VANCOUVER – USA News Group – Though prices are down from previous highs seen in 2022, the lithium industry as a whole is witnessing major shifts so far in 2024. Within Q1 2024, the global lithium industry has delivered significant growth in reserves and resources, surging to 303.5 million metric tons, representing a 52.2% increase compared to the same period just three years ago. As lithium suppliers have begun to creatively shift how the metal is bought and sold, some have resorted to holding a series of auctions where potential buyers compete for cargoes via bids, skirting the norm of long-term contracts locked in at fixed prices. As the market braces for lithium demand’s expected growth of more than 40x on the way to 2030, miners continue to develop several lithium projects, including Lithium South Development Corporation (TSXV:LIS) (OTC:LISMF), Sigma Lithium Corporation (NASDAQ: SGML) (TSXV: SGML), Lithium Ionic Corp. (TSXV: LTH) (OTCQX: LTHCF), Albemarle Corporation (NYSE: ALB), and Standard Lithium Ltd. (NYSE-American: SLI) (TSXV: SLI).
In late April, Lithium South Development Corporation (TSXV:LIS) (OTC:LISMF) filed a new Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) on its flagship Hombre Muerto North Lithium Project. The new PEA further bolstered Lithium South’s plans to advance the development of a lithium carbonate production facility with an annual output of 15,600 tonnes. The assessment revealed a promising financial outlook, with an after-tax Net Present Value (NPV) of US$938 million and an Internal Rate of Return (IRR) of 31.6%. The project has a payback period of just 2.5 years.
"We are very pleased to have achieved this important milestone for the HMN Li Project,” said Adrian F.C. Hobkirk, Founder, President and CEO of Lithium South. “The robust economics and room for expansion indicate a promising future for Lithium South."
Since the PEA filing, Lithium South has also provided an update detailing progress on its first pumping well to be located on the largest claim block in the 5-claim salar located HMN Li package—the 2,089-hectare Alba Sabrina block. The well is currently pumping at a rate of 25L/second, with a pumping rate increase expected to come after some maintenance takes place.
Lithium South wants to mention in the update expressions of interest from several companies involved in the lithium industry. They’re currently involved in discussions regarding financial support and/or project participation, which included a recent 3-day site visit completed by an unnamed lithium project developer.
Third-party interest in Lithium South’s assets isn’t new, as the company established a pivotal cooperative development agreement for the HMN Li Project with Korean conglomerate POSCO, marking a significant step towards lithium production. This arrangement followed up a significant announcement at the end of 2023, when Lithium South updated its NI 43-101 technical report for the flagship HMN Li asset. The update revealed a substantial 175% increase in lithium resources, now totaling over 1.58 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE).
At the Port of Vitoria in Brazil, Sigma Lithium Corporation (NASDAQ: SGML) (TSXV: SGML) announced it has commenced loading its ninth shipment of Quintuple Zero Green Lithium, totaling 22,000 tonnes, destined for LX International, formerly LG International. The company states it has demonstrated significant progress in monetizing a commercial premium that reflects the value in use generated for its customers by its proprietary Quintuple Zero Green Lithium product, which achieved a fixed formula of 9% of lithium hydroxide quoted at LME represents a meaningful increase over previous prices achieved.
News of the shipment came quickly after a previous announcement from Sigma Lithium, regarding an upgrade of its proven and probable reserves at its flagship Grota do Cirilo hard rock lithium mine, by a significant 40% (or 22.2 million tonnes).
"This significant increase in mineral Reserves demonstrates our commitment to continuously invest in Brazil to unlock the full economic potential of our mineral concessions,” said Ana Cabral Co-Chairperson and CEO of Sigma Lithium. “We believe Brazil is poised to become one of the global leaders in Lithium production as a result of its optimum conditions for integrated lithium industrial processing and mining: legal certainty in a consolidated mining code, rule of law, straightforward permitting processes, tropical climate, green and affordable renewable energy and power lines infrastructure."
Also for other projects in Brazil, Lithium Ionic Corp. (TSXV: LTH) (OTCQX: LTHCF) recently arranged for an $11 million financing which will go towards the company’s two flagship projects, Itinga and Salinas. The private placement comes right after Lithium Ionic announced it had signed an agreement to acquire the remaining 15% of select Salinas properties, located within the Curralinho Pegmatite Field of the lithium-rich Araçuaí Pegmatite District, in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Earlier in April, Lithium Ionic had announced its maiden mineral resource estimate (MRE) and initiation of its preliminary economic assessment (PEA) at the Salinas Project, further increasing the company’s regional mineral resources by 45%.
“The MRE we have already established at Salinas represents a cornerstone asset in our portfolio of projects and we strongly believe that our plans to explore adjacent properties could significantly scale our mineral resources,” said Blake Hylands, CEO of Lithium Ionic. “We are very pleased to have secured a path to 100% ownership of these prospective properties.”
Over in Chile, the country’s economic development agency CORFO recently reached an agreement with Albemarle Corporation (NYSE: ALB) to increase its production quota by 240,000 metric tons of LME. The proposed increase would in effect raise Albermarle’s production by roughly 50%, from its current amount of about 460,000 metric tons of LME. The quota increase announcement came just one day after news broke that Albemarle would pay US$15 million to the Chilean government to end an ongoing lithium controversy.
Meanwhile, in the United States, Albemarle also announced it had agreed to deliver extracted limestone to a regional rock quarry adjacent to its proposed Kings Mountain lithium mine in North Carolina. Albemarle is currently preparing permits to submit to NC regulatory agencies this year, and undergoing studies and social impact assessments to determine the feasibility of reopening the mine. According to Albemarle, part of the company’s plan includes repurposing byproduct materials to benefit the local economy.
In south-west Arkansas and east Texas, Standard Lithium Ltd. (NYSE-American: SLI) (TSXV: SLI) recently secured a partnership with multinational energy company Equinor ASA, which has agreed to invest up to $160 million and secure a 45% stake in Standard Lithium’s projects. As per the deal, Equinor is starting with a $30 million cash payment to Standard Lithium at closing, and a work program solely funded by Equinor of $60 million.
“We believe this partnership with a global energy major validates the quality of our team, our DLE flowsheet and experience, and our world-class lithium-brine resources in Arkansas and Texas,” said Dr. Andy Robinson, Director, President and COO of Standard Lithium. “We’re at a crucial stage in our Company’s growth and this partnership with Equinor will be fundamental to the continued de-risking and execution of these important projects.”
Source: https://usanewsgroup.com/2023/10/18/the-lithium-race-to-power/
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Mr. William Feyerabend, a Consulting Geologist and Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101 participated in the production of this advertisement, and approves of the technical and scientific disclosure contained herein pertaining to Lithium South.
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