Le lithium, le prix en baisse aprés la flambée.

[energy_isere]

Prospect de Lithium au Canada : Pennock

Channel samples at Frontier Lithium’s Pennock pegmatite return high grades

Staff Writer | December 29, 2023

Frontier Lithium (TSXV: FL) has reported high-grade results from the summer channel sampling program at its Pennock pegmatite in northwestern Ontario.


Highlights of the results include 3 metres grading 1.8% lithium oxide (Li2O) from channel 56, located 700 metres east of the main, high-grade blowout area of channel 45 along the Pennock dyke system; and 5.8 metres at 1% Li2O in channel 55, located 55 metres east of channel 56, the company said in a news release on Thursday.
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https://www.mining.com/channel-samples- ... gh-grades/

[energy_isere]

suite de ce post du 22 janvier 2023 http://www.oleocene.org/phpBB3/viewtopi ... 1#p2361241

Wealth Minerals announces positive PEA for Kuska project in Chile

By NS Energy Staff Writer 05 Jan 2024

The Kuska project will have a pre-tax, pre-royalty NPV10 of $1.65bn and an internal rate of return of 33% for the project, baseline capital expenditures at $749m, and operating expenses at $5,849 per tonne of lithium carbonate produced


Canada-based Wealth Minerals has announced a positive Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for the Kuska project at Salar de Ollagüe in the Antofagasta region, Chile.

Engineering services company DRA Global, together with resource experts from Montgomery & Associates and other third-party consultants, produced the PEA.

The Kuska project, previously known as the Ollagüe project, holds an estimated 741,000 tons of Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE) indicated resources grading 175mg/l.

According to the PEA, the project will have a pre-tax, pre-royalty net present value at a 10% discount (NPV10) of $1.65bn and an internal rate of return of 33% for the project.

The assessment estimates baseline capital expenditures at $749m, and operating expenses at $5,849 per tonne of lithium carbonate produced.

Wealth Minerals CEO Hendrik van Alphen said: “We are extremely happy with the positive PEA results and this important milestone to develop the Kuska project at our Ollagüe salar concessions.

“The PEA is a quality study that has thoroughly incorporated all the technical investigation, field data and best industry practices necessary to make Kuska into a world-class lithium production operation.

“Given Wealth’s long experience with Direct Lithium Extraction technology (DLE), we paid particular attention to this aspect of the PEA, incorporating an extensive selection process for the most suitable DLE equipment and technology providers.”

The PEA recommends the Kuska project development in two phases, with an estimated 20,000mtpa LCE output and a Life of Mine (LOM) of 20 years.

The initial phase of development involves building a 10,000tpa mining operation and plant in the initial phase, with plans to double the capacity within two years.

Wealth Minerals intends to use a mature DLE technology converting lithium-bearing brine into battery-grade Lithium Carbonate (LC), which is a result of almost 1.5 years of research.

The mining operation will comprise a well-field with lithium-rich brine pumping capacity and a re-injection feed system to return Li-depleted brine into the salar.

The combination of wells and depleted brine operations, together with DLE methods, are expected to enable a near-zero environmental impact on the salar.

To de-carbonise its lithium production operations, the company is planning to use renewable energy supplies to power its production plant and associated infrastructure.

Wealth Minerals Chile operative CEO Francisco Lepeley said: “Our Kuska project is being developed consistently with the National Lithium Strategy defined earlier this year by the Chilean government.

“We are incorporating into our development plan the use of environmentally friendly DLE technology, the active involvement and collaboration of the Quechua indigenous community, and prospective industry partnerships that may facilitate downstream processing of lithium into value-added products.

“The positive economic figures that come with this PEA are very good news to our WML shareholders, the Chilean state, and all other stakeholders.”

https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/news/w ... -in-chile/

[energy_isere]

suite de ce post du 25 dec 2023 http://www.oleocene.org/phpBB3/viewtopi ... 0#p2382150

Naissance de Arcadium Lithium :

Allkem, Livent close $10.6bn all-stock merger deal to form Arcadium Lithium

By NS Energy Staff Writer 05 Jan 2024

In Arcadium Lithium the shareholders of Allkem and Livent are anticipated to hold stakes of around 56% and 44%, respectively

Lithium chemicals companies Allkem and Livent have closed their previously announced all-stock merger of equals to form Arcadium Lithium, a new lithium chemicals producer valued at $10.6bn.

Last month, the deal received all necessary shareholder approvals for its closing. The transaction was announced in May 2023.

In Arcadium Lithium the shareholders of Allkem and Livent are expected to own stakes of around 56% and 44%, respectively.

Based in the US, Livent produces a wide range of lithium chemicals using advanced lithium processing technologies for applications like energy storage and specialised uses. On the other hand, Allkem, headquartered in Australia, has expertise in conventional brine-based lithium extraction, hard rock mining, and lithium processing.

The enlarged company, Arcadium Lithium, with a global workforce of over 2,600 employees, achieved approximately $1.9bn in combined total revenue in 2022. It is said to be one of the world’s largest integrated producers of lithium chemicals.

The company will have a substantial portfolio of cost-effective assets spread across crucial geographies, products, and customer bases.

Arcadium Lithium CEO Paul Graves said: “As one of the leading global producers of lithium chemicals, Arcadium Lithium has the resources, scale and expertise to meet the growing needs of our rapidly changing industry.

“We are a leader in every major lithium extraction process – from hard rock mining to conventional pond and DLE-based brine processing – and vertically integrated, from resource to chemical manufacturing, in strategic locations around the world. This will open doors to new opportunities and strengthen our ability to deliver value to our customers, investors, employees and communities.”

Arcadium Lithium said that its ordinary shares have started trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker “ALTM”. The company will also maintain a foreign exempt listing on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) via the issuance of chess depositary interests (CDIs) to Allkem shareholders.

https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/news/a ... m-lithium/

[energy_isere]

Lithium price plummet due to continue

Colin McClelland | January 4, 2024

Lithium prices are expected to decline further because of rising supplies of the battery metal, subdued Chinese demand and a lacklustre American electric vehicle (EV) market.


Australia, which mined about half the world’s lithium in 2022, forecasts the spot price of spodumene will fall to $2,200 per tonne in 2025 from an estimated average of $3,840 per tonne last year, according to a quarterly report by the country’s Department of Industry, Science and Resources issued last month.

Lithium hydroxide, a refined version of the metal used in batteries, may decline to around $30,000 per tonne next year from an estimated average of $52,450 in 2023, the Department said. Lithium carbonate, a precursor to the hydroxide, was 96,500 yuan per tonne on Thursday, down from about 170,000 yuan in September, according to Trading Economics.

“Prices are not expected to return to previous high levels such as during 2022 and early 2023 before 2025 due to the forecast surplus in supply,” the Department said. “Some higher-cost producers, such as lepidolite miners in China, have become unprofitable and cut production. However, most lithium producers will remain profitable at current prices and continue to produce.”

The five largest lithium mines, accounting for 99% of Australian spodumene output, reported A$670 to A$1,225 average costs of production per tonne over the 2022–23 financial year, the government said.

The lower spot lithium prices may make electric vehicles and batteries less expensive but they could also hamper investment to develop battery metal mining projects needed for the wider transition to cleaner energy. That could delay consumer acceptance, thwart attempts to limit climate change and increase costs in the long run.

2022 record

Rising production has slashed the spot lithium price from the record 600,000 yuan per tonne in November 2022. Global lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) extraction may reach 1.3 million tonnes this year and 1.65 million tonnes in 2025 from 1 million tonnes last year, according to the report.

Australia, the world’s largest lithium miner, is forecast to increase spodumene production to 633,000 tonnes LCE in 2025 from 386,000 tonnes in 2022. China is expected to more than double output to 373,000 tonnes next year from 166,000 tonnes in 2022. Chile plans to grow to 227,000 tonnes from 162,000 tonnes over the same period.

In North America alone, projects that may start construction this year include those by Albemarle (NYSE: ALB), Livent (NYSE: LTHM) Piedmont Lithium (NASDAQ: PLL; ASX: PLL), Lithium Americas, (TSX: LAC; NYSE: LAC) Standard Lithium (TSXV: SLI; NYSE-AM: SLI), Ioneer (NASDAQ: IONR; ASX: INR), EnergySource Minerals and Controlled Thermal Resources. Here’s a map of projects and offtake agreements.

China this week published its monthly Purchasing Managers’ Index survey showing factory activity fell in December to the lowest level in six months and its third straight report of shrinking orders. The world’s second-largest economy has faced lingering real estate turmoil, high youth joblessness and a national security crackdown on companies that has spooked international investors.

That may translate into nearly 200,000 fewer EV sales in the Asian nation this year for about 1 million total, Bloomberg New Energy Finance, a research unit of the newswire, said in a December report. Globally, automakers are expected to sell 16.7 million battery-electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles this year, BNEF said. That’s down about 4% or 775,000 cars from a June forecast because of sluggish China, higher interest rates in Europe, and slowing ambitions from General Motors, Ford and Tesla, it said.

Tesla fatigue

GM is discontinuing its most popular EV, the Chevrolet Volt, while Ford overestimated Mustang Mach-E and F-150 Lightning sales, Bloomberg NEF said. Tesla’s market lead is slipping as it suffers from a lack of new models and brand fatigue, it said.

The Elon Musk-led company is among US automakers hurting from high prices in the West vs. China, the Australia government said in its report. The two best-selling electric vehicles in China in 2022 were the Wuling Mini BEV at $6,500 and the BYD Dolphin for $16,000 while the Tesla Model Y was the most popular in Europe at $65,000 and in the US for $50,000. Even in China, Tesla’s Model Y cost 40% less than in the US last year.

“Chinese EV carmakers have focused on smaller and more affordable models, cutting down costs,” the Australians said. “In contrast, EV carmakers in Europe and the US have prioritized larger and more luxurious models to date. Recently, some US EV makers are reported to have begun making price cuts. However, this appears to largely be in response to the recent slowdown in sales as opposed to a broader shift to better affordability.”

https://www.mining.com/lithium-price-pl ... -continue/

[energy_isere]

Encore un nouveau prospect au Canada avec un projet chiffré : Viewfield lithium brine project

EMP Metals unveils $571m capex for Viewfield lithium brine project in Canada
Located in Saskatchewan, the project is expected to produce a total of 282,090 tonnes of battery-grade lithium carbonate

By NS Energy Staff Writer 10 Jan 2024

EMP Metals said that the Viewfield lithium brine project owned by its subsidiary Hub City Lithium in Canada will involve total capital expenditures (capex) of $571m based on the findings of a preliminary economic assessment (PEA) study.

The capex encompasses direct as well as indirect capital costs, including contingency costs of $52m.

Located in Saskatchewan, the Viewfield lithium brine project is anticipated to produce a total of 282,090 tonnes of battery-grade lithium carbonate. This will result in an average annual output of 12,175 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) over the course of its 23-year project life.

The PEA sets an anticipated pre-tax internal rate of return (IRR) at 55%, signifying a payout duration of 2.1 years. Additionally, the pre-tax net present value (NPV) is estimated at $1.49bn, considering an 8% discount rate.

It covers an expanse of 11,000 net hectares within the Viewfield project area. This accounts for 46% of Hub City Lithium’s total land holdings in Viewfield and merely 14% of its overall land holdings in Southern Saskatchewan.

The development plan outlined in the PEA is structured into three distinct units.

In the first unit, termed the Wellfield, all production wellbores, disposal wellbores, and associated pipeline networks are included.

The second unit, known as Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE), encompasses infrastructure related to pre-filtration and DLE operations. For the PEA, Koch Technology Solutions was selected as the technical partner for DLE.

The third unit, Concentration, Refining, and Conversion (CRC), covers all infrastructure downstream of DLE required to refine and convert lithium chloride eluent into battery-grade LCE. Saltworks Technologies was chosen as the technical provider for CRC in the PEA.

EMP Metals CEO Rob Gamley said: “With payback in approximately two years, a 23-year project life and a pre-tax IRR of 55%, our Viewfield project is clearly a world class Lithium asset.

“The PEA study underpins a significant property value and highlights the benefits of excellent brine concentrations, low operating costs and close proximity to local infrastructure in one of the best mining jurisdictions in the world.

“The outstanding metrics demonstrated in the PEA represents a highly attractive scenario for EMP shareholders and supports the remarkable potential of this project as we quickly move to a commercial pilot.”

https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/news/e ... in-canada/

[energy_isere]

suite de ce post du 26 novembre 2023 http://www.oleocene.org/phpBB3/viewtopi ... 6#p2380746

Pan American files inaugural technical report for Horizon lithium project
The initial MRE incorporated in the report amounts to more than 1.3 million tonnes of Indicated and 8.8 million tonnes of inferred LCE resources

By NS Energy Staff Writer 08 Jan 2024

Canada-based mining explorer Pan American Energy has filed a maiden technical report for the Horizon lithium project located in Nevada, US.

The report discloses an estimated indicated mineral resource of 1,325 kilo tonnes (KTonnes) of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) and an inferred mineral resource of 8,879KTonnes, featuring an average grade of 678 ppm lithium (Li).

According to the company, Horizon is among the largest identified lithium deposits in the US. Consisting of 839 claims, the Horizon lithium project is located around 7.5km west of Tonopah.

The mineral resource estimate (MRE) relies on data from 20 diamond drill holes conducted in 2023, occurring within the first year of Pan American Energy obtaining rights to the project through a property option agreement with Horizon Lithium, the project owner.
........................

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

[energy_isere]

La dure loi du marché : ( et suite de ce post du 14 mai 2023 http://www.oleocene.org/phpBB3/viewtopi ... 2#p2369362 )

Core Lithium suspends mining at Finniss as lithium prices plummet
The suspension of operations at Core Lithium’s Finniss project could result in the loss of around 150 jobs.

January 5, 2024

Core Lithium, an Australian miner, is conducting a strategic review of its business activities and has halted operations at its Finniss project near Darwin with immediate effect.

The review is being conducted in response to the 85% drop in spodumene concentrate prices over the past year.

The company will instead process existing ore stockpiles. By processing stockpiles, it plans to reduce its operational costs while still generating revenue.

This will help preserve its ability to restart mining when the market recovers.

The reduction in operations could result in the culling of nearly half of the 300 jobs at the mine, ABC News reported.

Core Lithium has around 280,000 tonnes of ore stockpiles as of last month, enough to be supplied to the concentrator until mid-2024 without further mining.

One of the pits at the mine will be maintained for a potential ramp-up in operations if the market recovers.

The company has also suspended the BP33 early works construction project in order to conserve cash.

Despite this, significant progress has been made, including the completion of the box cut excavation and the start of tunnel arch footing installation. The site will now enter into a care and maintenance phase.

Core Lithium CEO Gareth Manderson said: “The team has moved at pace to ensure Core’s value is preserved in these tough market conditions. While suspending mining operations is a difficult decision, processing of ore stockpiles will continue to generate revenue and we will focus on managing our cash reserves prudently. We are working to put the business in the best position possible to recommence mining and proceed with BP33 when market conditions improve.

“The Northern Territory Government has been a supportive partner, and we remain committed to finding a path forward for the Finniss operation and the Territory community. We understand that this decision is difficult for employees, contractors and some local businesses.”

https://www.mining-technology.com/news/ ... &cf-closed

[energy_isere]

suite de ce post du 1er oct 2023 http://www.oleocene.org/phpBB3/viewtopi ... 9#p2377619

American Lithium sees Peru project value triple to $5 billion

Reuters | January 10, 2024

Canadian miner American Lithium said on Wednesday that the estimated value of its Falchani lithium project in Peru had tripled from the previous forecast to $5.11 billion and that it would have a potential operating life of 32 years.


Demand for lithium, a key metal used in rechargeable batteries for electric vehicles and other electronics, has soared in recent years.

Shares in American Lithium were up more than 5% mid-morning after the company raised the after-tax value of the Falchani project from the $1.5 billion estimated in 2019 on the current price of high-purity lithium carbonate.

The project, located in southern Peru near the border with Bolivia, is awaiting government approval of an early environmental permit study, which could fast track construction permits.

American Lithium last year quadrupled its deposit estimate at Falchani to 5.53 million metric tons of lithium carbonate equivalent following new drilling at the project.

It is the only lithium project underway in Peru, which neighbors the so-called “lithium triangle” of Chile, Argentina and Bolivia, which all hold significant deposits of the white metal.

Peru is also the second-largest copper producer in the world.

Falchani could also produce potash sulfate and cesium sulfate byproducts alongside lithium carbonate, which would bring the project’s after-tax value to $5.58 billion, American Lithium said.

The preliminary economic assessment demonstrates “the existing potential for high annual production and long mine-life at Falchani,” CEO Simon Clarke said in a statement.

https://www.mining.com/web/american-lit ... 5-billion/

[energy_isere]

comme annoncé dans ce post du 16 dec 2023 http://www.oleocene.org/phpBB3/viewtopi ... 1#p2381741

Côte d’Ivoire : un programme de forage de 3 000 m a commencé au projet de lithium Atex

Agence Ecofin 16 janvier 2024

Si les chiffres diffèrent, la plupart des analystes s’accordent pour prévoir une hausse de la demande mondiale de lithium dans les années à venir. Alors que plusieurs pays africains s’activent pour exploiter les réserves déjà connues, la Côte d’Ivoire commence à peine à explorer son potentiel.

En Côte d’Ivoire, Firering Strategic Minerals a lancé en ce début d’année une campagne de forage à circulation inverse (RC) de 3 000 mètres à son projet de lithium Atex. C’est ce qu’a confirmé la compagnie dans un communiqué le 15 janvier, indiquant que le programme s’appuiera sur les cibles identifiées lors de précédentes campagnes de forage en 2022 et 2023.

« Cette prochaine phase de forage à Atex sera cruciale pour Firering, car nous cherchons à faire progresser rapidement le projet et à tirer parti des résultats très encourageants de la campagne de forage au diamant entreprise au quatrième trimestre 2022, qui a montré les premiers intercepts significatifs d’Atex », a commenté Yuval Cohen, DG de Firering.

Annoncée en décembre 2023, la présente campagne de forage devrait se terminer dans quatre à six semaines. Les échantillons prélevés seront traités en Australie avec des résultats disponibles vers la fin du premier trimestre 2024. En fonction de ces résultats, Firering pourra mieux préparer les prochaines campagnes de forage sur le site.

https://www.agenceecofin.com/metaux/160 ... thium-atex

[energy_isere]

suite de ce post du 9 sept 20232 http://www.oleocene.org/phpBB3/viewtopi ... 4#p2376624

Mali : le chinois Ganfeng porte à 60 % ses intérêts dans la première mine de lithium Goulamina

Agence Ecofin 19 janvier 2024

Avec une entrée en production prévue au premier semestre 2024, Goulamina est bien placée pour devenir la première mine de lithium du Mali. La mine est déjà majoritairement détenue par le chinois Ganfeng Lithium qui cofinance les travaux de construction.

L’australien Leo Lithium, opérateur de la future mine de lithium Goulamina au Mali, a annoncé le 19 janvier la signature d’un nouvel accord avec son partenaire de coentreprise Ganfeng Lithium. Cet accord permet au géant chinois d’acquérir 5 % d’intérêts supplémentaires dans Goulamina, portant ainsi sa participation dans le projet à 60 %.

Notons que le montant de la transaction s’élève à 65 millions de dollars, payables en deux tranches par Ganfeng. Une fois la transaction bouclée, Leo Lithium détiendra les 40 % restants de la coentreprise.

Selon Leo Lithium, les fonds obtenus auprès de Ganfeng serviront à effectuer un paiement en faveur du gouvernement malien, avec lequel des négociations sont menées depuis quelques mois. En septembre dernier, la compagnie australienne a en effet suspendu la négociation de ses actions en bourse, après avoir reçu une correspondance de Bamako en rapport avec les implications du nouveau code minier malien pour le projet Goulamina.

« Les discussions en cours avec le gouvernement malien concernant la correspondance reçue ont progressé vers un règlement négocié potentiel qui, s’il est atteint, nécessiterait probablement un paiement de compensation au gouvernement malien. Les discussions étant en cours, incomplètes et confidentielles, la société n’est pas encore en mesure de fournir d’autres détails sur l’accord potentiel », indique le communiqué.

Pour rappel, le précédent code minier prévoit une participation gratuite de 10 % pour l’État dans les projets miniers, avec la possibilité de la porter à 20 % maximum. La nouvelle loi, adoptée en août 2023, accorde en revanche une participation maximale de 30 % à l’État, avec 5 % en plus pour les investisseurs locaux. Plusieurs compagnies ont assuré que ce nouveau code ne s’appliquerait pas à leurs opérations, y compris Kodal Minerals qui pilote la future deuxième mine de lithium du Mali, Bougouni.

L’entrée en production de Goulamina est prévue pour le premier semestre 2024, alors que celle de Bougouni est attendue d’ici la fin de l’année.

https://www.agenceecofin.com/compagnie/ ... -goulamina

[energy_isere]

La Thaïlande découvre d'importantes réserves de lithium dans le sud du pays

Article de RFI 20janvier 2024

La Thaïlande est-elle en passe de devenir l’un des principaux producteurs de lithium du monde ? C’est en tout cas ce qu'espèrent les autorités qui annoncent la découverte de gigantesques réserves de lithium. Si l’ampleur du gisement reste à déterminer, il sert les objectifs du gouvernement qui veut développer la production de véhicules électriques.

C’est dans le sud de la Thaïlande, sur deux sites miniers non loin de l’île touristique de Phuket que les réserves ont été découvertes. D’après les autorités, les gisements pourraient renfermer près de 15 millions tonnes de lithium.

Si la présence de ce minerai devenu incontournable pour produire des batteries électriques n’est pas remise en cause, des spécialistes s’interrogent en revanche sur la quantité de lithium réellement disponible. « Il faudra encore attendre 3 à 5 ans, le temps que la Thaïlande réalise ses premiers forages avant d'avoir des réserves », explique Michel Jebrak, spécialiste des ressources minières à l'Université du Québec à Montréal, interrogé par Nicolas Feldmann, du service Économie de RFI.
Quoi qu'il en soit, si ce chiffre de 15 millions de tonnes étaient confirmé, cela placerait la Thaïlande dans le top 3 des principaux détenteurs de lithium au monde, derrière l’Argentine et la Bolivie. Cela viendrait aussi servir les ambitions des autorités : la Thaïlande qui a produit l'année dernière près de 2 millions de voitures, veut accélérer sa transition vers l'électrique.

Les autorités thaïlandaises espèrent aussi attirer le constructeur automobile Tesla. Le géant chinois BYD doit produire cette année ses premiers véhicules électriques dans une nouvelle usine, la première du genre en Asie du Sud-Est.

https://www.msn.com/fr-fr/actualite/mon ... 8517&ei=34

Sauf qu'il y a grosse méprise la dedans.
15 millions de tonnes c'est juste le minerai dans lequel il faut piocher le Lithium. Typiquement il faut compter 0.5 à 1 % de Lithium réellement dedans.


et en effet en cherchant un peu :

Thai government clarifies on lithium discovery after experts debunk claims

BANGKOK - The 14.8 million tonnes of mineral resources discovered recently in Phang Nga province may not be entirely lithium, a rare mineral which is a key component for making batteries for electric vehicles (EV), a government official clarified on Jan 20.

“The 14.8 million tonnes discovered are the total amount of mineral resources and not lithium resources,” deputy government spokeswoman Radklao Inthawong Suwankiri said. “Mineral resources could contain several kinds of minerals, including lithium.”

Earlier on Jan 18, Ms Radklao quoted an Industry Ministry report which confirmed the capacities of the Ruangkiat and Bang Etu sites in Phang Nga province, south of Thailand.

The report said the sites contained lepidolite, which has an average lithium oxide of 0.45 per cent. With proper mining and refining operations, the sites could produce raw material to make lithium-ion batteries for at least one million units of 50 kWh electric vehicles.

Ms Radklao said on Jan 18 that the finding of high lithium content in Phang Nga makes Thailand the country with the third-largest lithium resources after Bolivia and Argentina.

However, on Jan 20 she quoted the Department of Primary Industries and Mines as saying that the earlier report was a misunderstanding, as the discovery confirmed availability of mineral resources and not purely lithium resources.


This also invalidates the claim that Thailand has the third-largest lithium resources in the world.

“The discovery of 14.8 million tonnes of mineral resources is still a good news for all Thais, regardless of the amount of lithium found,” said Ms Radklao.

“All key mineral resources found in Thailand, be they lithium, sodium or potash, can contribute to the country’s economic stability and reduce reliance on import.”

She added that the government is committed to promoting the EV industry in Thailand under its EV3.5 campaign, which also includes promoting Thailand to be a hub of EV battery manufacturing in the region.

The government’s clarification on Jan 20 came after several parties criticised the report of lithium discovery in Phang Nga as inaccurate.

Chulalongkorn University science lecturer Jessada Denduangboripant posted on his Facebook page on Jan 19 that the average amount of lithium that could be extracted from 14.8 million tonnes of mineral resources is only about 66,600 tonnes.

It is estimated that there are about 93 million tonnes of lithium resources in the world, most of which are in South America.

The top 10 countries with confirmed lithium resources are Bolivia (21 million tonnes), Argentina (20 million), Chile (11 million), Australia (7.9 million), China (6.8 million), Germany (3.2 million), Congo (3 million), Canada (2.9 million), Mexico (1.7 million), and Czech Republic (1.3 million).

“With 66,600 tonnes of lithium, Thailand will be ranked in 22nd place, between Finland (68,000) and Austria (60,000),” he said.
THE NATION / ASIA NEWS NETWORK

https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-as ... unk-claims

[energy_isere]

Ca doit correspondre à ceci

Pan Asia Intersects Thick Pegmatites At Reung Kiet Lithium Prospect

byColin Sandell-Hay, Contributor - The Assay 2 years ago

Specialty metals explorer and developer Pan Asia Metals Limited (ASX: PAM) has obtained positive results form six more drill holes completed at the Reung Kiet lithium prospect in southwest Thailand.

Pan Asia Metals Managing Director, Paul Lock, said these new holes and the results from previously reported holes continue to support the geological model of extensive lithium mineralisation hosted in lepidolite rich pegmatite dykes and veins currently defined over a strike length of 1km, which remains open.

“Drilling continues to meet expectations and in hole RKDD031 has exceeded expectations as a second unexpected pegmatite of considerable width was intersected at depth,” Mr Lock said.

“We are rapidly progressing to a Mineral Resource and we are targeting the delivery of a Scoping Study in the first quarter of calendar year 2022.

“Our aim at the Reung Kiet Lithium Project is to deliver a Mineral Resource which is sufficient to operate a 10,000 tonne per annum lithium hydroxide or lithium carbonate plant for 10 plus years, initially.

“Peer feasibility studies suggest that lepidolite is the lowest cost source of lithium and potentially has one of the lowest carbon footprints, until recently this is why we have been solely focusing on lepidolite style projects, but our Kata Thong Geothermal Li and Hard Rock Li/Sn Project has the potential to deliver equally compelling cost and emissions outcomes.

“Being located in South East Asia provides the added advantage of our proximity to all required process inputs and a myriad of established and emerging lithium chemical consumers.”

The Reung Kiet Lithium Project (RKLP) is one of two key lithium assets held by PAM, the other being the Kata Thong Geothermal Li and Hard Rock Li/Sn Project.

RKLP is a hard rock lithium project with lithium hosted in lepidolite/mica rich pegmatites chiefly composed of quartz, albite, lepidolite and muscovite, with minor cassiterite and tantalite as well as other accessory minerals including some rare earths.

Previous open pit mining extracting tin from the weathered pegmatites was conducted into the early 1970’s. PAM’s objective is to continue drilling with the aim of reporting a Mineral Resource in accordance with the JORC Code 2012.

The Mineral Resource will be used as part of a Scoping Study that plans to consider initial production of up to 10,000tpa of LCE and associated by-products. PAM is focusing on lepidolite as a source of lithium as peer group studies indicate that lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide projects using lepidolite as their plant feedstock have the potential to be placed at the bottom of the cost curve have also been demonstrated to have a lower carbon emission intensity than other lithium sources.



Reung Kiet Prospect (RK)

The RK Prospect was a relatively large open cut tin mine. The old pit is about 500m long and up to 125m wide.

Mining of the weathered pegmatites extended up to 25m below surface, to the top of hard rock. Pan Asia has identified a prospective zone at least 1km long in association with extensive surface indications of lithium in trenching, rock-chips and soil anomalies, which are now supported by drilling results along the whole of the trend.

Lithium mineralisation remains open to the north and south and at depth on many sections.

Reung Kiet Prospect – Drilling

Pan Asia Metals has now completed 31 diamond core drill holes at RK for a total of 4,344m. Drilling is ongoing with holes RKDD026-031 now completed and being reported in this announcement.

The holes are currently being logged and sampled. Assay results should be available in October.

https://www.theassay.com/news/pan-asia- ... rospect-2/

et d'avril 2023 :

Pan Asia eyes Thailand lithium resource upgrade

Helen Barling 3 April 2023 7


Geologist for Pan Asia Metals logging diamond core from its Reung Kiet lithium deposit.

Pan Asia Metals has its sights set on a lithium resource upgrade at its Reung Kiet lithium project in Thailand after a new drilling campaign uncovered encouraging hits of up to 1.27 per cent lithium oxide.

The company is now eyeing an upgrade to its current mineral resource estimate of 10.4 million tonnes at 0.44 per cent lithium oxide for roughly 113,000t of lithium carbonate equivalent.

Headline intercepts from a further four holes in the latest program include 20.95m running at 0.59 per cent lithium oxide from 102.4m including 3.15m at a solid 1.27 per cent lithium oxide from 118.5m. Notably, a further 21.5m coming in at 0.55 per cent lithium oxide from 172m downhole has extended the mineralised envelope down dip, with no end in sight.

The company’s latest foray with the rig at Reung Kiet has seen 56 holes for nearly 11,000m perforate the prospective pegmatite swarm that has been etched out over a length of 1km.

Drilling has targeted both strike and down-dip extensions to the known mineralised envelope, along with infilling previous intercepts as the company eyes the upgrade to its existing resource.

Pan Asia’s maiden resource estimate at the project was based on the first 46 holes. Results from the latest campaign is set to underpin the upcoming resource update, which will be used as part of a pre-feasibility study to determine the technical and economic viability of the project.

Reung Kiet was previously mined for tin with operations winding back to the early 1970s. The open-cut mine was centred on a swam of lepidolite-cassiterite-tantalite-rich pegmatite dykes located at the northern extents of the deposit.

Management says the lithium derived from lepidolite has the potential to be one of the highest purity sources of battery-grade lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide. It believes recent ore sorting and metallurgical test work will lead to a reduction in both capital and operating expenditure when processing ore sourced from Reung Kiet.

Ore-sorting results show about a 73 per cent lithium recovery into 39 per cent sample yield at an average grade of 0.92 per cent, with 61 per cent of the feed being discarded as waste siltstone below the current resource cut-off grade of 0.25 per cent lithium oxide. The processing work almost doubles from 0.50 per cent lithium oxide in the feed to 0.92 per in the retained pegmatite.

Encouragingly, early metallurgical testwork has delivered concentrate grades of about 3 per cent lithium oxide with lithium recoveries up to 78 per cent.

Pan Asia has now turned its attention to its Bang I Tum propsect, just 8km up the track from Reung Kiet. The company has wheeled in two drill rigs where up to 15,000m of drilling will test a JORC-compliant exploration target of 8 to 14 million tonnes at a grade ranging between 0.5 per cent to 0.8 per cent lithium oxide.

Last year, the company received encouraging results from rock chip samples at Bang I Tum, with 34 of the company’s 64 samples recording lithium oxide levels above 1 per cent and one of them recording an impressive 2.62 per cent.

Mapping and sampling at the prospect late last year identified a new exploration zone with the potential to more than double the current target area at the site. The company says the new prospective zone is adjacent to and roughly twice the size of the current exploration target.

Interestingly, Pan Asia recently reported the drill bit had already latched onto a lepidolite-bearing pegmatite within the new exploration zone.

Automotive giant Mercedes has confirmed it will produce its new flagship EQS electric vehicle in Thailand, after being attracted by generous subsidies introduced by the Thai government in its push to make the country a regional production hub for EVs and their components. As the region’s only serious lithium explorer, it means Pan Asia finds itself in an enviable position of developing two significant lithium deposits in a country angling to lead the South-East Asian EV charge.

https://thewest.com.au/business/bulls-n ... c-10238751

[energy_isere]

Bolivia step closer to full lithium potential as $1bn Chinese deal closes
Competition with Latin American neighbours is set to heat up.

David Sawers January 18, 2024

Bolivia finalised a major deal this week with China’s largest battery producer CATL and largest cobalt miner CMOC in a move that could finally see the South American country untap the full potential of its huge lithium resources.

State-owned producer Yacimientos de Litio Bolivianos (YLB) said the group would invest around $1bn (919.97bn pesos) to build production plants that would use direct lithium extraction (DLE) in the Salar De Uyuni and Salar de Coipasa salt flats.

The consortium, which also includes CATL’s recycling subsidiary, Brunp, will produce 25,000 tonnes (t) of battery-grade lithium carbonate by 2024 and 100,000t by 2028, using DLE rather than large evaporation ponds.

The plant will have initial production capacity of 2,500 tonnes per annum (tpa) and in addition to DLE the facility will test brine treatment processes. This forms part of a plan to develop another industrial plant with 25,000tpa of capacity and an investment of $90m in Colcha municipality, YLB president Karla Calderón said.

In 2021 CATL made a bid for Argentina’s Millennial Lithium but lost out to Canadian lithium producer Lithium Americas. Since then, the company has invested in production of lithium within China and retained its place as the second-largest shareholder in CMOC.

This week’s deal completion is a shot in the arm for Bolivian President Luis Arce, who was elected in 2020 and has pledged to back new technologies to capitalise on the country’s vast reserves.

Bolivia’s lithium reserves are among the most abundant in the world and the nation has an estimated 21 million tonnes of resources, according to the US Geological Survey.

However, it has struggled to fully capitalise on that potential, falling behind South American neighbours Chile and Argentina, which together account for close to 40% of the world’s lithium production.

“The lithium era is an era that we have to take advantage of,” President Arce said in a speech during the official signing ceremony this week.

“Unfortunately, in the past, we did not achieve the necessary speed in this area, but the national government has made the clear decision that this issue of lithium industrialisation is a central element in politics.”

https://www.mining-technology.com/secto ... &cf-closed

[energy_isere]

BYD in talks with Brazil’s Sigma Lithium on supply deal

Reuters | January 14, 2024

Chinese electric car-maker BYD has held talks with Brazil’s Sigma Lithium over a possible supply agreement, joint venture or acquisition, the Financial Times reported on Sunday.


BYD met Sigma chief executive Ana Cabral Gardner in Sao Paulo last month, BYD’s Brazilian chair, Alexandre Baldy, told the newspaper, but did not give details, citing a confidentiality agreement.

BYD and Sigma did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment.

Sigma said in January it had initiated a primary listing of Sigma Brazil on Nasdaq and the Singapore stock exchange.

BYD, backed by Warren Buffet’s Berkshire Hathaway, said in July it would invest 3 billion reais ($600 million) in a new industrial complex in northeastern Brazil, with operations expected to start in mid-2024.

($1 = 4.8539 reais)

https://www.mining.com/web/byd-in-talks ... pply-deal/

[energy_isere]

Lithium en Thaïlande: le gouvernement revoit à la baisse sa découverte

BOURSORAMA AVEC AFP•22/01/2024

https://www.boursorama.com/actualite-ec ... f07198aa36

ben oui, , il ne m'avais fallu que quelques dizaines de minutes hier pour voir l'absurdité de l' annonce.