Le lithium, le prix en baisse aprés la flambée.

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Re: Le lithium, le prix en baisse aprés la flambée.

par energy_isere » Hier, 11:26

Tension en Bolivie au sujet de l'attribution des accords commerciaux sur le Lithium avec la Russie et la Chine :
Bolivian congress brawls over China, Russia lithium deals

4th July 2025 By: Reuters

Bolivia's energy minister was doused with water and pelted with garbage on Thursday as chaos erupted in congress during a debate on controversial lithium contracts with Chinese and Russian firms that could bring in investments worth some $2-billion.

It was the latest outburst of growing tension over Bolivia's efforts to fast-track foreign investment to exploit its lithium reserves, which are among the largest in the world.

Opposition lawmakers and others loyal to former President Evo Morales disrupted the lower house session that targeted Energy Minister Alejandro Gallardo as he tried to defend the pending contracts.

"They are trying to swindle us," said opposition lawmaker Daniel Rojas, one of those opposing the contracts they say are unfavorable to the state, and demanding that profits for Bolivia be secured before the lithium is sold.

Thursday's session devolved into scuffles, with lawmakers pushing, shouting and throwing stacks of paper at congressional leaders.

Video images showed an opposition lawmaker, Maria Salazar, tussling with another member, while a lawmaker later tore away an umbrella from a chamber leader using it to try and bat away the barrage.

Legislators and civic leaders from the mineral-rich Potosi region, home to Bolivia's vast lithium deposits, joined the protest.

"We warn (President) Luis Arce, (and) the leader of the lower house, if you continue insisting on this illegal and unconstitutional process, you will be met with a mobilized population," said opposition lawmaker Lissa Claros.

Protesters said they feared the deals would not benefit local communities and would cause environmental damage.

"We want conditions so that the local people ... can have a dignified life," said Alberto Perez Ramos, president of the Potosi Civic Committee (COMCIPO).

"The government isn't interested in that; the government is only interested in its own pockets."
https://www.miningweekly.com/article/bo ... 2025-07-04

Re: Le lithium, le prix en baisse aprés la flambée.

par energy_isere » Hier, 10:38

CChEN approves Codelco’s subsidiary to extract lithium in Salar de Atacama
The approval ensures future production and commercialisation once the current SQM Salar contract ends in 2030.

July 2, 2025

Image

The Chilean Nuclear Energy Commission (CChEN) has authorised Minera Tarar, a subsidiary of Codelco, to commence lithium extraction in the Salar de Atacama from 1 January 2031.

The decision is pivotal for the operational continuity of the anticipated joint venture between Codelco and SQM.

Minera Tarar has been granted an initial maximum extraction of 2.5 million tonnes (mt) of lithium metal equivalent (LME) over 30 years, potentially increasing to 3.01mt of LME.

This is contingent upon the submission of an updated resource evaluation report and obtaining the necessary Environmental Qualification Resolution.

The approval from CChEN ensures that the future partnership can operate without interruptions in lithium production and commercialisation once the current SQM Salar contract ends in 2030.

To facilitate operational viability, CChEN has also sanctioned the advancement of part of the extraction quota from 1 January 2029, to mitigate production lags due to the natural delay between brine extraction and lithium marketability.

...............
https://www.mining-technology.com/news/ ... a/?cf-view

Re: Le lithium, le prix en baisse aprés la flambée.

par energy_isere » 02 juil. 2025, 01:55

Le paradoxe du lithium, métal stratégique mais pas encore rémunérateur

RFI le : 02/07/2025 Par Marie-Pierre Olphan

Une demande qui ne cesse d'augmenter, mais des prix qui sont au plus bas. C'est le paradoxe du marché du lithium, un métal clé pour les batteries électriques. Ceux qui en parlent le mieux sont les opérateurs miniers eux-mêmes.

Les opérateurs miniers ne font pas semblant que tout va bien. Ce serait difficile face à des cours mondiaux qui ont chuté d'environ 90% en deux ans, un contexte qui a eu pour conséquences des rachats d'entreprises, des licenciements et retardé des projets.

Réunis la semaine dernière à Las Vegas pour une conférence organisée par Fastmarkets sur les matières premières pour batteries, les opérateurs miniers ont partagé leurs états d'âme. Jon Evans, le PDG de Lithium Americas, une entreprise qui construit la plus grande mine de lithium du Nevada, reconnaît traverser « des périodes d'euphorie, suivies de moments de souffrance et de douleur ». D'autres expliquent qu'« après le déni l'année dernière, le temps de l'acceptation est venu », comme le rapporte l'agence Reuters. La période est très difficile, mais le secteur est toujours perçu comme stratégique.

Une offre toujours trop abondante

Ce qui fait mal à la filière, c'est l'offre trop abondante : les opérateurs miniers se sont engouffrés ces dernières années dans le secteur du lithium. « Il est difficile d'imaginer un avenir dans lequel le lithium ne jouera pas un rôle central » justifie Paul Lusty, responsable de la recherche sur les matières premières des batteries chez Fastmarkets.

La Chine est l'un des principaux moteurs de la surproduction, elle pourrait dépasser l'Australie l'année prochaine comme premier producteur mondial. Contrairement aux miniers australiens qui ont réduit la cadence, les chinois n'ont que très peu ralenti, même si l'activité n'est pas rentable dans les conditions actuelles de prix. D'ici 2035, les mineurs chinois devraient extraire 900 000 tonnes de lithium, contre 680 000 tonnes pour l'Australie, 435 000 tonnes pour le Chili et 380 000 tonnes pour l'Argentine, selon les prévisions de Fastmarkets.

En face, la demande en lithium est importante. Elle a augmenté de 24 % l'année dernière et augmentera potentiellement de 12% par an dans la prochaine décennie selon le même cabinet d'expert, mais cela ne suffit pas à rétablir la balance.

Un déséquilibre parti pour durer

L'avenir dépendra des besoins et de la capacité des opérateurs miniers à lever le pied. Project Blue, un cabinet de conseil sur les métaux, prévoit une demande qui pourrait tripler d'ici 2040. Il y aura donc forcément un point de bascule. Selon les sources, la demande pourrait dépasser l'offre à partir de 2030, voire un peu plus tard. Cela veut dire encore plusieurs années qui s'annoncent rudes pour les investisseurs qui tentent actuellement d'économiser là où ils peuvent, notamment sur les coûts d'exploitation.

En attendant, les licenciements continuent. SQM, le géant chilien du lithium, a annoncé la semaine dernière se séparer de 5% de ses effectifs. Le numéro un mondial Albemarle avait lui, dès l'année dernière, annoncé des suppressions de poste pour compenser la faiblesse des prix.
https://www.rfi.fr/fr/podcasts/chroniqu ... 3%A9rateur

Re: Le lithium, le prix en baisse aprés la flambée.

par energy_isere » 29 juin 2025, 22:31

La Chine pourrait dépasser l'Australie qui est le premier producteur mondial de Lithium dés 2026 :
China to overtake Australia as world’s top lithium miner by 2026, Fastmarkets says

Reuters | June 25, 2025

Image
Lakkor Tso is one of the few large, high-quality lithium brine deposits in China. (Image courtesy of Zijin Mining.)

China by next year will overtake Australia as the world’s top miner of the battery metal lithium, according to a forecast from consultancy Fastmarkets, and its market prowess is expected to grow through 2035 even as many Chinese producers remain unprofitable.

The projections are the latest data point underscoring Beijing’s commanding presence across the global metals supply chain, with China the dominant miner or refiner of more than half the minerals considered critical by the US Geological Survey.

“China’s got a very clear strategy to develop its mineral resources,” Paul Lusty, the consultancy’s head of battery raw materials research, told Reuters on the sidelines of the Fastmarkets Lithium and Battery Raw Materials Conference in Las Vegas.

Australia has been the world’s largest lithium miner since taking that spot from Chile in 2017, but Australian miners have curtailed production or delayed expansions amid a global drop in lithium prices.

By next year, Chinese miners are likely to extract 8,000 to 10,000 more metric tons of lithium than Australian rivals, according to the Fastmarkets forecast. That would be a jump from 2023, when China was the world’s third-largest lithium producer.

By 2035, Chinese miners are likely to extract 900,000 metric tons of lithium, compared to Australia’s 680,000 metric tons, Chile’s 435,000 metric tons and Argentina’s 380,000 metric tons, according to the forecast.

Much of China’s growth has and likely will continue to come from mining a type of hard rock ore known as lepidolite, which is prolific in the southern part of the country.

China’s lepidolite mining is more costly than extracting lithium from salty brines and can cause more environmental harm due to toxic by-products such as thallium and tantalum that pollute water supplies.

China’s lithium miners have been reticent to cut production due to support from the Chinese government, “pressure” from local municipalities to keep operations open – and thus local jobs, and a desire to maintain market share as demand for the metal rises, Lusty said.

“This continued production – despite the lack of profitability within the market – starts to make a lot more sense when you consider all those factors,” he said.

Chinese battery giant CATL is one of the largest producers of lepidolite and had paused production at a key mine last September before resuming output in February.

Beyond mining, China for years has been the world’s largest refiner of the ultralight metal, with roughly 70% market share. Lithium refineries turn the metal into a form that can be used to make cathodes for batteries.

Efforts by other countries to grow their own lithium refining should cut China’s market share to 60% by 2035, Fastmarkets forecasts.

China’s market prowess also extends to electric vehicle supply chain, with more than 60% of all EVs globally sold last year in that country, according to data from battery producer LG Energy Solutions.
https://www.mining.com/web/china-to-ove ... kets-says/

Re: Le lithium, le prix en baisse aprés la flambée.

par energy_isere » 29 juin 2025, 21:38

Gradiant launches lithium production facility from oilfield-produced water in Pennsylvania
This project will utilise the company's proprietary EC² technology to deliver battery-grade lithium carbonate.

June 25, 2025

Image
The facility is currently undergoing testing, with impressive results including 97% lithium recovery and 99.5% purity levels for battery-grade lithium carbonate. Credit: Gradiant/Business Wire.

Water and resource recovery company Gradiant’s alkaLi division has unveiled plans to design, build, own and operate a lithium production facility in the Marcellus Shale formation in Pennsylvania.

The project is claimed to be the world’s first such lithiThe vertically integrated approach of the Pennsylvania facility aims to secure a stable US lithium supply and circumvent common project delays.

The facility is currently undergoing testing, with impressive results including 97% lithium recovery and 99.5% purity levels for battery-grade lithium carbonate. Full commercial operations are set to commence in early 2026.

Gradiant CEO Anurag Bajpayee said: “We now have a fully operational lithium production asset in the US that proves what EC² can deliver. This isn’t a concept – it is a live facility demonstrating that clean, domestic lithium production is both viable and scalable.

“Our goal isn’t to compete with customers, but to empower them – and the broader industry – to meet surging demand for battery-grade lithium and accelerate the clean energy transition. This strategic investment in the Marcellus Shale, which could supply 50% of US lithium demand, validates the maturity of alkaLi’s technology and secures a long-term domestic supply.”um production facility to produce lithium from oilfield-produced water.

This facility will implement the company’s proprietary Extract, Concentrate and Convert (EC²) technology to deliver battery-grade lithium carbonate.

The initiative follows the successful launch of alkaLi’s EC² platform last year, which promises at least 95% lithium recovery at customer sites.

The patented EC² process integrates direct lithium extraction (DLE), concentration and conversion into a singular, efficient system.

This method boasts up to 50% lower capital and operational costs, modular designs for swift global implementation, AI-optimised performance and reduced environmental impact, all while offering flexibility in feedwater sources.

......................
https://www.mining-technology.com/news/ ... a/?cf-view

Re: Le lithium, le prix en baisse aprés la flambée.

par energy_isere » 22 juin 2025, 13:40

Chevron acquires lithium leasehold acreage in US
The acquired acreage, estimated at around 125,000 net acres, spans north-east Texas and south-west Arkansas.


June 18, 2025

Chevron U.S.A., a subsidiary of Chevron, has entered the domestic lithium market by acquiring two leasehold acreage positions known for their high lithium content.

The acquisition marks Chevron’s inaugural venture into the lithium sector.

The initial acquisition is from TerraVolta Resources, backed by an investor linked to the Energy & Minerals Group (EMG), while the subsequent one involves East Texas Natural Resources (ETNR).

The acquired acreage, estimated at around 125,000 net acres, is located in areas where the Smackover Formation is present, specifically spanning north-east Texas and south-west Arkansas.

This geological formation is renowned for its significant lithium content, positioning Chevron to establish a commercial-scale domestic lithium operation.

Chevron New Energies president Jeff Gustavson said: “This acquisition represents a strategic investment to support energy manufacturing and expand US-based critical mineral supplies.

“Establishing domestic and resilient lithium supply chains is essential not only to maintaining US energy leadership but also to meeting the growing demand from customers. This opportunity builds on many of Chevron’s strengths including subsurface resource development and value chain integration.”

Chevron plans to employ the direct lithium extraction (DLE) process for future development.

This advanced technology is designed to extract lithium from brines produced from the subsurface, offering a more efficient production method with a potentially smaller environmental footprint than traditional extraction methods.

TerraVolta president and CEO Jamie Liang said: “This transaction with one of the top energy companies in the US and the world furthers the advancement of a significant portion of the resource that TerraVolta has developed.

“There is increasing urgency to develop domestic critical minerals to unleash American energy prosperity, and TerraVolta looks forward to working with Chevron and other industry stakeholders to grow our efforts in response to this demand.”

The transaction between TerraVolta, its investor EMG and Chevron has been finalised, transferring all equity interests in two subsidiaries that own the leasehold acreage positions to Chevron.
https://www.mining-technology.com/news/ ... s/?cf-view

Re: Le lithium, le prix en baisse aprés la flambée.

par energy_isere » 15 juin 2025, 16:35

suite de ce post du 09 mars 2025 viewtopic.php?p=2408028#p2408028

projet de Lithium à 9 milliards de $ dans le Nevada :
Surge Battery Metals PEA unveils $9.2B Nevada lithium project

Staff Writer | June 9, 2025

Surge Battery Metals (TSXV: NILI) has issued a preliminary economic assessment (PEA) for its Nevada North Lithium Project (NNLP) that outlined what could be a low-cost, long-life producer of battery-grade materials for the US market.

The PEA, completed jointly by M3 Engineering & Technology and Independent Mining Consultants, was based on a two-phased build-out of the lithium plant to support an estimated 42-year conventional open-pit operation.

During that time, about 205 million tonnes of mineralized material will be mined at an average lithium grade of 4,016 parts per million, the report showed. Mining will start with the shallow, high-grade portions of the resource, currently estimated at 8.65 million tonnes in lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE).

The lithium plant will initially process mined material at an annual rate of 2.58 million tonnes during Phase 1, then doubling 5.15 million tonnes in year 4, when Phase 2 comes online, taking the average throughput over the life of mine to 4.88 million tonnes.

Over the 42 years, NNLP is projected to produce 86,300 tonnes of LCE annually at an average recovery rate of 82.8%. Peak production is expected in the sixth year at 109,100 tonnes.

According to the PEA, Phase 1 construction will cost around $2.97 billion, including $23 million in mine capex, while Phase 2 is expected to cost another $2.35 billion. Together with a sustaining capital of $1.51 billion, the entire project would cost $6.86 billion.

Using an LCE price of $24,000/tonne as the base case, the study gave the project an after-tax net present value (at 8% discount) of $9.21 billion and an internal rate of return of 22.8%. Its operating cost is pegged at $5,097/t LCE, owing to the near-surface, high-grade mineralization at NNLP. The report projected a 4.7-year payback.

Following the PEA release, shares of Surge Battery Metals jumped 15.8% to C$0.33 apiece by midday in Toronto, for a market capitalization of C$59 million ($43 million).

“NNLP could potentially be a major low-cost producer of battery-grade lithium carbonate for the United States battery industry, and we have taken a major step in achieving that with today’s results,” Surge Battery Metals CEO Greg Reimer said in a press release.

“The combination of low opex, great ROI, and the ability to produce large quantities of battery-grade lithium carbonate including a peak of 109,100 tonnes in one year showcases the Tier 1 status of NNLP,” he added.
https://www.mining.com/surge-battery-me ... m-project/

Re: Le lithium, le prix en baisse aprés la flambée.

par energy_isere » 15 juin 2025, 12:11

Volt Lithium to commission mobile DLE unit in North Dakota’s Bakken region
The initiative is being undertaken in collaboration with Wellspring Hydro, with commissioning scheduled for the second half of June 2025.

June 12, 2025

Volt Lithium has announced the final assembly and imminent deployment of its proprietary mobile direct lithium extraction (DLE) unit in North Dakota’s Bakken region.

The company is currently in the process of rebranding to LibertyStream Infrastructure Partners pending shareholder approval.

The DLE unit commissioning is scheduled for the second half of June 2025.


The initiative, undertaken in collaboration with Wellspring Hydro, has secured a combined $2.5m in funding through the North Dakota Industrial Commission’s Clean Sustainable Energy Authority and Renewable Energy Programme.

Wellspring president and CEO Mark Watson said: “Wellspring and the State of North Dakota are excited to commence field operations with Volt in North Dakota in the second half of June.

“Volt is the only DLE company that the State Of North Dakota has funded to date,” he added. “Based upon the successful lithium extraction results at Volt’s R&D [research and development] facility in Calgary, both groups have full confidence Volt’s proprietary lithium extraction unit will be successful in the field.”

The development aligns with Volt Lithium’s strategy to partner with key US oilfield infrastructure players to extract lithium from produced water streams, a byproduct of oil and gas production.

Volt Lithium’s proprietary technology and process are designed to adapt to multiple brine chemistries, which has facilitated the company’s expansion into North Dakota’s Bakken region.

This area, along with the Permian Basin, strategically positions Volt in two of North America’s largest oil-producing basins.

The potential for lithium extraction is substantial, with up to 170,000 tonnes per annum of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) annually in the Permian and up to 50,000tpa of LCE in the Bakken, which has nearly three-times the lithium concentration compared with the Permian.

Volt Lithium is actively building an inventory of lithium chloride and converting it into high-purity lithium carbonate to meet the needs of potential off-takers.

The company’s proprietary operating system and extraction compound are tailored to extract lithium from oilfield brines, offering capital and operating cost savings by partnering with existing salt-water disposal operators.

Volt Lithium president and CEO Alex Wylie said: “Volt’s modular, rapidly deployable DLE technology is gaining strong interest from industry partners. Volt’s deployment of a second unit into the Bakken demonstrates the technology is capable of adapting to multiple types of oilfields and varying grades of lithium concentrations, positioning the company to meet growing market demand and expand across key American basins.”
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https://www.mining-technology.com/news/ ... &cf-closed

Re: Le lithium, le prix en baisse aprés la flambée.

par energy_isere » 14 juin 2025, 10:38

Le Zimbabwe va interdire l'exportation de concentrés de lithium dès 2027

Agence Ecofin 11 juin 205

Le Zimbabwe est le premier producteur africain de lithium, avec 2,4 millions de tonnes de concentré en 2024. Le pays ambitionne d’étendre son positionnement sur la chaîne de valeur de ce métal à travers le développement d’une industrie locale de transformation.

Au Zimbabwe, les exportations de concentré de lithium seront suspendues à partir de janvier 2027. C’est ce qu’a annoncé le ministre des Mines Winston Chitando lors d’un point de presse le mardi 10 juin, justifiant cette décision par la mise en œuvre de projets d’usines locales de production de sulfate de lithium.

Issu de la transformation du concentré, le sulfate de lithium est un produit à valeur ajoutée dont le raffinage permet d’obtenir des dérivés de qualité batterie tels que le carbonate et l’hydroxyde de lithium. Premier producteur africain de lithium, le Zimbabwe cherche à mieux valoriser cette ressource qu’elle continue d’exporter majoritairement sous forme de concentré.

Alors que les sociétés chinoises Sinomine et Zhejiang Huayou Cobalt construisent actuellement deux usines de sulfate pour leurs mines respectives de Bikita et Arcadia, le ministre indique que le pays ne permettra dans ce contexte plus aucune exportation de concentré à l’horizon 2027. « En raison de cette capacité qui existe désormais dans le pays, l'exportation de tous les concentrés de lithium sera interdite à partir de janvier 2027 » a-t-il déclaré, selon des propos relayés par plusieurs médias.

Initialement, Harare avait invité les compagnies actives dans le pays à soumettre des plans de développement d’usines de sulfate. Si cette possibilité reste d’actualité, Winston Chitando a aussi appelé les acteurs qui n’investissent pas encore dans de tels projets à conclure au minimum des accords avec les sociétés qui disposeront d’usines, afin de pouvoir transformer leur production.

En valorisant son lithium, le Zimbabwe pourrait en effet maximiser ses revenus miniers, compte tenu de l’écart de prix existant entre le concentré et les produits à valeur ajoutée de la chaîne de valeur de ce métal. A titre illustratif, le carbonate de lithium de qualité batterie affiche actuellement un prix moyen de 7000 USD la tonne sur le Shanghai Metals Market, contre seulement 570 $ pour la tonne de concentré de spodumène de lithium produit au Zimbabwe.

Cette sortie survient toutefois quelques semaines après que les compagnies minières ont demandé au gouvernement de suspendre l’application d’une taxe de 5% sur les exportations de concentré de lithium. Ces dernières estiment en effet que la mesure ne devrait être mise en œuvre qu’après que les usines de transformation auront été « achevées et mises en service » d’ici 2027. Une requête sur laquelle le gouvernement ne s’est pour l’instant pas encore prononcé.
https://www.agenceecofin.com/actualites ... m-des-2027

Re: Le lithium, le prix en baisse aprés la flambée.

par energy_isere » 08 juin 2025, 15:26

suite de ce post du 11 aout 2024 : viewtopic.php?p=2396217#p2396217
Rio Tinto revising cost of Serbia lithium project

Reuters | June 4, 2025

Rio Tinto is revising the cost of its Serbian lithium project that the European Commission identified as one of 13 strategic new critical material projects, Chad Blewitt, managing director of the Jadar lithium mine, said on Wednesday.


The project is contested by green groups and many Serbs on environmental grounds, and sparked massive street protests in 2022 which led the government to revoke all Rio Tinto’s exploration licences. The Constitutional Court overturned the decision last year and reinstated the licences.

“The last time we went out to market and looked at the budget, it was over 2.55 billion euros ($2.91 billion). So we are currently in the midst of updating that capital cost,” Blewitt told Reuters.

“The strategic project status that we received today requires us to meet European Union environmental and human rights standards, and that will be reflected in the final capital cost.”

He could not be drawn into an estimate of the revised cost or timeline for the project – which was initially forecast to start production in 2027 – saying the Anglo-Australian giant also needed to obtain a field exploitation licence.

“Once we… get the licence, we can then go and update the project schedules and have a look at costing. So I don’t want to give a definitive date.”

Rio is the only major mining company to bet heavily on lithium – used in electric vehicle batteries – accelerating its push over the past six months with three new deals: its $6.7 billion buy of US-based Arcadium Lithium and two projects in Chile for more than $1 billion.

With the lithium market in the doldrums as a wave of new supply overwhelms weaker-than-expected demand for EV batteries, it will take years to know whether this bet will have paid off, although demand projections for the metal are more positive into the next decade.

If implemented, Rio Tinto’s Jadar project could meet 90% of Europe’s current lithium needs. But protesters in Serbia have threatened to block roads and railways if the project goes ahead.

“Whatever happens next will involve multiple stages of scrutiny and public consultation,” Blewitt said. “It (the project) positions Serbia at the forefront of the green and digital revolution.”

($1 = 0.8748 euros)
https://www.mining.com/web/rio-tinto-re ... m-project/

Re: Le lithium, le prix en baisse aprés la flambée.

par energy_isere » 08 juin 2025, 14:11

Bolivian court pauses Chinese, Russian lithium deals

Staff Writer | June 2, 2025 |

Bolivia’s plans to emerge as a major lithium producer have hit an impasse after a local court ordered the suspension of two major extraction deals signed last year valued at more than $2 billion, MSN reported.


The contracts were signed in 2023 and 2024 respectively with China’s CBC consortium, which includes battery manufacturer CATL, and Russia’s Uranium One Group, a subsidiary of state nuclear firm Rosatom, as revealed by publications including Bolivia-based El Deber.

The deals aimed to establish direct lithium extraction (DLE) facilities in the Salar de Uyuni in southwest Bolivia. The salar is host one of the world’s largest lithium reserves, and forms part of the larger Lithium Triangle shared with Chile and Argentina.

The suspension order was issued last week by a mixed court of Colcha K, a village located in the Potosí region, after a legal complaint was filed by Indigenous groups arguing that the projects had violated their environmental rights and were allowed to proceed without formal consultation.

Both projects have yet to receive legislative approvals but had already initiated preliminary activities on-site, which the local group claimed were conducted without proper authorization or environmental assessments.

35,000 tonnes

Yacimientos de Litio Bolivianos (YLB), Bolivia’s state-owned lithium company, holds a 51% stake in the two ventures. Together, the proposed plants are expected to produce 35,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate a year, Omar Alarcon, head of YLB, said in a press conference last year.

As reported by the Argentine paper Infobae, the court ruling will prohibit YLB as well as the Ministry of Hydrocarbons and Energy, from undertaking any administrative or operational steps related to the contracts until the judicial process is concluded.

However, the Bolivian government has maintained that it has yet to be formally notified of the court ruling, and insists that until official communication is received, the legislative process surrounding the contracts will continue.

Ministers’ response

Álvaro Arnez, vice-minister of Alternative Energies, in a statement to El Periódico de la Energía, brushed aside allegations that unauthorized exploratory operations were already impacting local water availability.

Meanwhile, Minister of Economy Marcelo Montenegro dismissed the ruling as a “politically motivated obstacle to regional development.”

In addition to the environmental concerns, questions have also been raised regarding the financial and operational responsibilities assigned to the Bolivian state. For instance, the Uranium One contract obliges YLB to repay all construction and exploration costs, despite the Russian partner having no obligation to operate the plant, according to Fundación Milenio, a think tank.

The court order underscores the ongoing political instability that continues to hinder Bolivia’s efforts to develop its vast lithium reserves, which the government estimated at 23 million tonnes in a study.
https://www.mining.com/bolivian-court-p ... ium-deals/

Re: Le lithium, le prix en baisse aprés la flambée.

par energy_isere » 08 juin 2025, 14:07

suite de ce post du 26 octobre 2024 : viewtopic.php?p=2401054#p2401054
ioneer quadruples Rhyolite Ridge reserves, costs double

Cecilia Jamasmie | June 2, 2025 |

Australia’s ioneer (ASX: INR) has quadrupled ore reserves at its Rhyolite Ridge lithium-boron project in Nevada, US, sharply increasing both the project’s mine life and its development cost.


The company’s flagship project now hosts 1.92 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) and 7.68 million tonnes of boric acid equivalent (BAE). This reserve boost extends the expected mine life to 95 years, up from 26 years outlined in the 2020 definitive feasibility study.

Annual life-of-mine production is now pegged at 17,200 tonnes of LCE and 60,400 tonnes of boric acid, a compound widely used in construction, agriculture and pharmaceuticals. Nearly half the mineral resource has been converted to reserve, making Rhyolite Ridge the world’s largest known lithium-boron deposit, according to ioneer.

The extended mine life and higher output come at a cost. Capital expenditure has more than doubled to $1.67 billion, up from around $800 million. All-in sustaining costs (AISC) have risen to about $7,500 per tonne of LCE, though the first 25 years of operation are expected to average a lower AISC of $5,745 per tonne.

The good news is that the project’s post-tax net present value has increased to $1.5 billion from $1.26 billion, with a revised “unlevered” internal rate of return of 14.5%, down from 20.8%.

“Today’s updated reserve and mine plan allows ioneer to match prevailing market conditions and blend or prioritize ore to produce a valuable boric acid co-product, whose market is uncorrelated with the project’s primary lithium product,” managing director Bernard Rowe said. “No other lithium project offers this level of flexibility and economic advantage.”

Market headwinds
That flexibility could prove vital. Lithium prices have plummeted since their 2022 highs, causing investor caution. In February, ioneer lost its would-be joint venture partner Sibanye-Stillwater (JSE: SSW)(NYSE: SBSW), partly due to the weak pricing environment.

Still, the company remains optimistic. It plans to focus on high-boron ore during the first 25 years of production, which could yield around 19,200 tonnes of LCE and 116,400 tonnes of boric acid annually. Boric acid is projected to account for roughly 25% of revenue over that period, helping to support margins when lithium prices are under pressure.

“In periods of low cycle lithium pricing, like today, we plan to prioritise the high-boron ore production to optimise the relative proportion of total revenue derived from boric acid,” Rowe said.

Shares in the company jumped more than 4% on the news, closing in Sydney at A$0.13 each, which leave ioneer with a market capitalization of A$295 million (about $190 million).

Rowe recently said the company aims to sell 40% of the project to one or two investors.
https://www.mining.com/ioneer-quadruple ... ts-double/

Re: Le lithium, le prix en baisse aprés la flambée.

par energy_isere » 01 juin 2025, 15:37

suite de ce post du 10 mars 2024 viewtopic.php?p=2387702#p2387702

Augmentation de 37 % de la ressource en Lithium du projet PAK Lithium au Canada.
FRONTIER LITHIUM'S FEASIBILITY STUDY CONFIRMS CA$932M NET PRESENT VALUE AND LOW-COST CONCENTRATE SUPPLY FOR PAK LITHIUM PROJECT

News provided by Frontier Lithium Inc. May 28, 2025,

Frontier Lithium Inc. is pleased to report the results of its Definitive Feasibility Study ("FS" or "Study" or "DFS") for the Mine and Mill segment of PAK Lithium Project ("PAK Project" or "Project") near Red Lake, Ontario. The Study confirms the Project could generate an estimated CA$11 billion in net revenue over a 31-year mine life, with an after-tax net present value (NPV) of CA$932 million, an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 17.9%, and average annual pre-tax earnings of $285 million in steady-state operations. These robust economics land the Project competitively in the global hard rock lithium cost curve, supporting Frontier's goal to become North America's lowest-cost producer of spodumene concentrate.

Building on a 37% increase in mineral reserves, the Study establishes a stronger foundation for an extended mine life, greater scale, and improved economic outcomes for the Project. The Project has also been streamlined to produce a single, high-quality spodumene concentrate (SC6), aligning with market demand and enhancing operational focus.

..............................
https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/f ... 23138.html

Re: Le lithium, le prix en baisse aprés la flambée.

par energy_isere » 01 juin 2025, 14:54

Nigeria to launch lithium processing plants with Chinese investment
These plants are part of Nigeria's commitment to leveraging its extensive mineral wealth for economic development.

May 27, 2025

Nigeria is poised to inaugurate two major lithium processing plants this year, signalling a strategic move away from the export of raw minerals towards enhancing domestic value, according to a Reuters report.

The country’s Mining Minister, Dele Alake, announced on Sunday that these facilities, backed by Chinese investors, are expected to catalyse job creation, technological advancements and manufacturing growth within Nigeria.

A $600m (N949.66bn) lithium processing plant near the Kaduna-Niger border is scheduled for commissioning within this quarter, according to Alake.

Additionally, a $200m lithium refinery on the outskirts of Abuja is approaching completion, the report said.

These plants are part of Nigeria’s commitment to leveraging its extensive mineral wealth for economic development.

The minister revealed plans for two more processing plants in Nasarawa state, adjacent to the capital Abuja, due to be operational before the third quarter of 2025.

Chinese companies including Jiuling Lithium Mining Company and Canmax Technologies have provided more than 80% of the financing for the four facilities, as disclosed by governors from the respective states hosting the plants.

The remaining shares are held by a local company, Three Crown Mines. The Chinese partners have not yet commented on this development.

“We are now focused on turning our mineral wealth into domestic economic value – jobs, technology and manufacturing,” Alake was quoted as saying by the news agency.

The focus on domestic processing follows a 2022 study by Nigeria’s Geological Survey Agency, which identified substantial high-grade lithium deposits across several Nigerian states, sparking significant international interest.

These discoveries are integral to Nigeria’s broader reforms aimed at revitalising its underdeveloped mining sector, which presently contributes less than 1% to the national gross domestic product.

Nigeria has introduced other measures including the restriction of unprocessed mineral exports, formalising artisanal mining and establishing a state mining company offering up to a 75% stake to investors.

In April last year, the Nigerian Government announced that new mining licences would be granted exclusively to companies with plans for local mineral processing, marking a departure from the long-standing policy of exporting unprocessed raw materials.

A government spokesperson highlighted the objective to maximise the value derived from Nigeria’s solid mineral deposits.
https://www.mining-technology.com/news/ ... t/?cf-view

Re: Le lithium, le prix en baisse aprés la flambée.

par energy_isere » 31 mai 2025, 11:36

suite de ce post du 10 mai 2025 viewtopic.php?p=2411042#p2411042
Lithium de Manono : AVZ ouvre la voie à une résolution à l’amiable avec la RDC


Agence Ecofin 26 mai 2025

Début mai 2025, AVZ et KoBold Metals ont annoncé un accord-cadre dont l’objectif est de permettre le développement du gisement de lithium Manono en RDC. L’une des étapes pour y arriver est la suspension de la procédure initiée par AVZ contre le gouvernement congolais auprès du CIRDI.

L’australien AVZ a annoncé lundi 26 mai la suspension temporaire de la procédure d’arbitrage engagée contre la RDC devant le Centre international pour le règlement des différends relatifs aux investissements (CIRDI). Cette décision, en vigueur jusqu’au 23 juin 2025, s’inscrit dans le cadre des discussions en cours avec l’américain KoBold Metals et pourrait ouvrir la voie à un règlement à l’amiable du différend relatif au projet de lithium Manono.

Lancée en juin 2023, la procédure visait à contester le refus de Kinshasa d’accorder à AVZ un permis d’exploitation. Mais un accord-cadre signé le 7 mai 2025 entre KoBold et AVZ prévoit désormais une compensation équitable pour AVZ en échange de la cession de ses parts, ainsi que la suspension de l’arbitrage. Le CIRDI indique sur son site que la procédure est suspendue « conformément à l’accord des parties ».

D’après AVZ, cette suspension vise à favoriser les échanges avec les autorités congolaises. La société ne donne aucun détail sur d’éventuelles discussions bilatérales, mais rappelle que « le gouvernement des États-Unis a encouragé les parties à prendre toutes les mesures nécessaires pour créer un climat propice à des discussions ». L’accord-cadre entre KoBold et AVZ s’inscrit dans un contexte diplomatique plus large où les États-Unis mènent en parallèle des discussions avec la RDC pour un accord stratégique « minéraux contre sécurité », et tentent de faciliter un accord de paix entre la RDC et le Rwanda.

L’accord « minéraux contre sécurité » proposé par des officiels congolais à Washington, viserait à pacifier l’est du pays en échange de conditions préférentielles pour les investisseurs américains dans le secteur minier. Selon le Financial Times, un accord pourrait être conclu d’ici fin juin, mais ses contours restent flous.

Reste que le contentieux avec l’État congolais n’est pas le seul frein au développement du projet Manono. Une autre procédure d’arbitrage est en cours, cette fois contre la société publique Cominière, accusée d’avoir rompu son partenariat avec AVZ pour s’associer au chinois Zijin.
https://www.agenceecofin.com/actualites ... vec-la-rdc

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