ioneer - INR(ASX) News & Expert Insights from Stockhead

Ioneer is an emerging lithium and boron producer with a top team and low-cost lithium project in a highly-desirable jurisdiction. The company is currently advancing its 100 per cent owned Rhyolite Ridge project with the goal to be in production by mid-2021.

Rhyolite Ridge is a large, shallow lithium-boron deposit and is projected to be one of the lowest cost lithium projects in the world. It’s also located close to existing infrastructure in Nevada, which was voted the top jurisdiction in the world for investment by the Fraser Institute’s annual mining company survey.

The mineralogy at Rhyolite Ridge is different than other known sedimentary lithium deposits, with two thick sedimentary layers containing lithium and high-grade boron. At full capacity, the mine will produce 20,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate and 173,000 tonnes of boric acid per annum.

Roskill predicts total lithium demand will reach 1 million tonnes per year by 2026 and Ioneer is particularly well-positioned as it has second revenue stream from the boron “co-product” it will produce.

KEY PEOPLE

James Calaway, Non-Executive Chairman

Mr. Calaway has considerable experience and success in building junior companies into successful commercial enterprises. He has played major roles in the development of both public and private companies engaged in lithium operations, oil and gas exploration and production, enterprise software and solar farm development. Previously, he served as non-executive Chairman of Orocobre (ASX:ORE) and he currently serves as Chairman of Distributed Power Partners Inc.

Bernard Rowe, Managing Director

Mr Rowe is a geologist with more than 25 years’ international experience in mineral exploration. This includes gold, copper, zinc, diamond, lithium and boron exploration in Australia, Europe, Africa, North America and South America. Mr Rowe is a founding shareholder of Ioneer and his many years of exploring in Nevada led to the discovery and acquisition of ioneer’s flagship Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project in 2016.

Alan Davies, Non-Executive Director

Mr Davies is a well-known natural resources and industrial executive with a 20-year career with Rio Tinto where he served as CEO responsible for Energy and Industrial Minerals, including the industry-leading borax division and the Jadar lithium/borates development in Serbia. Prior to that position, Alan was CEO of Rio Tinto’s Diamonds and Minerals Product Group that included the borax, diamonds, iron and titanium, uranium and salt divisions. Mr Davies is currently an investor in and CEO of Zambian copper development company Moxico Resources plc.

Patrick J.D. Elliot, Non-Executive Director

Mr Elliott is a company director specialising in the resources sector with over 40 years experience in investment and corporate management. He currently serves as Chairman of Argonaut Resources NL, Cap-XX Limited, Tamboran Resources Limited and Variscan Mines Limited, and a Non-Executive Director of Kirrama Resources Limited. He is also a director of a number of privately-owned companies.

John Hofmeister, Non-Executive Director

Mr Hofmeister has executive experience at General Electric, Northern Telecom, AlliedSignal/Honeywell International and Royal Dutch Shell, where he retired as Shell Oil President in 2008. Shell Oil Company is the US-based wholly owned subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell. Since 2008, he has served on the boards of Lufkin Industries, Hunting, plc., Applus Services, Inc., and Chairman of Erin Energy Corporation.