Last Week (1.12-1.16) Overseas Lithium Highlights [SMM New Energy Overseas Weekly Highlights]

[NAL (North American Lithium Mine) Expansion Plan Accelerates]

Elevra previously outlined an overall project expansion plan to increase spodumene concentrate production to 315,000 mt per year, with construction expected to be completed and production to commence subsequently by the end of 2029. The critical path constraint for this plan lies in the approval process. Therefore, recent work has focused on identifying steps and methods to streamline the approval process. Based on new approval information obtained after the scoping study was published, Elevra has developed a development plan that can shorten the production increase cycle for the NAL project. Combined with existing permits, the new approval information provides an implementation path for increasing NAL production in a phased, flexible, and efficient manner. The currently proposed production increase path will be achieved through a series of debottlenecking measures, expected to: phase in and gradually raise the existing capacity level; shorten the time target to achieve the life-of-mine average production of 315,000 mt per year of spodumene concentrates; and enable staged capital investment, thereby reducing the initial upfront capital expenditure requirement.

Starting from mid-2027, the annual production of spodumene concentrates will initially increase by 15-20% above the current production level, while unit operating costs gradually decrease. This production increase plan falls within the existing concentrator permit limits (daily processing rate set at 4,500 mt);

subsequently, downstream concentrator, flotation, and filtration capacity will be expanded to 6,500 mt per day, with corresponding concentrate production expected to reach 315,000 mt per year. Incremental feed will be handled by a temporary mobile crushing system working in coordination with the existing crushing system; the temporary mobile crushing system and the existing crushing system will be replaced by a new crushing and ore sorting system capable of meeting the feed requirements for the full life-cycle average production of 315,000 mt per year. The final step is planned for completion in early 2029 and is expected to achieve the crushing and ore sorting efficiencies required to reduce full life-cycle costs. This phased development strategy is expected to achieve incremental production approximately two years earlier than originally planned, while spreading capital expenditure over a longer period. Given that the proposed expansion project is a low-risk brownfield endeavor, the company plans to release an updated scoping study in early Q2 of fiscal year 2026. Alongside the scoping study update, the company plans to proceed directly to detailed engineering design to implement the corresponding debottlenecking measures. The updated scoping study will detail the operating costs and capital expenditure associated with the aforementioned debottlenecking phases. Commenting on the optimized production plan, Mr. Dow Lucas, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Elevra, stated: "We are accelerating production growth at North American Lithium with a rigorous and pragmatic approach, ultimately resulting in a significantly improved development path. By leveraging new permitting information obtained after the scoping study as well as existing permits, we have developed a phased expansion plan that moves the permitting process off the critical path, achieves incremental production earlier in a low-risk brownfield setting, while maintaining a clear path to the target of 315,000 mt per year of spodumene concentrate capacity."The revised strategy is expected to advance the production increase timeline by approximately two years through targeted, capital-efficient debottlenecking measures, while spreading out capital investment and leveraging economies of scale. Given the robust inherent characteristics of the asset and reduced execution risk, we will update the scoping study and proceed directly to the detailed engineering design phase, thereby providing a clearer cost forecast for the NAL project and accelerating value creation. During the scoping study review process, it was identified that the previously reported C1 unit cash cost did not correctly allocate site general and administrative expenses. After reallocation, the forecast life cycle C1 unit cash cost upon full completion of the expansion is $630 per mt (previously reported as $562 per mt). However, the all-in sustaining costs detailed in the scoping study remain unchanged at $680 per mt. Consequently, key economic metrics, including an approximate project net present value of $950 million and an internal rate of return of 26.4%, are consistent with previously published data and remain highly attractive. The updated scoping study, scheduled for completion in early Q2 2026, will incorporate the accelerated production increase plan, which may further enhance these metrics.

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[Traxys and Lilac Deal to Reduce US Lithium Supply Chain Risk]

Traxys North America and Lilac Solutions signed a 10-year, 50,000-mt lithium carbonate take-or-pay offtake agreement, securing output from its Great Salt Lake Phase 1 project and reducing US supply risk. Lilac Solutions and Traxys North America have reached a binding 10-year offtake agreement for lithium carbonate from the Great Salt Lake facility in Utah.

Announced on May 15, 2025, the agreement establishes a clear procurement pathway for a major domestic source of critical minerals, aiming to scale up and reduce risks for US lithium production. Under the final terms, Traxys will purchase 50,000 mt of lithium carbonate over ten years, equivalent to 100% of the planned Phase 1 capacity.

Traxys, a global leader in physical metals trading with annual turnover exceeding $10 billion, structured the agreement as a take-or-pay model linked to market indices. This mechanism supports Lilac in advancing its final investment decision while securing Traxys a reliable, long-term source of battery-grade supply in a highly volatile market. Lilac CEO Raef Sulley stated in the announcement, "Securing an offtake agreement for the entire planned production brings us closer to establishing this important new domestic source of lithium resources."Leif's statement underscores the project's role in strengthening domestic procurement.

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[ABS Collaborates with Siemens Energy to Enhance Lithium-Ion Battery Safety Using Advanced Simulation Technology]

ABS and Siemens Energy have signed a Joint Development Project (JDP) aimed at significantly improving the safety and reliability of lithium-ion battery systems through advanced modeling and simulation technologies. This collaboration focuses on deepening the scientific understanding of thermal runaway—a critical safety challenge for lithium-ion batteries—particularly in demanding maritime and offshore operating environments. The JDP combines the complementary strengths of ABS and Siemens Energy: ABS brings extensive experience in the classification of vessels and offshore facilities, technical verification, and the development of global safety standards; Siemens Energy contributes its leading capabilities in digital simulation, advanced engineering tools, and innovation in industrial technology. Both parties are committed to building a robust simulation framework capable of predicting battery behavior under extreme and abnormal conditions, thereby enabling safer system design from the early development stages.

As vessels and offshore facilities accelerate the adoption of lithium-ion batteries to support decarbonization, hybrid propulsion, and energy storage needs, the consequences of battery failures—especially thermal runaway events—can be particularly severe in confined or remote environments with limited emergency response capabilities. Through this JDP, ABS and Siemens Energy will utilize high-precision modeling and simulation technologies to analyze the response mechanisms of battery packs under thermal, electrical, and mechanical stress, aiming to fill existing knowledge gaps. The project places high importance on simulation-based verification methods, using advanced digital models to replace some costly, time-consuming, and scope-limited physical tests. This enables the partners to evaluate fault initiation, thermal event propagation, and the effectiveness of mitigation measures such as cooling systems, containment strategies, and system isolation. The resulting insights are expected to support improved design verification methods and enhance the resilience of safety concepts for the next generation of battery systems.

ABS stated that safety and technical assurance have always been at the core of its mission. By combining ABS's deep understanding of safety standards with Siemens Energy's advanced modeling expertise, the collaboration will help the maritime and offshore industries adopt emerging energy storage technologies more confidently. This partnership simultaneously drives innovation and risk management by strengthening the technical foundation for battery system design and operation. Siemens Energy views the project as a critical step toward optimizing battery system performance and enhancing safety, emphasizing that advanced modeling and simulation are vital tools for shaping a safer and cleaner energy future. By digitally assessing design and operational requirements, the project will ensure that battery solutions for maritime and offshore applications meet stringent safety expectations without compromising efficiency or sustainability goals.

Simulation research findings during the JDP project are expected to enhance the safety assurance throughout the entire ESS life cycle—from conceptual design and certification to installation, operation, and ongoing risk management. Ultimately, the collaboration between ABS and Siemens Energy highlights their shared commitment to advancing the safe application of lithium-ion batteries, supporting the maritime and offshore industries' transition to low-carbon energy systems.

Source: https://www.chemanalyst.com/

[Ukrainian Prime Minister Confirms Kyiv Awards One of Its Largest Lithium Mines to Investor Linked to Trump]

Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko has confirmed that a consortium led by TechMet and Lock Holdings won the bid for the mineral resource development project in Kirovohrad Oblast.

Quote: "The deposit is expected to attract at least $179 million in capital investment, of which $12 million will be allocated to a new round of geological exploration and international reserve audits. If commercial reserves are confirmed, an additional $167 million will be used to organize mining and processing." Svyrydenko added that Ukrainian and foreign enterprises were invited to participate in the selection process, which employed a percentage-based evaluation system. The winning bidder was Dobra Lithium Holding LLC, a joint venture jointly owned by TechMet and Lock Holdings.

Svyrydenko emphasized: "The Dobra mine is only Step-1 in the grand plan to integrate Ukraine into the supply chains of our strategic partners."

Background:

• The New York Times previously reported that the winning consortium has close ties to the administration of US President Donald Trump. Consortium members include Ronald Lauder, heir to the Estée Lauder cosmetics company. Lauder is a friend of Trump, with the two knowing each other since university. Furthermore, Lauder has long provided political donations to the Republican Party. - The largest shareholder of TechMet is the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), which was established by Trump during his first term in the White House. On April 30, 2025, Ukraine and the US signed a minerals agreement that envisions the creation of a joint Ukrainian-US investment fund to manage Ukraine's resources. In September, US representatives visited Ukraine to inspect the first deposits that could become initial projects for the Ukraine Recovery Investment Fund. Representatives from the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation visited Kirovohrad Oblast at that time.

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[E3 Lithium Delivers Battery-Grade Lithium Carbonate from Its Demonstration Project to Global Partners and Off-Takers]

Calgary, Alberta--(BUSINESS WIRE)--E3 Lithium Ltd. (TSXV: ETL; FWB: OW3; OTCQX: EEMMF) ("E3," "E3 Lithium," or the "Company"), a leading Canadian lithium resource development company, has commenced and is continuing to deliver battery-grade lithium carbonate produced from its demonstration project to multiple parties as part of its engagement with potential off-takers and strategic partners. E3 Lithium continues to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate from lithium chloride generated through its direct lithium extraction process, with all process steps currently operating within its demonstration plant in Alberta. The company is now shipping 0.5 kg sample batches to potential partners in the lithium battery industry, and multiple enterprises have requested kilogram-scale samples for further analysis.

The demonstration plant, designed based on the pre-feasibility study released in 2024, was manufactured in early 2025 and deployed to the site in Q3 2025 for Phase 1 testing. The team achieved target battery-grade lithium carbonate specifications within three weeks of commissioning, demonstrating the robustness of the facility design. Delivering E3's lithium carbonate to potential customers is part of a structured qualification process, with the product consistently meeting target purity levels for all potential impurity metrics required for battery applications. The demonstration project is being conducted within the company's flagship Clearwater River project, aiming to collect data and operational information to complete E3's front-end engineering and design, ultimately leading to the release of a feasibility study report. The Clearwater River project is a lithium carbonate production facility in the late development stage, located 15 km east of the town of Oz, Alberta, approximately one hour's drive north of Calgary. The company proposed a phased development plan, with an initial annual production capacity of 12,000 mt of lithium carbonate and the potential for expansion to 360,000 mt per year. As the Clearwater River project progressively reaches construction-ready status, E3 Lithium is advancing development activities concurrently with the signing of commercial offtake agreements.

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[Nigeria Prioritizes Lithium and Critical Minerals for Clean Energy Future, Tinubu Says at Abu Dhabi Summit]

Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu stated that Nigeria is prioritizing lithium and other critical minerals to position the country advantageously in the global clean energy transition. The President made these remarks during a live address today at the 2026 Sustainability Week event in Abu Dhabi, outlining Nigeria's energy transition agenda and mineral potential to global leaders and investors.

Emphasizing the importance of critical minerals for clean energy, Tinubu noted: "Nigeria likewise prioritizes critical minerals essential for the clean energy future." He added: "Among other rare earth minerals abundant in Nigeria, our lithium resources hold transformative potential for battery production, energy storage, and power capacity."

In earlier remarks, Tinubu explained the framework guiding Nigeria's transition: "The Nigeria Energy Transition Plan integrates energy access, climate cooling, industrial growth, and social development into a single coherent framework. "He pointed out that the implementation process has been initiated through pilot projects: 'Our electric mobility pilot project is advancing the national energy efficiency program, aiming to reduce emissions, lower costs, and stimulate industrial development.'

Tinubu also called on global investors to establish cooperative relationships with Nigeria that go beyond the extraction of raw minerals. 'I take this opportunity to invite partners to establish linkage mechanisms to ensure not only mineral extraction but also local processing and value addition, thereby creating jobs for Nigerians and enhancing industrial capacity—such cooperation is highly welcome.' He assured investors that Nigeria is open for business and emphasized: 'Nigeria looks forward to working with you; we adhere to the principle of easy access, with the core demand being value addition.' Lithium is a key component in EV batteries and renewable energy storage systems, and its importance is increasingly prominent as countries phase out fossil fuels such as crude oil and transition to clean energy. The president's comments position Nigeria's lithium and critical mineral resources at the core of the strategy to attract clean energy investment and drive industrial growth.

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