Welcome to 2019! Each week our High Voltage column wraps all the news driving ASX battery metals stocks with exposure to lithium, cobalt, graphite, manganese and vanadium.

Scroll down for a table showing the recent performance of 200 ASX battery metal stocks >>

INDUSTRY FOCUS

 

It was a clear, unequivocal message on the robust outlook for electric vehicles: customers of lithium major Pilbara Minerals (ASX:PLS) are not only financing its next project expansion but are already pressuring the producer for additional output.

Pilbara Minerals told investors the Stage 2 funding package, underpinned by key customers Ganfeng Lithium and Great Wall Motor Company, will see production at its Western Australian Pilgangoora lithium-tantalum project ramp up to 5 million tonnes a year.

These customers are rapidly scaling up their respective supply chains, prompting Pilbara Minerals to target commissioning of Stage 2 from the March quarter 2020 as well as kicking off studies on Stage 3.

“They have made it clear that they would like to see the project grow further, prompting us to undertake studies to evaluate a potential Stage 3 expansion to at least 6.2mtpa and potentially up to 7.5mtpa,” Pilbara Minerals boss Ken Brinsden said.

“This should send a clear message about the robust outlook for the lithium market as far as our Tier-1 customer base is concerned and demonstrates the secure position the world-class Pilgangoora project commands as part of a global lithium-ion supply chain that is growing rapidly.”

On January 2 lithium behemoth Albemarle Corporation (NYSE:ALB) kicked off earthworks for the company’s $1 billion, 60,000 tonnes per annum Kemerton lithium hydroxide (LiOH) plant in Western Australia.

“Achieving this milestone underscores our commitment and confidence in developing LiOH operations in Western Australia and in our overall strategy to drive significant shareholder value and meet our customers’ demands,” Ablemarle told investors.

The commissioning of the Kemerton site is expected to start in stages during 2021.

Source:Galaxy Resources

Lithium producer Galaxy Resources (ASX:GXY) is getting swamped with offers from potential strategic partners wanting a piece of its Argentina-based Sal de Vida brine project.

Galaxy is debt free and making good coin from its Mt Cattlin operation in Western Australia, which means it is quite happy to extend the process timeline to evaluate the bids in detail.

“Given the superior quality of Sal de Vida as a long life, low-cost operation with excellent economics, Galaxy will only proceed with a strategic partner if the final terms of the relationship properly recognize the fundamental underlying value of Sal de Vida and the partner can add additional value to the project either through technical and/or financial input,” the miner told investors.

SMALL CAP SPOTLIGHT

 

It was a sleepy (but half decent) start to the year for battery metals-facing stocks on the ASX; of the companies on our list, about 68 lost ground, 80 were ahead and 40 were steady.

A friendly takeover offer from global battery metals investor Cobalt 27 has sent the share price of nickel and cobalt miner Highland Pacific up almost 37 per cent for the week.

Highlands Pacific (ASX:HIG) told investors that TSX-listed Cobalt 27 would buy the rest of Highlands that it didn’t already own for 10.5c per share – a 43.8 per cent premium to the December 24 closing price of 7.3c.

And there’s a bonus: the offer will increase to 11.5c if the nickel spot price exceeds $US13,220 per tonne for five consecutive days before the end of 2019.

It has a way to go though, with the LME spot price for nickel currently at $US10,590 per tonne.

Cobalt hopeful Celsius Resources (ASX:CLA) is also up 22.5 per cent for the week.

The explorer told investors that a different and “potentially highly significant” type of cobalt and copper mineralisation at its advanced Namibian project could give it bonus options for mine development.

Celsius uncovered the extension to the existing resource at its Opuwo project in the latest round of drilling.

“The new area announced today is much flatter, (near horizontal) which opens up the possibility of using an alternative underground method such as room and pillar mining, which would be expected to provide significant cost advantages, compared to the open stoping method,” Celsius boss Brendan Borg told Stockhead.

Other standout performers included cobalt/copper focused Taruga Minerals (ASX:TAR) up 27.5 per cent to 6c, and graphite plays Renascor Resources (ASX:RNU) and  Peninsula Mines (ASX:PSM)  ,up 35 per cent and 33 per cent respectively.

Here’s a table of ASX battery metal stocks with exposure to lithium, cobalt, graphite, manganese and vanadium>>>

Scroll or swipe to reveal table. Click headings to sort. Best viewed on a laptop

Ticker Name One Week Price Change % 12 Month Price Change % Current Price (Jan 7 intraday) Market Cap
TAR TARUGA MINERALS 37.5 -50 0.06 $6,352,525.50
HIG HIGHLANDS PACIFIC 36.9863 -2.439 0.1 $109,273,384.00
RNU RENASCOR RESOURCES 35.7143 -45.7143 0.019 $18,454,790.00
PSM PENINSULA MINES 33.3333 -75 0.004 $3,451,488.25
SEI SPECIALITY METALS INTERNATIONAL 31.25 -32.2581 0.022 $11,097,528.00
MQR MARQUEE RESOURCES 30 -80 0.073 $2,179,958.50
PMY PACIFICO MINERALS 25 -16.6667 0.005 $8,232,189.50
CZN CORAZON MINING 25 -72.2222 0.005 $6,326,416.50
OAR OAKDALE RESOURCES 23.5294 -48.7805 0.021 $1,372,091.38
CHK COHIBA MINERALS 23.0769 45.4546 0.016 $9,969,214.00
CLA CELSIUS RESOURCES 22.5806 -36.6667 0.074 $52,213,256.00
EUR EUROPEAN LITHIUM 21.9512 -62.2641 0.1 $54,992,152.00
RDS REDSTONE RESOURCES 21.4286 35.8641 0.017 $8,006,393.00
NWC NEW WORLD COBALT 21.4286 -84.5455 0.017 $7,436,701.00
BOA BOADICEA RESOURCES 20 44 0.18 $9,512,131.00
SXX SOUTHERN CROSS EXPLORATION 20 -33.3333 0.006 $6,461,059.00
AZI ALTA ZINC 20 -53.8462 0.006 $6,844,828.50
BSM BASS METALS 18.1818 -31.5789 0.013 $33,137,350.00
FEL FE 18.1818 -79.6875 0.013 $4,857,163.50
ADN ANDROMEDA METALS 16.6667 16.6667 0.007 $7,590,956.00
SBR SABRE RESOURCES 16.6667 -53.3333 0.008 $2,848,815.25
GME GME RESOURCES 16.4384 -46.5588 0.085 $39,053,360.00
THX THUNDELARRA 15.3846 -54.5455 0.015 $9,045,342.00
GPX GRAPHEX MINING 15.1515 -44.1176 0.2 $14,925,868.00
MRR MINREX RESOURCES 15 -72.9412 0.023 $1,917,554.50
BAR BARRA RESOURCES 14.7059 -32.7586 0.039 $22,633,412.00
OKR OKAPI RESOURCES 14.6341 -47.7778 0.235 $7,040,287.50
ESR ESTRELLA RESOURCES 14.2857 -36 0.014 $6,886,366.00
HMX HAMMER METALS 14.2857 -48.9362 0.024 $5,844,238.50
VMC VENUS METALS 13.3333 17.2414 0.16 $14,820,831.00
TKL TRAKA RESOURCES 13.0435 -43.4783 0.026 $8,614,346.00
TNO TANDO RESOURCES 12.8571 52.075 0.079 $16,067,728.00
LI3 LITHIUM CONSOLIDATED 12.8571 -41.4815 0.079 $7,174,947.50
PLS PILBARA MINERALS 12.8 -40.5063 0.7225 $1,264,772,224.00
KOR KORAB RESOURCES 12.5 -3.5714 0.027 $8,285,111.50
LCD LATITUDE CONSOLIDATED 12.5 -21.7391 0.018 $4,678,043.00
PIO PIONEER RESOURCES 12.5 -37.931 0.019 $25,569,906.00
INR IONEER 12.5 -55 0.18 $257,247,120.00
SUH SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE MINING 12.5 -70 0.045 $3,981,126.25
GLN GALAN LITHIUM 11.1111 275 0.28 $32,294,142.00
VMS VENTURE MINERALS 10 -53.1915 0.022 $10,932,852.00
HAV HAVILAH RESOURCES 9.6774 -27.6596 0.16 $37,102,340.00
EMH EUROPEAN METALS 8.6207 -54.6763 0.305 $39,593,400.00
DEG DE GREY MINING 8.3333 -23.5294 0.13 $50,778,696.00
LTR LIONTOWN RESOURCES 8.3333 -49.0196 0.024 $29,483,674.00
IRC INTERMIN RESOURCES 8 -6.8965 0.14 $31,777,442.00
ANW AUS TIN MINING 7.6923 16.6667 0.015 $25,716,220.00
K KIBARAN RESOURCES 7.6923 -3.4483 0.14 $37,216,932.00
CZR COZIRON RESOURCES 7.6923 -26.3158 0.014 $23,212,166.00
SGQ ST GEORGE MINING 7.6923 -41.6667 0.14 $40,245,688.00
WCN WHITE CLIFF MINERALS 7.6923 -88.7407 0.014 $3,002,678.75
CHN CHALICE GOLD MINES 7.4074 -21.6216 0.14 $35,986,700.00
CRL COMET RESOURCES 7.4074 -73.6364 0.029 $6,222,150.00
PM1 PURE MINERALS 7.1429 -28.5714 0.015 $4,715,686.00
SCI SILVER CITY MINERALS 7.1429 -57.1429 0.015 $4,111,943.50
AMD ARROW MINERALS 7.1429 -65.1163 0.015 $4,403,568.50
BMT BERKUT MINERALS 7.1429 -67.3913 0.077 $4,073,750.00
DEV DEVEX RESOURCES 6.5217 -59.6222 0.049 $4,505,067.50
AJM ALTURA MINING 6.4516 -65.2632 0.17 $309,462,304.00
SYR SYRAH RESOURCES 6.2284 -67.3404 1.655 $542,893,824.00
LPI LITHIUM POWER INTERNATIONAL 6.1224 -53.5714 0.255 $68,253,616.00
AVZ AVZ MINERALS 5.9702 -71.0204 0.072 $135,969,232.00
E25 ELEMENT 25 5.7143 -19.5652 0.185 $15,953,226.00
AEE AURA ENERGY 5.5556 -17.3913 0.018 $20,400,008.00
HWK HAWKSTONE MINING 5.5556 -42.4242 0.019 $10,836,042.00
COB COBALT BLUE HOLDINGS 5.1282 -73.8854 0.205 $25,541,674.00
NVA NOVA MINERALS 5 -50 0.02 $16,298,817.00
PSC PROSPECT RESOURCES 4.7619 -60.7143 0.022 $45,014,528.00
ZNC ZENITH MINERALS 4.7059 -40.6667 0.09 $18,510,306.00
RTR RUMBLE RESOURCES 4.4444 -38.1579 0.052 $16,780,330.00
ARE ARGONAUT RESOURCES 4.3478 -25 0.024 $37,305,136.00
AGY ARGOSY MINERALS 3.5714 -52.459 0.14 $133,907,000.00
BEM BLACKEARTH MINERALS 3.4091 0.091 $5,531,480.50
FGR FIRST GRAPHENE 3.2258 -5.8824 0.16 $68,230,472.00
BGS BIRIMIAN 3.125 -79.6296 0.165 $42,759,576.00
POS POSEIDON NICKEL 2.381 -14 0.0435 $116,278,880.00
ARL ARDEA RESOURCES 1.9231 -70.4735 0.53 $58,269,680.00
AML AEON METALS 1.8519 -14.0625 0.28 $167,428,880.00
SVM SOVEREIGN METALS 1.5385 -47.2 0.07 $18,828,932.00
LKE LAKE RESOURCES 1.2987 -71.1111 0.078 $31,854,336.00
IEC INTRA ENERGY 0 66.6667 0.01 $3,877,240.25
EME ENERGY METALS 0 11.1111 0.1 $20,968,332.00
AVL AUSTRALIAN VANADIUM 0 5.2632 0.021 $35,706,880.00
WKT WALKABOUT RESOURCES 0 -10.4762 0.095 $28,599,476.00
PAN PANORAMIC RESOURCES 0 -10.7143 0.37 $180,502,720.00
DTM DART MINING 0 -23.0769 0.006 $5,568,257.00
VRC VOLT RESOURCES 0 -25.9259 0.02 $29,109,564.00
MLS METALS AUSTRALIA 0 -27.2727 0.003 $7,025,393.50
VXR VENTUREX RESOURCES 0 -31.3726 0.17 $45,195,600.00
SVD SCANDIVANADIUM 0 -32.8947 0.017 $5,981,723.50
VML VITAL METALS 0 -33.3333 0.008 $13,940,890.00
GED GOLDEN DEEPS 0 -38.3333 0.037 $6,341,089.00
AYR ALLOY RESOURCES 0 -40 0.003 $4,731,233.00
BAU BAUXITE RESOURCES 0 -42.1053 0.055 $11,793,228.00
BDI BLINA MINERALS 0 -50 0.001 $4,363,882.50
MZN MARINDI METALS 0 -50 0.006 $9,923,794.00
CUL CULLEN RESOURCES 0 -51.8716 0.02 $3,223,339.25
CGM COUGAR METALS 0 -57.1429 0.003 $2,933,408.00
TRT TODD RIVER RESOURCES 0 -57.4 0.07 $10,752,826.00
PLL PIEDMONT LITHIUM 0 -57.7273 0.093 $64,014,840.00
CAZ CAZALY RESOURCES 0 -62.2642 0.02 $4,656,381.00
CAD CAENEUS MINERALS 0 -66.6667 0.001 $14,063,075.00
CNJ CONICO 0 -66.6667 0.02 $7,035,165.00
RMX RED MOUNTAIN MINING 0 -70 0.005 $4,668,220.50
LPD LEPIDICO 0 -74.6032 0.016 $53,698,804.00
SI6 SIX SIGMA METALS 0 -75 0.004 $2,287,515.75
DHR DARK HORSE RESOURCES 0 -77.2727 0.005 $9,880,433.00
GPP GREENPOWER ENERGY 0 -77.7778 0.003 $4,696,111.00
ADV ARDIDEN 0 -78.9474 0.0045 $6,707,521.00
SYA SAYONA MINING 0 -79.5455 0.018 $30,888,440.00
CFE CAPE LAMBERT RESOURCES 0 -80 0.016 $16,214,425.00
LRS LATIN RESOURCES 0 -81.25 0.003 $8,366,012.00
MEI METEORIC RESOURCES 0 -81.9672 0.01 $6,319,013.50
4CE FORCE COMMODITIES 0 -83.3333 0.013 $5,934,822.00
KLH KALIA 0 -84.6154 0.002 $5,028,695.00
MTC METALSTECH 0 -87.5 0.032 $3,508,616.50
FCC FIRST COBALT - 0 -88 0.18 $61,077,928.00
MTH MITHRIL RESOURCES 0 -89.1803 0.005 $2,111,946.00
RLC REEDY LAGOON 0 -90 0.005 $2,413,630.25
PNN PEPINNINI LITHIUM 0 -95.1807 0.004 $2,882,697.75
KDR KIDMAN RESOURCES -0.9346 -49.2823 1.13 $425,037,280.00
GXY GALAXY RESOURCES -1.3453 -45.4094 2.32 $904,703,360.00
MIN MINERAL RESOURCES -1.5354 -31.5228 15.295 $2,830,802,944.00
RIO RIO TINTO -1.6009 -1.3102 78.88 $112,313,851,904.00
PGM PLATINA RESOURCES -1.6949 -62.5806 0.061 $15,583,448.00
CXO CORE LITHIUM -1.9231 -40.6977 0.052 $35,457,068.00
JMS JUPITER MINES -2.0408 196.2963 0.245 $479,952,800.00
NMT NEOMETALS -2.0833 -47.7778 0.2325 $127,827,600.00
SO4 SALT LAKE POTASH -2.1739 -10 0.45 $90,010,008.00
ARU ARAFURA RESOURCES -2.1739 -55.5861 0.046 $33,905,948.00
TON TRITON MINERALS -2.3809 -60.9524 0.04 $38,012,656.00
JRV JERVOIS MINING -2.381 -68.4615 0.22 $46,885,228.00
CLQ CLEAN TEQ HOLDINGS -2.6316 -74.9153 0.385 $287,335,520.00
TMT TECHNOLOGY METALS AUSTRALIA -3.2258 39.5349 0.3 $21,713,434.00
S32 SOUTH32 -3.2448 -7.8652 3.36 $16,417,274,880.00
MNS MAGNIS ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES -3.5714 -41.9355 0.28 $174,173,760.00
ORE OROCOBRE -3.7618 -55.9615 3.32 $829,059,584.00
BUX BUXTON RESOURCES -3.8462 -7.4074 0.125 $17,006,928.00
KTA KRAKATOA RESOURCES -3.8462 -56.8965 0.025 $2,937,500.00
ASN ANSON RESOURCES -3.8961 -55.1515 0.075 $38,638,260.00
DGR DGR GLOBAL -4 14.2857 0.12 $73,581,824.00
KAI KAIROS MINERALS -4 -48.9362 0.024 $20,454,548.00
BAT BATTERY MINERALS -4.1667 -65.6716 0.023 $24,500,774.00
SRK STRIKE RESOURCES -4.2553 -25 0.045 $6,540,042.00
LIT LITHIUM AUSTRALIA -4.2553 -55 0.092 $42,216,672.00
BSX BLACKSTONE MINERALS -4.3478 -77.0833 0.11 $13,525,596.00
GWR GWR GROUP -4.7619 25 0.1 $26,619,330.00
CZI CASSINI RESOURCES -4.7619 6.6667 0.085 $29,368,102.00
TNG TNG -4.7619 -35.4839 0.105 $101,164,080.00
ARM AURORA MINERALS -4.7619 -45.9459 0.02 $2,342,665.75
POW PROTEAN ENERGY -5 -17.3913 0.019 $5,528,322.00
BKT BLACK ROCK MINING -5.2632 -36.8421 0.04 $21,001,684.00
IDA INDIANA RESOURCES -5.6604 -27.7078 0.05 $4,784,340.50
KSN KINGSTON RESOURCES -5.8824 -30.4348 0.016 $19,571,174.00
RIE RIEDEL RESOURCES -5.8824 -80.9524 0.016 $6,689,115.00
OMH OM HOLDINGS -6.2015 15.2381 1.245 $908,506,688.00
AXE ARCHER EXPLORATION -6.25 -46.4286 0.074 $14,157,390.00
HXG HEXAGON RESOURCES -6.6667 45.8333 0.15 $45,226,428.00
CMC CHINA MAGNESIUM -6.6667 16.6667 0.028 $9,868,280.00
MLM METALLICA MINERALS -6.6667 -51.7241 0.027 $9,995,867.00
PUR PURSUIT MINERALS -6.8965 -80 0.032 $3,523,638.75
AUR AURIS MINERALS -7.5 -33.9286 0.037 $15,121,210.00
N27 NORTHERN COBALT -7.5 -84.5833 0.067 $3,694,565.25
INF INFINITY LITHIUM -7.6923 -66.6667 0.06 $11,410,266.00
AUZ AUSTRALIAN MINES -8.1081 -70.4348 0.035 $107,242,992.00
HNR HANNANS -8.3333 -42.1053 0.011 $23,855,454.00
ORN ORION MINERALS -9.0909 -20 0.02 $37,474,668.00
ENT ENTERPRISE METALS -9.0909 -50 0.01 $4,268,690.50
TLG TALGA RESOURCES -9.5238 -33.913 0.4 $85,095,136.00
BYH BRYAH RESOURCES -10.1124 -55.5556 0.08 $4,868,009.50
AOU AUROCH MINERALS -10.2564 -26.3158 0.07 $7,035,248.00
MXR MAXIMUS RESOURCES -10.2564 -59.4203 0.07 $2,088,838.13
EUC EUROPEAN COBALT -10.2564 -75 0.033 $28,944,498.00
WML WOOMERA MINING -10.3896 -93.1 0.069 $7,776,606.00
MCT METALICITY -11.1111 -56.7568 0.017 $9,639,420.00
CCZ CASTILLO COPPER -11.1111 -71.4286 0.016 $10,265,512.00
CDT CASTLE MINERALS -11.1111 -73.3333 0.008 $1,790,367.75
BPL BROKEN HILL PROSPECTING -11.4286 -68.0412 0.033 $4,584,385.50
CGN CRATER GOLD MINING -12.5 -12.5 0.013 $4,471,436.50
TKM TREK METALS -12.5 -75 0.008 $2,498,429.00
LML LINCOLN MINERALS -14.2857 -84.2105 0.006 $3,449,902.00
NZC NZURI COPPER -14.5455 -39.7436 0.235 $72,496,848.00
MZZ MATADOR MINING -15 -43.3333 0.17 $9,160,167.00
SRN SUREFIRE RESOURCES -16.6667 -70.8333 0.007 $2,203,268.25
HGM HIGH GRADE METALS -16.6667 -79.5918 0.011 $4,529,378.50
THR THOR MINING PLC- -17.8571 -62.2951 0.024 $16,488,712.00
MTB MOUNT BURGESS MINING -20 -60 0.004 $1,768,317.63
GBE GLOBE METALS AND MINING -22.2222 -12.5 0.014 $6,522,913.00
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