Indonesia is “ready to fight” the European Union’s challenge of the Southeast Asian country’s ban on nickel ore exports at the World Trade Organisation, arguing the bloc’s actions may hinder Indonesia’s development plans, the trade minister said. Once the world’s biggest exporter of nickel, Indonesia banned ore exports last year to incentivise foreign investors to help develop a full nickel supply chain in the country, starting from extraction, processing into metals and chemicals used in batteries, all the way to building electric vehicles.
This brilliant performance, added to the steep fall of the overall market (-31% YoY), allowed the PEV Share to jump from the 6.6% in January '20, to the current 22%(!), with BEVs alone hitting 10%.
Ford Motor Co’s Chief Executive on Wednesday called on the U.S. government to support battery production and charging infrastructure development, as he outlined the automaker’s plan to develop electric platforms for its top-selling trucks, vans and SUVs.
After cementing its position as the world's largest producer of hard rock lithium concentrate, Western Australia is striving to become a major producer of downstream lithium chemicals for the battery materials industry through significant multi-national investment. From a zero base, the state could be approaching output of up to 150,000 t/yr of lithium hydroxide by the end of 2024, critical for the manufacture of cathodes for the electric vehicle and energy storage battery markets.
With the US having rejoined the Paris Accord on the climate crisis last week, President Joe Biden has now signed an Executive Order which identifies the importance of mitigating risks in the supply chain for “large capacity batteries”.
A report by Automotive News USA estimates the global recall of 82,000 Hyundai Kona and Ioniq electric cars – in which the battery packs must be replaced – will cost in excess of US$900 million which equates to AU$1.13 billion in our currency.
Enovix Corp said on Monday it had agreed to go public through a merger with blank-check firm Rodgers Silicon Valley Acquisition Corp in a deal that values the lithium-ion battery maker at $1.13 billion, including debt.
Volkswagen AG’s biggest plant in Wolfsburg, Germany, is struggling to meet strong demand for the Golf model due to shortages of battery cells for hybrid versions and semiconductor components, the company’s labor leader told Braunschweiger Zeitung in an interview published Saturday.
Wesfarmers has at least one off-take agreement in place for lithium hydroxide from its $1.9 billion development of its Mt Holland project in partnership with Chile’s Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile (SQM). It appears likely that Kidman’s binding off-take deal with Tesla – consolidated when top Wesfarmers executives visited the carmaker’s headquarters in Nevada after buying into Mt Holland – is one that has survived.
Ford is investing $1 billion in an electric vehicle production facility in Cologne, Germany, with the European arm of the automotive giant committing to go “all-in” on electric vehicles in the years ahead. In plans announced Wednesday morning, Ford said its entire passenger vehicle range in Europe would be “zero-emissions capable, all-electric or plug-in hybrid” by the middle of 2026, with a “completely all-electric” offering by 2030.
Wesfarmers expects to spend about $950 million developing the mine, concentrator and refinery and that and full funding will be committed after receiving environmental approvals, which are expected in early fiscal 2022 when construction is also expected to start. First production of lithium hydroxide, which is expected to be around 50,000 tonnes annually, is expected in the second half of the 2024 calendar year.
Ford Motor Co. will drastically overhaul its business in Europe, where it didn’t sell a single fully electric vehicle last year, vowing to go almost completely electric by the end of the decade. One of the first steps in the transformation announced Wednesday will be to plow $1 billion into a German assembly plant that will start making an all-electric model in two years. By mid-2026, Ford will offer plug-in hybrid or fully electric models across its entire lineup.
Volkswagen AG late Friday called itself an “unintended victim” in a battle between two battery suppliers and urged the U.S. government to extend a reprieve to buy batteries key to its planned U.S. electric vehicle production.
The more than 120-year rivalry between Peugeot and Renault SA has proved too fierce to overcome, even for a 5 billion-euro ($6 billion) project backed by their powerful shareholder, the French government. Instead, PSA Group, now part of Stellantis NV, and oil giant Total SA are pushing ahead without Renault, which may pursue its own plans with South Korea’s LG Chem Ltd. Macron sought to form a united front because batteries will be one of the most powerful forces to reshape Europe’s auto industry in decades. Getting significant regional production up and running to counter Asian dominance and meet the needs of a booming electric-car market will take years, and it’s been made more difficult by the pain inflicted by the pandemic.
The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) on Wednesday sided with South Korea's chemicals and electric vehicle (EV) battery maker LG Chem Ltd, which accused its cross-town rival SK Innovation Co Ltd of misappropriating trade secrets related to EV battery technology. The ITC said it was issuing a limited 10-year exclusion order prohibiting imports into the United States of some lithium-ion batteries by SK Innovation, but would permit SK to import components for domestic production of lithium ion batteries and other parts for Ford Motor Co's EV F-150 program for four years, and for Volkswagen of America's MEB electric vehicle line for the North America region for two years.
The Indonesian State Owned Enterprises Ministry has been preparing a holding company that would build a battery industry for electric vehicles, which was expected to be completed in the first half of 2021. The corporation will involve four state enterprises, including the company specializing in aluminium smelting PT Indonesia Asahan Aluminium or MIND ID, mining firm PT Aneka Tambang, oil and gas giant PT Pertamina, and electricity company PT Perusahaan Listrik Negara (PLN).
U.S. electric vehicle maker Tesla has proposed joining Indonesia's plans to create an EV battery supply chain within the country, a senior Indonesian government official said on Friday.
CEP Energy, whose chairman is former NSW premier Morris Iemma, has secured a 30-year lease to install a 1,200-megawatt battery at Kurri Kurri north-west of Newcastle.
In January, LME nickel prices reach their highest point since September 2019 — driven by supply disruptions, strong stainless steel production and a looming shortage of ‘battery suitable’ nickel.
Ford Motor Co on Thursday more than doubled the amount of money it plans to invest on electric and autonomous vehicles, to $29 billion, even as it posted a fourth-quarter net loss of $2.8 billion.
Shares of Albemarle dropped 2.8% in Tuesday’s extended market trading session after the global producer of lithium announced the launch of a $1.3 billion stock sale to fund its growth expansion plans and pay down debt. Specifically, Albemarle (ALB) disclosed that the sale proceeds will be used to fund the construction and expansion of its lithium operations in Australia, Chile and Silver Peak, Nevada, as well as opportunities in China. In addition, the lithium producer seeks to use the net proceeds for debt repayment in the short-term and other general corporate purposes.
Sales of electric and plug-in hybrid cars in the European Union almost trebled to over 1 million vehicles last year, accounting for more than 10% of overall sales, data showed on Thursday. The jump in sales shows electrified vehicles are becoming more mainstream products after years of being a niche market and it came at a time when overall EU car sales plunged nearly 24% to 9.9 million because of COVID-19 lockdowns.
Momentum is shifting toward a clean-car future as more automakers end their legal efforts to block California’s tough fuel economy standards.
“It’s important to emphasize to our suppliers, we’re not trying to put them out of business, we want them to increase their rate,” Musk said Monday. Tesla suppliers Panasonic Corp., Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Ltd. and LG Chem Ltd. have been under growing pressure to scale up their operations with Tesla increasing its purchase of battery cells and announcing newly ambitious plans for car production.
An EU plan for a fifty-fold increase in electric cars this decade to help cut greenhouse gas emissions will require an 80 billion euro ($96.5 billion) investment in charging points to support it, power industry group Eurelectric said on Tuesday.
Panasonic Corp said on Tuesday it expects its battery business supplying Tesla Inc to be profitable this fiscal year, and raised its full-year operating profit forecast by more than half.
Experts warn that the drive to electric-vehicles will send demand sky-rocketing for copper, nickel, lithium and a long list of other critical minerals, the supply of which is dominated by China.
from the ASX...Argosy has received firm commitments to raise $30 million through a significantly oversubscribed Placement supported by high quality institutional investors.
Rincon Lithium Project now fully funded through to 2,000tpa lithium carbonate production and cash-flow generation.
Argosy’s exclusive and proprietary environmentally clean chemical process technology is producing high purity battery quality lithium carbonate acceptable for high-specification international markets.
Funding enhances planned next stage 10,000tpa scale development of Rincon Lithium Project.
Proceeds from the Placement also applied to:
Salta Province plans to develop a mining logistics node for mining and energy activities in the Puna region, with planned location adjacent to Argosy’s Rincon Lithium Project.
Provincial state company Recursos Energéticos y Mineros de Salta SA (Remsa) granted land parcel to assist development of mining and energy projects.
Plans for the mining services infrastructure site to include airport, industrial area, accommodation, service station, commercial premises, health centre.
Site locality close to large photovoltaic plant facility.
Pre-feasibility study to commence.
Battery materials HPA coating plant.
Utilising Altech’s HPA coating technology.
Potential improvements to lithium-ion battery life, capacity and chargeability.
Option to acquire ~14Ha industrial site in Saxony, Germany.
€750b of European Union fiscal stimulus allocated to Next Generation “green” initiative.
AVZ’s resource drilling at Roche Dure identifies further high-grade lithium and tin mineralisation directly beneath the historical pit floor.
Pit floor mapping and drilling confirms slightly weathered to fresh pegmatitic rock makes up the pit floor and that it will likely be re-classified under JORC definition.
Assay results from the first four holes in this drill program were not included in the May 2019 Mineral Resource.
A new resource update is expected, pending all outstanding data being received in the first Quarter 2021.
Pegmatite in holes MO20DD002 and MO20DD003 were slightly weathered to about 8m depth while holes MO20DD004 and MO20DD006 intersected fresh mineralised pegmatite from the top of the hole.
All holes showed varying amounts of breakage with minor core loss caused by blasting damage from the previous hard rock mining operation at Roche Dure.
Nine-hole diamond drill program for 1,654 metres at Roche Dure pit floor “wedge” completed.
Sample preparation well underway with samples to be transported to Perth as soon as possible.
Assay results from holes five and nine – along with first four holes reported in targeted drill program – not included in May 2019 Mineral Resource.
A new resource update is expected, pending all outstanding data being received in the first Quarter 2021.
Pegmatite in holes MO20DD005 and MO20DD009 were fresh from the pit floor and confirm strong spodumene mineralisation from the top of the holes.
An MOU has been signed with Urbix, Inc (“Urbix”) - a US based Company leading the development of EV related graphite products.
BlackEarth will fastrack the development of its Madagascan project sites and source other high grade Graphite concentrate to supply Urbix’s downstream processing facility in the USA.
Urbix is globally recognised for its graphite purification processes that can develop specialised graphite product for the globally expanding EV market
The BlackEarth Board and Urbix plan to develop an Operational Joint Venture in the future – the proposed JV combines Urbix’s technical excellence with BlackEarth’s substantial market, commercial and graphite operational experience.
BlackEarth is in the process of concluding concentrate supply agreements to meet Urbix’s intital demands and the proposed JV’s initial production demands. This includes off take agreements for the supply of downstream products to a range of global buyers.
A proposed JV, still in discussion, can position BlackEarth as a globally significant supplier of downstream graphite products and forms part of BlackEarth’s strategy to fast track the development of its Maniry Graphite Project in Madagascar.
An Agreement has been signed with World Leaders in the procurement, supply and marketing of graphite concentrate and downstream graphite products, LuxcarbonGmbH, Germany (“Luxcarbon”).
Luxcarbon is currently one of Germany’s major suppliers of Graphite & Carbon products to top tier suppliers of Volkswagen, Mercedes, Ford and to major chemical corporations.
BlackEarth, as part of its MOU commitment with Urbix Inc, will use this to secure the supply of up to 25,000t of high grade product to assist Urbix in completing their plant development.
The supply arrangement will continue whilst BlackEarth fast tracks the development of its own high grade, large scale graphite properties in Madagascar, which will then form a regular supply to its proposed downstream graphite operations.
The Agreement also provides that BlackEarth will sell up to 25,000 mtpa of downstream products from its operations and JV operations into the European market to meet the growing demand for battery EV material.
Luxcarbon will also provide technical advisory services to BlackEarth on the production of downstream products from the Company’s proposed facilities in Australia and / or Madagascar.
Luxcarbon will work closely with the BlackEarth Executive team to further develop supplychain, logistics and sales channels for their downstream graphite production into the expanding EV and Battery markets.
BlackEarth to commence a 3 month 60-70 tonne large scale pilot metallurgical test program on its Maniry Graphite Project material.
The results of the program will be used as part the Company’s current DFS to finalise all processing related parameters (process design criteria).
Graphite concentrate produced will be used to finalise binding offtake and downstream arrangements.
Successful completion of the Program will assist BlackEarth to fastrack project funding and the commencement of plant construction.
Test work results to further confirm the world class status of the Maniry Graphite Project.
Core raises $40million to advance development of the Finniss Lithium Project in placement to global institutional investors.
Project substantially de-risked with funding through to construction, anticipated to commence prior to year-end, subject to FID.
Core well capitalised to accelerate resource drilling, further increase mine life, advance spodumene project development and preliminary LiOH design.
Shares placed to a select group of high-quality global institutional investors, primarily in North America, Europe and Australia.
Majority of the assays from Core’s 2020 resource diamond and RC drilling at the Grants Lithium Deposit have been received and compiled.
Lithium assays and widths strengthen the current resource model and include:
Assay results awaited for new drill intersection of 55m of pegmatite outside current resource (FRCD022)
This new drilling expected to deliver high conversion of Inferred Mineral Resource to Indicated Mineral Resource and add Reserves to Life of Mine (LOM).
Intersections in the Inferred-Indicated transition are of excellent width (+20m) and quality in line with surrounding drill holes and resource model.
Further underground mining potential remains open below 300m at Grants.
Geological and Geotechnical logging of drillcore almost complete with further drill assays to be received in late February ahead of a resource upgrade at Grants.
EcoGraf Limited is pleased to announce the outcome of a recent testwork program utilising the Company’s ‘HF free’ proprietary purification process to recover carbon anode material from production waste generated during the manufactureof lithium-ion batteries. Outstanding results of >99.95% carbon purity achieved during the recycling program which confirms the effectiveness of the EcoGraf™ process in recovering graphite anode material to the specification required for re-use in lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles.
EcoGraf Limited is pleased to announce that it has authorised GR Engineering Services Limited to undertake works for the detailed engineering design for the construction of its new 20,000tpa battery graphite facility in Western Australia.
Firm commitments received to raise A$54.6 million, with cornerstone investments from North American, German and Australian institutional investors.
Strong institutional investor interest highlights EcoGraf’s superior, environmentally responsible purification technology, providing customers with sustainably produced battery anode materials.
EcoGraf is now fully funded to complete phase one construction of its Australian commercial-scale battery anode material purification facility.
EcoGraf has been for some time evaluating the placement of a second battery graphite production facility in Europe to cater specifically to growth in demand in Europe. It is envisaged that development work on this facility would commence following successful completion of stage one of the Australian facility and will utilise the same engineering design to produce 20,000tpa of battery graphite.
On 15 December 2020 the Company announced that it was accepted to trade on the globally renowned US based NASDAQ International OTC program and the Company commenced trading under the code ERPNF.
On 6 December 2020 the Company commenced trading on OTC Pink Market under the code PKC: EMHLF.
The Company advised on the continued discussions with the Prague Stock Exchange (PSE) regarding the proposed listing of the Company's securities.
On 30 December 2020 the Company was pleased to announce the arrangement of a further funding agreement with 6466 Capital Limited. The agreement allows for the draw down of up to AUD 1 million in tranches as required over 12 months.
Completion of 12 of a total of 19 hole programme at the Cinovec Project.
Interim results from first 6 holes in line with or better than expectations.
Cinovec contains the largest hard rock lithium deposit in Europe.
Cinovec is fully funded to final investment decision with approximately EUR26.7min Project Company currently.
EMH intending to become one of the lowest carbon footprint producers of battery grade Lithium Hydroxide and lithium carbonate in Europe.
Cinovec is situated within 250 km of numerous existing or proposed end users of battery grade Lithium chemicals.
Firm Commitments from institutional and sophisticated investors received for a private placement of AUD 7.1million (before costs).
Includes substantial support and participation with a A$5 million contribution by Luxembourg green energy fund, Thematica Future Mobility.
Funds raised will assist in further development of the Cinovec Project and general working capital and to introduce strategic institutional investors as the Company progresses the Project towards FID and full funding.
Cinovec contains the largest hard rock lithium deposit in Europe.
Cinovec is fully funded to final investment decision with approximately EUR26.7min the Project company currently.
EMH intending to become one of the lowest carbon footprint producers of battery grade Lithium Hydroxide and Lithium Carbonate in Europe.
Cinovec is situated within 250 km of a large number of existing or proposed end users of battery grade lithium chemicals.
99 lithium-caesium areas of interest identified, of which 32 are considered high priority and a further 16 ranked as medium priority.
The in-depth review utilised all in-house and all publicly available geochemical datasets, focusing on anomalous rubidium, lithium and tantalum in combination with magnetic and structural geological data.
Pioneer Dome already hosts the Dome North Lithium Mineral Resource of 11.2Mt @ 1.21% Li2O. Scoping level metallurgical test work completed on the main pegmatite, the Cade Deposit, shows 74% lithia recovery to a saleable concentrate grade of 5.6% Li2O with a low iron (Fe2O3) content of 0.7% using a hybrid Dense Medium Separation (DMS) + flotation flowsheet.
A drill programme to test new prospects and expand the Dome North Resource is targeted for early in the June Quarter. Planning will also commence for a Scoping Study to be initiated at the appropriate time.
Juglah Dome Gold Project assays: Due to laboratory workloads, the results of the December drilling are now expected by mid-February.
Intention to demerge Goulamina into a separate ASX listed entity.
Demerger proposal includes Firefinch shareholders being rewarded with free shares in the new entity (Lithium Co) proportional to their existing holding.
Restructure to unlock the deep value in Goulamina following an outstanding DFS which confirmed Goulamina as one of the world’s best undeveloped hard rock lithium deposits.
The demerger will deliver shareholders an investment in two high quality companies: each delivering a clear focus on gold or lithium.
An Investment Bank will be appointed to advise Firefinch and Lithium Co on funding, partnership opportunities, offtake and the de-merger process.
The Orion chonolith (‘worm-like intrusion’) has been intercepted by multiple drill holes on IGO’s Nova Mining Lease, less than 1km from BOA’s Symons Hill licence 250m.
Orion is interpreted to have a strike length of >1,000m and a diameter of 80-250m.
Drilling results suggest the Orion chonolith is more prospective for nickel-copper mineralisation towards the northeast and therefore towards Boadicea’s Symons Hill licence.
Exploration on the potential Orion extension within the Symons Hill licence is currently being advanced by the IGO exploration team, with drilling on Symons Hill expected in Q1/Q2 2021.
Of the more than 600 IGO Fraser Range mafic-ultramafic intrusions, Orion is ranked in the top three for prospectivity.
Further details on the Orion, Hercules and Elara prospects, which are interpreted to potentially extend into Boadicea’s Symons Hill Licence (E28/1932) can be found on the IGO website.
Infinity part of EIT InnoEnergy led Battchain consortium submission for €1.2b of Coronavirus Recovery Funds.
€750b Coronavirus Recovery Fund comprises some €140b earmarked for Spain in the form of grants and low-interest loans.
Battchain is focused on the development of industrial projects in the Spanish automotive sector.
San José Lithium Project capable of becoming the cornerstone proponent in Battchain with the potential to provide battery grade lithium hydroxide.
Commitments to raise A$15 million before costs received to advance the San José Lithium Project.
Placement strongly supported with significant funds from international and domestic institutions and existing investors.
Placement proceeds will significantly strengthen the balance sheet to enable the acceleration of the San José Feasibility Study and project related work in the region.
Infinity fully financed for completion of the Feasibility Study to be released in Q4 2021.
ioneer and Caterpillar complete joint automation study detailing the apparent benefits for early adoption of a Cat® Command for hauling, Autonomous Haulage System (AHS) at Rhyolite Ridge for improved operator safety, equipment utilization and site productivity.
With the study complete and Rhyolite Ridge appears to be a very favourable candldate for AHS, ioneer and Caterpillar have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to move the initiative forward.
Fully integrated mining automation systems offer unprecedented improvements in operator safety, equipment utilization, and site productivity.
The Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Proiect will be the first greenfield operation in North America to utilize AHS.
In October 2020, ioneer announced that it had selected Caterpillar as the exclusive heavy equipment partner for its Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project in Nevada.
Assay results from 10 of 15 drillholes received.
Substantial thicknesses of lithium mineralisation intersected in all holes.
Mineralisation intersected over 1km north of current Inferred Resource.
Remainder of drillhole results expected by mid-February 2021.
Attrition scrubbing increases lithium grades by 60%.
Leaching confirms high lithium extraction rates from beneficiated samples with reduced acid consumption.
Additional work to further optimise metallurgical processes is underway.
SiLeach® patent application granted by US Patent and Trademark Office.
SiLeach® patent application accepted by IP Australia.
SiLeach® patent application claims considered allowable by European Patent Office.
SiLeach®, which provides for low-energy recovery of lithium from micas, is potentially a short-cut in the production of lithium-ion batteries.
Exploration has commenced to define drill targets within the previously identified arsenic lithium anomalies.
One important area, Balingup East, is a northern extension of the arsenic anomaly associated with the Giant LCT Pegmatite which is mined by Talison at their Greenbushes operation. Balingup East has strongly elevated arsenic in Iaterite > 500ppm along with elevated As, Sn, Cs, Bi, Nb, Rb and Sb.
Regional Iaterite and rock chip sampling is also commencing in areas that previously were not tested by LPI.
LPI’s Greenbushes tenements cover 39,800 ha north and south of the Greenbushes mine.
Liontown Resources Limited is pleased to announce the appointment of international mining executive Tony Ottaviano as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, effective from on or about 1 May 2021.
Record spodumene production 262kdmt, up 36% pcp.
Best ever cost performance $457/dmt, down 11% pcp.
Kemerton hydroxide plant construction progressing well.
$34 million placement to local and overseas institutional and sophisticated investors.
Funds to be used to fast-track production at the iM3NY Battery Plant in Endicott, New York.
iM3NY to be one of the largest lithium-ion cell manufacturers in the United States.
iM3NY has sourced debt and equity arrangements with completion anticipated in the current quarter.
Skaland's financial and operating performance was affected by unplanned maintenance and delayed restarting of production in the December quarter, with limited sales revenue. Production recommenced during the quarter after a longer than anticipated maintenance shutdown with increased costs driven by the extensive maintenance work done on the plant mills to bring them back into production.
The Company sold 1,314 tonnes of graphite concentrate during the quarter compared to 1,088 tonnes in the prior quarter, reflecting increased production. Total product produced and bagged was 992 tonnes for the quarter, a 202.4% increase above the previous period's results.
Mineral Commodities Ltd advises that it will not be in a position to complete the issue of securities approved by shareholders at its Annual General Meeting in July 2020 by the amended deadline of 28 February 2021. Additionally, the Company has suspended the secondary listing of securities on the Oslo Stock Exchange in Norway.
Total Group Ore Reserve of graphite contained 4.24 million tonnes at 12.8% Total Graphitic Carbon (“TGC”) and total Group Mineral Resources of graphite contained 9.75 million tonnes at 14% TGC, containing 1.36 million tonnes of graphite.
During FY2020, MRC continued to expand its exploration portfolio with new near-mine prospects in Norway and South Africa.
Novonix will extend its sponsorship of Professor Mark Obrovac’s Research Group for a subsequent 5-year term under a new agreement.
Novonix will have first rights to IP developed from this agreement.
The Canadian government’s NSERC Alliance program will contribute CA$2.2M over the 5-year term.
Partnership to develop and manufacture energy storage systems for community microgrids.
Significant opportunities throughout North America.
Approximately $115million fully underwritten placement to institutional and sophisticated investors.
Placements of new shares to certain directors of NOVONIX or entities associated with them to raise $16.45 million on a non-underwritten basis, subject to approval by shareholders of NOVONIX and completion of the Institutional Placement and SPP.
Issue price of $2.90per new share, representing a 11.9% discount to the closing price of NOVONIX shares of $3.29 on 24 February 2021.
Non-underwritten share purchase plan (SPP) to raise approximately $15million.
Funds raised will provide capex and working capital to scale production for NOVONIX Anode Materials, fund R&D in cathode and other advanced battery technologies, fund general corporate costs and provide flexibility to pursue international growth opportunities.
Successful raising will allow NOVONIX to fund capex to increase production of NOVONIX Anode Materials to 10,000 tonnes per annum.
Novonix Ltd today announces the successful completion of its fully underwritten $115 million placement of new fully paid ordinary shares (New Shares) to institutional and sophisticated investors at an offer price of $2.90 per New Share (Institutional Placement). Under the Institutional Placement, the Company will issue approximately 39.7 million New Shares.
Orocobre Limited advises that following an earthquake late Saturday (13 February 2021, JST) off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture, north east Japan, there are no injuries to employees at the Naraha Lithium Hydroxide Plant. An initial inspection of the plant with the construction contractor, Veolia Jenets on the morning of 14 February found some minor damage to the site office but did not find any visible defects to plant equipment. Additionally, there is no damage to site infrastructure services. A further inspection will be undertaken on 15 February to confirm the initial observations and assure the safety of the site prior to the recommencement of construction work.
Olaroz (100%)
Production – down 9% on previous corresponding period (PcP) to 6,079 tonnes due to COVID-19 restrictions and market conditions.
Quality – reduced unplanned maintenance and faster repair times, higher brine concentration, better plant yield and lithium recovery. Kaizen and Toyota Production System implementation underway. Significant improvement in process stability and product consistency.
Sales – 7,738 tonnes (up 21% PcP) with revenue of US$27.0 million. Average sales price of US$3,492/tonne FOB1, down 22% half on half (HoH).
Half year cash cost of sales at US$3,777/t2, down 19% on PcP with a focus on cost reduction and improved operational efficiency.
Margin of US$-285/t for H1 FY21 with EBITDAIX loss of US$3.9 million.
H2 FY21 sales prices are expected to increase >50% to approximately US$5,500/tonne with improving market conditions.
Orocobre
Group loss of US$29.1 million (underlying loss of US$27.3 million) and EBITDAIX loss of US$6.3 million.
Total Group cash of US$262.3 million (corporate + reserved+ 100% SDJ), net proportional group cash of US$102.6 million (excluding shareholders loans).
Borax TRIFR reduced to 5.2 in H1 FY21 from 6.8 in H1 FY20.
We continue to develop ESG practices with new carbon emission and diversity projects.
Naraha and Olaroz Stage 2 are progressing within COVID-19 restrictions
Strategically focussed on the pathway to near term production;
Revised pilot plant design to adopt greatest technical certainty by focussing on existing lower risk Feasibility Study flowsheet;
Revised and optimised Feasibility Study commenced for staged development plan of 1.2Mtpa to 2.4Mtpa;
Advancing various project funding opportunities including strategic investor interest;
Farvic transaction to simplify corporate structure extended a year.
In January 2021, Renascor signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with anode company Jiangxi Zhengtuo New EnergyTechnology Co. Ltd. (Zeto) for the purchase of up to 10,000tpa of Purified Spherical Graphite (PSG) over a ten year term.
Renascor is pleased to report that it has now achieved first stage product qualification of Siviour PSG with Zeto, with the results enabling the two parties to progress engagement towards binding PSG offtake.
A total of 20,000tpa of Siviour PSG has now achieved first stage qualification with two world-class offtakers, following initial qualification by Minguang New Material in January 20211.
Zeto is a top ten anode producer globally, with current anode production capacity of 30,000tpa and an additional 20,000tpa under construction and planned to be in operation by 2022. Zeto is major supplier of natural flake graphite anodes and is active in developing anode technologies, including silicon-carbon anode material.
Zeto supplies anodes to some of the world’s largest battery makers, such as Hong Kong listed BYD Co. Ltd, the world’s second largest manufacturer and retailer of electric vehicles, with a current market capitalisation of around US$100 billion.
Renascor is extremely pleased with its progress in relation to Stage 1 PSG offtake and is concurrently discussing additional potential PSG offtake agreements and undertaking PSG qualification and validation with other anode and battery companies, with a view to securing binding commitments for its planned 28,000tpa Stage 1 PSG operation.
RenascorResources Limited is pleased to announce that it has received confirmation from the South Australian Government Treasury that the Siviour Graphite Project has been classified as a ‘New Mine’ for the purposes of State royalty calculations.The successful attainment of New Mine status means that the Project will incur a reduced royalty rate of 2% of the net value of the minerals recovered from the Siviour Mine through 30 June 2026, representing a reduction from 3.5% over the initial years of production.
Advanced mineral processing trials undertaken by leading German independent battery mineral consultancy group Dorfner Anzaplan confirm suitability of Renascor’s eco-friendly technology to purify graphite to battery anode grade, with results up to 99.98% Carbon (C) (versus anode industry standard of 99.95% C).
The results follow over five years of mineral processing tests by Renascor that have led Renascor to adapt a proven technique that avoids the use of hydrofluoric (HF) acid to create an environmentally friendly and cost-effective method for purification of Renascor’s Siviour natural flake graphite for use in lithium-ion battery anodes.
Renascor’s HF-free purification technique has already been used to produce Purified Spherical Graphite (PSG) from Siviour Grpahite Concentrates that exceeds anode industry quality specifications, including having achieved first stage qualification with two world-class anode company offtakers that account for up to two-thirds of Renascor’s stage one production.
Renascor intends to use its HF-free purification technology to create a competitive advantage in the production of high-quality PSG with leading environmental, social and governance (ESG) credentials in the first integrated in-country mine and battery anode material operation outside of China.
The results of the current purification trials will be used for detailed engineering design for construction of Renascor’s planned Stage 1, 28,000tpa PSG manufacturing facility in South Australia, as well as to support on-going offtake and finance discussions.
Renascor has been accepted into the European Battery Alliance (EBA).
The EBA was established in October 2017 by the European Commission, the Executive Branch of the European Union, to bring together key groups in the battery material, technology and financing space with the objective to build a strong and competitive pan-European battery industry.
Renascor’s acceptance into the EBA strengthens the position of the Siviour Battery Anode Material Project as a potential future supplier to the European market of the Purified Spherical Graphite required for production of electric vehicle battery anodes.
Renascor holds the largest reported Ore Reserve of Graphite outside of Africa, and the second largest Proven Reserve in the world.
Membership to EBA provides Renascor the opportunity to collaborate with key European stakeholders such as the European Investment Bank, and end users seeking reliable, secure and sustainable access to Purified Spherical Graphite as part of the Europe’s increasing investment in the lithium-ion battery supply chain.
Syrah Resources Limited is pleased to announce the decision to restart production at the Balama Graphite Operation in Mozambique.
COMMERCIAL AND PROJECT DEVELOPMENT
PRODUCT AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATE AND FINANCE
Vulcan has received firm commitments to raise A$120million (before costs) through a strongly supported placement at A$6.50per share to a suite of ESG-focused institutions. Goldman Sachs and Canaccord Genuity acted as Joint Lead Managers.
Proceeds from the Placement will support Vulcan through to final investment decision at its Zero Carbon Lithium® Project, with funds being applied to:
Upon settlement of the Placement, Vulcan will have a cash balance (before costsof the Placement) of ~A$125 million.
Binding agreement signed to acquire 100% of geothermal sub-surface consultancy company GeoThermal Engineering GmbH (GeoT).
GeoT has a highly credentialed, world-leading scientific team with over a century of combined expertise insub-surface development of geothermal projects, from exploration to production drilling.
Acquisition is part of Vulcan’s plans to accelerate its Zero Carbon Lithium® project in Germany, by rapidly growing its development team.
GeoT is based in the Upper Rhine Valley, Germany, and is owned by Vulcan Executive Director Dr. Horst Kreuter.
Binding agreement signed to acquire 100% of Global Geothermal Holding UG (GGH),subject to shareholder approval.
GGH is Vulcan’s joint venture partner holding the granted Taro license in the Upper Rhine Valley. The Taro license has a JORC Resource Estimation of 2.27 Mt contained Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE) at a grade of 181 mg/l Li (Indicated and Inferred) out of the total 15.85 Mt LCE at 181 mg/l Li across the Vulcan Project1.
Vulcan hasearned a 51% interest in the Taro license and has a right to earn up to 80% with GGH holding the balance.
GGH also holds other exploration license applications in the Upper Rhine Valley region which are subject to the Vulcan joint venture.
This acquisition consolidates Vulcan’s major strategic holding in the Upper Rhine Valley, as part of the plan to rapidly advance the Zero Carbon Lithium® project towards production.
Agreement involves entirely share-based payments, 90% of which are based on project development milestones.
Vulcan will be collaborating with DuPont Water Solutions, a leader in water filtration and purification, to test and scale up Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) solutions for Vulcan’s world-first Zero Carbon Lithium® extraction process.
DuPont will leverage its portfolio of proprietary Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) products to assist Vulcan with input and test-work during Vulcan’s Zero Carbon Lithium® project Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS). As part of the project, DuPont will be developing and testing an integrated Direct Lithium Extraction Process for Vulcan’s brine. DuPont’s multi-technology portfolio of lithium selective sorbent, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, ion exchange resins, ultrafiltration, and close circuit reverse osmosis will be leveraged for the study.
Agreement is in line with Vulcan’s strategy to test and pursue commercially mature DLE products from major suppliers for its project to minimize technical risks and accelerate development of the project.
Unlike current extraction processes, the Zero Carbon Lithium® project will demonstrate the world’s first completely carbon neutral lithium extraction process with virtually zero environmental disruption.
DuPont Water Solutions (DWS) is a leader in sustainable water purification and separation technologies, including ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis (RO) membranes and ion exchange resins.
Wesfarmers Limited today announced the joint approval, together with Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM), of the final investment decision (FID) for the Mt Holland lithium project, and committed initial funding. Full funding will be committed upon receiving environmental approvals for the Kwinana refinery, which are anticipated in early FY2022.
Following a decision in January 2020 to defer the FID, Covalent Lithium, the joint venture company jointly owned by Wesfarmers and SQM, has completed an updated definitive feasibility study (UDFS) for the Mt Holland lithium project. The UDFS has provided greater certainty regarding the project’s engineering design and capital and operating costs as well as an increase in concentrator and refinery production capacity from 45,000 tonnes per annum to approximately 50,000 tonnes per annum of battery grade lithium hydroxide.
The UDFS includes increased flexibility to provide for a second phase of the project to expand production capacity at Mt Holland and the Kwinana refinery. Preliminary work to evaluate expansion options will commence in parallel with the construction of the first phase of the project.
from Twitter...In 2020, Indonesia banned #nickel ore exports to incentivise foreign investors to help develop a full nickel supply chain in the country. The @EU_Commission now say Indonesia may become the second largest #stainlesssteel producer due to "unfair measures" https://t.co/OqPGi5boJu pic.twitter.com/AtgiF7yRxU
— Roskill (@Roskill_Info) February 27, 2021
10 years pic.twitter.com/nYXw99VQqU
— Jimmy O'Dea (@jimmyodea) February 26, 2021
Lots to unpack in a recent chat with Jon Evans @LithiumAmericas. 17 mins to cover how the industry needs to grow from 350k LCE today to 900k LCE by 2030, and to do so in a socially and environmentally acceptable way. Unprecedented, yes. But attainable.https://t.co/4pubTIUUuS
— Logan Goldie-Scot (@LoganGoldieScot) February 25, 2021
Within the space of 12 hours you had the top of US Government ???????? and European Union ???????? talking about the need to build lithium ion batteries and secure supply of raw materials, especially lithium
— Simon Moores (@sdmoores) February 25, 2021
How things can change so quickly in our industry ... @benchmarkmin
Big lithium players of today are dwarfed by the size of potential market entrants, whether that's chemical companies, energy majors or automakers. A bumpy, but exciting road ahead. I'll stop here... have a watch of the video.
— Logan Goldie-Scot (@LoganGoldieScot) February 25, 2021
European #battery supply chain development ????????Finnish Minerals Group and CNGR investigate precursor plant. Much needed capacity for a very downstream focussed region...https://t.co/GoKylVRnoy
— Caspar Rawles (@CDMRawles) February 25, 2021
Nickel is our biggest concern for scaling lithium-ion cell production. That’s why we are shifting standard range cars to an iron cathode. Plenty of iron (and lithium)!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 25, 2021
Plug-in vehicles were a remarkable 22% of sales in the 5th largest auto market in the world last month.https://t.co/X7HwjxnAk8
— Colin Mckerracher (@colinmckerrache) February 25, 2021
I'd like to see the data on the energy density, charge acceptance, cycle rate, etc... *however*
— Jon Paul Regnart (@JonRegnart) February 25, 2021
A pathway to $35/kWh for energy storage for renewable storage is cheap as chips.
Really interesting project from @FaradayInst https://t.co/CydOaEkEip
SVOLT announce plans for 20 GWh Chinese #battery #Megafactory in Huzhou, adds to the recently announced Suining site of same capacity
— Caspar Rawles (@CDMRawles) February 22, 2021
Since the start of 2021 China has added more than 2x the total US capacity in 2020 to its forecasted pipeline...
On balance, #lithium #carbonate v #hydroxide: $ALB #1 producer, has best intel from long-term contracts w/ best western EV/Battery OEMs. Sees VERY aggressive migration to hydroxide (60% by 2025) > @RodneyHooper13 forecast (51%)#HydroxideSurge
— Howard Klein (@LithiumIonBull) February 21, 2021
‘That’s true, even in 2021’ pic.twitter.com/nfcEYGKfMJ
BIG AUTO could have solved their lithium problems a long time ago. Instead they ignored the most critical component in the EV revolution, #lithium. VW now saying they r unable to produce enough EVs because of cell shortage. This, when EVs account for just ~3% of car sales.
— Thematica (@Thematicafunds) February 20, 2021
$ALB Q4: Call 9AM TODAY
— Howard Klein (@LithiumIonBull) February 18, 2021
- ⬆️2025 #Lithium DEMAND forecast to 1.14mt; 47% BG #EV CAGR 2020-2025!
- Next 3-5 yrs growth mostly ChinAustralia: WA rock ($MIN $IGO/#Tianqi) + WA & China conversion
- 2021 lackluster guidance due to carbonate/tech grade pricing (LiOH price OK?) pic.twitter.com/u1e5NGIrQK
Unlike battery production which theoretically can offer almost unlimited seats by the table in a rapidly growing market, recyclers can only source what's available to recycle. If volumes are not high enough we get what the Chinese call 僧多粥少 – Many monks, little porridge.
— Hans Eric Melin (@hanseric) February 17, 2021
The carbon intensity of shipping a 15,000t parcel of spodumene concentrate over 7,000km will decrease over time, but the estimated reduction in carbon intensity from 2008 levels by 2030 is 3.2%–at least an order of magnitude below the IMO’s ambition. https://t.co/eM3vyszmpz
— Roskill (@Roskill_Info) February 14, 2021
"Mr Ellison said there was no prospect of Wodgina re-starting in the foreseeable future."https://t.co/EiWgaRh1WD
— Lithium News (@batt_li) February 10, 2021
"Mineral Resources expects Albemarle to start commissioning the first train of a lithium hydroxide plant it is building at Kemerton in WA’s south-west in April and train 2 in October."https://t.co/EiWgaRh1WD
— Lithium News (@batt_li) February 10, 2021
Mineral Resources noted lithium prices had continued to fall in the six months to Dec 31.
— Lithium News (@batt_li) February 10, 2021
The company received an average price of $459 a tonne for spodumene concentrate, ⬇️50% on same period last year and ⬇️from prices ~$US930.80/t ($1203/t) 2 years ago.https://t.co/EiWgaRh1WD
It is quite impressive how much better and cheaper lithium-ion batteries got when EVs went from 0% to 0.8% of the global car fleet. It doesn't stop here. https://t.co/wwim83JGpb
— Colin Mckerracher (@colinmckerrache) February 5, 2021
'Nearly 65% of lithium-ion batteries come from China. By comparison, no single country produces more than 20% of global crude oil output.'https://t.co/McXbQrDhjm
— Reilly Brennan (@reillybrennan) February 8, 2021
In the Netherlands, 72% of all new cars registered in December 2020 were #ElectricVehicles, in Sweden 49%, in Belgium and Germany 27%.
— Peter Mock (@MockPeter) February 4, 2021
See our new @TheICCT Market Monitor: https://t.co/p9QOafyqCC pic.twitter.com/cKiSNjOIDT
Not committed but gee there are a lot of huge battery projects being advanced through the approvals and investment decision process ....Hunter set for ‘world’s biggest battery’ https://t.co/ZyRsdKjes4
— Ben Potter (@OBenPotter) February 4, 2021
#Canada has already had multi-billion dollar investments announced by @Ford, @GM, @fiat @Chrysler in EV production.
— James Frith (@JamesTFrith) February 3, 2021
Frank Des Rosiers - Natural Resources Canada@LoganGoldieScot @BloombergNEF #BNEFSummit pic.twitter.com/u8QVBUh7rL
Norway is crushing us at EVs. That’s crazy. We have to do better. Are you in? #EVerybodyIn #NoWayNorway pic.twitter.com/QH8kXRd4rp
— General Motors (@GM) February 3, 2021
CHART: Lithium Price Upturn: ⬆️ 41% @benchmarkmin
— Simon Moores (@sdmoores) February 3, 2021
The lithium prices jump in China puts us back at Nov 2019 prices. It also puts an end to the consistently eroding price trend of the past 3.5 yrs
This time lithium is meeting big EV demand head on + a commodity super-cycle... pic.twitter.com/QNEtcELKdu
As part of our newly announced partnership, @Google and @Ford are creating a collaborative group called Team Upshift, which will bring together employees from both companies to drive disruptive, data-driven innovation in our plants and in our vehicles. https://t.co/XX9LGPYIor
— Jim Farley (@jimfarley98) February 1, 2021
GB Auto – based in Orange, New South Wales – has signed a deal worth $250 million, for the exclusive distribution of Toyota LandCruiser and HiLux electric vehicle conversions in Australia.https://t.co/HoFiPTeifk
— Lithium News (@batt_li) February 2, 2021
SK Innovation plan 3rd European #battery plant in Hungary - bigger than previous 2 combined plants with 30GWh planned capacity.
— Caspar Rawles (@CDMRawles) February 1, 2021
With this ???????? overtakes ???????? in planned capacity - second only to ???????? in ????????
Full analysis coming in Feb @benchmarkmin Megafactory Assessment
So, which country do you think is most critical to lithium supply. If you wanted to increase your car production to say... 20 million cars... which country should you be talking to first?
— Lithium News (@batt_li) February 2, 2021
source: @USGSMinerals $tsla #ev #lithium #batteries pic.twitter.com/4Am2ZNRYrZ
The public can now hail a driverless taxi in Shenzhen trial. https://t.co/NE9ZPxjJ0Z
— Keith Johnston (@keith__johnston) February 2, 2021
What does President Biden’s promise to electrify the US government fleet mean for battery and raw material demand?
— Simon Moores (@sdmoores) February 2, 2021
61,000 tonnes of additional lithium demand to start with...
https://t.co/IsPZdaMgIb
The image below is focused on the metals that Tesla needs to build 20M cars per year but imagine when ALL vehicles are electric. The numbers get extreme.
— Chamath Palihapitiya (@chamath) February 1, 2021
Not only does the US need these metals, we need to decouple our reliance on China to get/use them.
I have a position. pic.twitter.com/4amCWZsLqq
Strong statement.
— Daniel Jimenez Sch (@D_Jimenez_Sch) January 31, 2021
@VWGroup owned truck manufacturer @ScaniaGroup sees no future for H2 fuel cell trucks, which it produces, because of energy inefficiency and maintenance costs and will focus on electric trucks.
https://t.co/KmB0xsBWEE