classification. Vulcan has a binding agreement to earn 80% rights in Taro, by spending €1 million on project development. Vulcan’s URVP Li—brine resource is now estimated to collectively contain 15.37 Mt LCE at a grade of 181 mg/l Li (Indicated and Inferred; 95% of which is in the Inferred Resource category), the largest JORC lithium resource in Europe. Vulcan aims to use its project to produce the lowest CO2—eq. footprint lithium hydroxide for electric vehicles in the world, from its unique Zero Carbon Lithium Project in the Upper Rhine Valley. Large resource size is significant in that it gives Vulcan the potential to become a major supplier of lithium chemicals into the EU market.
from Twitter...The EU’s over-reliance on imports of critical raw materials threatens to undermine crucial industries and expose the bloc to supply squeezes by China and other resource-rich countries, the European Commission will warn member states this week. The emerging strategy prioritises securing the supply of a list of raw materials critical to European industries through exploration, investment and improved recycling. The EU estimates that to meet its climate neutrality goal, it will need up to 18 times more lithium and five times more cobalt in 2030. The forecasts rise to 60 times more lithium and 15 times more cobalt by 2050.
@sdmoores: As per @northvolt comments today, Europe has take decisive action to build lithium ion cell capacity. From 5% of global battery capacity in 2019 to a forecasted 16% of a rapidly growing pie by 2029
@VivasVK7: The growing chorus of voices raising the alarm on imminent battery metals shortages is not enough - as Friedland points out here by citing @benchmarkmin execution and financing is key.
@RodneyHooper13: Good to see @GanfengOfficial confirming our view that the high quality lithium hydroxide pricing premium will continue.
US chemicals giant Albemarle will begin a recruitment drive next month for up to 300 operational roles at its new lithium hydroxide plant at Kemerton, defying negative sentiment regarding the battery metal. The workers will be hired as the company begins a staged commissioning of its two-train 50,000tpa plant next year with first production expected by the second half of 2021.
@D_Jimenez_Sch: Very strong July 20 EV sales in Europe. At this path, EV sales in Europe will touch the 1 million in 2020, doubling 2019 sales!
@backstroke_: CATL - ESS revenue in H120 up 136% y/y.
@JoseLazuen: CATL production yield of NCM 811 cells at ~50%. This means the other 50% is defective. At @Roskill_Info we always defended the difficulty to produce and manage high-nickel cells. Even @UmicoreGroup publicly said NCM 712 to be the industry "sweet spot"
@sdmoores: Tesla’s Gigafactory 1 in Nevada has a annual capacity of 37GWh (@benchmarkmin data). Chemistry improvements have nudged the energy density numbers up. Panasonic’s $100m will take it to 40GWh. The world’s biggest lithium ion battery plant by some way. 2nd = LG Chem Nanjing @ 28GWh
@HicksSimon: @CSIRO to direct $100m/yr to help Australia achieve achieve a range of outcomes including creating new industries that value-add to raw materials like critical energy metals that build Australia’s value added offering, jobs, and sovereign supply.
@JamesTFrith: @BYDCompany to adapt a version of its Blade Battery system for the stationary storage market. The most interesting part is that it will use liquid cooling, increasing cycle life. More and more Chinese storage projects are using liquid cooling.
@sdmoores: "With ever-growing expansion plans, there is now a growing list of China cathode and anode producer IPOs...representing 13% of global cathode capacity and 20% of total anode capacity."
@LithiumIonBull: CATL essentially saying it plans to invest up to USD2.5B in upstream and downstream partnerships to strengthen collaboration across supply chain. Will they seek more Oz or DRC lithium rock? Europe? S. American brine?
@backstroke_: NCM with 90% Ni.
@D_Jimenez_Sch: Talison decreasing its shipments on a quarterly basis. Current high inventory in the supply chain and low SC6 prices are forcing this reduction by all Australian spodumene producers (except @AlturaMining, so far) Efforts are required and will allow earlier price stabilization. @AlbemarleCorp spoke last week of idling Silver Peak, but did not talk much about Talison. Current export rates imply that Talison is probably operating at 40%-45% of its nameplate capacity.
@JamesTFrith: LG Chem's CEO on @business TV, capacity will reach: 2020 - 100 GWh; 2021 - 120 GWh; 2022 - 220 GWh. Huge plans, but didn't have time to go into the plans to spin off the battery unit. It invested $323m into its Energy Solutions (battery) business RnD in 2019.
@NanoOne_NNO: People are beginning to realize that there are far greater benefits to owning an electric car than saving on gas. Full cost of ownership is looking very attractive.
@signumbox: Albemarle reported a 14% decline in lithium prices during the second quarter of the year, volumes were 1% higher. Higher inventory in the battery channel will impact Q3 results.
@backstroke_: Germany - July EV registrations, see charts, no commentary needed. UK - good, now only okayish in comparison, September when new number plate year is released will be one to watch. Europe - PHEV y/y growth rate continues to accelerate up >300% y/y with early data.
@RodneyHooper13: Given the large number of new EV model/high Ni cathode/battery cell plant launches in 2021/2022 Japan and Korean supply chains have no choice but to qualify new entrants. What volumes will they buy? Depends on security and consistency of feedstock supply and final product.
@batt_li: Premier of Western Australia @MarkMcGowanMP on battery manufacturing...
@JoseLazuen: Yesterday BP halved its dividend and pledged to reduce oil and gas output by 40% in 2030. Its share price closed 6.5% up. Why? It also pledged $5Bn annually in renewables and 70k EV charging points by 2030: even oil majors acknowledge the upcoming clean energy and transport shift!