[SMM Analysis] Overseas Lithium News From 2.24 to 2.28

[Arizona Lithium Secures Key Water Rights Permit for Prairie Phase I Development]

Arizona Lithium announced that its Prairie lithium salt lake project in Saskatchewan has officially obtained the final water rights permit and associated approvals, including a permit for the construction of brine processing facilities and comprehensive recognition from surrounding oil and gas enterprises for the disposal of lithium-depleted brine. With this, the company has completed all approval processes for its lithium salt lake development application submitted to the Ministry of Energy and Resources.

According to the newly formulated phased development plan, Phase I of the project will deploy a commercial-grade lithium extraction unit, Li-Pro, provided by Koch, a leading US direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology company, targeting an annual production of 150 mt of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE). Notably, the company's 2024 drilling plan includes the implementation of the Duperow lithium brine production well, brine reinjection well, and brackish water source well at Pad#1, which already has the well infrastructure needed to support lithium extraction operations.

Source: NT News

[Niger Launches Copper and Lithium Mining to Expand Resources]

Niger announced the imminent launch of copper mining operations in its northern desert region, marking a significant step in diversifying the country's mineral resources. According to a statement released by the government on February 23, 2025, the state-owned company Compagnie Minière de l'Air (Cominair SA) has been granted a license to commence mining in the Agadez region. Niger, already a major uranium producer, stated that this decision will position the country within the "exclusive circle of copper producers." Preliminary studies indicate that the new mine could produce approximately 2,700 mt of copper annually for ten years, generating millions of US dollars in revenue and creating 300 direct jobs. Currently, copper trades at around $9,000 per mt.

Additionally, Compagnie Minière de Recherche et d'Exploitation (Comirex SA) has been granted a lithium mining license for a project in Dannet, also located in the Agadez region. This small lithium mine is expected to produce 300 mt annually over five years.

Source: Compiled from Public Information

[Sibanye Stillwater Exits US Lithium Mine Project Amid Lithium Price Crash]

On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, South African mining giant Sibanye Stillwater announced its decision to terminate the lithium mine development plan at Rhyolite Ridge in Nevada, US. The Johannesburg-based company stated in its announcement that, after a comprehensive evaluation of the latest research data on the lithium mine, it decided not to make further investments in the project.

According to the statement, although specific financial data was not disclosed, the company emphasized that the projected returns of the lithium mine project, based on a conservative price model reflecting the current market environment, failed to meet the group's investment return threshold. Notably, since reaching a historic high of nearly $60,000 per mt in November 2022, the price of lithium, a core material for power batteries, has plummeted by over 80%. The global market is facing severe capacity surplus pressure, forcing many mining companies to suspend production or shelve expansion plans.

Looking back at the project's history, Sibanye formed a strategic alliance with Australian lithium miner Ioneer in 2021, agreeing to establish a joint venture through a $490 million investment, with Sibanye acquiring a 50% stake in the Rhyolite Ridge lithium mine. As a key supplement to the transaction, Sibanye also made a $70 million strategic investment in Ioneer in the same year, obtaining a 6% stake in the company.

In response to the termination of the partnership, Ioneer expressed a positive outlook in a subsequent statement. The company highlighted that it had successfully secured critical development permits from the US federal government and received up to $996 million in low-interest loan support from the US Department of Energy. Its management emphasized that, if fully operational, the project could significantly enhance the domestic lithium supply in the US—potentially increasing capacity fourfold compared to current levels. Ioneer is actively seeking strong strategic partners to jointly advance the commercialization of this world-class lithium mine project.

Source: Reuters

[Nippon Shokubai Plans New Lithium-Ion Battery Electrolyte Production Line]

Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd. announced on February 26 its plan to build a new IONEL electrolyte production line. This product is used in lithium-ion batteries, and the expansion is a key step in strengthening its domestic supply chain for lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)imide (LiFSI), demonstrating the company's commitment to its market strategy in the battery materials sector. The company expects this decision to have no significant impact on its financial performance for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2025, but it has pledged to disclose updates as necessary.

Source: TipsRanks

[US Salts Lithium Secures Quebec Lithium Project with Known Pegmatite Mineralization Zones]

US Salts Lithium is accelerating its lithium resource expansion by acquiring the highly prospective Leduc East lithium pegmatite project in Quebec, strengthening its asset portfolio. The project spans 61 square kilometers and includes 101 claims, located 35 kilometers north of Gatineau, with well-developed infrastructure and favorable exploration conditions. Its strategic location offers proximity to key facilities: approximately 275 kilometers southwest to the Bécancour Battery Metals Park and downstream lithium refineries/smelters, and about 300 kilometers southeast to Sayona Mining's NAL lithium mine, spodumene refinery, and planned smelter. The granite-gneiss belt hosting the project has identified 35 pegmatite veins and 15 historical pegmatite feldspar outcrops, including 13 sites that operated as feldspar and mica mines from the early 20th century to the 1940s. Although lithium content has not yet been tested, mica resources potentially containing lithium have been discovered in historical mining areas, and five mines have produced tourmaline, a key indicator mineral for lithium. The Leduc mine, containing small lithium deposits, is located just 4.5 kilometers east of the project, further confirming the lithium enrichment potential of the area. CEO Nick Horsley stated, "Acquiring this area with 35 untested pegmatite veins and historical production sites at the current valuation is an attractive strategic opportunity. We are confident in the future of the lithium industry, and US Salts Lithium is poised to capitalize on the growth in market demand."

Source: The Australian

[Thacker Pass Lithium Project Advances After Final Agreement with General Motors]

On February 27, after more than a decade of approvals, planning, and multiple legal disputes, the Thacker Pass lithium mine project officially commenced in Humboldt County, Nevada. Located about an hour's drive north of Winnemucca and near the Nevada-Oregon border, the project is set to become the world's largest lithium production site upon completion, according to Tim Crowley, Vice President of Government and External Affairs at Lithium Americas. Crowley emphasized, "The entire mining area has an operational lifespan of approximately 40 years. Despite its relatively small footprint, the lithium resources are highly concentrated, making it one of the most efficient lithium production sites globally." The lithium resources at the project are hosted in the McDermitt Caldera, formed by a supervolcanic eruption 16 million years ago, and will be used in critical applications such as mobile phones and EV batteries.

Source: FOX11