Welcome to your Friday recap, where we give you the highlights of all things lithium that have occurred during the week.

We’ve scoured the googles and the majority of those in the know agree, this week’s been pretty special. 

Like this person:

 

 

Monday

The big news to the start of the week was Citi analysts being quite confident that lithium prices would continue their bull run to recover by as much as 40% by the end of the year.

 

Tuesday

US lithium giant and long-time lover of Aussie spodumene, Albemarle, inked a deal with carmaker Ford to supply a cool 100,000t of lithium hydroxide (you know, the refined stuff) in a five-year deal.

That’s enough LiOH to become part of about 3 million Ford EV batteries.  

It is unknown if the refined lithium will come from Australia, however we do know the producer has committed to doubling capacity at its Kemerton refinery in WA.

 

Wednesday

We noted that Australia depends on China for 85% of its raw lithium exports, yet there are changes afoot.

Companies such as Pilbara Minerals (ASX:PLS) are looking for ways to refine in-house before exporting to other countries, cutting China out as the middle-man. 

Further to that, a recent G7 summit highlighted bilateral cooperation on the critical minerals front with the US to secure supply chains of lithium and other rare earths.   

 

Thursday

Chinese battery maker Gotion High Tech unveiled a lithium-manganese-iron-phosphate (LMFP) L600 Astroinno battery that will enable EV’s a range of 1,000km on a single charge.

That’s double today’s standards. But wait, there’s more. Gotion said the potential lifespan of the battery cells was 4 million km.

We’re going to keep an eye on this one, as the batteries are due to be mass-produced sometime next year and could put a rocket under EV sales. Which will put a rocket under demand. Which will put a rocket under explorers, developers and producers alike.

 

Today

Chile’s state-owned miner Codelco is looking to fast-track an agreement with lithium major SQM to have a say in new lithium contracts.

Codelco is the world’s largest copper producer, and it seems the Chilean government is getting impatient with its mandate to nationalise the sector.

The president of Chile, Gabriel Boric, announced the plan to partly nationalise the country’s lithium sector in April and it seems now it’s strong-arming Codelco to expedite the process. 

This could have wider implications for foreign operators in the country such as Albermarle, Rio Tinto and BHP. 

Meanwhile, Hyundai and LG Energy Solution just announced that they will build a US$4.3 billion EV battery plant in the state of Georgia.

In a 50/50 JV, they’ll construct a 30 GWh plant to support the production of 300,000 EV’s per annum.

 

Here’s how Aussie lithium stocks are tracking:

Code Company Price % Today Market Cap
AOA Ausmon Resorces 0.004 33% $2,907,868
PAM Pan Asia Metals 0.26 13% $35,711,250
ENT Enterprise Metals 0.0045 13% $2,820,323
ENT Enterprise Metals 0.0045 13% $2,820,323
KTA Krakatoa Resources 0.028 12% $9,084,415
MXR Maximus Resources 0.039 11% $11,166,952
TMB Tambourahmetals 0.1 11% $3,707,334
LPD Lepidico Ltd 0.011 10% $76,377,726
RAG Ragnar Metals Ltd 0.0185 9% $6,446,143
ADV Ardiden Ltd 0.0065 8% $16,130,012
ARN Aldoro Resources 0.13 8% $16,130,849
MTM MTM Critical Metals 0.13 8% $10,602,907
IEC Intra Energy Corp 0.0065 8% $4,234,690
LNR Lanthanein Resources 0.016 7% $16,823,634
VKA Viking Mines Ltd 0.0085 6% $8,202,067
VSR Voltaic Strategic 0.071 6% $24,753,669
SRZ Stellar Resources 0.0105 5% $10,046,309
TYX Tyranna Res Ltd 0.021 5% $48,128,507
NIS Nickelsearch 0.064 5% $3,690,831
INF Infinity Lithium 0.11 5% $48,572,170
WC8 Wildcat Resources 0.071 4% $45,017,545
PSC Prospect Res Ltd 0.135 4% $60,093,730
IMI Infinitymining 0.135 4% $9,942,181
DRE Dreadnought Resources Ltd 0.056 4% $179,697,324
CRR Critical Resources 0.0445 3% $68,574,459
MM1 Midasmineralsltd 0.18 3% $9,998,059
MLS Metals Australia 0.037 3% $21,853,303
EMC Everest Metals Corp 0.087 2% $11,001,814
EMC Everest Metals Corp 0.087 2% $11,001,814
ZEO Zeotech Limited 0.049 2% $78,753,872
AUN Aurumin 0.0275 2% $5,574,837
NVA Nova Minerals Ltd 0.3 2% $62,212,484
CAI Calidus Resources 0.1825 1% $98,886,207
RIO Rio Tinto Limited 106.79 1% $39,126,188,956
AZL Arizona Lithium Ltd 0.0445 1% $118,402,491
A11 Atlantic Lithium 0.615 1% $371,637,413
IGO IGO Limited 14.28 1% $10,753,202,945
AGY Argosy Minerals Ltd 0.4475 1% $624,961,337
CXO Core Lithium 1.005 1% $1,858,516,794
MIN Mineral Resources. 69.67 0% $13,489,093,865
1MC Morella Corporation 0.008 0% $48,788,644
AML Aeon Metals Ltd. 0.018 0% $19,735,211
ASN Anson Resources Ltd 0.18 0% $220,237,309
AVZ AVZ Minerals Ltd 0.78 0% $2,752,409,203
EUR European Lithium Ltd 0.1 0% $148,923,918
LPI Lithium Pwr Int Ltd 0.32 0% $201,311,219
LTR Liontown Resources 2.7 0% $5,941,297,242
RLC Reedy Lagoon Corp. 0.006 0% $3,400,318
SYA Sayona Mining Ltd 0.21 0% $1,910,738,158
TKL Traka Resources 0.006 0% $5,227,976
TON Triton Min Ltd 0.033 0% $51,524,735
AX8 Accelerate Resources 0.02 0% $7,552,035
AM7 Arcadia Minerals 0.18 0% $8,405,621
BYH Bryah Resources Ltd 0.017 0% $4,781,309
EMS Eastern Metals 0.05 0% $1,953,221
FG1 Flynngold 0.061 0% $6,275,286
FRS Forrestaniaresources 0.07 0% $4,262,391
LRV Larvottoresources 0.2 0% $13,450,944
MMC Mitremining 0.28 0% $10,705,828
CTN Catalina Resources 0.004 0% $4,953,948
WCN White Cliff Min Ltd 0.0065 0% $6,233,854
WML Woomera Mining Ltd 0.013 0% $12,430,096
KGD Kula Gold Limited 0.014 0% $5,224,967
KZR Kalamazoo Resources 0.13 0% $19,812,826
AZI Altamin Limited 0.075 0% $29,378,756
KAI Kairos Minerals Ltd 0.02 0% $39,281,870
STM Sunstone Metals Ltd 0.026 0% $80,131,607
AVW Avira Resources Ltd 0.003 0% $6,401,370
BNR Bulletin Res Ltd 0.066 0% $19,377,013
MRR Minrex Resources Ltd 0.015 0% $16,273,013
A8G Australasian Metals 0.135 0% $7,036,267
MQR Marquee Resource Ltd 0.027 0% $8,834,603
LSR Lodestar Minerals 0.005 0% $9,216,987
NWM Norwest Minerals 0.03 0% $7,421,136
IPT Impact Minerals 0.011 0% $31,291,743
SRI Sipa Resources Ltd 0.02 0% $4,563,163
VMC Venus Metals Cor Ltd 0.185 0% $33,527,306
RGL Riversgold 0.017 0% $16,072,951
ZNC Zenith Minerals Ltd 0.135 0% $47,571,419
RAS Ragusa Minerals Ltd 0.08 0% $11,407,903
G88 Golden Mile Res Ltd 0.02 0% $5,268,645
EPM Eclipse Metals 0.014 0% $28,392,837
EVR Ev Resources Ltd 0.015 0% $14,039,761
THR Thor Energy PLC 0.005 0% $7,368,064
YAR Yari Minerals Ltd 0.019 0% $9,164,798
LLI Loyal Lithium Ltd 0.32 0% $19,036,800
LRD Lordresourceslimited 0.12 0% $4,455,855
WMC Wiluna Mining Corp 0.205 0% $74,238,031
ALY Alchemy Resource Ltd 0.017 0% $20,027,296
DAF Discovery Alaska Ltd 0.032 0% $7,495,510
FTL Firetail Resources 0.11 0% $8,470,000
IR1 Irismetals 1.16 0% $74,506,800
DAL Dalaroometalsltd 0.062 0% $1,852,250
TKM Trek Metals Ltd 0.067 0% $24,384,321
TUL Tulla Resources 0.32 0% $102,977,281
CMD Cassius Mining Ltd 0.017 0% $6,944,379
SGQ St George Min Ltd 0.046 0% $38,663,485
RMX Red Mount Min Ltd 0.004 0% $9,087,404
FIN FIN Resources Ltd 0.015 0% $9,278,030
DTM Dart Mining NL 0.053 0% $9,131,223
EG1 Evergreenlithium 0.39 0% $21,929,700
FBM Future Battery 0.105 0% $44,923,739
LPM Lithium Plus 0.315 0% $16,029,783
LRD Lordresourceslimited 0.12 0% $4,455,855
WES Wesfarmers Limited 48.9 0% $55,576,968,945
PLL Piedmont Lithium Inc 0.84 -1% $365,698,255
LLO Lion One Metals Ltd 0.795 -1% $9,696,768
LKE Lake Resources 0.535 -1% $768,120,142
PLS Pilbara Min Ltd 4.58 -1% $13,881,583,572
LEL Lithenergy 0.905 -1% $86,934,150
GL1 Globallith 1.35 -1% $353,605,343
WR1 Winsome Resources 1.785 -1% $292,788,178
SCN Scorpion Minerals 0.07 -1% $24,545,140
PGD Peregrine Gold 0.305 -2% $17,391,809
ESS Essential Metals Ltd 0.4525 -2% $123,080,679
OCN Oceanalithiumlimited 0.295 -2% $11,752,950
VUL Vulcan Energy 3.84 -2% $644,506,027
AKE Allkem Limited 14.71 -2% $9,564,871,290
PAT Patriot Lithium 0.245 -2% $15,346,876
QPM Queensland Pacific 0.1175 -2% $209,561,751
EMH European Metals Hldg 0.615 -2% $79,350,995
NMT Neometals Ltd 0.5125 -2% $290,189,117
KOB Kobaresourceslimited 0.18 -3% $19,502,083
LM1 Leeuwin Metals Ltd 0.35 -3% $15,222,600
GT1 Greentechnology 0.69 -3% $135,424,259
JRL Jindalee Resources 2.04 -3% $120,495,829
LIT Lithium Australia 0.034 -3% $42,741,709
INR Ioneer Ltd 0.33 -3% $713,435,011
LLL Leolithiumlimited 0.7225 -3% $735,059,399
DLI Delta Lithium 0.63 -3% $293,098,535
GLN Galan Lithium Ltd 1.0125 -3% $320,726,598
PNN Power Minerals Ltd 0.44 -3% $32,912,099
TEM Tempest Minerals 0.014 -3% $7,348,914
CHR Charger Metals 0.555 -3% $25,135,762
M2R Miramar 0.05 -4% $4,179,851
GW1 Greenwing Resources 0.25 -4% $38,976,542
BMM Balkanminingandmin 0.235 -4% $11,704,143
EFE Eastern Resources 0.0115 -4% $14,903,358
MAN Mandrake Res Ltd 0.041 -5% $25,746,677
QXR Qx Resources Limited 0.038 -5% $35,874,493
AS2 Askarimetalslimited 0.28 -5% $19,878,089
PL3 Patagonia Lithium 0.18 -5% $9,310,665
MNS Magnis Energy Tech 0.16 -6% $185,425,271
LRS Latin Resources Ltd 0.1775 -7% $482,756,101
CY5 Cygnus Metals Ltd 0.2 -7% $46,040,253
LIS Lisenergylimited 0.265 -7% $47,285,543
BUR Burleyminerals 0.235 -8% $17,611,693
GSM Golden State Mining 0.032 -9% $4,095,497
XTC Xantippe Res Ltd 0.0045 -10% $57,400,498
AAJ Aruma Resources Ltd 0.065 -14% $11,929,074
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38 lithium stocks leapt in price today, 66 broke even and 45 dipped.

 

WHO’S GOT NEWS OUT?

 

Blaze Minerals (ASX:BLZ)

Yet another ASX-listed explorer is off to Canada. BLZ has entered agreement to buy 340sqkm at the greenfields North Spirit lithium project in Ontario, near Patriot Lithium’s (ASX:PAT) tenements.

The acquisition will cost BLZ an initial $100,000 cash and $550,000 worth of shares (55m shares at 1c). The company will then pay an additional $2.65m cash and $5.95m shares in staged payments right up to the release of a mining feasibility study.

The vendor will also retain a 2% net smelter royalty (NSR) should the project enter production.

 

 

Sayona Mining (ASX:SYA)

Word is SYA has engaged its broker Petra Capital to raise $200m for work at its North American Lithium (NAL) project in Quebec where it produced first lithium concentrate back in March.

NAL has a nameplate capacity of up to 226,000t.

The funds are likely to be used towards further work at the NAL project, as well as other exploration work nearby. Stay tuned for more news on this one, because it’s likely to get a few ASX-listed explorers in a frenzy over the coming months. 

 

 

Equinox Resources (ASX:EQN)

EQN has found that early desktop studies on its  Dome and Larder Lake projects in Ontario indicate they’re highly prospective for Lithium-caesium-tantalum (LCT) bearing pegmatites.

Both areas are historically underexplored for lithium.

Dome Lake comprises of 783 claims covering an area of 160km2 and located within the prospective Wabigoon Subprovince on the Eastern Margin of the Onaman-Tashota Greenstone Belt within the Willet Assemblage.

Larder Lake consists of 585 claims covering 121km2 and is located within the Quetico subprovince near the Case Batholith region. 

The Case Batholith complex is an S-Type LCT granite with well documented Spodumene bearing pegmatites.

While in the early stages at the moment, the explorer seems very encouraged with what it’s looking at, as it’s currently fast-tracking further desktop studies to expedite early exploration work. 

This includes First Nations engagement, exploration permit approvals, target mapping, field reconnaissance for rock chip sampling, aerial surveys, lidar analysis and other associated exploration works.