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Eye on Lithium: Albanese stresses importance of local battery manufacturing in Australia
Mining
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- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese solidifies his stance on establishing a critical minerals value chain here in Australia
- Omnia engages Canadian based APEX Geoscience to assist with advancement of the Lac des Montagnes project
- Mineral Resources enters into two binding agreements with Albermarle
All your lithium news, Thursday February 23.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese used an address to the National Press Club on Wednesday to solidify his stance on establishing a critical minerals value chain here in Australia to compete in global export markets, improve our sovereign capability, and take advantage of the abundance of resources.
“I want to make sure we use the lithium, nickel, and other products we have to make batteries here,” he said.
“That’s part of the vision of protecting our national economy going forward.
“I think we should be making solar panels here. I think we should be making so many more things here in order to protect our national sovereignty.
“Rare earths and critical minerals are part of the National Reconstruction Fund, it is about taking those things here, providing financing for Australian-based businesses to invest and value-add here.”
Speaking at the @PressClubAust this morning about building greater security for our nation at home and abroad.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) February 22, 2023
The comments came in response to a question about Chinese foreign investment in Australia and the critical minerals sector, particularly in the lithium space.
“Why aren’t we making more batteries here? We have almost half of the world’s lithium deposits,” Albanese said.
“I was in Perth and Port Hedland yesterday, if you went to Port Hedland as I did, I have been there many times – but 20 years ago, no-one would have been coming up to you and saying, ‘Hi, I’m a lithium company.’
“They were queuing up.
“I’m certain there were, without doing a head count, there were over 200 people there – lithium has an extraordinary capacity, we need to not just dig it up.”
Here’s how ASX lithium stocks are tracking:
| CODE | COMPANY | PRICE | % TODAY | MARKET CAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MTM | Mtmongerresources | 0.12 | 60% | $4,276,817 |
| FTL | Firetail Resources | 0.16 | 23% | $8,450,000 |
| QPM | Queensland Pacific | 0.1 | 10% | $158,917,661 |
| THR | Thor Energy PLC | 0.006 | 9% | $8,115,871 |
| WML | Woomera Mining Ltd | 0.014 | 8% | $12,430,096 |
| FRS | Forrestaniaresources | 0.15 | 7% | $8,524,782 |
| SYA | Sayona Mining Ltd | 0.2275 | 6% | $1,868,269,240 |
| KTA | Krakatoa Resources | 0.041 | 5% | $13,443,687 |
| ZEO | Zeotech Limited | 0.042 | 5% | $65,628,227 |
| DAL | Dalaroometalsltd | 0.084 | 5% | $2,390,000 |
| PLS | Pilbara Min Ltd | 4.47 | 5% | $12,771,515,081 |
| RAS | Ragusa Minerals Ltd | 0.11 | 5% | $14,972,873 |
| RGL | Riversgold | 0.023 | 5% | $20,800,290 |
| LLI | Loyal Lithium Ltd | 0.355 | 4% | $20,226,600 |
| 1MC | Morella Corporation | 0.012 | 4% | $70,133,675 |
| AML | Aeon Metals Ltd. | 0.025 | 4% | $26,313,615 |
| VMC | Venus Metals Cor Ltd | 0.145 | 4% | $24,931,016 |
| LIS | Lisenergylimited | 0.295 | 4% | $47,285,543 |
| PAM | Pan Asia Metals | 0.36 | 3% | $51,399,457 |
| LLL | Leolithiumlimited | 0.54 | 3% | $517,994,879 |
| PNN | Power Minerals Ltd | 0.4575 | 3% | $32,149,400 |
| AGY | Argosy Minerals Ltd | 0.735 | 3% | $1,004,151,361 |
| PSC | Prospect Res Ltd | 0.19 | 3% | $85,518,000 |
| LKE | Lake Resources | 0.62 | 2% | $859,066,545 |
| DTM | Dart Mining NL | 0.042 | 2% | $6,380,443 |
| AOU | Auroch Minerals Ltd | 0.059 | 2% | $24,815,018 |
| EMH | European Metals Hldg | 0.62 | 2% | $76,858,421 |
| LRV | Larvottoresources | 0.1575 | 2% | $10,424,482 |
| MIN | Mineral Resources. | 85.03 | 1% | $16,017,196,935 |
| PGD | Peregrine Gold | 0.435 | 1% | $16,668,042 |
| NMT | Neometals Ltd | 0.805 | 1% | $442,192,941 |
| IGO | IGO Limited | 13.31 | 1% | $10,026,225,844 |
| VUL | Vulcan Energy | 6.2 | 0% | $887,864,513 |
| ADV | Ardiden Ltd | 0.007 | 0% | $18,818,347 |
| AVZ | AVZ Minerals Ltd | 0.78 | 0% | $2,752,409,203 |
| EUR | European Lithium Ltd | 0.07 | 0% | $101,446,742 |
| GLN | Galan Lithium Ltd | 1.12 | 0% | $343,745,254 |
| INF | Infinity Lithium | 0.11 | 0% | $50,885,130 |
| LIT | Lithium Australia | 0.041 | 0% | $50,068,859 |
| PLL | Piedmont Lithium Inc | 0.925 | 0% | $391,700,500 |
| RLC | Reedy Lagoon Corp. | 0.008 | 0% | $4,533,757 |
| TKL | Traka Resources | 0.007 | 0% | $5,059,422 |
| TON | Triton Min Ltd | 0.033 | 0% | $45,631,878 |
| BMM | Balkanminingandmin | 0.35 | 0% | $15,670,205 |
| AAJ | Aruma Resources Ltd | 0.067 | 0% | $10,516,421 |
| AM7 | Arcadia Minerals | 0.22 | 0% | $10,273,536 |
| BYH | Bryah Resources Ltd | 0.022 | 0% | $6,187,576 |
| EMS | Eastern Metals | 0.071 | 0% | $2,773,573 |
| GSM | Golden State Mining | 0.04 | 0% | $4,680,568 |
| IMI | Infinitymining | 0.21 | 0% | $16,060,447 |
| MMC | Mitremining | 0.3 | 0% | $10,795,530 |
| RAG | Ragnar Metals Ltd | 0.016 | 0% | $6,066,958 |
| CTN | Catalina Resources | 0.0085 | 0% | $10,527,139 |
| EMC | Everest Metals Corp | 0.086 | 0% | $9,153,247 |
| WCN | White Cliff Min Ltd | 0.012 | 0% | $9,408,653 |
| KZR | Kalamazoo Resources | 0.165 | 0% | $24,555,197 |
| SCN | Scorpion Minerals | 0.072 | 0% | $24,890,846 |
| ENT | Enterprise Metals | 0.008 | 0% | $5,640,646 |
| AVW | Avira Resources Ltd | 0.003 | 0% | $6,401,370 |
| BNR | Bulletin Res Ltd | 0.11 | 0% | $32,295,021 |
| RMX | Red Mount Min Ltd | 0.005 | 0% | $11,359,255 |
| A8G | Australasian Metals | 0.17 | 0% | $6,998,984 |
| MQR | Marquee Resource Ltd | 0.032 | 0% | $10,470,640 |
| SRZ | Stellar Resources | 0.011 | 0% | $11,050,940 |
| LSR | Lodestar Minerals | 0.005 | 0% | $8,692,187 |
| AOA | Ausmon Resorces | 0.006 | 0% | $5,539,736 |
| VKA | Viking Mines Ltd | 0.011 | 0% | $11,277,843 |
| ZNC | Zenith Minerals Ltd | 0.23 | 0% | $80,892,390 |
| EVR | Ev Resources Ltd | 0.015 | 0% | $14,039,761 |
| CZL | Cons Zinc Ltd | 0.02 | 0% | $9,647,156 |
| MXR | Maximus Resources | 0.035 | 0% | $11,166,952 |
| MM1 | Midasmineralsltd | 0.165 | 0% | $9,426,741 |
| M2R | Miramar | 0.072 | 0% | $5,089,085 |
| XTC | Xantippe Res Ltd | 0.006 | 0% | $63,480,598 |
| LRD | Lordresourceslimited | 0.165 | 0% | $5,493,200 |
| WMC | Wiluna Mining Corp | 0.205 | 0% | $74,238,031 |
| ALY | Alchemy Resource Ltd | 0.016 | 0% | $18,849,220 |
| DAF | Discovery Alaska Ltd | 0.027 | 0% | $6,054,337 |
| IR1 | Irismetals | 1.16 | 0% | $74,506,800 |
| LNR | Lanthanein Resources | 0.019 | 0% | $21,309,936 |
| TKM | Trek Metals Ltd | 0.067 | 0% | $24,384,321 |
| CY5 | Cygnus Metals Ltd | 0.3 | 0% | $55,162,264 |
| A11 | Atlantic Lithium | 0.63 | 0% | $381,617,246 |
| CMD | Cassius Mining Ltd | 0.033 | 0% | $13,480,266 |
| VSR | Voltaic Strategic | 0.021 | 0% | $6,453,304 |
| AKE | Allkem Limited | 11.47 | 0% | $7,333,067,989 |
| JRL | Jindalee Resources | 2.31 | 0% | $133,119,201 |
| LTR | Liontown Resources | 1.3125 | -1% | $2,901,960,116 |
| INR | Ioneer Ltd | 0.3775 | -1% | $797,368,541 |
| NVA | Nova Minerals Ltd | 0.555 | -1% | $117,630,313 |
| ESS | Essential Metals Ltd | 0.495 | -1% | $133,783,347 |
| LLO | Lion One Metals Ltd | 0.91 | -1% | $10,847,226 |
| WR1 | Winsome Resources | 1.985 | -1% | $323,572,849 |
| LPI | Lithium Pwr Int Ltd | 0.36 | -1% | $229,620,609 |
| GT1 | Greentechnology | 0.645 | -2% | $124,933,647 |
| WES | Wesfarmers Limited | 48.455 | -2% | $55,815,107,355 |
| AZL | Arizona Lithium Ltd | 0.063 | -2% | $156,320,297 |
| CXO | Core Lithium | 0.935 | -2% | $1,762,265,954 |
| GL1 | Globallith | 1.56 | -2% | $338,945,477 |
| TUL | Tulla Resources | 0.26 | -2% | $56,404,840 |
| CRR | Critical Resources | 0.049 | -2% | $79,516,631 |
| MLS | Metals Australia | 0.048 | -2% | $29,744,773 |
| LRS | Latin Resources Ltd | 0.1175 | -2% | $264,198,590 |
| CAI | Calidus Resources | 0.23 | -2% | $103,294,447 |
| RIO | Rio Tinto Limited | 122.8 | -2% | $46,591,347,019 |
| GW1 | Greenwing Resources | 0.225 | -2% | $34,099,539 |
| EPM | Eclipse Metals | 0.02 | -2% | $41,575,226 |
| LEL | Lithenergy | 0.78 | -3% | $48,120,000 |
| MNS | Magnis Energy Tech | 0.385 | -3% | $383,280,936 |
| ASN | Anson Resources Ltd | 0.185 | -3% | $224,074,587 |
| ARN | Aldoro Resources | 0.185 | -3% | $21,453,340 |
| EFE | Eastern Resources | 0.0165 | -3% | $21,113,090 |
| LPD | Lepidico Ltd | 0.0155 | -3% | $122,204,348 |
| AX8 | Accelerate Resources | 0.029 | -3% | $11,328,053 |
| WC8 | Wildcat Resources | 0.029 | -3% | $19,860,682 |
| DRE | Dreadnought Resources Ltd | 0.086 | -3% | $293,141,812 |
| SRI | Sipa Resources Ltd | 0.027 | -4% | $6,388,428 |
| AUN | Aurumin | 0.052 | -4% | $9,625,013 |
| KGD | Kula Gold Limited | 0.024 | -4% | $9,030,298 |
| TEM | Tempest Minerals | 0.023 | -4% | $12,114,393 |
| G88 | Golden Mile Res Ltd | 0.022 | -4% | $4,705,564 |
| TMB | Tambourahmetals | 0.105 | -5% | $4,531,186 |
| FG1 | Flynngold | 0.08 | -5% | $8,641,377 |
| QXR | Qx Resources Limited | 0.039 | -5% | $36,771,355 |
| AS2 | Askarimetalslimited | 0.57 | -5% | $29,698,517 |
| KAI | Kairos Minerals Ltd | 0.019 | -5% | $39,281,870 |
| AZI | Altamin Limited | 0.075 | -5% | $30,945,623 |
| IPT | Impact Minerals | 0.009 | -5% | $23,573,020 |
| SGQ | St George Min Ltd | 0.07 | -5% | $61,966,531 |
| STM | Sunstone Metals Ltd | 0.033 | -6% | $91,715,625 |
| OCN | Oceanalithiumlimited | 0.33 | -6% | $12,744,900 |
| RDT | Red Dirt Metals Ltd | 0.39 | -6% | $184,636,608 |
| MRR | Minrex Resources Ltd | 0.031 | -6% | $35,800,628 |
| CHR | Charger Metals | 0.365 | -6% | $17,048,604 |
| PAT | Patriot Lithium | 0.33 | -8% | $21,829,501 |
| TYX | Tyranna Res Ltd | 0.025 | -11% | $67,351,909 |
| NWM | Norwest Minerals | 0.039 | -15% | $10,216,940 |
A total of 32 companies finished in the green, 32 fell flat, while another 50 tumbled into the red zone.
Who’s got news out?
OMNIA METALS (ASX:OM1)
Omnia has engaged Canadian based APEX Geoscience to assist with advancing the Lac des Montagnes Project in Quebec, Canada through in-country geological services and technical reporting as part of the due diligence process.
The company has started planning for an aggressive exploration, initially focusing on mapped pegmatite granites, which have been identified by MERN as high priority and highly prospective to host spodumene.
These high-priority pegmatites have been identified and termed the “Spodumene Suite” by the Government of Quebec’s, Ministère des Ressources Naturelles et des Forêts due to their striking geological similarities with the world class Wabouchi lithium deposit – 38km along strike from Omnia’s Lac des Montagnes project.
“The geology and potential is there so there is a sense of excitement as we confirm our exploration plans for the year ahead,” OM1 executive director James Warren says.
MINERAL RESOURCES (ASX:MIN)
~$16.01bn market cap company, Mineral Resources, has entered into two binding agreements with Albermarle, the part owner of the world’s largest active lithium mine in the world, for two separate transactions.
The first is a restructure of its arrangements relating to the existing MARBL Joint Venture in Western Australia while the second revolves around MinRes’ investment in lithium conversion assets in China.
MIN says it will increase its stake in the Wodgina lithium mine from 40% to 50% while continuing to operate the site.
At the same time, Albermarle is set to increase its interest in two spodumene conversion trains at the Kemerton processing plant from 60% to 85%, as well as operate them.
The two companies have committed to jointly own lithium conversion assets, which will convert Wodgina spodumene concentrate lithium battery chemicals such as lithium hydroxide or lithium carbonate.
This will see involve a nominal capacity of up to 100ktpa and subject to receipt of required regulatory approvals, a downstream joint venture will be established.
In China, MinRes will acquire a 50% interest in Albemarle’s 100% owned Qinzhou and Meishan plants.
KOBA RESOURCES (ASX:KOB)
Koba has raised received commitments for a placement to raise $4m, which will primarily be used to expedite exploration within its portfolio of high-quality lithium-pegmatite projects in Australia and Canada.
The company said it will also provide funding in its hunt for new opportunities in the battery metals sector.
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