Ganfeng Lithium , one of the world’s top producers of the commodity used in electric vehicle batteries, said on Tuesday slower growth in lithium supply would extend a recent rally in prices after its profits nearly tripled in 2020. Ganfeng said it would in future establish lithium salt capacity of no less than 600,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) annually, plus “a more competitive lithium resource project reserve to match it.” Its current annual capacity is just over 120,000 tonnes. Ganfeng also aims to build a recycling plant that can process 100,000 tonnes of spent lithium batteries per year, it added, without stating a location or timeframe.
Major automakers, parts companies and the United Auto Workers (UAW) union urged U.S. President Joe Biden to support a “comprehensive plan” on electric vehicles and called for hefty government tax credits and numerous other financial incentives.
Indonesia has an ambitious plan: to establish itself as a major player in the global supply chain for electric vehicles. In five years, the archipelago wants to have an integrated industry encompassing everything from upstream development -- mining raw materials for use in EV batteries -- to downstream -- the manufacturing of batteries and the vehicles themselves. The $17 billion plan is designed to position Indonesia, a major nickel producer, as a vital cog in the global EV market going forward, as demand for electrified vehicles is set to grow, with more and more countries looking to ban the sale of gasoline cars in the near future. The plan took a step forward on Friday, with the country announcing the formation of a new state-owned holding company to oversee the industry development.
The U.S. government is working to help American miners and battery makers expand into Canada, part of a strategy to boost regional production of minerals used to make electric vehicles and counter Chinese competitors. A source who attended the meeting said there was no indication that the Commerce Department would offer financial incentives for new mines or other supply chain components in Canada. But department officials did stress the need to act now to build a U.S.-Canada EV supply chain, much like Europe has been doing and Asia has already done, according to a second source who attended the meeting.
Germany will provide 5.5 billion euros ($6.5 billion) of funding for electric-car charging infrastructure, a significant show of support for one of the country’s core industries. The funds will be available until 2024, Steffen Seibert, the spokesman for Chancellor Angela Merkel, said in an emailed statement late Tuesday following a video conference with the heads of Germany’s carmakers.
Asian seaborne lithium prices were steady against a backdrop of tight availability and firm demand; meanwhile Chinese suppliers have made aggressive offers for battery-grade lithium carbonate. Spot trades in domestic Chinese market remained slow with consumers conducting “hand-to-mouth” purchases, but supply continued to be tight. Europe, US battery-grade lithium spot prices continued to trend higher with deals reported at higher levels.
Volkswagen has decided to take control of its own battery destiny by constructing six European gigafactories with collective annual capacity of 240 gigawatt hours (GWh) over the next decade. The announcement sent its shares into a Tesla-style frenzy. Batteries are, quite literally, the driver of the e-mobility revolution and Volkswagen has clear ideas about what it wants and at what price as it prepares to transition from the internal combustion engine (ICE).
VW is finally seeing the payoff from its five-year effort to create a standardized platform to underpin dozens of electric models. “Many in the industry questioned our approach,” Diess said during the two-hour infomercial he led from VW’s headquarters in the German city of Wolfsburg. “Today they are following suit, while we are reaping the fruit.” VW last year became the No. 1 electric-vehicle maker in Europe, where sales of battery-powered cars surged thanks to stricter carbon dioxide limits. After the introduction of the ID.3 hatchback in 2020, the ID.4 crossover - the first global model based on VW’s electric platform - is starting to reach showrooms from Shanghai to Chicago. This year, VW plans to deliver 1 million plug-in hybrid and fully electric vehicles, and Diess aims to surpass Tesla in EV sales no later than 2025.
Galaxy Resources is ramping up operations at a new pit at the Mt Cattlin lithium project in Western Australia without deploying additional equipment. Meanwhile, mining volume at Mt Cattlin increased from 200,000 bank cubic metres moved per month last year to 324,000 bank cubic metres per month in February. Galaxy is exploring an opportunity to monetise the Mt Cattlin surface stockpiles of tailings, comprising 1.3 million tonnes of unprocessed tailings and 900,000 tonnes of future tailings, due to strong Chinese demand.
Chinese demand for lithium has rebounded to the point where Australian miner Galaxy Resources can lower the grade of its product to maximise volumes and possibly find a buyer for the waste generated by its Mt Cattlin mine. Galaxy was expected to sell a spodumene concentrate with 6 per cent lithium this year, but the company said strong demand had prompted it to revise mine plans to produce a concentrate with between 5.6 per cent and 5.8 per cent lithium.
Volkswagen plans to build half a dozen battery cell plants in Europe and expand infrastructure for charging electric vehicles globally, accelerating efforts to overtake Tesla and speed up mass adoption of battery-powered cars. The world's No. 2 carmaker, which is in the midst of a major shift towards battery-powered cars, said on Monday it wants to have six battery cell factories operating in Europe by 2030, which it will build alone or with partners.
Northvolt AB’s massive battery-cell order from Volkswagen AG makes clear the startup will be as indispensable to the German manufacturer over the next decade as Panasonic Corp. has been to Tesla Inc. over the last one. VW has ordered up more than $14 billion of battery cells from Northvolt over the next 10 years, a huge show of confidence in a company that hasn’t yet started production. VW will boost its stake in the closely held startup from about 20% to an undisclosed higher level. The partnership is similar to Tesla’s tie-up with Panasonic, which dates back to 2009.
Lithium prices continue to rise exponentially in China on the back of heavy demand for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, the first ever mid-month assessment by battery supply chain research and price reporting agency Benchmark Mineral Intelligence shows. Benchmark’s battery-grade lithium carbonate midpoint price (EXW China, ≥99.0% Li2CO3) for mid-March shows the raw material up 88% just since the start of the year to over $12,600 a tonne, the highest level since March 2019.
Roskill’s analysis shows that China will account for 60% of global Li-ion battery cell capacity by 2030. China’s winning is a particularly worrisome development for US and European policy makers. Countries will be racing to build out this highly strategic industry.
Northvolt, the Swedish battery manufacturer which raised $1 billion in financing from investors led by Goldman Sachs and Volkswagen back in 2019, has signed a massive $14 billion battery order with VW for the next 10 years. The big buy clears up some questions about where Volkswagen will be getting the batteries for its huge push into electric vehicles, which will see the automaker reach production capacity of 1.5 million electric vehicles by 2025.
Panasonic Corp’s outgoing Chief Executive Kazuhiro Tsuga said the company will need to reduce its heavy reliance on Tesla Inc by making batteries more compatible with electric vehicles from other global carmakers, the Financial Times reported on Sunday.
Investors are betting that the world’s shift towards electric vehicles and renewable energy will create a supercycle in the price of metals essential for building batteries. Shares in the Global Lithium and Battery ETF have risen about 170 per cent over the past year, while producers of lithium, a battery metal, have raised more than $2bn from investors during the past few months. Some of the most prominent names in the mining industry, such as Mick Davis and billionaire Robert Friedland, have also launched funds to invest in the sector. The surge in investor interest reflects the growing realisation that government pledges to reach net zero emissions of greenhouse gases by the middle of this century will demand huge quantities of battery metals. (link)
South Korea's LG Energy Solutions plans to invest over $4.5 billion in its US business by 2025 to expand its battery production capacity and secure an additional 70 GWh/year in the US alone as part of its Green Field project. The company also said it was in discussions with automaker General Motors to build a second joint venture plant in the US, which would increase its cell production capacity even further. "All new LG Energy Solution plants in the US will operate using 100% renewable energy, reinforcing the company's dedication to its Green Field project. In the second half of last year, the Michigan battery plant began running entirely on renewable energy," the company said.
Demand and prices for battery material cobalt are soaring as electric vehicles stream out of showrooms in China and Europe, with little prospect of a significant reversal as drivers and governments move to cut carbon emissions.
General Motors Co on Thursday announced a partnership with a lithium metal battery startup to boost the U.S. automaker's battery development, allowing for higher electric vehicle driving range in a smaller package. The joint development agreement with SolidEnergy Solutions (SES) of Woburn, Massachusetts, will allow GM to cut weight from the vehicle, a key goal for automakers as they push to roll out electric vehicles. GM has said by mid-decade its Ultium battery packs are projected to cost 60% less than today's packs with twice the energy density. The companies plan to build a manufacturing line at SES to assemble a prototype battery by 2023, said GM, which invested an undisclosed amount in SES in 2015.
Swedish lithium-ion battery maker Northvolt said on Wednesday it had bought U.S. startup Cuberg to get access to technology that would boost the range of electric vehicles that can use its batteries. Cuberg, spun out of Stanford University in 2015, has created battery cells that deliver increased range and capacity by 60% versus comparable lithium-ion cells and counts aircraft maker Boeing among its customers.
Ganfeng Lithium Co said on Monday it would pay 1.47 billion yuan ($225 million) to take a 49% stake in a lithium salt lake project operated by compatriot China Minmetals Corp in Qinghai. The move will give Ganfeng, one of the world’s top producers of lithium chemicals used in electric vehicle (EV) batteries, its first salt lake asset in China, adding to interests it holds in Argentina.
Spain's largest automaker SEAT could start building electric vehicle battery cells and modules at its Martorell production site as part of plans to transform the site, the Volkswagen-owned company announced March 5. The early-stage plan involves participation of Spain's largest renewable generator, Iberdrola, and could be partly financed by Next Generation EU funds, for which it has applied, Iberdrola said.
Nickel prices on the London Metal Exchange (LME) have declined by more than 8 per cent this week after shortage concerns calmed following a supply deal involving China’s Tsingshan Holding Group. Tesla chief executive Elon Musk in the same week stated that nickel was the company’s “biggest concern” in scaling lithium-ion cell production. However, Tsingshan’s deal to provide 100,000 tonnes of nickel matte to Huayou Cobalt and battery materials maker CNGR Advanced Material has quelled market concerns over a nickel sulphate supply shortage with the lower three-month nickel prices.
Volkswagen wants electric vehicles to make up the majority of European sales for its core brand by 2030, it said on Friday, the latest carmaker to accelerate the shift towards battery-powered models. Fully electric vehicles are expected to account for more than 70% of its total European vehicle sales by 2030, compared with a previous target of 35%, the world’s second-largest carmaker said as it unveiled its ‘Accelerate’ strategy.
AAI represents auto makers producing 99% of the cars and trucks sold in this country. The group announced last week that its members will invest $250 billion in vehicle electrification by 2023, and that it stands ready to "achieve greater environmental improvements than current requirements." Discussing the state of electric transportation at NARUC's annual event, Bowerson said the current set of various state policies has held back the adoption of emissions-free vehicles.
Chilean miner SQM, the world’s No. 2 producer of lithium posted record lithium sales in the last quarter of 2020, although floundering prices for the ultralight metal continued to weigh on the company´s profits. SQM said late on Wednesday its lithium sales volumes in the fourth quarter jumped 50% from the previous quarter, hitting a three-month record of more than 25,000 tonnes.
The US’ installations of advanced energy storage — almost entirely lithium-ion battery systems — went beyond the 1GW mark in 2020, while in capacity terms the figure was close to 3.5GWh. In megawatt-hour terms, Wood Mackenzie head of energy storage Dan Finn-Foley said that last year saw more storage deployed than the six years between 2013 and 2019, when 3,115MWh was installed in total. Meanwhile there has been close to a 200% jump in megawatts from 2019 to 2020. The number also exceeded the expectations of Wood Mackenzie's own early-2020 forecast, which had been for 1.2GW. “The data truly speaks for itself… This is the hallmark of a market beginning to accelerate exponentially, and momentum will only increase over the coming years.”
United States-based lithium producer Livent will supply battery-grade lithium carbonate and hydroxide to German carmaker BMW. Paul Graves, the miner’s president and chief executive officer, made the announcement during an earnings call following the release of Livent’s financial results for the fourth quarter of 2020. "This is a multi-year agreement under which Livent will deliver both lithium carbonate and [lithium] hydroxide."
Prime Minister Scott Morrison will press business and industry to help lift efforts to develop as quickly as possible a domestic critical minerals processing capacity amid fears China is too dominant.
Standing in a paddock at the back of an industrial area near Newcastle, Prime Minister Scott Morrison declared the site would soon be the first advanced manufacturing facility of lithium-ion batteries in Australia.
Australian mining group Fortescue Metals has signed an agreement with UK-based engineering business Williams Advanced Engineering to jointly develop a zero-emissions battery-electric mining haul truck. Fortescue and Williams will first design and construct a bespoke battery electric powertrain for one of the mammoth mining haul trucks, building in the ability to regenerate power as the truck travels downhill. Meanwhile, a battery for the truck will be built at Williams’ facility in the UK before being shipped to Perth for integration into a 240-tonne prototype haul truck for performance testing at Fortescue’s mining operations in the Pilbara region. The partnership will also include the development of a fast-charging unit which would harness the electricity generated by Fortescue’s Pilbara Energy Connect network that will include the solar plant and big battery.
Battery grade lithium carbonate prices (Benchmark Lithium Carbonate, Battery Grade, EXW China, ≥99.5% Li2CO3) increased by 68% in the first 2 months of 2021 in China on the back of high battery demand, particularly for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathode, and a slower-than-anticipated transition to high nickel chemistries.
Singapore won’t allow diesel-powered cars and taxis to be registered from 2025, five years ahead of previously scheduled, as part of its push to reduce emissions and encourage adoption of electric vehicles. About 2.9% of passenger cars in Singapore run on diesel, while the proportion is as high as 41.5% for taxis, according to Land Transport Authority figures.
Tesla has agreed to buy nickel from a mine in New Caledonia in a move to secure its supply of the battery metal, which its chief executive Elon Musk has called the group’s “biggest concern.” The electric-car maker will become a technical adviser at the Goro mine on the Pacific island and also get long-term supplies of nickel from the project as part of an agreement with the New Caledonian government, according to a person directly familiar with the matter. (link)
Market analyst Roskill issued a report where its experts say that they expect concerns over carbon emissions from the transport of nickel sulphate feedstocks such as mixed hydroxide product (MHP) to grow over the coming years. The report explains that emissions from shipping can constitute a significant percentage of a commodity’s total CO2 emissions. This is due to the nature of shipping, transporting large volumes of material over significant distances worldwide and the less stringent nature of regulation over engine fuel use. Within the nickel sulphate feedstock supply chains, Roskill’s analyses have determined that MHP contributes the greatest quantity of CO2 emissions, approximately 16,000t in 2020.
The region is lagging behind because the governments in Europe are taking strong measures to boost growth in the EV sector, says Anna-Marie Baisden, head of autos research at Fitch Solutions, in an interview on CNBC’s “Squawk Box Asia”. Baisden adds the weak uptake of EV in Asia – mainly in countries like Japan and India, is due to a combination of factors. While there is underlying demand in Japan, “we’re still waiting for concrete incentive plans,” she pointed out. Even though South Asia’s largest economy holds huge potential to spur grow in the electric vehicle market, the country’s demographics may pose a serious challenge, according to Baisden.
Volvo’s entire car lineup will be fully electric by 2030, the Chinese-owned company said on Tuesday, joining a growing number of automakers planning to phase out fossil-fuel engines by the end of this decade. “I am totally convinced there will be no customers who really want to stay with a petrol engine,” Volvo Chief Executive Håkan Samuelsson told reporters when asked about future demand for electric vehicles. “We are convinced that an electric car is more attractive for customers.”
Finnish Minerals Group’s efforts to develop the Finnish battery value chain are taking a concrete next step. Finnish Minerals Group and CNGR are actively negotiating a precursor cathode active materials plant to be established in Finland and are carrying out a definitive feasibility study (DFS) in cooperation.
from the ASX...GLOBAL PRODUCT OUTREACH ACCLERATES
6 product orders received from global materials company.
4 individual product orders received and shipped to major German LED lighting company.
Micro-LED technology trend driving interest in Alpha’s HPA and AI-Precursor #1.
Successful sapphire glass production using Alpha’s HPA by ALOX Technology Corporation.
Commercial supply discussions with ALOX commenced.
CONTINUED PRODUCT IMPROVEMENTS AND DEVELOPMENT
HPA purity from production runs now reaching 99.9986% purity.
Successful development of sub 1-micron HPA powder for Li-B cathode applications.
Continued purity improvement on AI-cathode pre-cursor (AI-precursor #2).
HPA FIRST PROJECT AGREEMENTS ADVANCED
Project ePCM bids received and under review.
2,000tpa lithium carbonate process plant development works progressing on schedule.
First commercial production of battery quality Li2CO3 targeted from late-Q2, 2022.
Fully modular design to accommodate planned expansion to 10,000tpa operation
JORC Exploration Target delineated for Rincon Lithium Project demonstrates significant potential to materially expand current JORC Indicated Resource estimate and increase Project mine life & future production capacity.
Preparation works have commenced to conduct Resource development drilling at Rincon
First phase of 100 cycle battery tests completed.
Coated graphite performance is encouraging and meets expectations.
Further test runs to demonstrate repeatability.
Potential improvements to lithium-ion battery life, capacity and chargeability.
Breakthrough silicon alumina coating development.
Tesla vision is for more silicon in lithium-ion battery anodes.
Silicon has ten times energy capacity compared to graphite.
Capacity retention during cycling potentially improved via alumina coating.
Battery materials HPA coating plant pre-feasibility study commenced.
Plant to use Altech’s nano layer HPA coating technology.
10,000tpa production train for anode graphite coating.
Europe demand for anode graphite estimated at 500,000tpa by 2025.
Ninevertical Reverse Circulation holes drilled for piezometer installation around the perimeter of the Stage 3 Life of Mine open pit were sampled.
New mineralised pegmatite intersected in five holes, three of which are significant.
The high-grade intersection in hole MO20RCP02 resulted in the north-eastern limit of the Roche Dure pegmatite being extended by about 90 metresto the south east.
The new intersection in hole MO20RCP02 is outside the current pit design,demonstrating the potential for likely extensions to the existing pit design as more information becomes available.
The new pegmatite intersected in hole MO20RCP09 on section 7600mN and outside the current pit design was previously unknown and not mapped at the surface where there is poor to nil outcrop.
AVZ signs second strategic offtake agreement-with Shenzhen Chengxin Lithium Group Co.,Ltd.
Chengxin agree to purchase up to 180,000 tonnes per annum of SC6 for an initial 3-year term following commencement of production with mutually agreed options to extend.
Chengxin is a leading global battery materials producer that is continuing to expand its lithium hydroxide production capacity.
Over 50% of the intended annual SC6 saleable product from the Manono Project is now contracted under binding Offtake Agreements.
AVZ signs tin offtake agreement with Kalon Resources Limited (Kalon), a 100% subsidiary of Noble Group Holdings Limited.
Kalon is a major participant in the tin market, handling several thousand tonnes of tin concentrate per annum.
A 3-year binding offtake agreement, with Kalon purchasing 600 metric tonnes of tin concentrate per annum.
AVZ signs third binding strategic offtake agreement - with Yibin Tianyi Lithium Industry Co., Ltd (“Yibin Tianyi”).
Yibin Tianyi is a key participant in the supply chain of Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL), the world’s largest lithium-ion battery maker and has significant expansion plans over the next five years.
Yibin Tianyi agree to purchase up to 200,000 metric tonnes per annum of SC6 for an initial 3-year term following commencement of production with an option to extend for an additional two years.
Significant milestone reached with more than 80% of annual SC6 production from the Manono Project committed under long-term binding offtake agreements, satisfying an important condition precedent for prospective Project financiers.
BlackEarth and their German based graphite supply chain Partners, LuxCarbon GmbH, have joined the European Battery Alliance and pledge to provide industry support to the Alliance and their members.
The European Battery Alliance (“EBA”) was established by the European Commission in 2017 and has evolved to become one of the World leading industry groups focused on the development of the growing EV and Battery markets – estimated by EBA to be worth annually up to 250 billion Euro by 2025.
BlackEarth and Luxcarbon together have signalled their intention to support the alliance with significant industy experience and with plans to provide down stream processed products suitable to the EV market.
BlackEarth’s developed agreements and relationships in Germany and Europe provide it with a strategic advantage to further grow their business in conjunction with EBA members.
Significant concentrate from the current Stage 2 Pilot Program will be provided to certain EBA members for confirmation of the suitability of our product for the EV market.
Stage 2 Large Scale Pilot Test Program is currently 2 weeks ahead of schedule.
Tests are being actively managed by BlackEarth’s executive team and conducted by World Leaders in the testing of graphite and development of flow sheet and plant design.
Initial results confirm earlier Stage 1 results - grades of fixed carbon (“FC”) content of over 95% reaffirming Maniry’s graphite product potential as highly attractive for downstream processing and feed for the rapidly expanding electric vehicle (“EV”) markets.
Additional analysis of the jumbo and large flake results indicate that approximately 20% of graphite concentrate yields are classified as jumbo flake size – such product is in world wide shortage and currently selling for in excess of US$1,750/mt.
Further testing will continue throughout April 2021 with completion expected in May 2021.
Recently released UBS Report indicates massive growth in demand for graphite to meet EV market demand.
Core Lithium has entered into an option agreement to acquire six granted Mineral Leases (MLs) adjacent to the Company’s Finniss Lithium Project in the NT.
Granted MLs include over 30 pegmatites previously mined for tin and tantalum.
Previous work has identified high lithium grades and potential for near surface spodumene mineralisation.
Near-term growth opportunity to add and bring forward substantial resource growth in 2021.
Objective to accelerate increases to Finniss Lithium Project life of mine.
Acquisition to support future lithium production capacity increases and downstream processing.
Drill assessment to start next quarter once approved - as 2021 field season commences.
Major Project Status (MPS) for the Finniss Lithium Project awarded by the Hon Karen Andrews MP, Federal Minister for Industry, Science and Technology and the Hon Keith Pitt MP, Federal Minister for Resources, Water and Northern Australia.
Award of MPS provides Finniss with extra support from the Major Projects Facilitation Agency.
Construction anticipated to begin at Finniss in H2 of 2021, subject to several conditions including Final Investment Decision.
Pre-commissioning activities have commenced at the Butcherbird mine site.
Electrical systems and instrument loop checking underway.
Power station installation and power up scheduled for later this week.
First ore processing planned for the second half of March 2021.
$35.5M placement with strong support from a leading Swiss ESG fund.
Proceeds of the offering will fully fund the expected capital outlay to expand production at the Butcherbird Project to over 1 million tpa of manganese concentrate.
The raising also underpins funding to accelerate work on completing theflowsheet and plant design to produce High Purity Battery Grade ManganeseSulphate (HPMSM) for New Energy Vehicles (NEV).
Wet commissioning underway at site with a progressive ramp-up scheduled forthe next three months to nameplate production.
EcoGraf Limited is pleased to report that the Australian Government has approved Major Project Status for EcoGraf’s Battery Anode Material Facility in Western Australia.
EcoGraf Limited is pleased to report encouraging progress to secure Tanzanian Government approval for the KfW IPEX-Bank US$60million Epanko Graphite Mine debt financing proposal. KfW IPEX-Bank is part of KfW, the development bank of the Federal Republic of Germany and one of the world’s largest development financiers.
Based on the positive progress, SungEel has agreed to collaborate with Ecograf on battery recycling and to include a tailored EcoGraf™ recycling process to recover the carbon anode materials in their proposed new recycling plants in Europe and South Korea.
CREST to spend $4M over four years to earn a 75% interest in the nickel rights with a minimum annual spend of $750,000. Essential Metals will retain a 25% interest and is free-carried up to a Decision to Mine.
Michael Anderson, Director of major resource focussed asset management firm, Taurus Funds Management Pty Ltd to join Firefinch as Managing Director.
Michael brings his extensive African, technical and financial experience and public company leadership skills to Firefinch.
Updated DFS results in increase in NPV reflecting technical and commercial progress of FYI’s HPA Project development and positive value re-rating.
FYI’s innovative HPA process technology and process design validated through extensive test work and pilot plant trials.
Updated DFS results in compelling project metrics demonstrated in revised NPV.
HPA product marketing research confirms strong HPA industry growth and pricing support.
HMW’s lithium chloride (LiCl)concentrate increases significantly by 25% to 6% Li (32% LCE*) (from the original study value of 4.8% Li).
Galan’s high-grade result (6%Li) is directly comparable to SQM’s and Albemarle’s LiCl concentrate produced from the Atacama basin in Chile.
Furthermore,HMW’s LiCL concentrate level (12.9% Li20*) is equivalent to more than double the average concentrate grade of Australian lithium spodumene producers (6%Li20**).
Galan may then have the flexibility to place its lithium for downstream products anywhere in the world without the burden of high logistics costs, high CO2 footprint and/or waste management.
Galan is evaluating the commercial potential in the global market for its high-grade LiCl concentrate as feed for lithium battery products.
Test results also showed very low level of contaminants, especially SO4, Ca and Mg.
Galan forecasts initial HMW brine evaporation pilot works to commence in Q2 2021.
Project details
Strategically located close to emerging electric vehicle markets in North America and Europe.
Average annual production of 330ktpa of spodumene concentrate with an ~18-year mine life.
Shallow, near-surface mineralisation ideal for open cut mining with a low life-of-mine (“LOM”) strip ratio of 3.7: 1.
2mtpa process plant designed to produce industry standard SC6 spodumene concentrate.
Very similar process design and flowsheet to that successfully employed at Mt Cattlin.
Site power to be supplied by Hydro-Québec, a low-cost, sustainable source of clean energy.
Mineral Resource of 40.3Mt at 1.4% Li2O, with a maiden Ore Reserve expected to be declared later in the year.
Excellent relationship with the Cree Nation of Eastmain, Cree Nation Government and all stakeholders.
Project financials
Capital Cost estimate of US$244 million (Class 5 estimate) on the optimised mine plan, flowsheet and schedule.
Cash operating costs (FOB Montreal) of US$290 per tonne of concentrate (Class 5 estimate) will position James Bay competitively.
Pre-tax Net Present Value (“NPV”) of US$560 million at an 8% discount rate.
Pre-tax Internal Rate of Return (“IRR”) of 39.6%, with payback period of 2.2 years.
Execution strategy
The basic engineering phase has commenced and the Project is on schedule to achieve "construction ready" status by year end.
Galaxy plans to integrate James Bay with a downstream lithium chemicals facility and discussions with a number of prospective partners will be advanced with the release of the PEA.
Revised Mt Cattlin Mineral Resource Estimate of 12.0Mt @ 1.3% Li2O and 149 ppm Ta2O5.
Revised Mt Cattlin Ore Reserve Estimate of 8.0Mt @ 1.1% Li2O and 139 ppm Ta2O5.
Ore Reserve depletion of 0.25Mt due to mining activity.
Initiatives to further optimise Mt Cattlin’s resource have commenced this quarter
Galaxy has been internally developing a simplified evaporation flowsheet for the Sal de Vida Project.
Test work and piloting over the previous 12 months has steadily improved product quality and project metrics.
Recent test results demonstrate that battery grade lithium carbonate can be achieved through a simple, bolt-on process.
This addition can be seamlessly incorporated into the Stage 1 project development schedule without any delay.
Galaxy will adopt battery grade quality as the design basis for Stage 1 and following stages.
Further project details will be outlined in Sal de Vida’s feasibility update release in early April.
Hazer Group is pleased to advise that it has been granted access to the project site at the Woodman Point waste-water treatment facility for the Hazer Commercial Demonstration Project (the Hazer CDP). Mobilisation of equipment, site-clearing and civil earthworks will commence this week.
Fully underwritten institutional placement received firm commitments to raise A$80 million to assist in accelerating construction of the 100% owned Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project in Nevada, USA.
Institutional placement upsized by A$20million due to overwhelming demand that saw the placement significantly oversubscribed.
Strong demand from existing and new investors, including high-quality international and domestic institutions.
BNP Paribas Energy Transition Fund, a European ESG-focused institution, to build on their existing shareholding.
ioneer now well positioned to execute on project advancement at Rhyolite Ridge over the course of 2021, including finalisation of various offtake discussions and completion of strategic funding discussions
Assay results from MDRC012 confirm substantial thickness and continuity of lithium mineralisation from surface.
Remaining four drillhole results expected by mid-March 2021.
Assay results received for the remaining drillholes from 2020 program with all drillholes containing mineralised intervals over 1000ppm Li.
Three of the four drillholes report significant lithium intercepts outside of current Inferred Mineral Resource.
MDRC015 expands known extents of McDermitt deposit 1.6km north and west of previous resource drilling limits.
Jindalee has received firm commitments of $9 million via a strongly supported Placement to sophisticated and professional investors.
The Jindalee Board is particularly pleased to welcome a number of leading institutions onto the register as part of the Placement.
On completion Jindalee will be well funded to further accelerate exploration and development studies at its McDermitt and Clayton North (USA) lithium projects, and advance its gold and nickel projects in Western Australia
271 new claims staked; McDermitt now covers 54.6km², straddling the Oregon-Nevada border.
The new claims are highly prospective for lithium and increase potential development options at McDermitt.
Updated Mineral Resource Estimate expected early April.
High Purity Alumina (HPA) assays from 5 batches all returned >4N (99.99%) purity.
Lithium Australia's LieNA® pilot plant given the green light.
Pilot concentrate being prepared from spodumene-bearing drill chips.
Construction of critical pilot-plant components has begun, with order for autoclave placed.
Initial pilot-plant test run scheduled for September 2021.
Programme to be completed with a pre-feasibility study of the LieNA® process.
The Australian patent applied for by VSPC (a wholly owned subsidiary of Lithium Australia) for its proprietary cathode material manufacturing process has been accepted for grant.
VSPC's method of synthesising lithium metal phosphates confirmed to be novel and inventive.
Intellectual property protection for the VSPC process will last 20 years.
Positive results returned from initial testing by Novonix (ASX:NVX) for high-performance lithium-ion batteries using Lake’s high 99.97% purity lithium carbonate.
Novonix compared commercial product to Lake’s lithium product to provide real-world comparisons for Tier 1 battery makers.
Lake’s lithium carbonate performing better than commercially available battery grade lithium carbonate in lithium-ion battery cells.
Novonix program to continue for some months to produce cells and batteries at a larger scale.
Joint financial advisors appointed to structure and secure project finance for the construction and development of Lake’s flagship Kachi Lithium Project.
Focus is on accessing international debt finance via Export Credit Agencies, a secure, lower cost form of long-term capital.
Kachi NPV increases 110% to US$1.6bn (A$2.1 billion) based on revised lithium price estimates in a refreshed PFS, based on 25,500 tpa lithium carbonate production, which demonstrates a more robust financial outcome than the original conservative PFS price assumptions.
Kachi project value, as post-tax NPV, increases 110% to US$1.58 billion (A$2.1 billion) with a 35% IRR and annual EBITDA of US$260 million (A$350m), using updated lithium price forecast of US$15,500/tonne for battery grade lithium carbonate.
Lake assessing potential increase of lithium carbonate production at the Kachi Lithium Brine Project, as demand continues to rise from battery makers for high purity product.
50,000 litres of brines from Lake’s Cauchari Project to be shipped and tested by groups specialising in direct lithium extraction and conversion to lithium hydroxide.
Pre-feasibility study planning for Cauchari underway.
Lake to test additional brines from Olaroz and Paso projects to meet objective of producing high purity, sustainable lithium from a number of its 100% owned projects.
Exploration to be accelerated as demand continues to outstrip supply, with projections of significant supply deficit emerging from 2024.
Two of five diamond core holes (S-25 and S-26) completed to the target depth of 400m ahead of schedule.
Undisturbed core samples collected between 200m and 400m depth and sent for analysis for laboratory measurement of drainable porosity and other hydraulic parameters.
Positive preliminary field analysis for resource expansion confirmed the expected geological structure for the interval, as well as the existing hydrogeological model of the area, all with favourable specific yield and permeability characteristics.
Positive brine density from the samples collected at 12m intervals during the drilling and preliminary measurements at the wellhead indicate high lithium concentrations, similar to the ones found on the 0 m to 200 m interval. Significant resource expansion is expected.
Holes S-25 and S-26 will be used as observation wells during the long-term pumping test planned in adjacent production well P-5, which is currently being drilled by Andinor with a 30% advance to date, also ahead of schedule.
Optimisation of the production process continues with GEA Messo in Germany, with basic engineering already commenced for the re-sizing of the plant.
Initial successful results in Fast Charging [FC] battery program using commercial optimised multilayer 1.6 Ah pouch cells.
After 600 cycles over 93% capacity retention with 30 min charge and 30 min discharge.
Tests have begun with Extra Fast Charging [EFC] to deliver >85% charge in 6 minutes.
Cells to be delivered within the week for NYSERDA funded project on EFC batteries in Electric Buses.
Tesla‘s first engineer at the Tesla Gigafactory in Nevada, Chaitanya Sharma hired as Chief Executive Officer [CEO].
Former Vice President [VP] of Duracell USA, Bill Shannon appointed as Chief Operating Officer [COO].
Former CEO of Glypath Systems Mike DriscoII appointed as Chief Financial Officer [CFO].
Former VP of Business Development at Duracell Paul Stratton appointed as Senior VP Sales and Marketing.
Former Director at Applied Materials Dr. Priyadarshi Panda appointed as VP of Engineering.
Former Engineering Lead at Phoenix Systems / LAM Research Dr. Brandon Jordan-Thaden appointed as Senior Director of Engineering.
First production on track for late 2021.
MTC currently assessing commercialisation strategy to enable the Company to advance its high grade lithium assets in Quebec in response to burgeoning battery metals sector and recent strong interest in its lithium assets, enabling it to focus on developing its world class Sturec Gold Mine.
Independent JORC Exploration Target of 15-25Mt @1-2% Li2O + 100-250ppm Ta205 at 100% owned Cancet Lithium Project.
MTC announces structured spinout for its portfolio of lithium assets (Cancet, Adina and Sirmac-Clapier Projects) into a focused new venture after appointing Chris Evans “Executive - Lithium Operations” to facilitate commercialisation strategy.
As part of the spin out, MTC will receive 22 million Vendor Shares, which upon completion of the ASX listing, will be distributed to MTC shareholders as an ln-specie Distribution pro rata with their respective MTC shareholding.
MTC shareholders will also be offered a $2 million priority participation offer in the ASX listing.
MTC has completed a total of 59 drill holes for 5,216 m of diamond drilling at Cancet with significant intersections encountered included MTC 17-015 which intersected 3.71% Li2O and 301 ppm Ta2O5 over 18.00m, including 4.10% Li2O and 114 ppm Ta2O5 over 5.0m and drill hole MTC17-021 which intersected 2.24% Li2O and 310 ppm Ta2O5 over 21.46m, including 3.50% Li2O and 746 ppm Ta2O5 over 8.46m (refer to ASX Announcement dated 9 July 2079 for additional details).
Drilling at the Company’s 1Moz+ Sturec Gold Mine in Slovakia progressing well, with UGA-14 now complete and UGA-15 underway - assays expected within the next few days.
Primobius (JV between Neometals and SMS group) enters into a recycling MoU with Itochu Corporation of Japan;
MoU provides a framework to evaluate Primobius’ technology and commercial arrangements to recycle Itochu’s end-of-life batteries;
Itochu to supply stationary energy storage batteries for a dedicated Primobius Demonstration Plant trial; and
Products generated during the Trial will be evaluated by Itochu and its supply chain.
Ore Sorting results show up to 10x upgrade from a 588kg coarse rock sample.
Potential of further value-adding by processing of the reject material is also being investigated.
Ore sorting test work programmes conducted by TOMRA in Sydney demonstrate the potential of ore sorting using X-ray transmission (XRT) technology to successfully separate the gold-bearing veins at Korbel Main.
The results demonstrate the significant benefits that may be expected from the application of Ore Sorting technology at Korbel Main, including the potential to increase mine production and enhance the project economics through:
Work is continuing on the Mineral Resource upgrade for Korbel Main which is expected to be completed imminently.
Interim scoping study is well underway.
Snow Lake Resources IPO is fast progressing -update to follow
The Directors of Nova Minerals Limited (Nova or Company) (ASX:NVA OTC:NVAAF FSE:QM3) announce an on-market Buy-Back of ordinary fully paid shares in the Company for up to a value of $5,000,000 (Buy-Back).
Nova Minerals Limited (Nova or Company) (ASX: NVA, OTC: NVAAF, FSE: QM3) advises that 74% owned Snow Lake Resources filed a registration statement on Form-11 on Friday with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to raise up to $23 million in an initial public offering(IPO). Snow Lake is an exploration stage mining company engaged in lithium exploration in the province of Manitoba, Canada.
US$15M unsecured prepayment to fund Stage 1 improvement works on the Company’s existing Pilgangoora Project processing plant (Plant 1).
Prepayment to be provided in support of additional offtake (up to a further 40,000tpa of spodumene concentrate) for Yibin Tianyi from increased production capacity expected from improvement works on Plant 1 at the Pilgangoora Project.
Site works to commence on the Stage 1 improvement works this month, with commissioning expected September Quarter 2021.
The recently acquired ALO Project (Plant 2) remains on care and maintenance as evaluation works continues.
Pilbara Minerals executes an agreement with GLX Digital Limited (GLXDigital) for the launch of a new sales and trading software platform for the Pilgangoora Project, providing flexibility to transact by auction, tender process or bilateral sale.
Platform will initially be trialled utilising unallocated or available spodumene concentrate product, including envisaged unallocated future production capacity from the recent Altura project acquisition.
Pilbara Minerals’ standard terms and conditions will apply to each sale, inclusive of letter of credit arrangements.
First sale(s) expected to be conducted over the coming months, following formal establishment of the platform and engagement with industry buyers.
Represents a key development in the battery materials market, providing a more efficient and sophisticated sales channel to support increasing demand for spodumene concentrate and the expected growth in Pilgangoora production over time.
Customers and other interested parties may register their interest in Pilbara Minerals’ Battery Material Exchange at sales@pilbaraminerals.com.au.
Project Development:
Recent flotation optimisation testwork shows improved graphite purities and recovery, validating the flowsheet in preparation of detailed engineering design and presenting opportunities for higher plant productivity and lower unit operating costs for the Graphite Concentrate operation.
Advanced mineral processing trials of Renascor’s eco-friendly, HF-free downstream purification process, which was recently validated in trials by German industrial processing specialists Dorfner Anzaplan, continue, with results to be used for detailed engineering design for the construction of Renascor’s downstream Purified Spherical Graphite (”PSG”) manufacturing facility.
Final Battery Anode Material Manufacturing Facility Site Selection Assessment has commenced to select and acquire the rights to the site for the PSG downstream processing facility.
Regulatory workstreams and approvals are being prepared for the submission of Renascor’s Program for Environmental Protection and Rehabilitation (“PEPR”).
Stakeholder engagement is progressing well with Letters of Support secured from all levels of government and numerous community and regional groups.
Financing Strategy:
Letter of in-principle Support received from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (“CEFC”), an Australian Government backed clean energy technology financier.
CEFC in-principle support adds to the in-principle financing support received from Export Finance Australia (“EFA”), and Atradius, the respective export credit agencies of the Australian and Dutch Governments.
Offtake and Marketing:
Offtake process for remaining one-third of Stage 1 PSG progressing well, with Renascor receiving strong interest from leading battery anode makers and global commodity traders.
Customer testing of Siviour PSG is ongoing with a number of leading battery anode material customers for the remaining one-third of Stage 1 PSG.
Negotiation of Binding Offtake Agreements for existing Offtakers is progressing well, with preparation of bulk PSG samples underway.
Renascor Resources (ASX: RNU) (“Renascor”) welcomes the Australian Government’s commitment to the downstream production of critical minerals in Australia after the release of the ‘Resources Technology and Critical Minerals Processing National Manufacturing Priority road map’ (“Road Map”).
The Road Map identifies Renascor’s Siviour graphite deposit as one of two selected Critical Minerals projects located in South Australia.
Renascor’s Siviour deposit in South Australia contains the largest reported Ore Reserve of Graphite outside of Africa, and the second largest Proven Reserve in the world.
Renascor’s Siviour Battery Anode Material Project in South Australia comprises the Siviour Graphite Mine and Concentrator and the downstream production of 28,000tpa (Stage 1) of high value Purified Spherical Graphite for sale directly into the lithium-ion battery supply chain.
Renascor is on track to become the world’s first integrated, in-country mine and Purified Spherical Graphite operation outside of China.
Renascor Resources (ASX: RNU) (“Renascor”) executes non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with leading Japanese-based global trading company, Hanwa Co., Ltd. (“Hanwa”).
Hanwa is amongst the largest traders of battery chemicals in the Asian region, with a market capitalization of ¥ 140 billion (A$1.7 billion) and reported net sales of more than ¥ 1,700 billion (A$21 billion) in 2020. Hanwa has a long history of trading with some of the world’s largest metal and chemical producers and operates a dedicated Battery Team focussed on supplying graphite and other metals across the global battery value chain.
The MOU with Hanwa covers the purchase of up to 10,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of Purified Spherical Graphite (“PSG”) over a term of up to ten years. This represents approximately one-third of the projected initial PSG production capacity of Renascor’s planned Battery Anode Material operation in South Australia.
Renascor has now achieved potential commitments covering in excess of 100% of Siviour Stage 1 PSG production, after previously executing MOUs and achieving initial product qualification with anode companies Shanxi Minguang New Material Technology Co. Ltd (“Minguang New Material”) and Jiangxi Zhengtuo New Energy Technology Co. Ltd. (“Zeto”).
Renascor is concurrently progressing additional potential PSG offtake agreements and undertaking PSG validation with other anode and battery companies, with a view to securing additional offtake commitments that may allow for an expanded Stage 1 production capacity and / or enable a further expansion of the project with additional Stage 2 PSG production capacity.
Sayona expands Tansim Lithium Project, Québec following acquisition of 90 additional claims, increasing project size to 15,907 ha, a 44% increase in lithium acreage.
Ex-North American Lithium COO Yves Desrosiers appointed director of Authier Lithium Project, including responsibility for the ‘BAPE’ process, as Sayona Québec advances project approvals.
Canadian National Instrument (NI) 43-101 review determines high exploration potential for lithium pegmatites across Sayona's Tansim Lithium Project, Québec.
Project-wide exploration planned to test for new albite-spodumene pegmatites and to complement resource drilling at the Viau-Dallaire and Viau prospects in the 2021 exploration season.
Tansim recognised as key growth component for Sayona’s Québec lithium hub development, complementing flagship Authier Lithium Project and offering potential synergies with North American Lithium (NAL) (pending a successful bid).
1 for 6 Renounceable Rights Issue to raise up to A$20.4 million; priced at 3.2 cents per share, with rights to start trading from 6 April 2021.
Offer fully underwritten; 10.5% discount to the 30-day VWAP of 3.6 cents, 18% discount to the last sale of 3.9 cents.
Major shareholder, Piedmont Lithium Limited (ASX:PLL) taking up full entitlement under offer.
Funds to support Company’s bid for North American Lithium (NAL) and progress key projects in Québec, Canada, amid rising lithium demand in North American market from battery and EV makers.
Leading battery researcher Novonix Limited to test Authier Lithium Project samples for potential to deliver minimum 99.97% purity lithium hydroxide for batteries for EV makers.
Australian clean tech hydroxide provider, ICS Lithium to support trials by providing product to Novonix, based on sustainable and economical closed loop process.
Testing at Novonix’s battery lab in Canada to commence in May 2021, with full testing to include the development of a battery cell based on Authier lithium product.
Trials to reinforce Sayona Québec’s potential to deliver environmentally friendly, cost-competitive and high-quality lithium hydroxide product suitable for fast-growing North American battery market.
Syrah Resources Limited (ASX: SYR) (“Syrah” or “Company”) is pleased to announce the recommencement of natural graphite production at its Balama Operation in Mozambique.
Syrah has achieved consistent production of on-specification natural graphite at Balama during March to date, positioning it ahead of schedule versus the expected lead time of two to three months for first production.
Installation of furnace at Vidalia, USA enables Syrah to demonstrate vertically integrated natural graphite AAM production capability at commercial scale
AAM production from Vidalia will streamline in-progress product qualification processes.
Further positions Syrah as the most progressed vertically integrated natural graphite AAM supply option outside China
Vulcan has collected a bulk (10,000 litre) brine sample from a recently drilled geothermal well in the Upper Rhine Valley within 6km of Vulcan’s Ortenau Resource and license area.
The bulk brine sample returned a high grade of 214 mg/L Li (n=1 analysis) and will be used in Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) piloting test work.
Vulcan now has brine data stretching back to 1980 showing remarkably consistent Li values in Upper Rhine Valley brine.
Within Ortenau, Vulcan currently has an Inferred and Indicated JORC Resource Estimation of 12.86 Mt contained Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE) at a grade of 181 mg/L Li, and Vulcan’s total Upper Rhine Valley Project has Inferred and Indicated Resources of 15.85 Mt contained LCE at a grade of 181 mg/L Li of which 23% is in the Indicated category, the largest lithium resource in Europe.
The brine analysis also showed exceptionally low impurities (inc. Si, Mn, Fe) relative to other high-lithium geothermal brines worldwide, important for DLE performance.
New data will be incorporated into Vulcan’s resource estimation update work later in the year, as part of Definitive Feasibility Study (DPS) work for the Vulcan Zero Carbon Lithium® project.
Vulcan to use Circulor's full traceability and dynamic CO2 measurement solution for Zero Carbon Lithium™ across the European Lithium-ion battery and Electric Vehicle (EV) supply chain, in a world-first for the lithium sector.
Circulor’s customers include major European automotive manufacturers such as Volvo Cars, Daimler, Polestar and Jaguar Land Rover, which indicates OEMs’ growing need to demonstrate responsible sourcing of raw materials like lithium and to track and manage the embedded CO2 emission in their upstream supply chain for EVs, as they strive towards their net zero targets.
Circulor offers a software solution that enables customers to track raw materials through supply chains to demonstrate responsible sourcing and sustainability.
This system implementation enables reputational protection, proof of compliance with regulations and dynamic carbon tracking.
Circulor’s CO2 solution provides a dynamic month-to-month visibility of CO2 intensity across the supply chain and its participants.
Battery raw materials transparency, traceability and sustainability were directly targeted in the latest European Commission Battery Regulation proposed in December 2020.
Vulcan will be implementing Ciculor’s solution to its future lithium supply contracts with European OEMs to help them meet their sustainability objectives for material traceability and CO2 transparency.
Circulor’s solution will first be used during Vulcan’s project development including at a pilot and demonstration plant level, when the first samples are dispatched to customers.
Circulor and Vulcan will work together to prepare Vulcan and its supply chain for full traceability of Vulcan’sZero Carbon Lithium™ product at the production start in 2024.
from Twitter...Countries that have announced plans to phase out sales of new internal combustion vehicles, and years remaining to target: pic.twitter.com/PmhgCZQzdb
— Colin Mckerracher (@colinmckerrache) March 30, 2021
A colleague from @BloombergNEF went to a #battery trade show in China. These are the cells Ganfeng Lithium showcased.
— James Frith (@JamesTFrith) March 30, 2021
Solid-state cell, intercalation anode:
240Wh/kg
Solid-state cell, lithium metal anode:
360Wh/kg
Solid-state will push energy density and range!#battchat pic.twitter.com/s2ZXY1XfB0
Quick calculation, caveat for massive down year in automobile sales in 2020 etc but...
— Nat Bullard (@NatBullard) March 29, 2021
Electric vehicles as % of passenger vehicle sales:
2011: 0.06%
2012: 0.14%
2013: 0.3%
2014: 0.4%
2015: 0.6%
2016: 0.8%
2017: 1.3%
2018: 2.3%
2019: 2.7%
2020: 4.5%
Made in China: China's global #cleanenergy market share
— Assaad Razzouk (@AssaadRazzouk) March 28, 2021
Wind Turbines 54%
Solar Panels 74%
EVs 60%
Batteries 74%
Nickel refining 37%
Cobalt refining 70%
BAM 76%
Lithium refining 90%
Drivers: Energy security (China imports 75% of its oil and 30% of its gas) and clean lifestyles pic.twitter.com/3SGYysJLbH
Tesla Semi Not Coming Till 2022 (or Later) Due to Lack of Battery Cells https://t.co/13b3nG4NJa
— CleanTechnica (@cleantechnica) March 27, 2021
MIT study finds real price of lithium-ion cells down an incredible 97% since their commercial introduction in 1991 - with more declines on their way
— Assaad Razzouk (@AssaadRazzouk) March 25, 2021
We can have stable grids worldwide with 100% renewables, right now, while saving money and liveshttps://t.co/a8SIOgt4zt #climate pic.twitter.com/4c5UhVGi5y
It’s hard for western governments to get to grips with that fact that for EVs, lithium ion batteries and their supply chains, the west are the developing nations not China.
— Simon Moores (@sdmoores) March 25, 2021
End-2021 China will have 77% of EV battery capacity @benchmarkmin
Lithium’s supply deficit in 2025 is bigger than the entire lithium market in 2016 - @benchmarkmin
— Simon Moores (@sdmoores) March 25, 2021
A mountain to climb for #EV and #battery end users https://t.co/4k5Yyygq9d
The Forrestania region hosts four nickel-sulphide mines with two open pits and nickel sulphides persisting beyond 1km depth.
— Hannans (@Hannans_Ltd) March 23, 2021
Sign up to our email list to keep up to date as we continue exploration: https://t.co/jIWVmwPX2t#asx #nickel #exploration #batteries $hnr #cobalt $wsa pic.twitter.com/LOuVvIX8aw
First OEM highlighting high-Mn cathodes, @VWGroup 's announcement is a big move for the industry. As Steve wrote, "There is an excitement to the field that did not exist just a couple of years ago."
— Kevin Gunan Shang (@GunanKevin) March 19, 2021
A pleasure to talk with @stevelevine about cathodes. https://t.co/YxUXyb00iX
High-Mn cathode materials have an obvious cost benefit. @Roskill_Info analysis shows LNMO more cost-effective than NCM811. Compared with NCM811, the cathode raw material cost of LNMO reduced by 57.6% and 47.3%, in terms of USD$/t and USD$/kWh, respectively. #VWPowerDay pic.twitter.com/kRj74IoCO7
— Kevin Gunan Shang (@GunanKevin) March 17, 2021
Big centre spread on EV's and WA's role in today's West. pic.twitter.com/Ih6DYrKGB4
— Lithium News (@batt_li) March 17, 2021
Building 240 gigawatt-hours of capacity will require around $29 billion in capex based on today’s manufacturing plants and technology@VWGroup #VWPowerDay https://t.co/l41Ew7AL9F
— James Frith (@JamesTFrith) March 15, 2021
E-Mobility has won the race! Therefore battery and charging has become core business of @VWGroup. On our #VWPowerDay we presented our roadmap till 2030: https://t.co/3PWs2NC0Sz
— Herbert Diess (@Herbert_Diess) March 15, 2021
Even more incentive to convert near the mine instead of overseas.https://t.co/Zutaq1k4fW
— Lithium News (@batt_li) March 17, 2021
Federal Liberal MP calls for #EV support, ban on fossil fuel cars by mid-2030s https://t.co/wDq47SZwT7
— The Driven (@TheDriven_io) March 16, 2021
VW says "still a lot to do" to industrialise QuantumScape solid-state technology, but after 2025 can charge battery in 12 minutes.
— Henry Sanderson (@hjesanderson) March 15, 2021
Since 2021 start until this week, #China #lithium carbonate price ⬆️close to 60%, lithium hydroxide ⬆️35%, lithium iron phosphate ⬆️close to 20%, #China media reports. pic.twitter.com/mqAobAvBTM
— Moneyball (@DKurac) March 14, 2021
Things have turned around: to secure Li offtake today buyers need to consider prepayments in the form of equity or loans. Two years of minimal investment and accelerating demand will cause a very tight Li market in the coming years. Again, Chinese buyers understand this better. https://t.co/4OoqTESiCT
— Daniel Jimenez Sch (@D_Jimenez_Sch) March 15, 2021
Lot's of new announcements of VW.
— Battronics (@BattronicsAG) March 15, 2021
- BEV share by 2030 now ca 60% instead of 30% (due to Green Deal)
- LFP in low entry segment reduces cost -50% to today
- unified cell (probably prismatic 55cm or similar) accounts of 80% of deployed cells
- LFP and high-Mn cells become major
VW note that EVs will be like mobile power banks - integrating with the home and optimising the grid #VWpowerday
— Roskill (@Roskill_Info) March 15, 2021
VW plans 40GWh in Sweden via Northvolt.
— Simon Moores (@sdmoores) March 15, 2021
Have @northvolt and @VWGroup just unofficially merged?
Captive battery capacity is king in the world of electric vehicles #EV
VW says in the future high manganese, zero cobalt battery cells look promising #batteries
— Henry Sanderson (@hjesanderson) March 15, 2021
2025: The limiting factor for the production of EVs is lithium
— Simon Moores (@sdmoores) March 12, 2021
And the maximum EVs - as things stand - that can be produced is 13.9m vehicle units @benchmarkmin https://t.co/4k5Yyygq9d
China installed 112,000 public EV charging points in December 2020 alone. That’s more than the size of the entire U.S. public charging network, installed in a single month.
— Colin Mckerracher (@colinmckerrache) March 11, 2021
A new association will be formed in #Japan between major #battery raw material, #chemical, #energy and #automotive companies to strengthen supply chain competitiveness. The Battery Association for Supply Chain will be formed on 1st April 2021 by 28 companies. @Roskill_Info pic.twitter.com/QTm8h5p1Ou
— David Merriman (@David_Roskill) March 9, 2021
UK EV sales reach 13% market share in Feb and 13.4% for the year to date. Lockdown causing auto sales to plummet but EVs still managed yoy growth. Hopefully auto sales will rise as the UK economy opens. pic.twitter.com/8VUvZIRGS7
— Rodney Hooper (@RodneyHooper13) March 5, 2021
We are at 192 battery megafactories / Gigafactories in the pipeline to 2030 (av size still much smaller than Giga1 Nevada)
— Simon Moores (@sdmoores) March 5, 2021
However it’s clear we will need a lot more capacity going forward. Probably as much as another order of magnitude. https://t.co/4k5Yyygq9d pic.twitter.com/XqXFPV0zqR
CATL confirm new cell plant in Fuding will be largest planned to date with final capacity of 120 GWh ????
— Caspar Rawles (@CDMRawles) March 3, 2021
One of a handful of triple digit capacity plants in @benchmarkmin Megafactory assessment
CATL sticking to a very China focussed expansion strategy unlike other tier 1 players
The EV lithium ion battery industry has already grown an order of magnitude since 2010.
— Simon Moores (@sdmoores) March 3, 2021
Starting now, it has to do it all over again.
And it’s clear there is nowhere near enough capacity in pipeline. (50m EVs by 2030)
The global battery arms race will continue @benchmarkmin pic.twitter.com/fsIfyAfr85
UBS upgrading its lithium price forecasts by ~10% today based on its recent teardown of a VW ID.3 and its assertion that Li-ion EV batteries are getting larger! #lithium $AGY $AGY.AX @ArgosyMinerals
— Alex Molyneux (@AlexMiningGuy) March 3, 2021
Today was a milestone for Volvo Cars. We will recharge our company with sustainability and customer care. All future pure electric cars will be available online only and with a complete customer care package. pic.twitter.com/Kmwv8I82oV
— Håkan Samuelsson (@hakan_samuel) March 2, 2021
#ags2021 Robyn Denholm on the SA big battery - has stabilised the grid and supported growing impact of renewables,. In 1st 2 years, delivered savings of $150m to consumers. That's what innovation looks like folks.
— Grant Phelps (@grant_phelps) March 1, 2021
*NEW* #Lithium Equity Scoreboard
— Howard Klein (@LithiumIonBull) February 28, 2021
September 1 was the start of #Lithium 3.0 IMO as pre-#BatteryDay speculation took root.
3 of 4 best performers (9-10x) were #DLE plays - $ETMC $LKE and $VUL. One Plain vaniLLa rock, $PLL approaching USD???? pic.twitter.com/Q6bRmbAYca
@benchmarkmin is currently tracking 192 Battery Megafactories over the next 10 years with a combined capacity of 3,208.5 GWh.. Tesla alone has announced 3 TWh. Battery capacity will grow dramatically over the next decade and demand for critical battery materials will skyrocket.
— Thematica (@Thematicafunds) February 27, 2021
The ID. Buzz (essentially an all-electric, updated version of the Volkswagen Kombi) will be the first VW to feature self-driving technology and will serve as a "robo-taxi" https://t.co/epVUbCm0rC
— RenewEconomy (@renew_economy) March 1, 2021
Perhaps expected but without doubt big news for the US lithium ion economy
— Caspar Rawles (@CDMRawles) February 24, 2021
A critical acceleration of US battery supply chains is need - this was well overdue https://t.co/8nLEnmYgnw
Terrific piece by @abc730 on grid-scale batteries including interviews with Dr Kerry Schott @AngusTaylorMP and @Matt_KeanMP.
— Ambassador for the Environment (@AusAmbEnviro) January 27, 2021
Great footage of the @NEOEN_AU Hornsdale Power Reserve - the @Tesla big battery - with thanks to @mcannonbrookes and @elonmusk.https://t.co/24YtasKjMu