Sydney, Australia (ABN Newswire) – New Energy Minerals Limited (ASX:NXE) (FRA:GGY) (OTCMKTS:MTTGF) is pleased to provide an update to the market in relation to the Company’s activities for the period ending 31 December 2020.
Corporate Update
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Explore StocksMagnis Energy Technologies Limited (ASX: MNS) is pleased to provide an update on the graphite products produced from the Company’s Nachu Graphite Project in Tanzania.
• Nachu project +99% purity flake graphite from the proposed mine processing plant deemed a high value product, only matched in the graphite industry through high cost downstream purification.
• Once in production, graphite from the Nachu Project is forecasted to demand a premium price, demonstrating the financial viability of the Project, whilst minimising environmental impact without the use of chemical or thermal processes.
• The low cost and sustainable processes for extracting graphite from the Nachu Project, align with the use of LIBs in new emerging sustainable industries
• Recent cell testing results using Nachu graphite exceeds those of current suppliers.
Magnis Energy Technologies Limited (“Magnis”, or the “Company”) (ASX: MNS) is pleased to provide an update on the graphite products produced from the Company’s Nachu Graphite Project in Tanzania (“Project”), as Magnis aims to become one of the lowest cost producers of value added graphite products for the Lithium-ion Battery (LIB) industry, a market which is currently experiencing significant growth.
Low Cost and Sustainable Process As announced on 21 May 2020, Magnis’ process optimisation programs have demonstrated the ability to produce graphite products with purities ranging from 99% to 99.95%, without the use of chemical or thermal purification. As highlighted in Table 1 below, the milling and flotation steps are mechanical processes, that are significantly lower in cost than the widely used chemical and thermal purification processes to purify graphite, that typically cost over US$1,000/t.
To date, there are currently only a few graphite mines capable of producing such high purity graphite flake, whilst maintaining a large flake size distribution along with high recoveries. Table 2 below details the price premium of varying sizes of flake graphite products (FOB China basis), that are currently sold by producing mines into the global graphite market.
As detailed in Table 2 above, larger size flake graphite of a high purity demands a premium price per tonne, which can be partly contributed to its suitability in meeting specifications for use in the lithium ion battery industry. However, flake graphite at purities greater than 98% are generally produced through additional refining and value adding processes, which generally results in added cost.
Magnis’ market inquiries indicate a further price premium of US$150-200/t for 98% purity, when compared to 96-97% purity detailed in Table 2. Importantly, the pricing of value-added graphite products is related performance, be it expansion properties relating to use in the expandable graphite market, or particle properties for uncoated spherical graphite for LIBs. It should be noted that the above product matrix in Table 1 is based on available data from the majority of flake graphite sold from existing graphite mine operations. From discussion, analysis and feedback from with tier 1 companies operating in the global graphite market, Magnis believes that strong demand exists for a cost-effective, sustainably produced anode for the lithium-ion battery industry.
Recent Cell Testing Results Anode blends containing spherical coated material derived from Nachu Project graphite, have demonstrated excellent battery performance, showcasing 1000 cycles and still retaining around 90% capacity. These initial results are an improvement over most commercially available anode materials, with work on coating optimisation expected to confirm significant performance improvement targeting 80% capacity after 5,000 cycles.
Australia isn't a producer of graphite (yet), but three states in the country are home to millions of tonnes of reserves and resources.
Graphite has been growing in popularity in recent years as its applications as a battery mineral are realised, and as the popularity of electric vehicles grows around the world.
A form of carbon, graphite is a good conductor and is invaluable in electronics. It comes in three different forms, each with their own valuable applications in modern technology, making it a sought-after commodity without which supply lines for many industries around the world would grind to a halt.
Graphite isn't produced in Australia (yet), but the country sits on 1.05 million tonnes of ore reserves, and 7.14 million tonnes of economic demonstrated resources (EDR), as per 2017 government data — and those numbers are way up from the previously disclosed data from Canberra in 2013.
For reference, global production of graphite is relatively small — 1.1 million tonnes were produced around the world in 2020, with the lion's share (650,000 tonnes) coming from China.
But back to Australia, whose graphite reserves and EDR are shared between three states: Queensland, with 1.32 million tonnes EDR, South Australia, where 4.72 million tonnes EDR can be found, and Western Australia, which is home to 1.1 million tonnes EDR.
Exploration is on the up in Australia and around the world for graphite, with demand for the mineral set to grow thanks almost solely to the proliferation of electric vehicles.
The Australian government is cognizant of this development, reporting that it is confident interest in the mineral will not only remain high, but will increase as time goes on. In fact, graphite is classified by the nation's government as a critical mineral, and the country has dedicated significant resources to researching market gaps and opportunities available.
The government has identified five projects between Western Australia and South Australia that have the potential to bring Australia to the table when it comes to production.
However, as of the most recent government report, none of them are producing. One asset is being explored, another is in the prefeasibility stage and the remaining three are in the feasibility stage.
The most developed projects appear to be Mineral Commodities' (ASX:MRC) Munglinup project in Western Australia, where a definitive feasibility study was completed in early 2020, with a final investment decision targeted in 2023, and Renascor Resources' (ASX:RNU) Siviour project on the Eyre Peninsula in South Australia, which has a final investment decision slated for 2022.
Renascor has hopes for production to begin by the end of 2023, and has signed memorandums of understanding for 100 percent offtake agreements. The company boasts that Siviour, which had a definitive feasibility study completed recently — is the world's second largest proven reserve of graphite, and the largest graphite reserve outside of Africa.
For its part, the Munglinup project in Western Australia is Mineral Commodities' second major graphite project, behind its flagship Skaland project in Norway. Munglinup is in the far south of Western Australia, near the port city of Esperance — giving it fantastic transport options.
Both Munglinup and Siviour, if they proceed in coming years, would produce 132,000 tonnes of graphite between them in the early stages — putting Australia well and truly on the leaderboard globally when it comes to graphite production.
The remaining projects — though not as developed or as far along with investment planning — would add another 178,000 tonnes of graphite production if they are constructed as envisaged.
As boasted by the Australian government, "the only direction for Australia's graphite production is up" — though that is indeed a reflection of the fact that current graphite production is exactly zero.
More broadly, Australia is positioning itself to take advantage of wider industry gains across the electric vehicle market, and to present itself as a reliable trading partner. Graphite, like rare earths, is classed a critical mineral by both Australia and the US — and its use extends beyond technology and into national security as well given its applications as a heat-resistant material.
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Securities Disclosure: I, Scott Tibballs, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Silicon in Graphite Anodes for Higher Energy Density Batteries
Sydney, Australia – New Energy Minerals Limited is pleased to provide an update to the market in relation to the Company’s activities for the period ending 31 December 2020. Corporate Update New Project Acquisition The Company has previously announced with the closing of the Balama Sale Transaction on 17 July 2020 that it has no further operations in Mozambique and that the closing also represented a disposal of its …
Sydney, Australia (ABN Newswire) – New Energy Minerals Limited (ASX:NXE) (FRA:GGY) (OTCMKTS:MTTGF) is pleased to provide an update to the market in relation to the Company’s activities for the period ending 31 December 2020.
Corporate Update
New Project Acquisition
The Company has previously announced with the closing of the Balama Sale Transaction on 17 July 2020 that it has no further operations in Mozambique and that the closing also represented a disposal of its main undertaking as previously approved by shareholders at a general shareholder meeting on 13 May 2020.
Subsequently, the Company agreed to acquire a new mineral project and on 13 October 2020 requested a trading halt pursuant to ASX Listing Rule 17.1 pending announcement of a project acquisition.
On 13 November 2020, the ASX suspended the Company from official quotation pending the release of an announcement regarding an acquisition and that the Company’s securities will remain suspended until it has recomplied with Chapters 1 and 2 of the Listing Rules, including the issue of a prospectus.
Arena Investors Dispute
Confidential settlement negotiations with Arena have continued during the quarter and the Company expects to be able to make a further announcement in this regard during the first quarter of 2021.
Appointment of experienced technical directors
On 18 November 2020, the Company announced the appointment of Dr Bernard Olivier and Dr Evan Kirby to the Board of the Company in conjunction with the resignation of Mr Paul Ching and Mr Jackie Lee. Both were nominated to the Board by the Company’s largest shareholder UBezTT International Investment Holdings (BVI) Ltd.
To view the report, please visit:
https://abnnewswire.net/lnk/YR138716
About New Energy Minerals Ltd:
New Energy Minerals (ASX:NXE) is an ASX listed junior mining company, that recently announced the divestment of the Company’s Caula vanadium – graphite project and the Montepuez Ruby project in Mozambique.
Source:
New Energy Minerals Ltd
Contact:
Christiaan Jordaan
Managing Director
info@newenergyminerals.com.au
+ 61-8-9217-2400
News Provided by ABN Newswire via QuoteMedia
Syrah remains engaged in progressing the feasibility study for the scale-up of the Vidalia facility post-product qualification.
Graphite producer Syrah Resources (ASX:SYR,OTC Pink:SYAAF) said it is temporarily suspending operations at its Vidalia battery materials plant in the US state of Louisiana following a state-wide “Stay at Home Order” to fight the spread of COVID-19.
The order, issued on Sunday (March 22), will be in effect until April 13, with Syrah saying it does not meet criteria for exclusions under this regulation.
“This will delay the distribution of purified natural graphite samples for qualification with potential customers whilst the Stay at Home Order remains in place,” the company said in a press release.
Right now, Syrah’s team is working remotely to progress the feasibility study for the scale-up of the Vidalia facility post-product qualification.
The US plant, which the company purchased for US$1.23 million, produced its first unpurified spherical graphite at the end of 2018, with qualification samples dispatched to target customers in early 2019. The facility has environmental permits in place and an initial milling capacity of 5,000 tonnes per year.
Syrah’s Balama graphite project in Mozambique, which is the largest natural graphite operation outside of China, remains operational at this time.
“The company continues to monitor and assess the international mobility of personnel, the free movement of goods through supply chains and broader market conditions,” Syrah said, adding that it continues to strengthen protocols in response to COVID-19 risks at the asset.
Back in September, the company reduced production volumes to 5,000 tonnes per month at Balama due to volatility in the market. Syrah said it has continued its moderated production strategy into Q1 of this year as planned, seeking to match production volumes with market demand.
“Despite the near-term uncertainty due to COVID-19, the long-term market fundamentals for natural flake graphite remain intact, with ongoing commitment to the decarbonisation of the transport sector via lithium ion powered electric vehicles by supply chain participants and governments,” the company said.
Syrah expects its end-of-quarter cash balance to be broadly aligned to guidance of US$64.6 million.
On Tuesday (March 24), Syrah was trading up 2 percent at AU$0.23. However, the company’s share price has been suffering since the start of the year, and is down more than 50 percent since January.
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Australia for real-time updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Priscila Barrera, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
“Australia has the opportunity to be a green energy powerhouse if it has the political will and foresight, endowed with vast reserves of lithium, nickel, copper, rare earths, uranium and plenty of wind and sun to drive renewable energy production.”
— David Franklyn, Argonaut
“With the exception of 2020, foreign investment into Australia has been steadily increasing and we expect this to continue as demand rises for minerals critical to the energy transition, and government policy supports the building of a safe and productive mining industry.”
— Paul Mitchell, EY
“Australia’s national export income and stock market will likely be jolted higher in Q2 and for the rest of the year, with the luckily commodity-rich country tipped to come out on top while the world braces for the big three Rs: record inflation, rising interest rates and a possible recession.”
— Jessica Amir, Saxo Markets
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About Altech Chemicals Ltd:
Altech Chemicals Limited (ASX:ATC) (FRA:A3Y) is aiming to become one of the world's leading suppliers of 99.99% (4N) high purity alumina (Al2O3) through the construction and operation of a 4,500tpa high purity alumina (HPA) processing plant at Johor, Malaysia. Feedstock for the plant will be sourced from the Company's 100%-owned kaolin deposit at Meckering, Western Australia and shipped to Malaysia.
HPA is a high-value, high margin and highly demanded product as it is the critical ingredient required for the production of synthetic sapphire. Synthetic sapphire is used in the manufacture of substrates for LED lights, semiconductor wafers used in the electronics industry, and scratch-resistant sapphire glass used for wristwatch faces, optical windows and smartphone components. Increasingly HPA is used by lithium-ion battery manufacturers as the coating on the battery's separator, which improves performance, longevity and safety of the battery. With global HPA demand approximately 19,000t (2018), it is estimated that this demand will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 30% (2018-2028); by 2028 HPA market demand will be approximately 272,000t, driven by the increasing adoption of LEDs worldwide as well as the demand for HPA by lithium-ion battery manufacturers to serve the surging electric vehicle market.
Source:
Altech Chemicals Ltd
Contact:
Corporate
Iggy Tan
Managing Director
Altech Chemicals Limited
Tel: +61-8-6168-1555
Email: info@altechchemicals.com
Shane Volk
Company Secretary
Altech Chemicals Limited
Tel: +61-8-6168-1555
Email: info@altechchemicals.com
Investor Relations (Europe)
Kai Hoffmann
Soar Financial Partners
Tel: +49-69-175-548320
Email: hoffmann@soarfinancial.com
News Provided by ABN Newswire via QuoteMedia
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General Manager Matt Herbert described Ontario as an “undiscovered gem,” and spoke about the company’s work on its lithium projects in the province.
After making its ASX debut this past November, Green Technology Metals (ASX:GT1) has been hard at work in Ontario, Canada, where it holds three projects covering 35,000 hectares.
Speaking to the Investing News Network at the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) convention, General Manager Matt Herbert described the province as an “undiscovered gem” with the potential to contribute to the lithium supply chain in an environmentally conscious manner.
“I think the opportunity there is to create some very, very green lithium,” he said.
“At the moment, a lot of lithium is mined in Western Australia, (then) shipped to China for processing; from China it goes to European battery markets. I think by the time that lithium arrives where it’s supposed to arrive it’s left itself a bit of a carbon footprint,” Herbert explained during the conversation. “We have a real opportunity here to leverage low-carbon lithium in a place that is really screaming for security.”
Green Technology Metals has already seen support from members of the Ontario government, including recently re-elected Premier Doug Ford, and Greg Rickford, who is the province’s minister of northern development, mines, natural resources and forestry, as well as its minister of indigenous affairs.
“Both are massive supporters of critical minerals,” said Herbert. “Those things are important when you’re at the permitting and approval stage, and that’s exactly where we’re at. We’re able to leverage those relationships really well, and there’s just no better place to be at the moment.”
Watch the interview above for more from Herbert on Green Technology Metals and its plans for the next six months. You can also click here for our recap of PDAC, and here for our full PDAC playlist on YouTube.
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Australia for real-time updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Charlotte McLeod, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Editorial Disclosure: Green Technology Metals is a client of the Investing News Network. This article is not paid-for content.
The Investing News Network does not guarantee the accuracy or thoroughness of the information reported in the interviews it conducts. The opinions expressed in these interviews do not reflect the opinions of the Investing News Network and do not constitute investment advice. All readers are encouraged to perform their own due diligence.
Housing the world’s largest deposits of lithium, Chile’s unique geological landscape and climate make it ideal for lithium brine extraction
As the world continues on the path towards a future dominated by clean energy, lithium’s importance only continues to grow. Demand for the battery metal has already reached an all-time high, increasing by 400 percent in 2021. What’s more, there is every indication that this growth will continue in 2022, with prices increasing by 126 percent in just the first quarter.
Currently, Australia and Chile are the two leading producers of lithium, respectively accounting for 46.3 percent and 23.9 percent of worldwide production. Both countries are jurisdictionally inclined to support the mining sector. However, Chile’s potential could one day see it outstrip even Australia where investment is concerned.
Housing the world’s largest deposits of lithium, Chile’s unique geological landscape and climate makes it ideal for lithium brine extraction. The country thus has a pivotal role to play in meeting demand and establishing a stable global supply chain.
Climate change is an undeniable problem, one which requires a collaborative effort to address. It is for this reason that governments around the world have all agreed to pursue full climate neutrality by 2050. Because combustion engines represent an inordinate percentage of greenhouse gas emissions, replacing them with electric vehicles (EV) is essential if any nation is to achieve their sustainability goals.
Lithium is used extensively in both consumer and professional electronics. It is also a staple metal in multiple other sectors, including mining, manufacturing and energy storage.
Given its cross-sector industrial importance, the battery metal was already in high demand.
The large-scale manufacturing of electric vehicles has caused this demand to increase exponentially. As multiple automotive manufacturers construct gigafactories to ramp up EV distribution, the need for lithium is growing well beyond our current production capacity.
Investors and mining companies can benefit by turning to jurisdictions like Chile to ramp up supply. The world’s migration towards a sustainable future simply cannot occur without lithium.
Although Australia houses impressive lithium reserves, the majority of the country’s stores occur in hard rock deposits. Mining these deposits is relatively inexpensive, but hard rock lithium operations also tend to have narrow margins compared to other methods. In particular, lithium brine extraction offers higher yields, greater efficiency and a lower overall environmental impact.
Currently, the largest lithium producer in Australia is Pilbara Minerals (ASX:PLS,OTC Pink:PILBF). Its flagship project, the Pilgangoora operation, is situated atop one of the world’s largest hard rock lithium deposits. It also jointly owns a pegmatite lithium project with Atlas Iron (ASX:AGO), the Mt Francisco project.
Geography represents Chile’s first major advantage over other jurisdictions. Alongside Bolivia and Argentina, Chile lays claim to a geographic region known as the Lithium Triangle. Located in the Andes in South America, it contains an estimated 68 percent of the world’s identified lithium resources.
The Lithium Triangle is home to a series of vast salt flats, beneath which sit incredibly lithium-rich brine pools. More promising still is the climate of the region, which is known for being incredibly hot and dry. This represents a considerable boon for extraction operations, which typically rely on evaporative processes.
Chile’s mining sector has leveraged its arid geography to great effect. The country’s Salar de Atacama salt flat is the largest-producing brine deposit in the world. It is also home to several major lithium brine operations.
One of these is owned and operated by Albemarle (NYSE:ALB). Currently the largest business provider of lithium for electric vehicle batteries, Albemarle also operates a lithium carbonate plant at La Negra. According to an Albemarle spokesperson, the company has a long history in Chile backed by a unique contract.
SQM (NYSE:SQM) operates another major lithium brine operation in the salt flat. As the world’s largest lithium producer overall, the company recently announced plans to reduce brine extraction in the region by 50 percent by 2030. This announcement came in tandem with a commitment to reduce water usage across all its operations by 40 percent.
Finally, just south of Salar de Atacama is situated the highest-quality lithium pre-production project in Chile. Maricunga is jointly owned by Lithium Power International (ASX:LPI), Minera Salar Blanco and Li3 Energy. Situated just 250 kilometers from Chile’s coast, and 170 kilometers from the mining town of Copiapo, it’s said to possess characteristics directly comparable to Atacama. Maricunga is also adjacent to Highway 31, which connects Northern Chile to Argentina.
The most significant challenge to Chile’s growth, from an investment perspective, is sociopolitical. Although the country has a history of being relatively friendly towards the mining sector, its current government is exploring new legislation that could nationalize both copper and lithium. A new mining royalty bill is also in the works, which could increase tax rates by up to 80 percent.
It’s worth noting that not every investor considers the current political climate to be a risk. South32 (ASX:S32), a spinoff of BHP (ASX:BHP), recently invested US$1.55 billion to purchase a 45 percent stake in the Sierra Gorda copper mine, and a lithium auction held by Chile earlier this year saw Chinese manufacturing company BYD acquire extraction rights for 80,000 metric tons of lithium.
Chile is home to the largest, richest and most valuable lithium deposits in the world. For many investors, the high margins and low cost of lithium extraction in Chile more than make up for the potential of a few political speed bumps.
This INNSpired article is sponsored by Lithium Power International (ASX:LPI). This INNSpired article provides information that was sourced by the Investing News Network (INN) and approved by Lithium Power International in order to help investors learn more about the company. Lithium Power International is a client of INN. The company’s campaign fees pay for INN to create and update this INNSpired article.
This INNSpired article was written according to INN editorial standards to educate investors.
INN does not provide investment advice and the information on this profile should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. INN does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company profiled.
The information contained here is for information purposes only and is not to be construed as an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of securities. Readers should conduct their own research for all information publicly available concerning the company. Prior to making any investment decision, it is recommended that readers consult directly with Lithium Power International and seek advice from a qualified investment advisor.
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