Last Week (1.5-1.9) Overseas Lithium News [SMM New Energy Overseas Weekly News]

[Intrepid Potash Considers Potential for Battery-Grade Lithium Processing Facility in Utah]

Intrepid Potash, Aquatech International, and Adionics announced on Tuesday the completion of a test program at Intrepid Potash's potash production site in Wendover, Utah, successfully producing battery-grade lithium carbonate from by-product brine. Headquartered in Denver, Intrepid Potash is a supplier of high-grade potash, magnesium, sulfur, salt, and water products, widely used in agriculture, animal feed, and the oil and gas industries. The company is the sole US producer of potassium chloride (used in various industrial applications and as an animal feed ingredient), with two production sites in Utah (Wendover and Moab) and one in Carlsbad, New Mexico.

Intrepid Potash stated that, with the successful demonstration by Adionics and Aquatech producing battery-grade lithium carbonate from brine at the Wendover site, plans to build a lithium processing facility locally have achieved a milestone. The company revealed that the test achieved a lithium extraction rate of 92.9%, with the resulting lithium chloride having an overall purity exceeding 99.5%; lithium products produced at the Adionics site were further processed by Aquatech, confirming the feasibility of converting and purifying them into battery-grade lithium carbonate. Additionally, Aquatech successfully converted lithium-rich brine into a lithium carbonate product with purity ≥99.5% in supplementary tests, fully meeting key technical specifications for battery manufacturing. The three parties indicated that, given the test's complete success, they will proceed with the evaluation of the Wendover lithium project under the current Joint Development Agreement.

Intrepid Potash CEO Kevin Crutchfield said in a press release: "We are honored to collaborate with Aquatech and Adionics to continue developing Wendover's lithium resources. The breakthrough in direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology comes at an opportune time — as the US has prioritized increasing production of critical minerals." He emphasized that the existing infrastructure at the Wendover potash site and the lithium resources contained in the by-product brine from the production process give the project unique advantages distinguishing it from other lithium development projects. "We expect the Wendover lithium project to be one of the first domestic lithium projects to enter the market in the US," Crutchfield added. "The project will still adhere to the principles of 'controlling capital expenditure and reducing risk,' and the company's focus on its core fertilizer business will not change. However, commercializing the lithium resources from the by-product magnesium chloride brine will be an important step in enhancing the profitability of the Wendover site." At the close of trading in New York, Intrepid Potash's stock price rose 2.85%, bringing the company's market capitalization to $382 million.

Source: mining.com

[Welser Mining's Lithium Project in Chile Receives Approval]

As prices for the key battery metal lithium begin to rebound, Canadian junior mining company Welser Mining Limited has obtained approval for the operational application of its lithium project in Chile. Informed sources revealed that Chile's Ministry of Mining will award the company a contract for an initial project in the Ollagüe salt flat. As the matter has not yet been made public, these individuals, who wished to remain anonymous, stated that after final adjustments are completed, the contract will be signed and submitted to the Comptroller General for approval. This approval stems from a decision made by the Chilean government in September to streamline the contract issuance process for salt flats near the Bolivian border. Welser Mining, in collaboration with local indigenous communities, holds the Cusca lithium project in this area.

The Vancouver-based company will join forces with enterprises such as London-listed CleanTech Lithium and Chile's Errazuriz Group to compete in opening up new lithium resource areas in Chile. Chile possesses the world's largest lithium reserves, and the outgoing Chilean government plans to more than double lithium production over the next decade, hoping that investors will maintain a long-term optimistic view on electric vehicle demand as lithium prices recover from the global oversupply.

Source: mining.com

[Lithium Argentina Meets Production Expectations, Seeks Government Financing Support]

As Argentina's largest battery metal (lithium) producer, Lithium Argentina has achieved the production target for its Cauchari-Olaroz salt flat project, while advancing the permit application for the second phase of the project and reducing costs. The Switzerland-based company stated on Tuesday that the project commenced commercial production in 2024, with lithium carbonate production last year reaching approximately 34,100 mt, falling within the expected range of 30,000 to 35,000 mt. Production in the fourth quarter ending December 31 was approximately 9,700 mt, averaging 97% of nameplate capacity. "The Cauchari-Olaroz project continues to ramp up production and lower operating costs," an analyst said in a report to investors, "The company remains one of the preferred choices for exposure to lithium producers." The "Lithium Triangle" region where Argentina is located – a high-altitude Andean salt flat area spanning northern Chile, southwestern Bolivia, and northwestern Argentina, rich in lithium resources – is currently experiencing active development, with developers focused on reducing costs and validating new processing technologies. Rio Tinto Group is expanding its Rincon project in Salta Province, while France's Eramet has initiated the capacity ramp-up of its Centenario direct lithium extraction (DLE) plant. South Korean industrial giant Posco has also commissioned Argentina's first commercial-scale lithium hydroxide plant in Salta Province, and China's Ganfeng Lithium has commenced production at its Mariana project in the province. Argentina Lithium announced that the joint venture submitted two applications last month: one for an environmental permit and the other for financing support under the Large Investment Incentive Regime (RIGI) introduced by Argentine President Javier Milei. The company plans to increase its lithium carbonate capacity by 45,000 mt annually. Additionally, the company is preparing a RIGI application for the Pozuelos-Pastos Grandes (PPG) project in Salta Province, which is expected to be submitted this quarter. In a preliminary feasibility study in November, Argentina Lithium outlined a phased construction plan for the PPG project: the first phase will have an annual capacity of 50,000 mt, with an initial investment of approximately $1.1 billion. Partners are studying more advanced processing technologies, such as direct lithium extraction (DLE), to improve lithium recovery rates and reduce water consumption. The company's next phase of growth still depends on permit approvals, financing progress, and lithium price trends. Scotiabank noted that common risks faced by local developers in Argentina include jurisdictional uncertainty, funding gaps for expansion, and potential cash flow erosion due to operational failures or cost increases. As the company transitions from the capacity ramp-up stage to expansion planning, Argentina Lithium also announced management changes: Alec Mikel was promoted to President, responsible for corporate strategy execution, business development, and capital market activities; John Kanellitz moved from Executive Chairman to Chairman of the Board.

Source: mining.com

[Russia May Lose Access to Bolivian Lithium Resources: Intelligence Agencies Assess Potential Threat to Russia]

Russia may lose access to Bolivian lithium resources as the new Bolivian government reviews the terms of the agreement with Uranium One Group. The agreement, signed on September 11, 2024, planned the construction of a lithium carbonate production plant but has not yet been approved by the Bolivian parliament. According to the Ukrainian National News Agency (UNN), the shift in policy by the Bolivian government (La Paz) poses a risk that Russia could lose access to Bolivian lithium resources. The Russian Foreign Intelligence Service stated that for Russia, this means losing access to one of the world's key lithium resources, while Bolivia would gain room to adjust the agreement terms and potentially attract Western partners.

According to intelligence data, the new government of Bolivian President R. Paz will review the agreement between the state-owned lithium company Yacimientos de Litio Bolivianos (YLB) and Russia's Uranium One Group. Uranium One Group is a subsidiary of Rosatom. The agreement stipulates the construction of a lithium carbonate production plant in the Salar de Uyuni, Potosí department, Bolivia—one of the world's largest lithium deposits, with reserves of approximately 11.2 million mt, accounting for nearly 38% of global total reserves.

Source: https://unn.ua