Last Week's (10.1-10.10) Overseas Lithium Highlights [SMM New Energy Overseas Weekly Highlights]

[Leo Lithium Rejects Firefinch Demand, Advances Asset Sale]

Leo Lithium has formally launched the sale process for its Tailings Product Sales Fee (TPSF) assets and simultaneously rejected demands from major shareholder Firefinch Limited to overhaul the board and accelerate the sale process.

The troubled Australian lithium developer said on Friday that the TPSF sale will proceed in an "orderly and timely" manner, with completion expected as early as Q1 2026, and that it will appoint independent advisors to oversee the transaction. The fee right is linked to the future production of the Goulamina lithium mine project in Mali; Leo Lithium previously jointly operated the mine with China's Ganfeng Lithium until its exit last year.

Firefinch, which spun off Leo Lithium in 2022, remains its largest shareholder. Firefinch demanded the company complete the sale within three months and replace four directors. The Leo board deemed these demands "unrealistic" and not in the best interests of shareholders, calling Firefinch's proposed board changes "superfluous" and "a waste of shareholder funds," and emphasized that the relevant concerns had already been addressed.

Proceeds from the TPSF sale, along with remaining cash, will be used for a third capital return. By the end of this year, Leo Lithium will return $330 million, comprising a $265 million unfranked dividend payable on October 14 and a $65 million capital return subject to shareholder approval.

Cumulative Return to Shareholders Totals $537 Million

By the end of 2025, Leo will have returned over $537 million in total, equivalent to 95% of the proceeds from its sale of a 40% interest in Goulamina to Ganfeng.

The company also revealed that it had explored several strategic options with Firefinch, including an acquisition, re-listing on the ASX, or a sale to another listed entity, but Firefinch rejected all of them. Firefinch subsequently proposed a merger but did not explain how it would benefit shareholders.

Leo Lithium was delisted from the ASX on September 22, after its shares had been suspended for nearly two years. Following the completion of this capital return, the company plans to seek shareholder approval to initiate a members' voluntary liquidation process, where a liquidator will be responsible for completing the TPSF sale and making the final cash distribution, after which the company will be deregistered.

Leo's gradual wind-down reflects the overall downward trend in lithium prices since 2022, a situation that has put pressure on many small and medium-sized miners, making them more susceptible to industry consolidation.

Source: mining.com

[Peruvian Minister Promotes Saudi Mining Investment Interest]

A senior Peruvian minister said on Tuesday that the country is seeking significant investment from Saudi Arabia and US oil giant Chevron to develop its mining and energy resources, as part of a broad strategy to revitalize the sector.

This move comes as Peru, the world's third-largest copper producer, seeks to restart investments. In recent years, investment has slowed down due to political uncertainty and persistent social conflicts.

Minister of Energy and Mines Jorge Luis Montero stated that he expects to sign a memorandum of understanding with Saudi Arabia in November to develop lithium and other strategic minerals projects.

He described the Middle Eastern kingdom as seeking a "reliable strategic partner" in Peru.

Montero said he will visit Saudi Arabia next month alongside Peru's Minister of Foreign Affairs to sign broader economic agreements with the Gulf nation.

He added that Saudi Arabia's interest extends to "investing in mining and energy activities... and even building desalination plants for the mining industry in the future."

Source: mining.com

[US Proposes Acquisition of Stake in Australian Critical Minerals Company]

Executives who recently returned from Washington said the US government has proposed acquiring equity in an Australian critical minerals company as part of a broader funding package aimed at expanding supply and reducing reliance on China.

This move aims to establish alternative mineral supply chains. Previously, China, which dominates the global supply of many critical minerals, restricted exports of rare earths and related permanent magnets in response to US tariffs, impacting automotive manufacturers in Europe and the US. Critical minerals, including lithium, cobalt, and rare earths, are essential for technologies in various sectors such as clean energy, semiconductors, and weapons.

Andrew Worland, CEO of International Graphite, which is building a mine and processing plant in Western Australia, stated that US government officials "told enterprises that if they submit proposals, they will be evaluated and efforts will be made to advance them through various existing funding channels and programs."

Worland visited Washington and New York last month as part of an Australian critical minerals enterprise delegation comprising 15 companies, which met with senior US government officials.

Worland said the officials the delegation met included David Copley, Director of the Office of Supply Chain Resilience at the National Security Council and a former mining executive, and Joshua Crone, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Critical Minerals and Metals at the International Trade Administration. Worland indicated that financing avenues could include traditional debt, hybrid debt-equity models (i.e., debt financing with "equity kickers"), and pre-purchase agreements—where the US might prepay to include supplies in the defense stockpile. He added that the current focus is on getting projects ready by 2027.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding discussions with Australian enterprises.

The US government already holds equity stakes in US-listed critical mineral enterprises. On Tuesday, the US Department of Energy (DOE) will acquire a 5% stake in Lithium Americas Corp. and an additional 5% stake in the Thacker Pass lithium mine project, a joint venture between the company and General Motors.

The US government will acquire the stake in Lithium Americas Corp. through zero-cost warrants, marking the Trump administration's latest private sector investment in industries deemed critical to national security, following recent acquisitions of partial stakes in Intel and MP Materials.

Source: mining.com

[Saskatchewan Sets Lithium Production Royalty Rate at 3%]

EMP Metals Corp. is pleased to announce that amendments to The Underground Mineral Royalty Regulations, 2017 have been approved, effective September 24, 2025, setting the provincial royalty rate for lithium production in Saskatchewan at a fixed rate of 3%.

These amendments formally establish the Crown royalty framework applicable to the extraction and sale of lithium from natural brine aquifers, replacing the relevant provisions in any underground mineral lease in Saskatchewan. The new royalty framework is set at 3% of the sales value of the brine minerals and includes a two-year exemption period for new capacity. This rate aligns with the Crown royalty rates set by Saskatchewan for potash, salt, and sodium sulphate, and the overall system is competitive among major global regions developing lithium from deep natural brine aquifers.

Karl Kottmeier, CEO of EMP Metals, stated, "This is very exciting news. The Government of Saskatchewan has again demonstrated its strong support for lithium production within the province. This royalty rate is highly competitive internationally, and the two-year exemption for new capacity will immediately have a positive impact on the financial model of our already attractive Aurora lithium production project."

About EMP Metals

EMP is a Canada-based lithium exploration and development company focused on developing large-scale lithium resources utilizing Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) technology. The company currently holds over 205,000 net acres (83,000 hectares) of underground mineral rights and strategic drill sites in Southern Saskatchewan.

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