Le lithium, le prix en baisse aprés la flambée.

[energy_isere]

Zijin in talks with Argentina to turn lithium into battery cathode

Bloomberg News | July 11, 2023

China’s Zijin Mining Group Co. is in advanced talks to build a plant in Argentina that will turn some of the nation’s huge lithium reserves into cathodes used to make electric-vehicle batteries.


Zijin has agreed to partner with Camyen, the provincial mining company of Catamarca — part of South America’s lithium triangle — and a unit of state-run energy firm YPF SA in the project, according to two people familiar with the matter who aren’t authorized to speak publicly.

The plant would produce 50,000 metric tons a year of lithium iron phosphate for cathodes, with operations set to begin as soon as next year, the people said. Zijin’s Tres Quebradas lithium mine in Catamarca is scheduled to come online in the fourth quarter.

A representative at Zijin didn’t reply to calls. Spokespeople for YPF and Catamarca didn’t respond to requests for comment.

An investment in the manufacturing of cathode material for batteries would be a big win for Argentina. The South American nation wants to propel itself along the electric-vehicle supply chain, turning its vast lithium deposits into a sophisticated domestic industry and avoiding a repeat of Latin American resource curses. The region’s history is full of examples of raw materials getting exported with little added value, putting a ceiling on investments and job creation.

The Zijin-led project would come at a time when the race to unearth South America’s lithium is throwing open a new front in the global tug of war between China and the US. The European Union has also been moving to secure regional lithium supply deals. Policymakers in Argentina have discussed a requirement to keep a portion of production in country for local processing, although that proposal has been shelved for now, the people said.

Among other Chinese investments in Argentina, Ganfeng Lithium Group Co. is the majority owner of Minera Exar SA, which recently became the South American country’s first lithium project in years to enter production. Ganfeng also spent almost $1 billion last year to acquire another Argentine project.

China has shown a willingness to help Argentina with its downstream ambitions. Chinese carmaker Chery Inc. wants to build a $400 million EV and battery plant in Argentina, while Jujuy province said it’s been in talks with suitors from China to make cathodes there. Across the Andes in Chile, Chinese electric-car juggernaut BYD Co. is also working on a cathode project.

Meanwhile, Argentina is trying to gain access to President Joe Biden’s new electric-vehicle tax credits despite not meeting the requirement of being a US free-trade partner.

Besides the cathode project with Zijin, Camyen and YPF have teamed up on exploration in Catamarca. Livent Corp. will supply lithium from the same province to a small-scale battery-cell factory run by YPF, which is spearheading the development of national battery expertise.

https://www.mining.com/web/zijin-in-tal ... y-cathode/

[GillesH38]

je viens de réaliser le double sens du titre

[energy_isere]

je viens de réaliser le double sens du titre

ah oui, par exemple à Londres : https://www.leparisien.fr/video/video-v ... EK6Y6I.php

et au Canada : https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/19 ... ter-e-bike

[energy_isere]

suite de ce post du 24 juillet 2022 viewtopic.php?f=13&t=29527&p=2347915&hi ... y#p2347915

Attribution de gros contrats de chantiers pour la construction de la mine de Lithium Kathleen en Australie..

Liontown awards $118m Kathleen project haulage contract to Qube

By NS Energy Staff Writer 19 Jul 2023

Qube will provide services including loading spodumene concentrate, haulage of the concentrate to the Port of Geraldton, along with storage and stockpile management and shipment to Liontown customers, starting from mid-2024

Liontown Resources has awarded a contract to Qube Holdings, a provider of integrated logistics solutions, for spodumene and DSO haulage at the Kathleen Valley lithium project.

The Australian battery mineral producer said that the five-year contract, worth around A$175m ($118m) has been awarded to Qube, following an extensive tender process.

Under the contract, Qube will provide services including loading spodumene concentrate, and haulage of the concentrate to the Port of Geraldton.

It also includes storage and stockpile management within the port of Geraldton and the outload to port infrastructure for shipment to Liontown customers.

The works under the contract is expected to commence in mid-2024, consistent with process plant ramp-up.
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https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/news/l ... t-to-qube/

[energy_isere]

Andrada secures $10m investment and commissions lithium plant
The funding will go towards upgrading Andrada’s general mining operations in the country while the plant will allow it to close in on full-scale lithium production.

By Alex Donaldson July 19, 2023


Andrada will use the investments to expand its operations in Namibia. Credit: Andrada Mining.

British-based, Africa-focused mining company Andrada Mining has announced it has raised £7.7m ($10m) and commenced activities at its newly completed lithium and tantalum plants in Namibia.

The £7.7m investment came in the form of 77 loan notes, each worth £100,000, from to both new and existing investors.

Andrada issued the loan notes as an alternative funding mechanism to deals which are yet to be finalised, namely $5.8m in debt facility from the Development Bank of Namibia (DBN) and $12.5m from Orion Resource Partners.

The £7.7m, combined with the DBN debt security, should cover Andrada’s financing requirements for the next 15–18 months, the company estimates.

Andrada will use the funding to continue the undergoing expansion of its tin, tantalum and lithium exploration and production operations in Namibia, as well as for general working capital.

Alongside the loan announcement, Andrada revealed it had completed the construction of and commissioned a new lithium bulk sampling plant and a tantalum production circuit.

“The completion of the construction phase of the lithium bulk sampling facility is an important milestone for Andrada, as it allows the company to advance its exciting lithium expansion programme,” Viljoen stated.

The company currently has three mining licences in the country, including the Uis mine, which it believes has the potential to be “a global lithium supplier”.

He added that the company will undertake “a lithium feasibility study to further consolidate its competitive lithium advantage within the Erongo region of Namibia”.

The facility will aim to produce a minimum of 2,400 tonnes per annum (tpa) of lithium, with a top end of as much as 10,000tpa. Andrada produced a first bulk of lithium concentrate in May, in anticipation of full-scale lithium production.

In June, Andrada CEO Anthony Viljoen stated that the company was looking to secure investment for lithium uptake before the year’s end and that as-yet-unnamed parties had shown interest.

Once lithium production is under way, the company will become the first lithium producer to be listed on the AIM branch of the London Stock Exchange.

Andrada is already a major producer of tin in Namibia, posting record tin-in-concentrate levels in the first quarter of 2023.

https://www.mining-technology.com/news/ ... ium-plant/

[energy_isere]

Bolivia hikes lithium resources estimate to 23mt

Reuters | July 20, 202

Bolivia’s lithium resources are now estimated at 23 million metric tons, its president said on Thursday after government studies that further cement the South American country’s position as the global leader in lithium resources.

The new figure, reached after more than 66 wells were explored across the Coipasa and Pastos Grandes salt flats, compares with a previous estimate of 21 million metric tons.

President Luis Arce told reporters the government had also begun talks with representatives of the European Union for investments in lithium projects.

“All eyes are on Latin America and Bolivia because of the wealth we have of lithium and strategic minerals,” Arce said, adding that at a summit with EU representatives in Brussels earlier this week there had been interest not just in lithium but other minerals and metals in Bolivia.

Metals such as silver, zinc, lead and tin are also mined in the country.

Bolivia has previously turned to investments from Russian and Chinese firms to develop its huge but largely untapped lithium resources.

In the first half of this year, it signed three lithium deals with two Chinese and one Russian firm pledging to invest a total of $2.8 billion to industrialize Bolivia’s resources.

The white metal, a key component for batteries used to power electric vehicles, has seen its price skyrocket over recent years as carmakers rushed to shift their production away from combustion engine vehicles to comply with more stringent regulations that aim to curb climate change.

South America’s so-called “lithium triangle” holds more than half the world’s lithium resources, according to US Geological Survey (USGS) estimates. Bolivia’s reserves, however, surpass those of its neighbors Argentina and Chile, estimated at 20 million metric tons and 11 million metric tons respectively.

https://www.mining.com/web/bolivia-hike ... e-to-23mt/

[energy_isere]

suite de ce post du 4 sept 2022 viewtopic.php?p=2351492#p2351492

Piedmont Lithium secures final permit for Tennessee Lithium project[/b]

By NS Energy Staff Writer 28 Jul 2023

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation issued the Conditional Major Non-Title V Construction and Air Permit, which allows the company to build a 30,000 metric ton per year (tpy) lithium hydroxide manufacturing plant


Engineering model of the 30,000tpy Tennessee Lithium project (Photo: Business Wire)

Australian mining company Piedmont Lithium has secured the final permit required to begin construction on its proposed Tennessee Lithium project in McMinn County, Tennessee.

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation issued the Conditional Major Non-Title V Construction and Air Permit.

With the Air Permit in place, the company can develop the $800m Tennessee Lithium project with a planned 30,000 metric ton per year (tpy) lithium hydroxide manufacturing plant.

In April this year, Piedmont has unveiled the results of a definitive feasibility study (DFS), highlighting positive project economics for Tennessee Lithium.

According to the DFS, the project has a net present value of $2.5bn and internal rate of return of 32%, driven by a positive impact of the US government’s clean energy policies.

Piedmont Lithium president and chief executive officer Keith Phillips said: “Tennessee Lithium is uniquely positioned in America’s emerging Battery Belt to supply the domestic market with crucial, made-in-America lithium resources.

“Since announcing the selection of the site in McMinn County, Tennessee nearly one year ago, our team has been focused on permitting, engineering, and working with local officials to prepare this project to support the electric vehicle and battery manufacturing supply chain.

“As demand for lithium hydroxide continues to soar in the U.S., this conversion facility will be key in the domestic effort to reduce reliance on foreign nations for lithium processing.”

In October last year, the US Department of Energy (DoE) selected Tennessee Lithium for a $141.7m grant to support the construction of the project.

Piedmont Lithium and its advisors have started discussions with potential strategic partners for the remaining funding required for the development of the project.

The Australian company intends to lease and revamp the local office space, to support the recovery efforts of downtown Etowah, Tennessee.

It has also started workforce development activities with local technical schools to develop key training programs and curricula for certain positions.

Piedmont plans to hire 120 employees, from second half of this year through 2026, to support construction and prepare for commercial production, when the project becomes operational.

https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/news/p ... m-project/

[energy_isere]

Grounded Lithium estimates capex of $335m for phase 1 Kindersley lithium project
The first phase of the Kindersley project will produce 11,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate per year

By NS Energy Staff Writer 27 Jul 2023

Canada-based Grounded Lithium said that the first phase of the Kindersley lithium project located in Saskatchewan, Canada will require an initial capital cost (capex) of $335m, based on the findings of a preliminary economic assessment (PEA).

The capex comprises a capital of $78m for the wellfield and $212.6m for the central processing facility along with a contingency of $44.8m.

According to the publicly-listed lithium resource company, the first phase of the Kindersley project will produce 11,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate per year.

Grounded Lithium also expects to develop additional phases at the Kindersley lithium project based on the robust commercial merits of the economics of the PEA.

In the first phase of the Kindersley project, only 24 of the current 300 sections of lithium rights will be developed. The remaining sections will support the development of subsequent phases of the lithium project.

Grounded Lithium president and CEO Gregg Smith said: “The independent economic results of Phase 1 of the KLP compare favourably within the lithium mining industry from a CAPEX and OPEX perspective and we believe the results of the PEA bode well for critical future steps, including securing strategic partnerships, off-take agreements, and capital formulation for a commercial project.

“We now focus our corporate attention on the completion of a field pilot with Koch Technologies Solutions’ extraction process, while at the same time undertaking certain field activities to provide higher certainty on our resources leading to a pre-feasibility study.”

The PEA estimates a post-tax net present value (NPV) of $1bn for the Canadian lithium project.

It also projects a post-tax internal rate of return of 48.5% for the Kindersley project with a payback period of 3.7 years inclusive of lead time design and construction of 18 months.

https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/news/g ... m-project/

[energy_isere]

Eramet says it secured $400 million lithium deal with Glencore

Reuters | July 26, 2023


Eramet’s lithium project in Argentina. (Image by Eramet).

Eramet said on Wednesday that it had signed earlier this month a $400 million deal with commodities group Glencore to jointly market some 50,000 metric tons of lithium produced on its Argentina site over five years.

The French group said the deal was not yet included in its first-half results reported on Wednesday, Eramet chief financial officer Nicolas Carre told reporters.

The amount of $400 million will be pre-paid in 2023 and the volumes sold over five years at market price, he said.

Eramet said last month that Glencore was among parties to have expressed interest in helping finance its lithium production in Argentina.

https://www.mining.com/web/eramet-says- ... -glencore/

[energy_isere]

suite de ce post du 7 mai 2023 viewtopic.php?p=2368842#p2368842

Agrandissement de l'usine de traitement de minerai de Lithium de Kermerton en Australie :

Albemarle awards $134m construction contract to Monadelphous
The contract covers front-end pyromet structural, mechanical, piping, electrical and instrumentation works.

July 25, 2023

Engineering company Monadelphous Group has been awarded a A$200m ($134.7m) contract by US-based Albemarle pertaining to the expansion of the Kemerton lithium hydroxide plant in Western Australia.

Under the contract, Monadelphous will undertake front-end pyromet structural, mechanical, piping, electrical and instrumentation works associated with two new lithium processing trains, trains 3 and 4.

This contract comes after the completion of trains 1 and 2 construction packages, and the recently signed long-term contracts for maintenance and sustaining capital projects at Albemarle’s Kemerton operations.

Monadelphous plans to start work under the new contract later this year with completion scheduled for the second half of 2025.

Monadelphous managing director Zoran Bebic said: “We are extremely pleased to have secured these key construction opportunities, and look forward to continuing to deliver high-quality solutions for customers, as well as supporting local communities through the provision of employment and supply opportunities.”

Earlier this year, Albemarle announced its decision to expand the Kemerton lithium hydroxide plant by building two additional processing trains, trains 3 and 4, with an investment of more than $1bn.

With the additional trains, the lithium hydroxide facility’s production capacity is expected to increase by 50,000 tonnes (t) per annum.

Upon reaching full operating capacity, the Kemerton lithium hydroxide plant is anticipated to generate up to 100,000t per annum of lithium hydroxide.

Located in the Kemerton Industrial Park, 160km south of Perth, the lithium hydroxide facility is fed by spodumene concentrate from the nearby Greenbushes mine.

https://www.mining-technology.com/news/ ... adelphous/

[energy_isere]

suite de ce post du 29 nov 2020 viewtopic.php?p=2312804#p2312804

au sujet du projet de Lithium Sal de Vida en Argentine :

Allkem to receive up to $180 million to develop Argentina plant

Reuters | July 24, 2023


The Sal de Vida lithium project in Argentina. (Image courtesy of Allkem Ltd; formerly Galaxy Resources.)

Lithium miner Allkem will receive a loan up to $180 million to develop a battery-grade brine lithium plant at the Sal de Vida site in Argentina, the International Finance Corporations (IFC) said on Monday.

The IFC, a development institution, will put up to $100 million out of its own account and up to $30 million “in mobilization,” it said in a statement. Another $50 million is expected to come in a parallel loan arranged by the IFC.

https://www.mining.com/web/lithium-mine ... ina-plant/

[energy_isere]

suite de ce post du 23 avril 2023 viewtopic.php?p=2367974#p2367974

Premiére expédition de 15 000 tonnes de concentré de Lithium de la mine de Grota do Cirilo au Brésil. Le client est chinois.

Sigma Lithium completes maiden shipment from Brazil to China

July 27, 2023

Canada’s Sigma Lithium, which runs one of Brazil’s most advanced lithium operations, completed a first shipment from its Grota do Cirilo project to China, marking the start of revenue generation.

The maiden shipment comprised 15,000t of triple zero green lithium and 15,000t of triple zero green byproducts and is part of an offtake agreement signed in May with Yahua International Investment and Development, involving 300,000t/y for up to three years.

Triple zero refers to net zero carbon, zero tailings and zero hazardous chemicals.

Phase one of three of Grota do Cirilo, in Minas Gerais state’s lithium-prolific Vale do Jequitinhonha region, is expected to produce 130,000t of triple zero green lithium this year. Ramp-up of phase 1 production is currently operating at 75% of capacity.

Once fully on track, phase 1 should annually produce 270,000t of triple zero green lithium or 36,700t LCE. Full phase 2 and phase 3 capacity is planned to be reached in 2024, making the company a major global lithium producer, with output of 104,200t/y LCE.

[energy_isere]

Le géant Rio Tinto investit dans l’exploration du lithium au Rwanda

Agence Ecofin 02 août 2023

https://www.agenceecofin.com/metaux/020 ... -au-rwanda

[energy_isere]

suite de ce post du 12 mars 2023 http://www.oleocene.org/phpBB3/viewtopi ... 3#p2364543

Piedmont Lithium Announces First Commercial Shipments From North American Lithium

By NS Energy Staff Writer 03 Aug 2023

Piedmont expects to ship approximately 56,500 metric tons in H2 2023 under its joint venture offtake agreement, including the first tons under the long-term supply agreement with LG Chem

Piedmont Lithium, announced today the first commercial shipment of spodumene concentrate (“SC”) produced by North American Lithium (“NAL”), which is wholly owned by Sayona Quebec, a joint venture (the “JV”) between Piedmont (25%) and Sayona Mining (ASX: SYA) (75%). NAL made the initial 20,500 metric ton shipment of spodumene concentrate via a trading company to international parties.

Piedmont owns a 12% equity interest in Sayona Mining and holds an offtake agreement (the “Offtake Agreement”) with the JV to purchase the greater of 113,000 metric tons per year or 50% of SC production at a ceiling price of $900 per metric ton (SC-6.0%) on a life-of-mine basis. As 2023 is the start-up year for NAL, the parties have agreed that Piedmont’s allocation this year will be the greater of 56,500 metric tons or 50% of 2023 SC production. Sales by the JV to its customers are expected to support JV operating expenses, while sales under the Piedmont Offtake Agreement are planned to fund the Company’s broader strategic initiatives, including development of our projects in Tennessee, Ghana, and North Carolina.
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https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/news/p ... n-lithium/

[energy_isere]

Premiere fois que je cite le Lithium au Kazakhstan. En saumures en profondeurs.

Condor Receives Its First Lithium Brine Mining License in Kazakhstan.
Condor previously entered into a binding sale and purchase agreement for a separate lithium brine mining license with a state-owned entity

By NS Energy Staff Writer 02 Aug 2023

Condor Energies Inc. (“Condor” or the “Company”) (TSX: CDR), a Canadian based energy transition company is pleased to announce that the Government of Kazakhstan has awarded the Company a contiguous 37,300-hectare lithium brine mining license in Kazakhstan (the “First Lithium License”). Condor holds the 100% working interest in the First Lithium License for a six-year term.

A prior well drilled in the First Lithium License for hydrocarbon exploration encountered and tested brine deposits with lithium concentrations of 67 milligrams per litre in Carboniferous-aged intervals as reported by the Ministry of Geology of the Republic of Kazakhstan. A 670-meter column of tested and untested brine reservoir has been identified from historical wireline log and core data. This well also penetrated the very top of the Devonian-aged sediments and reservoir sands were encountered but not tested.

Condor previously entered into a binding sale and purchase agreement for a separate lithium brine mining license (the “Second Lithium License”) with a state-owned entity (the “Seller”) and the Company is awaiting final approval from the Government of Kazakhstan to complete the acquisition. A prior well drilled in the Second Lithium License for hydrocarbon exploration encountered and tested brine deposits with lithium concentrations of up to 130 milligrams per litre in Devonian and Carboniferous-aged intervals as reported by the Ministry of Geology of the Republic of Kazakhstan. A 1000-meter column of tested and untested brine reservoir has been identified from historical wireline log and core data. Condor will hold a 95% working interest in the Second Lithium License and operate and be responsible for funding all activities while the Seller will maintain a 5% carried working interest. The Second Lithium License was originally assigned to the Seller on April 3, 2019, for a six-year term and provides the subsurface exploration rights for solid minerals on a contiguous 6800-hectare area.

The lithium licenses are strategically located between Europe and China, providing direct access to existing and robust lithium markets. The Company intends to produce the lithium by utilizing closed-looped Direct Lithium Extraction (“DLE”) technologies. Given that the Company’s Lithium Licenses are not associated with legacy oil wells nor any reported presence of hydrogen sulphide, a less complex and capital intensive modular DLE technology is envisioned for the separation of lithium from the brine when compared with lithium extraction projects targeting oilfield brines. By applying proven DLE production technologies, the Company expects to have a much smaller environmental footprint than existing lithium production operations which use open-pit mining or brine evaporation ponds. The Company is also evaluating the construction of a renewable power generation project to achieve net-zero emissions for its lithium production.

The Company’s initial development plan over the next twelve months includes drilling and testing two wells to verify deliverability rates, confirm the lateral extension and concentrations of lithium in the tested and untested intervals, conduct preliminary engineering for the production facilities, and prepare a mineral resources or mineral reserves report compliant with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (the “Mineral Report”). Procurement of long-lead equipment and contracting a drilling rig is underway.
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https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/news/c ... azakhstan/