Last Week's (12.8-12.12) Overseas Lithium Highlights [SMM New Energy Overseas Weekly Highlights]

[Albemarle Completes Verification of Lithium Pilot Plant in Chile]

US-based Albemarle announced on Wednesday that it has completed verification of its direct lithium extraction (DLE) pilot plant located in Chile. This move will help the company finalize the design of future commercial-scale plants and advance subsequent environmental assessment processes.

As the world's second-largest lithium producer, Chile currently has only two lithium mining enterprises, one of which is Albemarle. Lithium, a key raw material for EV batteries, is increasingly demonstrating its strategic value.

Key Data Overview:

Lithium recovery rate exceeded 94% during stable operation;

The pilot plant accumulated over 3,000 hours of operation, equivalent to more than 90 consecutive days;

Maximum water reuse rate reached 85% during the verification phase;

Albemarle has invested $30 million in this pilot plant and allocated an additional $216 million for the construction of a salt recovery plant in the Atacama Salt Flat.

Source: mining.com

[Liontown Signs Another Offtake Agreement for Kathleen Valley Project]

ASX-listed Liontown has secured another key customer for its Kathleen Valley lithium project, signing a binding offtake agreement with Canmax for the supply of 150,000 mt of spodumene concentrates annually during 2027-2028.

The company stated that pricing will be determined using a formula linked to the spodumene index price, aligning the contract with current market conditions.

Canmax is one of the world's leading producers of lithium hydroxide, lithium carbonate, and other battery materials, as well as a significant purchaser of lithium raw materials from Australia and internationally.

Liontown said this agreement complements its existing offtake arrangements with Tier-1 customers and is an important part of its strategy to diversify its offtake portfolio geographically and across the battery value chain.

"We are delighted to have reached this offtake agreement with Canmax, a globally leading lithium chemical enterprise. Their participation in our 2025 institutional placement demonstrated strong confidence in the long-term potential of the Kathleen Valley project, and this offtake agreement further strengthens their commitment to collaboration," said Managing Director and CEO Tony Ottaviano.

"By signing sales agreements linked to the spodumene concentrates index while continuing to advance our platform-based spot sales strategy, we can ensure fair value realization for the products we produce."

Liontown controls two large lithium deposits in Western Australia and is currently seeking further growth through exploration, partnerships, and acquisitions, while also evaluating downstream opportunities – resource ownership will provide it with a competitive advantage in this field.

Source: https://www.miningweekly.com

[IEA: Ghana Must Take Control of Its Lithium Resources]

The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) urged the Ghanaian government to fully control the country's lithium resources, entrust the private sector to mine on its behalf, and develop the lithium value chain to maximize national interests.

The agency stated that the government should establish a state-owned Ghana Lithium Company (GLC) to lead the efficient mining and management of this mineral.

The IEA pointed out that the government has invested $32 million in the Ewoyaa lithium project, a significant amount compared to the investment by Barari DV, a private investor seeking ownership of the mine; it also emphasized that Ghana still has more room to strengthen its control over this resource.

"The Ghana Lithium Company (GLC) should be tasked with building a complete domestic lithium value chain, achieving integrated development from raw materials to battery products," the institute said.

At a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, Dr. Charles Mensah, Chairman of the IEA, stated that, based on the current market price of lithium carbonate at $9,000 per mt, if the estimated 3.6 million mt of spodumene concentrates from the Ewoyaa mine are processed, Ghana could potentially gain approximately $172 billion in revenue.

He said lithium should be classified as a strategic mineral vital to economic prosperity and national security.

"As a strategic mineral, lithium is crucial for Ghana's energy transition and transformation into a modern economy," Dr. Mensah emphasized.

He urged the government to "proceed cautiously" in decisions regarding lithium resource extraction and warned against being influenced by narratives of falling global lithium prices.

"I want to tell those holding such views that their suggestions are pure 'voodoo economics' (impractical economic proposals)," he added.

Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, an IEA researcher and former Speaker of Parliament, called on Parliament to suspend approval of the revised lithium mining agreement to avoid repeating past losses suffered by the nation in natural resource deals.

He pointed out that Ghana's current mining regulations and related agreements have hindered national development and require comprehensive reform.

"We admire what Dubai has achieved for its people using natural resources," Professor Oquaye said. "Successful models now exist as precedents, and knowledge is abundant. If Dubai had relied solely on collecting royalties, could it have achieved what it has today? Why should we do the opposite?"

Professor Oquaye also cautioned local mining communities against hasty extraction, stating that, as seen in many mining communities within Ghana, rushed development could instead worsen their situations.

Former Minister of Lands and Natural Resources Inusah Fuseini stated that Ghana has a "golden opportunity" to transform its economic fortunes by leveraging lithium, a critical mineral.

He pointed out that Parliament believes the negotiated lithium mine agreement conflicts with existing laws—particularly regarding the proposed 10% royalty rate, whereas the legally stipulated rate is 5%. This discrepancy provides grounds for rejecting the agreement and renegotiating.

"There is no legal basis for them to set a 10% royalty rate, which is the core question raised by the MPs," Fuseini said.

"Therefore, the agreement itself is legally flawed. Given that, why should we approve it? In my view, this is precisely an excellent opportunity for renegotiation."

National Chief Imam Spokesperson Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu called for enhanced communication with local mining communities to ensure residents understand the relevant processes and effectively participate in maximizing national benefits from lithium resources development.

Source: https://gna.org.gh

[Iron Ore Contracting Company Secures 39-Month Contract for Covalent Lithium's Mt Holland Project]

Diversified mining services provider Iron Ore Contracting Company announced it has been awarded a 39-month mining services contract by Covalent Lithium to provide drilling and blasting, loading and hauling, and run-of-mine (ROM) management services for the Mt Holland project in the Goldfields region of Western Australia.

Covalent Lithium operates the Mt Holland mine and beneficiation plant, while its Kwinana Refinery is currently in the commissioning phase.

The contract will take effect in February 2026, requiring Iron Ore Contracting Company to deploy equipment and 220 personnel to the project site to support the capacity ramp-up of the Mt Holland project.

The Mt Holland project will become the second major lithium mine project operated by Iron Ore Contracting Company—since 2022, the company has been providing development support services for Liontown Resources' Kathleen Valley open-pit lithium mine.

Established in 2015, Iron Ore Contracting Company has long served the mining industry in Western Australia. It currently operates 10 projects in the state, primarily focused on iron ore, lithium, and gold, with total orders on hand exceeding A$1 billion (approximately US$665 million).

Iron Ore Contracting Company CEO Clinton Keenan said, "We are extremely honored to undertake the mining services for the Mt Holland project as Covalent Lithium advances this critical phase of lithium capacity expansion."Integrity is at the core of all our operations, and ensuring the compliance and integrity of our clients' ore body extraction is our primary objective. The competitiveness of the company's proprietary asset strategy is increasingly being recognized by mining enterprises, as evidenced by the recent contract award from Covalent."

In addition to Covalent Lithium and Liontown Resources, the company currently provides mining or civil engineering services to enterprises such as Rio Tinto, Fortescue Metals Group, Northern Star, Gold Fields, and Meeka Metals.

Keenan added, "We are consistently committed to being a solutions-focused contractor. When faced with challenges, our first response is to take action rather than submit a variation request. This pragmatic and integrity-driven approach has helped us build trust and long-term, stable partnerships with our clients, which is crucial for sustained business growth."

Source: https://im-mining.com