Distributed on behalf of Surge Battery Metals
The lithium story is getting explosive. For one, lithium remains one of the most strategically important commodities for the global shift to electrification, clean energy, and energy storage. It’s part of the reason Washington put domestic lithium supply at the top of the national security agenda, with billions of dollars now flowing to projects that can produce critical minerals on American soil. Unfortunately, lithium is shifting from over-supply to a tight deficit again, creating opportunity for companies such as Surge Battery Metals (TSXV: NILI) (OTC: NILIF), Albemarle (NYSE: ALB), Lithium Americas (NYSE: LAC) (TSX: LAC), Sigma Lithium (NASDAQ: SGML) (TSXV: SGML), and Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile (NYSE: SQM).
In fact, as noted by Seeking Alpha, “Industry forecasts continue to point to lithium demand more than doubling by the end of the decade, with 2026 shaping up as a key inflection year where demand growth clearly outpaces new supply. Several higher-cost producers have slowed production or paused expansions, while permitting timelines and capital discipline are keeping new mines from coming online as quickly as once expected. As a result, analysts increasingly expect the lithium market to move from surplus toward deficit starting in 2026.”
Wood Mackenzie added that, “Lithium is irreplaceable for the energy transition, and the industry faces structural supply challenges that require immediate action. The question isn't whether we need more lithium. It's whether the industry can mobilise capital fast enough to meet demand while navigating an increasingly fragmented global trade environment.”
And, as noted by Mining Visuals, “Morgan Stanley's aggressive 80,000-tonne deficit projection accounts for the reality that complex mine restarts often require two to five years to fully integrate back into the global supply chain.”
Look at Surge Battery Metals (TSXV: NILI) (OTC: NILIF), For Example.
For one, the most advanced U.S. lithium clay project is Thacker Pass, owned by Lithium Americas (NYSE: LAC), located in northern Nevada. It has already raised more than $3 billion to advance, including a $2.23 billion loan from the U.S. Department of Energy, $945 million from General Motors and $250 million from Orion. The mine is targeted to enter production in 2028 after a 2027 commissioning period. Once Thacker begins producing in 2028, the question of whether U.S. lithium clay can be mined economically goes away — and Surge Battery Metals' Nevada North Lithium Project is the next major clay project in line.
Two, Surge Battery Metals just announced that Nevada North Lithium, LLC, the joint venture formed by Surge and Evolution Mining Limited, has reported an updated Mineral Resource Estimate for the Nevada North Lithium Project containing 10.5 Mt of Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE) grading 3,007 ppm Li Measured and Indicated which includes 6.7Mt LCE @ 3,820 ppm Li highlighting significant scalability potential from the Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) mine plan that consumes only 3.6Mt @ 4016 ppm Li.
Following a targeted infill and step-out drilling campaign comprising nine drill holes, the updated MRE demonstrates an 87% conversion of the PEA mine pit into higher-confidence Measured and Indicated (M&I) resource categories. This ratio of boreholes to resource highlights the clear continuity of the deposit and firmly establishes NNLP as one of the leading lithium clay deposits in North America.
Highlights of the Updated Mineral Resource Estimate:
· Initial High-Grade M&I Resource Established: The Project now hosts a Measured and Indicated Resource of 657.5 million tonnes grading 3,007 ppm Li, containing 10.5 million tonnes of Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE).
· High Conversion: The recent drilling successfully converted approximately 87% of the original PEA mine pit into the M&I category, securing the foundation of the deposit.
· High-Grade Expansion: The drill program successfully defined significant new volumes of higher-grade M&I resource outside the boundaries of the original PEA mine pit, providing optimization and scalability opportunities for the in-process Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) as the PEA mine plan consumes only 3.6Mt @ 4016 ppm Li.
· Significant Inferred Expansion: Excluding the totals attributed to Measured and Indicated classifications, the Inferred Resource still hosts 271.3 million tonnes grading 2,160 ppm Li, containing 3.1 million tonnes of LCE, pushing the mineralized footprint well beyond the boundaries of the 2025 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA).
· Near-Surface Mine Plan Upside: Opportunities exist to further optimize early-year mine sequencing, particularly where the high-grade upper clay horizon sits near the surface.
· Specific Gravity (SG) Sampling: The SG dataset includes 512 measurements across the tuff and mineralized units. Statistical evaluation indicates that the upper clays have a median bulk density of 1.65 t/m3, while non-mineralized materials (tuffs) have a low bulk density of 1.39 t/m3. These values have been incorporated into the updated block model, and these revisions will influence future mine-planning scenarios once completed.
Mr. Greg Reimer, President, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Surge, commented, “This resource update is a watershed moment for Surge and our joint venture partners at Evolution Mining. Delivering over 10.5 million tonnes of LCE into the Measured and Indicated category at grades exceeding 3,000 ppm Li underscores the significance of the NNLP deposit. This MRE highlights the sheer scalability of the NNLP with the PEA mine plan only using 3.6Mt of the M&I resource. The primary objective of this MRE update was to de-risk the resource for the Pre-Feasibility Study, and the geological data has emphatically delivered.”
Other related developments from around the markets include:
Albemarle announced that it declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.405 per share. The dividend, which has an annualized rate of $1.62, is payable July 1, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business as of June 12, 2026. In addition, the company announced its results for the first quarter. "Albemarle had a strong start to 2026, with net sales and adjusted EBITDA up year over year. Higher pricing and volumes in Energy Storage and Specialties, along with continued cost and productivity actions, were the key contributors to our results," said Kent Masters, Chairman and CEO. "We also took advantage of our successful cash and portfolio management actions to pay down debt in the quarter, further strengthening our balance sheet and financial flexibility. As the global operating environment remains uncertain, we are focused on the things within our control, including operational excellence, cost and productivity discipline, and cash generation, to enable long-term volume and earnings growth."
Lithium Americas announced that it has filed its Annual Report on Form 10-K, which includes the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2025, and provided an update on its Thacker Pass lithium project in Humboldt County, Nevada. Jonathan Evans, President and Chief Executive Officer of Lithium Americas said, “2025 marked a transformative year for Thacker Pass. Construction is advancing at full pace, and we are carrying that strong momentum into 2026. We are grateful for the continued support of the U.S. Administration and the Department of Energy. With the second loan drawdown in February 2026, we have meaningfully de-risked the Project and reinforced our path forward. This investment reflects our shared commitment to rebuilding critical mineral supply chains here at home and reducing reliance on foreign sources. Construction at Thacker Pass is progressing rapidly, with safety as our highest priority. Peak construction activity is expected in 2026, and our workforce continues to expand, with approximately 1,800 skilled craftspeople anticipated on site by late 2026. We remain on track for mechanical completion of Phase 1 in late 2027, positioning Thacker Pass to play a central role in securing America’s energy and national security future. Together with our partners, we are advancing energy independence, strengthening domestic supply chains and building a more resilient future.”
Sigma Lithium, a leading global lithium producer dedicated to powering the next generation of electric batteries with socially and environmentally sustainable lithium concentrate, announces today that it will release its first quarter 2026 earnings results before the market opens on Friday, May 15, 2026. The Company will hold a conference call to discuss its first quarter 2026 earnings results shortly after, on Friday, May 15, 2026, at 8:30 a.m. EST. Access to the call will be available via webcast. A link to the webcast can be found on Sigma Lithium’s website.
Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile will pay a dividend equivalent to $1.02952 per share. The payment of this dividend will be made to the shareholders, either in person or through their duly authorized representatives, as from 9:00 a.m. on May 14, 2026. The shareholders of the Company who are recorded in the respective register as of the fifth prior to the payment date shall be entitled to receive the aforementioned dividend.
Legal Disclaimer / Except for the historical information presented herein, matters discussed in this article contains forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Winning Media is not registered with any financial or securities regulatory authority and does not provide nor claims to provide investment advice or recommendations to readers of this release. For making specific investment decisions, readers should seek their own advice. Winning Media is only compensated for its services in the form of cash-based compensation. Pursuant to an agreement Winning Media has been paid three thousand five hundred dollars for advertising and marketing services for Surge Battery Metals by Surge Battery Metals. We own ZERO shares of Surge Battery Metals. Please click here for full disclaimer.
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