Tuesday 30 June 2015

Lithium Megafactories Supply Chain: Western Lithium And Lithium Americas Announce Merger.

     



  Headlines are full of news from China about new EV production facilities being built and lithium batteries megafactories are in the making all over the world. We are entering the mass market stage for electric cars with Tesla Model 3, GM Bolt and Nissan Leaf with increased range coming out. All these great news are coming when lithium supply is already under strain, SQM is in the deck of political game in Chile and junior miners are cut off the access to the capital. Western Lithium and Lithium Americas merger signifies the bottom for our sector, in my personal opinion. Weak companies will be gone unfortunately. Strong ones will break the old oligopoly. Now Western Lithium will have lithium brine project and combined company will have better chances to get enough capital to move projects further. It is the great news for all our sector, place is consolidating and better stories will earn investors' interest. Now you can appreciate one more time the importance of International Lithium strategic partnership with Ganfeng Lithium, who is financing the development of our J/V projects in Ireland and Argentina.


Peter Epstein: Interview Of “Mr. Lithium,” Joe Lowry Of Global Lithium LLC.




  Peter Epstein presents to us the very interesting view from the independent insider into the very closed and tightly held lithium market. Tesla is making headlines and situation with SQM provides another evidence of the importance of secure lithium supply for the major players. Joe Lowry is raising alarm about the coming shortage in the lithium supply even before Tesla's Gigafactory will be coming on-line and I have been talking about it before, you can continue your research on the links below. Now we have another catalyst for the lithium industry in the making. Access to the capital is the most important for the junior miners working on building lithium supply chain. Ganfeng Lithium - one of the new top lithium producers from China is financing the development of J/V projects with International Lithium in Ireland and Argentina.


Chile, Lithium And SQM: What To Expect From The Chilean Lithium Industry?




  What is really happening with SQM and lithium production in Chile now? Is it really the perfect storm and the very tight battery grade lithium supply will be under further strain from political battle around Atacama? Daniella Desormeux from signumBOX will be one of the best sources to explore the ongoing situation.


Security Of Lithium Supply: SQM Stock Still Down On News Chile Wants To Revoke Mining Leases.



  Here comes the perfect storm for the lithium supply chain. Politics, bribes and fight around the "hot assets" in Atacama are not the best ingredients for the hungry Chinese companies ramping up battery grade lithium supply for the coming Megafactories all over the world. Meanwhile Tesla Gigafactory is still relying on Panasonic to sort out all lithium supply issues. Price of battery grade lithium was going up even before these political games around SQM and now rain storms will add to the strains on production in Atacama. Now you can better appreciate why Chinese giant Ganfeng Lithium is financing and developing with International Lithium our J/V projects - security of Lithium supply is taking the central stage for the ongoing electric rEVolution.


Elon Musk's Gigafactory Battery Plan Spurs Lithium Producers To Weigh New Plants.

 


  News about the potential shortage in battery grade lithium supply is travelling fast and now hitting the mainstream media.


Tesla Gigafactories: Is There Enough Lithium to Maintain the Growth of the Lithium-Ion Battery Market?



Joe Lowry: Lithium Capacity Additions Will Be Short Of Demand.


"Joe Lowry is sounding the rising alert for all industry insiders about the coming shortage of lithium. Tesla is waiting for Panasonic to solve all the supply problems, but the growing demand is already pushing prices higher even before Gigafactory comes on-line! The ignition of mass market for electric cars and energy storage will come with lower lithium battery cost. Gigafactory promise us to bring the magic $100 per kWh. Supply of lithium will become crucial and its security will be even more important than its price.
  Our partner Ganfeng Lithium controls with other Chinese companies 75% capacity of battery grade lithium hydroxide now. We are moving into the new landscape for critical materials which are powering the green revolution. Stay tuned for the update from our lithium exploration programs on J/V projects in Ireland and Argentina."


Joe Lowry: What The Beginning Of Lithium Shortage Looks Like.  


  "Joe Lowry from @globallithium presents another evidence of growing constrains in the lithium supply chain. He knows International Lithium strategic partner Ganfeng Lithium very well and has covered its incredible growth in his previous articles, which you can find on this blog as well. Read more."

International Lithium Corp. Updates on Drilling Programs in Argentina and Ireland.

  
  We have great news today from our both J/V projects with Ganfeng Lithium! You already know about my personal vision for the lithium industry and our strategic partnership between International Lithium and Ganfeng Lithium from China. Now we have results coming in from our exploration and development programs.




Joe Lowry: The Opaque World of Lithium.

  


  Joe Lowry provides us with another great insight into the secretive world of lithium producers,  suppliers and buyers. Former lithium oligopoly is under the threat  and this landscape is changing forever now. Joe Lowry is the source to follow on his LinkedIn page and Twitter  @globallithiumYou can find more information on my links below as well and the situation with SQM proves him right one more time about the risks to the tight lithium supply chain even before Tesla Gigafactory is coming on-line.


Peter Epstein: Interview Of “Mr. Lithium,” Joe Lowry Of Global Lithium LLC.


    

  
  Peter Epstein presents to us the very interesting view from the independent insider into the very closed and tightly held lithium market. Tesla is making headlines and situation with SQM provides another evidence of the importance of secure lithium supply for the major players. Joe Lowry is raising alarm about the coming shortage in the lithium supply even before Tesla's Gigafactory will be coming on-line and I have been talking about it before, you can continue your research on the links below. Now we have another catalyst for the lithium industry in the making. Access to the capital is the most important for the junior miners working on building lithium supply chain. Ganfeng Lithium - one of the new top lithium producers from China is financing the development of J/V projects with International Lithium in Ireland and Argentina.


Chile, Lithium And SQM: What To Expect From The Chilean Lithium Industry?




  What is really happening with SQM and lithium production in Chile now? Is it really the perfect storm and the very tight battery grade lithium supply will be under further strain from political battle around Atacama? Daniella Desormeux from signumBOX will be one of the best sources to explore the ongoing situation.


Security Of Lithium Supply: SQM Stock Still Down On News Chile Wants To Revoke Mining Leases.



  Here comes the perfect storm for the lithium supply chain. Politics, bribes and fight around the "hot assets" in Atacama are not the best ingredients for the hungry Chinese companies ramping up battery grade lithium supply for the coming Megafactories all over the world. Meanwhile Tesla Gigafactory is still relying on Panasonic to sort out all lithium supply issues. Price of battery grade lithium was going up even before these political games around SQM and now rain storms will add to the strains on production in Atacama. Now you can better appreciate why Chinese giant Ganfeng Lithium is financing and developing with International Lithium our J/V projects - security of Lithium supply is taking the central stage for the ongoing electric rEVolution.


Elon Musk's Gigafactory Battery Plan Spurs Lithium Producers To Weigh New Plants.

 


  News about the potential shortage in battery grade lithium supply is travelling fast and now hitting the mainstream media.


Tesla Gigafactories: Is There Enough Lithium to Maintain the Growth of the Lithium-Ion Battery Market?



Joe Lowry: Lithium Capacity Additions Will Be Short Of Demand.


"Joe Lowry is sounding the rising alert for all industry insiders about the coming shortage of lithium. Tesla is waiting for Panasonic to solve all the supply problems, but the growing demand is already pushing prices higher even before Gigafactory comes on-line! The ignition of mass market for electric cars and energy storage will come with lower lithium battery cost. Gigafactory promise us to bring the magic $100 per kWh. Supply of lithium will become crucial and its security will be even more important than its price.
  Our partner Ganfeng Lithium controls with other Chinese companies 75% capacity of battery grade lithium hydroxide now. We are moving into the new landscape for critical materials which are powering the green revolution. Stay tuned for the update from our lithium exploration programs on J/V projects in Ireland and Argentina."


Joe Lowry: What The Beginning Of Lithium Shortage Looks Like.  


  "Joe Lowry from @globallithium presents another evidence of growing constrains in the lithium supply chain. He knows International Lithium strategic partner Ganfeng Lithium very well and has covered its incredible growth in his previous articles, which you can find on this blog as well. Read more."

International Lithium Corp. Updates on Drilling Programs in Argentina and Ireland.

  
  We have great news today from our both J/V projects with Ganfeng Lithium! You already know about my personal vision for the lithium industry and our strategic partnership between International Lithium and Ganfeng Lithium from China. Now we have results coming in from our exploration and development programs.



Joe Lowry:

The Opaque World of Lithium


"Interest in the lithium market continues to grow with the emerging Tesla story, growth of the ESS market and ubiquity of personal electronic devices driven by the power of the lithium ion.
Despite the fact that the vast majority of people living on the planet have a device utilizing a lithium battery; as a global market lithium is tiny when measured by any financial standard. Unlike other metals used in the production of lithium ion batteries such as nickel, cobalt and aluminum - lithium is not traded on the London Metals Exchange (LME) - the global trading and price formation venue for industrial metals. Lithium users have no systematic way to hedge or pay for price protection when they budget or plan production. Unlike the major metals, due to the small size of the global lithium market - pricing of lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide does not have the transparency that other metals have. 
The lithium market has a limited number of producers and most of them have an interdependent relationship with one or more competitors which creates additional concern about the "lithium club" in the minds of customers . For example: FMC sources carbonate from competitors, Albemarle has a spodumene JV with Tianqi and sources metal from competitors, SQM supplies lithium chloride brine to Ganfeng Lithium who supplies metal to members of the former “Big 3”, etc, etc. There is nothing particularly unusual about this aspect of the lithium market and certainly nothing sinister but it does create the feeling within the lithium customer base that the lithium industry is more collegial than other industries and has a higher rate of information flow between competitors than they would like to see.
During my years working as a marketing and sales executive for a major lithium producer, I heard complaints from large purchasers of lithium from Tokyo to Brussels to New York about the "clubby" and "secretive"  world of lithium suppliers. 
The facts do not support concerns about lithium suppliers working "hand in glove" on price. The average price of lithium carbonate in 2014 was lower than the average price in 2007 despite a steady growth in demand.  If the lithium suppliers are "working together" to manage price they clearly aren't very good at it. Like most products, supply and demand governs prices.  Until late last year lithium carbonate supply comfortably exceeded demand. Due to delayed expansions and project start-ups scheduled for 2014, demand is exceeding supply at least in the short term and prices are currently moving up. 
Despite the fact that the lithium industry is less open and transparent than other industries, it is hard to make the case that consumers have suffered in any way.
From my perspective many of the large lithium consumers have had unreasonable expectations when confronted with the need to source a critical raw material without an LME or other mechanism with which to justify the prices they paid to their management. Trying to bully lithium suppliers doesn't work very well.
When Nissan discovered the company I worked for had virtually 100% share of the lithium raw material  to their supply chain for the Nissan Leaf battery they summoned me to their offices to demand I guarantee fixed prices for several years during a time when prices for lithium hydroxide were increasing quarterly. The justification they gave for their request was: "Nissan management has ordered it". Really? 
The auto industry is legendary for bullying suppliers. I was a little shocked at such an unreasonable demand and replied that Nissan should be concerned about supply rather than price especially since no other lithium supplier was fully qualified to supply them at that time. I kept a straight face as several salarymen across the table tried to apply pressure by invoking the name of their company like a "buddhist chant". I pointed out that lithium raw materials are actually a very minor portion of the cost of a battery pack and that the cost of a Leaf battery would not change substantially if I doubled the price or gave them the lithium for free. Frustrated at my noncompliance with their request, the leader of the purchasing team, in a very non Japanese fashion, slammed his notebook shut, walked out of the room and went to the Starbucks conveniently located across from the meeting room. True story.

                     Lithium consumers often feel outmatched by suppliers
As for the "lithium club" concerns, it is logical for lithium producers to act in their own best interest by making deals with other producers to avoid capital expenditures or leverage a strong cost position in one product line via a trade or swap with another producer to improve their bottom line.
There is no compelling reason for the lithium producers to be more forthcoming with details of their business beyond the legal reporting requirements for public companies. Of course, from time to time lithium producers have benefited from the lack of  market transparency or reliable global price information. There have been occasions in the past where prices have varied by more than 30% for the same product being sold under similar conditions. In these cases, inefficient markets are the issue.  
Reviewing annual reports and 10Ks of the lithium producers does provide a limited amount of detail but will generally create more questions that can’t be answered without supplemental data that is not readily available.
Anyone seeking to learn more about the industry has a significant challenge. Companies like Roskill that regularly publish info about a wide range of products really don’t know the lithium business in the kind of details lithium consumers and potential investors want and need – the lithium market is too small to invest the resources to have in-depth knowledge yet their often outdated information is often used as a reference because they are a recognized name. A new company called Benchmark Minerals shows the most potential for providing current and accurate information about lithium and a few other related industries. Signum Box is also a credible source for information on supply and demand on a pay as you go basis.
Unfortunately, lithium consumers seeking information about pricing continue to have limited options. Even the details provided in the export statistics of producing countries and the import statistics of major consuming countries can leave the uninitiated scratching their heads due to the amount of transfer pricing included from major players, lack of clarity whether pricing is FOB or CIF, currency translation issues, etc. etc. General trends are fairly easy to spot but without a certain depth of industry knowledge drawing conclusions from an import/export data dump is risky business.
Unlike larger industries there is no lithium trade association or clearing house for lithium information. There are several dozen lithium ion battery shows around the world each year but the focus is not on the lithium market itself. Those interested in the details of the lithium market can always contact an “expert service” like GLG, Guidepoint or Coleman and hope the “expert” they are put in touch with can shine some light in the lithium darkness. There is one annual event focused on lithium but it seems to have declined in value over time.
Last week the 7th Annual Industrial Minerals Lithium Supply and Markets Conference was held in Shanghai. The first conference held in Santiago, Chile attracted the leadership of the major lithium producers who were both speakers and active participants. Over the past few years participation by the major lithium companies has declined. The event has become more of a platform where hopeful “Juniors” to try to attract attention to projects that seem perpetually lacking the funds to move forward. Despite all the buzz in the industry created by Tesla and others planning major lithium battery investments, in general the “Big 3” leadership tends to avoid the annual gathering. Again – what is in it for them?
Those seeking more insight into the lithium industry can only hope that the growing interest in the lithium market and the emergence of Benchmark Minerals, Signum Box and others that are more narrowly focused than large market information firms who simply repeat what lithium producers say without critical thinking and real analysis will help provide more accurate and current information."

Warren Buffett BYD Invests $800 Million To Build A Factory For Electric Trucks In Changsha.



  After conquering Electric Bus space Warren Buffett backed BYD is moving now in Electric Trucks with another serious investment into new production facility dedicated to pure EVs. BYD is among few companies in China building its own Megafactory to produce lithium batteries in mass volume, it will bring the costs down and allows them to roll out new lines of EVs. Delivery trucks will be the game changer for all heavily polluted Chinese megalopolises and further restrictions on the ICE powered trucks in the cities will be driving the demand for BYD EVs.


Lithium Race: Saab Owner To Build $400 Million Electric Car Factory In China.

  One more Chinese group has announced investment in electric cars. Largest auto-market in the world and "War on Pollution" with state-level incentives have already produced the largest Lithium Market in the world. Saab joins the EV club in China with Foxconn, BYD, SAIC, Guanzhou Auto, Chinese J/V with BMW, Mercedes-Benz and VW Group among many others. Lithium technology is making its way into the mass market for electric cars. With increased level of production for lithium batteries the costs will come down and we will have the dramatic increase of much cheaper EVs available to buy.  You can find more information about Chinese companies involved in EV production on my blog.


Lithium Race: China's Guangzhou Auto To Invest $322 M In Electric Car Factory.

  


  How to achieve the explosive growth like International Lithium's strategic partner Ganfeng Lithium? You need to have the largest auto-market in the world, "War on Pollution" and state-level support for the new strategic industry - electric cars. After Tesla Gigafactory, LG Chem, BYD, Foxconn, Boston Power and A123 are building their own Megafactories. New automakers, like Guanzhou Auto in China are moving now into electric space with announcements almost every month. International Lithium is building strategic supply chain for Ganfeng Lithium, our J/V in Ireland and Argentina are financed by Ganfeng and now we are receiving results.


International Lithium Corp. Updates on Drilling Programs in Argentina and Ireland.

"Mr. Kirill Klip, President, International Lithium Corp. comments, "We are highly encouraged by what we are learning about the thick brine aquifers at Mariana. We look forward to completing the pump test which will give us a sense of the potential productivity of wells in these aquifers and we are confident that our plan to acquire these key preliminary hydrological results prior to a mineral resource estimation is both an expeditious and cost effective approach toward an initial production assessment."

Gary Schellenberg, CEO and Executive Chairman, notes that "Success in the initial drilling program by intersecting pegmatites under cover confirms the exploration strategy and methods we are applying in the Avalonia project. This gives us confidence as we move ahead with plans to test both new and historical targets we are developing along the lithium belt."


International Lithium And Ganfeng Lithium: "The End Of The Lithium 'Big 3'.


  "Joe Lowry has published a very interesting article about the lithium market, major producers and rising Chinese powerhouses in lithium industry. You can find now more details on International Lithium strategic partner Ganfeng Lithium. Apple Electric iCar and Warren Buffet BYD move into energy storage to chase Elon Musk with his Tesla Gigafactory bring Lithium back onto the radar screens of investors now. Read more."





ChangshaChina:

BYD to build electric vehicles in Changsha


"BYD Auto will invest 5 billion yuan ($805.83 million) to build a factory for electric vehicles in Changsha.

The auto company reached an agreement with Yuhua district on May 18 to build the new factory for electric trucks and special vehicles as the second phase of Changsha BYD (Build Your Dreams). The project is expected to begin production by the end of the year.

Changsha’s top leader Yi Lianhong met with Wang Chuanfu, the head of BYD, and congratulated him on BYD’s achievements in Changsha. He said that BYD has stuck to a path of environmental protection and energy saving, and that the company has made positive explorations to the country’s economic development.

Yi further added that Changsha has become a new growth pole for China’s auto industry, with enhanced supporting capacity and an increasingly vigorous consumer market. He hoped the two sides could cooperate further on auto vehicles, new energy, and manufacturing.

Wang said that the launch of the electric truck project in Changsha makes the city the only BYD base that produces both passenger and commercial vehicles. BYD will build a new energy vehicle base in Changsha, exporting all over the world, he said.

Edited by Zhang Qiong, Andrew Ancheta
Source: Changsha Evening News"

RBC's George Gero: Why Is Gold Not Reacting To Greece?


"There may be too many bears in the woods for gold says George Gero, a gold market veteran and vice president and precious metals strategist for RBC Capital Markets. Gold market bulls are disappointed the metal gained only slightly Monday, as the Greek debt crisis continues to unravel and produced no weekend agreement with the European Union. Gold prices saw tepid safe-haven demand and some short covering Monday. Gold quoted in Euros did see much better price gains Monday, reports said. Greek banks were closed for six days starting Monday and Greece’s prime minister has called for a July 5 referendum on new austerity measures. Greece’s present arrangement with its International Monetary Fund creditors expires on Tuesday—at which time Greece also needs to make a big debt payment to its EU/IMF creditors. "Last night as the news hit, gold was up $10 dollars - and as the day unfolded and the dollar became very expensive - it was very difficult for traders to continue to support gold, because gold is very expensive in dollar terms," explains Gero. "Because of possible currency controls in Greece you have seen a flight to cash and to bonds," he says. As to whether Greece will exit the EU, Gero says that right now it is a 50-50 chance. “I don't think a Grexit is as cut and dry as people think - I think people who live in countries like Greece and Italy and Spain who have had currency questions, will go to gold, which is liquid, portable and convertible into any currency.” Tune in now to Kitco News’ latest Gold Report live from our studio on Wall Street. Kitco News, June 29, 2015."


Bloomberg Intelligence: Chinese Gold Standard Would Be "Game Changer”.


  This summer doldrums in Gold could be over very soon. Next week will be very interesting with Greece saga continued and China's rates cut after the record plunge in the stock market. Will Chinese coming back into gold finally smash the lid at 1,200 level? The news from Bloomberg Intelligence few years ago would propel gold $100 overnight easily, but today it is almost like no event in the market. While the West is chasing stocks in the Wall Street Bubble again, China is buying record amount of Gold and collecting the stakes in the best mining projects all over the world.


James Rickards: Gold And Major Flaws In FED's Risk Models - The Death Of Money.



  James Rickards makes one his best presentations on the state of the economy and the looming crisis underneath the surface of "happy markets". Gold, China and risk management of complex financial systems are among the very well articulated issues which will determine the future for the world's financial system. Gold manipulation is the very important part of this system and now we can have the changing market place in the making.


Finally Gold And Silver Price Manipulation Under DOJ Investigation.



DOJ Probes Banks for Silver, Gold Price Manipulation.

  


  Finally one more conspiracy theory is on its way to the court rooms. Let's see how serious DOJ will be acting here. What can be easier than just contact GATA and Bill Murphy for all the evidence, who was banned from CNBC for telling the truth about manipulation of gold?
  TNR Gold projects will benefit from the fair market pricing of Gold as will all other people who are suffering from the unreported rise in the real cost of living and real inflation in prices of food and other basic services. 



Monday 29 June 2015

Lithium Race: Saab Owner To Build $400 Million Electric Car Factory In China.

  

Forbes: Nevs CEO Mattias Bergman


  One more Chinese group has announced investment in electric cars. Largest auto-market in the world and "War on Pollution" with state-level incentives have already produced the largest Lithium Market in the world. Saab joins the EV club in China with Foxconn, BYD, SAIC, Guanzhou Auto, Chinese J/V with BMW, Mercedes-Benz and VW Group among many others. Lithium technology is making its way into the mass market for electric cars. With increased level of production for lithium batteries the costs will come down and we will have the dramatic increase of much cheaper EVs available to buy.  You can find more information about Chinese companies involved in EV production on my blog.


Lithium Race: China's Guangzhou Auto To Invest $322 M In Electric Car Factory.


  


  How to achieve the explosive growth like International Lithium's strategic partner Ganfeng Lithium? You need to have the largest auto-market in the world, "War on Pollution" and state-level support for the new strategic industry - electric cars. After Tesla Gigafactory, LG Chem, BYD, Foxconn, Boston Power and A123 are building their own Megafactories. New automakers, like Guanzhou Auto in China are moving now into electric space with announcements almost every month. International Lithium is building strategic supply chain for Ganfeng Lithium, our J/V in Ireland and Argentina are financed by Ganfeng and now we are receiving results.


International Lithium Corp. Updates on Drilling Programs in Argentina and Ireland.

"Mr. Kirill Klip, President, International Lithium Corp. comments, "We are highly encouraged by what we are learning about the thick brine aquifers at Mariana. We look forward to completing the pump test which will give us a sense of the potential productivity of wells in these aquifers and we are confident that our plan to acquire these key preliminary hydrological results prior to a mineral resource estimation is both an expeditious and cost effective approach toward an initial production assessment."

Gary Schellenberg, CEO and Executive Chairman, notes that "Success in the initial drilling program by intersecting pegmatites under cover confirms the exploration strategy and methods we are applying in the Avalonia project. This gives us confidence as we move ahead with plans to test both new and historical targets we are developing along the lithium belt."


International Lithium And Ganfeng Lithium: "The End Of The Lithium 'Big 3'.


  "Joe Lowry has published a very interesting article about the lithium market, major producers and rising Chinese powerhouses in lithium industry. You can find now more details on International Lithium strategic partner Ganfeng Lithium. Apple Electric iCar and Warren Buffet BYD move into energy storage to chase Elon Musk with his Tesla Gigafactory bring Lithium back onto the radar screens of investors now. Read more."




Forbes:


The Chinese-backed investment group that bought technology and assets from Sweden’s Saab in 2012 now says it plans to build a $400 million factory and R&D unit for electric cars in Tianjin, northeast China.
National Electric Vehicle Sweden (Nevs) held a launching ceremony on Sunday in the Tianjin Binhai Hi-Tech Industrial Development Area, which also happens to be one of the auto maker’s new part owners. The other partner unveiled at the same time last month was Beijing State Research Information Technology Company (SRIT).
“China is the world’s fastest growing market for electrical cars, but also the most competitive. We are likely to see closures and consolidations going forward,” the company’s CEO Mattias Bergman told me. “But there’s a gap in the market that we can fill.”

Sunday 28 June 2015

Lithium Technology: London Formula E 2015.



  Formula E is the testing grounds for the lithium technology and electric cars. Mass market in EVs is coming with Tesla Model S, GM Bolt and Nissan Leaf with extended range. All this new technology will make its way from the race tracks into our cars very soon.


Mass Market For Electric Cars: Video With Nissan's 544-km Long-Range LEAF.



  We are getting there and mass market for electric cars is now closer by the day. Megafactories with mass-volume production of lithium batteries will bring battery cost down. It is the great news that not only Tesla Model 3 will be driving us into the electric future, but Nissan and GM are trying to keep on this race track as well. Transport Evolved provides the great report on this development. 
  International Lithium is working with Ganfeng Lithium to advance our J/V projects in Ireland and Argentina and secure the supply chain for this electric rEVolution. Time of "Lithium Big 3" has come and gone, latest developments around SQM are just another confirmation of this trend. Vertically integrated lithium battery business will the future.


  


  How to achieve the explosive growth like International Lithium's strategic partner Ganfeng Lithium? You need to have the largest auto-market in the world, "War on Pollution" and state-level support for the new strategic industry - electric cars. After Tesla Gigafactory, LG Chem, BYD, Foxconn, Boston Power and A123 are building their own Megafactories. New automakers, like Guanzhou Auto in China are moving now into electric space with announcements almost every month. International Lithium is building strategic supply chain for Ganfeng Lithium, our J/V in Ireland and Argentina are financed by Ganfeng and now we are receiving results.

Tesla Gigafactories: Is There Enough Lithium to Maintain the Growth of the Lithium-Ion Battery Market?


 Elon Musk talks about "hundreds of Gigafactories to come" and other lithium batteries players are building their own Megafactories today. Tam Hunt brings the hot industry subject to the headlines. The short answer is: Yes, we have enough Lithium potentially in the world for electrification of all our transportation. But in order to get it as the raw material ready to be used we have to invest hundreds of millions of dollars and years to build this supply chain. The security of supply of lithium is taking the central stage for the main battery grade lithium producers. 
  The drama is that the demand is coming when junior miners are cut off the capital they need to develop the new projects. That is why International Lithium is very well positioned to participate in this trend with the financing of our lithium J/V projects by Chinese giant Ganfeng Lithium. Lithium supply issues are hitting headlines now and our results are coming from our exploration programs these days. You can find more information from lithium industry insiders on the supply issues on this blog.




"Mr. Kirill Klip, President, International Lithium Corp. comments, "We are very excited with the ability to continue to advance our projects to the next level through our partnership with Ganfeng Lithium. Recent announcements, by General Motors regarding the commencement of production of the battery-electric Bolt and Tesla with the ongoing construction of the Gigafactory and launch of the Model X, are strong indicators that the electric car is not only here to stay, but is the way of the future. As a result lithium will be a key ingredient in our daily lives and ILC will be ready to meet the demand for this raw and critical material."




"Mr. Kirill Klip, President, International Lithium Corp. comments, "We are excited to begin another round of drilling at Avalonia in Ireland. Ganfeng Lithium - the leading lithium materials producer from China is financing the development of our JV projects in Ireland and Argentina. There is strong growth in the lithium industry right now. We are taking the necessary steps to meet the increased demand and source the raw materials required for our partner's lithium products and create a supply chain to ultimately achieve the goal of building a vertically integrated lithium business."




"Mr. Kirill Klip, President, International Lithium Corp. comments, " We are very pleased to begin another round of exploration on the Mariana lithium-potash brine project in Argentina. The project is wholly owned together with our strategic partner, Ganfeng Lithium. Our project is unique to other lithium brine projects in many ways. Firstly, our joint venture owns the mineral rights to the entire Salar de Llullaillaco, which has high potassium to lithium ratio; therefore it may provide a significant credit to the cost of lithium extraction. Secondly, our strategic partner possesses the technology and facilities to analyze the brine chemistry and develop a metallurgical extraction process. Our current program will provide us with enough information to design and plan the next phase of exploration and development as we move toward conducting feasibility studies.

The concurrent exploration programs on the Mariana and Avalonia properties demonstrate we have not deviated from our original plan to produce lithium from multiple sources and deposit types. The lithium industry is heating up right now and our diversified portfolio and partnership with Ganfeng Lithium give us a strong foundation to build upon. I am excited to see things moving ahead and look forward to reporting the results of our programs to our investors in the near future."




International Lithium Corp. Updates on Drilling Programs in Argentina and Ireland.

"Mr. Kirill Klip, President, International Lithium Corp. comments, "We are highly encouraged by what we are learning about the thick brine aquifers at Mariana. We look forward to completing the pump test which will give us a sense of the potential productivity of wells in these aquifers and we are confident that our plan to acquire these key preliminary hydrological results prior to a mineral resource estimation is both an expeditious and cost effective approach toward an initial production assessment."

Gary Schellenberg, CEO and Executive Chairman, notes that "Success in the initial drilling program by intersecting pegmatites under cover confirms the exploration strategy and methods we are applying in the Avalonia project. This gives us confidence as we move ahead with plans to test both new and historical targets we are developing along the lithium belt."


International Lithium And Ganfeng Lithium: "The End Of The Lithium 'Big 3'.


  "Joe Lowry has published a very interesting article about the lithium market, major producers and rising Chinese powerhouses in lithium industry. You can find now more details on International Lithium strategic partner Ganfeng Lithium. Apple Electric iCar and Warren Buffet BYD move into energy storage to chase Elon Musk with his Tesla Gigafactory bring Lithium back onto the radar screens of investors now. Read more."