Wednesday 28 May 2014

TNR Gold Los Azules M&A: Copper Rises to 11-Week High on Optimism From U.S, China.

  

  Finally Dr Copper is waking up to the positive news from China that the end of the world will be postponed again.


"China continues its buying spree of copper assets all over the Globe: last month the huge Las Bambas copper project in Peru was bought by Minmetals Group for $5.85 B and now Guandong is bidding for PanAust. Reuters reports on the deal and you can notice how the activity in M&A by Chinese companies is picking up during the "soft market". It is the very important indication of the major bottom in the mining cycle: it is cheaper "to dig" for Copper and Gold on the Stock Exchanges now, when valuations of assets in the ground of listed companies are discounted by the depressed mining markets.  Read more."

  Bloomberg reports:

 "Copper climbed to 11-week high in London amid speculation that rising global equity markets indicate a favorable outlook for economic growth. Aluminum touched a one-month high.
The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index (SPX) of shares traded little changed today, after reaching a record high yesterday. U.S. orders for durable goods in April unexpectedly gained for a third straight month, while Chinese industrial profits rose. The nations are the world’s top copper consumers.
“Traders are optimistic about growth prospects,” Naeem Aslam, chief market analyst at Ava Capital Markets Ltd. in Dublin, said by e-mail. “The recent rise in copper prices is clearly a spillover effect of the equity markets. Bloomberg.”
  Chinese MMG is excited about the purchase of Las Bambas: "Las Bambas a unique opportunity"

"MMG business development manager Michael Nossal says the Chinese-owned miner was lucky to seal the $US5.85 billion ($A6.32 billion) purchase of the Las Bambas mine in Peru. MiningNews.net"

  Chinese Hunt for Copper is ongoing and recent news from Argentina is already re-pricing the valuations of copper projects.

Hot Winter In Argentina: Copper M&A, TNR Gold Los Azules - Lumina Copper Hits 52 Weeks High




  "The winter is coming, but investors' hearts are warming up to the best Argentina's mining stories. I will not jump here to any conclusions: whether this action is ignited byBarrick Gold's Pascua Lama developments or particular news coming with Lumina Copper. Taca Taca copper project is for sale and somebody is buying shares now. Let's wait for the official news from the company.
  In any case this development is very encouraging for all of us involved in mining in Argentina and proud hard working people living there deserve much better economic progress. Maybe we are witnessing the beginning of such change. Political risk perception yesterday can be translated in the value catalyst tomorrow. It will be very positive for our International Lithium Mariana Lithium Brine project development with Ganfeng Lithium now as well.
  Is my Tenke Fungurume experience in DRC with Lukas Lundin coming here back for Los Azules in Argentina? We will see very soon, hopefully. He has taught me that governments come and go, that political situation and its perception can change on a dime for better or worse, but you cannot "print", QE or find new world class copper projects overnight. We have seen the bad all together already, I am very encouraged that the mining cycle is turning now. Read More."



 "Any excitement and emotions are nothing in the ruthless investment world before investors will start to vote with their money. In any case this development will put Argentina copper projects back onto the industry and investors radar screens.
  Please, do not translate this particular story into any other companies' prospects - all projects are different. If you are interested in Los Azules Copper give us a call and study TNR Gold website -  I am here to talk to you."
"The sale of our Back-in Right will provide the necessary liquidity and catalyst to all of our group of companies. Rob McEwen has done a great job as Operator developing this project and now Los Azules is at the top of the list of the best copper projects in the world available for sale, according to PI FinancialI would recommend to contact Jim Mustard VP at PI Financial to get more information about Los Azules Copper project and our Back-In Right Asset."








  
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International Lithium Celebrates Its IPO Anniversary With Major Deals With Ganfeng Lithium.

  

  Three years from the day of International Lithium IPO have passed away very fast, but we have made a lot of very hard work behind the scenes of our public releases to advance our assets. This month we are celebrating our IPO Anniversary by advancing major deals with our strategic partner from China Ganfeng Lithium. 
  Lumina copper is in the news these days - this project is located in Salta province in Argentina, our Mariana Lithium Potash Brine project is located in the same province. With good news coming out of Argentina for all mining companies I am looking forward to advance our projects and place our company at the appropriate level in the market place properly reflecting our fundamentals. I would like to share with you my vision on our recent developments in our latest Podcast.



Hot Winter In Argentina: Copper M&A, TNR Gold Los Azules - Lumina Copper Hits 52 Weeks High



The winter is coming, but investors' hearts are warming up to the best Argentina's mining stories. I will not jump here to any conclusions: whether this action is ignited by Barrick Gold's Pascua Lama developments or particular news coming with Lumina Copper. Taca Taca copper project is for sale and somebody is buying shares now. Let's wait for the official news from the company. 
  In any case this development is very encouraging for all of us involved in mining in Argentina and proud hard working people living there deserve much better economic progress. Maybe we are witnessing the beginning of such change. Political risk perception yesterday can be translated in the value catalyst tomorrow. It will be very positive for our International Lithium Mariana Lithium Brine project development with Ganfeng Lithium now as well.
  Is my Tenke Fungurume experience in DRC with Lukas Lundin coming here back for Los Azules in Argentina? We will see very soon, hopefully. He has taught me that governments come and go, that political situation and its perception can change on a dime for better or worse, but you cannot "print", QE or find new world class copper projects overnight. We have seen the bad all together already, I am very encouraged that the mining cycle is turning now. Read more."

International Lithium: Presentation Of Our Strategic Partner - Ganfeng Lithium.






 I would like to share with you today the presentation about our strategic partner from China - Ganfeng Lithium. This partnership is the very important step for International Lithium and solidifies our business relationships. This company is one of the top Lithium Materials producers in the world. We have the new page on our website devoted to our strategic partner and you can follow the link for more information.
   Ganfeng Lithium has developed technology to process the raw materials that we aim to produce and has an expanding customer base world-wide for their finished products. This Vertically Integrated Business structure gives International Lithium security in the market and expertise for materials processing side of future feasibility studies. It also gives International Lithium confidence in moving the projects forward as our partner is actively pursuing vertical integration within their business model. 


                            


  Together with Ganfeng Lithium we are building Vertically Integrated Lithium Business. It is becoming increasingly important for the lithium product manufacturers to control the quality of feed material in their operations. We expect that our relationship with Ganfeng Lithium will only grow from here on. The recent announcements are testament of the commitment to drive the next stage of growth with Ganfeng Lithium. 


  International Lithium has successfully secured the Capital to advance our joint venture projects and continue the exploration on the Blackstairs project in Ireland and Mariana project in Argentina.
   Two key agreements have been reached with Ganfeng Lithium:

   GFL has pledged to invest US $10M in the Blackstairs project in order to acquire an additional 24% in the property. (for details see the April 04 2014 news release).
   The companies entered into a loan conversion and investment agreement on the Mariana Lithium brine project (for details see the April 04 2014 news release) which will establish J/V operations with 80% / 20% between Ganfeng Lithium and International Lithium respectively.

   International Lithium will receive 2 M exploration loan from GF which can be repaid from royalties or other proceeds from Mariana project which will be attributed to International Lithium. Effectively we will keep 80% / 20% J/V structure for the next round of $10 M project development, which should bring us to the resource definition stage and early stages of PEA studies. 

   International Lithium also has an additional 10% Back-In right in Mariana project at the FS stage.



  Ganfeng Lithium recently commissioned a new facility in China adding 500mt/y Li metal to its current 1000mt/y Li production capacity. The company exports and produces over 20 specialized lithium products for various applications worldwide. This includes Li metal batteries for which GFL has developed a breakthrough technology that shortens the industry standard production process. With working capital now available, we can concentrate our efforts on completing the resource definition and economic assessment on our projects.



  We live in the exciting times during Electric Cars rEvolution. Tesla’s plans to build Lithium battery Gigafactory have ignited interest to all our industry. They have received further confirmation now with the announcement that  Panasonic has signed the letter of intent to participate in the project. Elon Musk has announced that Gigafactory Site Will Break Ground next month.
  Due to the unique specific chemical qualities Lithium based chemistry for the batteries has become the automakers’ industry standard for their Electric Cars. Decades of research and billions of dollars invested in Lithium Technology have made it possible now. Tesla will invest 5 B in the Gigafactory and there are recent reports projecting the Lithium Battery growth into 26 B industry within next decade.
  Goldman Sachs estimates that Gigafactory will potentially consume 17% of the current Lithium supply. Add to it Nissan and its partner Renault, BMW, Mercedes, WV Group, GM, BYD, KANDI and other names from China, which we are going to hear more and more - you will get a picture of dramatic increase in Demand for High Purity Battery grade Lithium.
 In International Lithium case, we have the existing demand for our potential future production of Lithium already. Ganfeng Lithium ships now Lithium raw materials from places as far as Australia and Chile to China. For us the general growth in the Electric Cars and Mobile Devices is more important: we do not have to find buyers for our potential products in the future - we have existing demand from our strategic partner in place already. We can concentrate on our Lithium projects development, resource definition and confirmation of their economic potential.


  I find it particularly encouraging that this year all major automakers have announced J/V plans to produce Electric Cars in China. Chinese government has declared war on pollution and we are proud to be part of such a noble case: to keep the air clean to breath, but allow personal mobility in most densely populated urban centres in the world. We are talking here about mass market for Electric Cars. Now we have the Lithium battery technology to make it happen. International Lithium works on the security of Lithium supply for this Electric Revolution.
  Talking about Lithium demand, I have to mention the rapid growth in Alternative Energy. Solar and Wind Power will provide further increase in demand for the Secondary Storage, Lithium Battery technology advancing in this field very fast these days. Autonomous Robotics systems will be another very important customer in the future for the Lithium Industry.



 Our partnership with Ganfeng Lithium places our company at the forefront of this technological rEvolution. How International Lithium shareholders will benefit from this partnership? These transactions have allowed us to cancel approximately US $3.3M in loans plus interest indebted to GFL, and most importantly allowed us to maintain shareholder value by advancing our projects without the need for dilutive equity financing at depressed share prices.  The terms are finalised at 49% ILC/ 51% GFL on Blackstairs project in and 20% ILC / 80% GFL on Mariana project in Argentina for International Lithium and Ganfeng Lithium respectively:
"These projects' structures allow ILC to move forward developing Blackstairs and Mariana projects without diluting our shareholders at the very depressed price levels today.  We are losing part of the project in the J/V format in exchange for the capital investment, but this is the main proper way to finance Junior Mining operations. You are getting the smaller piece of the project, which has received extensive due diligence from much stronger partner and capital for its development. In case of ILC the technology involved from Ganfeng Lithium is even more crucial than the capital."

International Lithium visiting Ganfeng Lithium R&D facilities.

  In addition to securing the Capital to advance the exploration on the properties we have also aligned International Lithium with a company that has the capabilities and technologies to extract and process Lithium into a final user-friendly product - High Purity Battery Grade Lithium which is currently in high demand. In the long run It will potentially save us significant additional processing costs and external consulting fees. 
  What is next for International Lithium? International Lithium and Ganfeng Lithium are now in the budget approval process for the Blackstairs exploration program.  Furthermore, we are finalising our Joint Venture Agreement on the Mariana property after which we will begin the planning process for a follow-up exploration program later in the season. Now we are also working on the strategic structure to advance our Mavis Lake Lithium Tantalum project in Canada.
  Stay tuned or give us a call to chat about ILC and our projects.





Tuesday 27 May 2014

Hot Winter In Argentina: Copper M&A, TNR Gold Los Azules - Lumina Copper Hits 52 Weeks High



Update:

Lumina Copper Comments on Recent Share Price Movement and Provides Update on Strategic Review Process


MarketWatch:


Argentina Mining M&A Poised for Revival


"May 27, 2014 (ACCESSWIRE via COMTEX) -- Lumina Copper Takes Center Stage
Vancouver, BC / May 27, 2014 / Resource Reports: Two years ago Lithium One struck a $112 million deal with Australia's Galaxy Resources (GXY-ASX) on its Sal de Vida lithium-potash project in Northern Argentina. The merger was a boon for shareholders at the time and held out the hope for future M&A activity in Argentina.
Argentina's Planning Minister, Julio de Vido announced last week that the mining sector is expected to attract $3.85 billion dollars in 2014. In the last ten years the sector has brought in over $11 billion dollars, generating 3.2% of Argentina's GDP.
Since May 23, 2014 Lumina Copper (LCC-TSX.V) has taken center stage in the Argentina mining space, rallying 26% to $7.58 per share, despite there being no significant movement in the spot price of copper or any material news announced by Lumina.
Could this mean that it's 'Game On' in Argentina? MarketWatch"


  It looks like we can have finally Hot Copper M&A winter in Argentina! Lumina Copper hit 52 week high at CAD7.47 yesterday rising from the recent Low by the end of March at CAD4.60. Please do not get too exited and rush with any decisions here. Yesterday's breakout was on a low volume, but volume was rising in the last few weeks. 
  It is important to remind you that you should carefully study my legal disclaimer and in NO way treat any information provided here as an investment advice or any facilitation for any action. Always do your own Due Diligence and consult with your personal financial adviser. Manipulations are rampant in the junior mining. I am not only following all BCSC and TSX Exchange Communication Policy Rules and Guidance, but strongly against any fraud and manipulation in the markets personally and you can support me by reading and sharing my posts. I put my money where my mouth is - I live, breath and go to sleep with my companies business in mind - and I can be deadly wrong:

I Vote To End Gold Manipulation: FSA Fines Barclays For Manipulation Of Gold Price - Join Me.


"My personal vote is nothing, but if I am not alone it will be finished one day. Please donate your tweet for the good cause and share this post if you want to change it as well. Read more."

Market Manipulations, NI 43-101 And How The Honest Person Can Survive In Junior Mining.


"Now you can understand why we can't talk about a lot of technical details in such a great project like Los Azules Copper. McEwen Mining is the Operator of this project and we have our Back-In right, but our technical 43-101 qualified person was not able to check all the relevant information first hand. We rely on all information provided by McEwen Mining within 43-101 Rules. These are the tricks we have to be in compliance with. And there is no problem with it. Rob McEwen has done a great job developing the project into what he calls "One Of The Largest Copper Deposits In The World" and today you can participate in McEwen Mining Conference Call and find a lot of information on McEwen Mining website.  I have already discussed Los Azules Copper Back-In Right here and I would recommend to contact Jim Mustard VP at PI Financial to get more information about Los Azules Copper project and our Back-In Right Asset. Read more."

  The winter is coming, but investors' hearts are warming up to the best Argentina's mining stories. I will not jump here to any conclusions: whether this action is ignited by Barrick Gold's Pascua Lama developments or particular news coming with Lumina Copper. Taca Taca copper project is for sale and somebody is buying shares now. Let's wait for the official news from the company. 
  In any case this development is very encouraging for all of us involved in mining in Argentina and proud hard working people living there deserve much better economic progress. Maybe we are witnessing the beginning of such change. Political risk perception yesterday can be translated in the value catalyst tomorrow. It will be very positive for our International Lithium Mariana Lithium Brine project development with Ganfeng Lithium now as well.
  Is my Tenke Fungurume experience in DRC with Lukas Lundin coming here back for Los Azules in Argentina? We will see very soon, hopefully. He has taught me that governments come and go, that political situation and its perception can change on a dime for better or worse, but you cannot "print", QE or find new world class copper projects overnight. We have seen the bad all together already, I am very encouraged that the mining cycle is turning now.



China Is In The Hunt For Copper: Guangdong Rising Bids $1 bln For Copper Miner PanAust

  "Now we can together appreciate a little bit more M&A market observations I have shared with you couple of days ago:
  China continues its buying spree of copper assets all over the Globe: last month the huge Las Bambas copper project in Peru was bought by Minmetals Group for $5.85 B and now Guandong is bidding for PanAust. Reuters reports on the deal and you can notice how the activity in M&A by Chinese companies is picking up during the "soft market". It is the very important indication of the major bottom in the mining cycle: it is cheaper "to dig" for Copper and Gold on the Stock Exchanges now, when valuations of assets in the ground of listed companies are discounted by the depressed mining markets.  Read more."

  Any excitement and emotions are nothing in the ruthless investment world before investors will start to vote with their money. In any case this development will put Argentina copper projects back onto the industry and investors radar screens.
  Please, do not translate this particular story into any other companies' prospects - all projects are different. If you are interested in Los Azules Copper give us a call and study TNR Gold website -  I am here to talk to you.

TNR Gold: Los Azules Copper Project In Argentina - Barrick Gold Seeks To Restart Pascua Lama.

  "As you remember, Los Azules Copper project is located in San Juan province in Argentina. Barrick Gold's Huge Pascua Lama project is located in the same province on the boarder of Argentina and Chile. This ongoing development will be very positive for Argentina mining and Los Azules Copper project, providing the potential catalyst to TNR Gold.

"Copper M&A, Mining In Argentina And TNR Gold's Los Azules Copper Back-In Right. 
Particularly important for Los Azules Copper Project are the efforts by the government of Argentina "to overturn Barrick Gold's Pascua Lama freeze in Chile." Both projects are located in the same San Juan province in Argentina which is considered to be one of the most mining friendly in the country.  You can find more about our Los Azules Back-In Right in the presentation below and you can always contact us to discuss it."
"The sale of our Back-in Right will provide the necessary liquidity and catalyst to all of our group of companies. Rob McEwen has done a great job as Operator developing this project and now Los Azules is at the top of the list of the best copper projects in the world available for sale, according to PI FinancialI would recommend to contact Jim Mustard VP at PI Financial to get more information about Los Azules Copper project and our Back-In Right Asset."







  
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Monday 26 May 2014

Lithium Catalyst: Hydrogen Dreams And Write-down Of Two-thirds Of US Shale Oil Explodes Fracking Myth.

  

  If you have noticed, last few weeks Hydrogen powered cars were seriously pumped by some media outlets and auto-makers. Elon Musk was stealing media attention by making the headlines with his Tesla Motors Gigafactory and UK "occupation" by Tesla Model S, but now we have another very important reason for Hydrogen story revival.

"We have discussed with you my personal vision of the Market for Electric Cars and Lithium Industry developments yesterday. I might be very "responsibly conservative" for the prospects of our Lithium Battery Industry after all!  Today you get the bold vision from our Electric rEvolution leader-in-chief Elon Musk. AutoBlogGreen reports: "Tesla CEO Elon Musk Expects "Hundreds" Of Battery Gigafactories. Read more.
  I am sceptical about Hydrogen and picture below shows the Hydrogen economics - Battery Electric Cars are much more efficient. Add here the billions of dollars needed to be invested for the infrastructure to be in place and you will get the picture who is sponsoring the effort.



  You just need to check who is behind Hydrogen infrastructure: it is the same faces - Big Oil. Who else will be able to create the necessary Hydrogen production, storage and distribution? Idea is to change one Needle with Oil to another Addiction. 



  I personally have nothing against Hydrogen, when economics will be right. For those who are afraid of the Lithium Battery fires I can only say that driving highly pressurised Hydrogen in the tank will be quite another experience. 
  Actually, in my discussions with Mercedes who is moving forward E-Cell concepts they have explained to me that their Hydrogen powered cars will have Lithium Battery on-board. Hydrogen Cell only produces Energy, it cannot store it and Regenerative Breaking is the very important source of Energy which could be only stored in the battery on-board. Another very important consideration is the so called specific power: the ability of Lithium Battery to provide very high rate of discharge which allows famous Electric Car instant torque. Hydrogen Fuel Cells are lacking such important energy dynamics. Hydrogen Fuel Cells basically will provide the Range Extension to the Battery Powered Cars.

"Mercedes-Benz reports on 3.3 M km of B-Class Fuel cell testing, looks ahead to next generation.
  Based on an optimized, more compact fuel cell system presented by Mercedes-Benz in its F 600 HYGENIUS research vehicle in 2005, the 80 kW stack module in the B-Class F-CELL is around 40% smaller, but develops 30% more power output and cuts fuel consumption by 16% compared to the A-Class stack. Stack lifetime has increased to more than 2,000 hours.  The electric motor has a continuous / peak performance of 70 kW / 100 kW (94 hp / 136 hp) and a maximum torque of 290 Nm (214 lb-ft). Range (NEDC) is 385 km (239 miles) and refueling time is about three minutes. The fuel-cell car uses a lithium-ion battery pack with an output of 35 kW and a capacity of 1.4 kWh to boost power and recover braking energy. Green Car Congress".

  Now we can look at all these events in another light. Dr Nafeez Ahmed reports in The Guardian: "Write-down of two-thirds of US shale oil explodes fracking myth":

"Industry's over-inflated reserve estimates are unravelling, and with it the 'American dream' of oil independence
Next month, the US Energy Information Administration (EIA) will publish a new estimate of US shale deposits set to deal a death-blow to industry hype about a new golden era of US energy independence by fracking unconventional oil and gas.
EIA officials told the Los Angeles Times that previous estimates of recoverable oil in the Monterey shale reserves in California of about 15.4 billion barrels were vastly overstated. The revised estimate, they said, will slash this amount by 96% to a puny 600 million barrels of oil. The Guardian."

  I think that we all can appreciate much better the report by David Hughes at Post Carbon Institute "Drill, Baby, Drill" Can we talk now that fracking potentially has just only postponed The Peak Oil? Chris Nelder gave a very good interview on this subject in depth last year: "Peak Oil Isn't Dead".
     Have you checked you fuel Gas or Petrol receipts lately? If we have so much Oil from fracking why the prices are still so high? Even with the Global Economy still recovering at very tepid pace? What will happen when FED's QE will produce its miracle - "The Solid Growth"?


 "I find it particularly encouraging that this year all major automakers have announced J/V plans to produce Electric Cars in China. Chinese government has declared war on pollution and we are proud to be part of such a noble case: to keep the air clean to breath, but allow personal mobility in most densely populated urban centres in the world. We are talking here about mass market for Electric Cars. Now we have the Lithium battery technology to make it happen. International Lithium works on the security of Lithium supply for this Electric Revolution.
  Talking about Lithium demand, I have to mention the rapid growth in Alternative Energy. Solar and Wind Power will provide further increase in demand for the Secondary Storage, Lithium Battery technology advancing in this field very fast these days. Autonomous Robotics systems will be another very important customer in the future for the Lithium Industry. Read more."


 Now, maybe, we can have the better understanding why Elon Musk is so confident in his plans for Electric Cars and at International Lithium we are doing our part to change the world into a better place, where the exhaust pipe could be found only on the old pictures one day.