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https://www.mining.com/web/how-portuguese-lithium-could-fuel-europes-ev-revolution/
Nothing new here but would have been a useful summary of the current situation if it hadn’t been for a careless mistake. The writer says that SAV welcomed the location of the Setubal plant in its annual report. Strange as the annual report was issued on April 6th and the Setubal announcement was only issued on April 12th? No comment was or could have been made. To my knowledge none has been made by SAV at all. Sloppy journalism!

The Washington Post gives examples including SAV: “But bringing the supply chain to Europe also poses fresh problems. Two hours by car from Porto is Tras-os-Montes in the Barroso region, a mountainous region of stunning beauty in Portugal. This is where Savannah Resources plans to set up Europe’s largest lithium mine and processing plant. It’s part of a bigger plan to create a European supply chain for lithium, which also includes a refinery run by Portuguese energy company Galp Energia SGPS SA and Swedish electric vehicle battery maker Northvolt AB. Environmental groups argue the mines with destroy a lush countryside and community. The project has applied for NextGeneration funding. ”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/energy/theres-no-place-like-a-supply-chain-close-to-home/2022/04/19/f13b3720-bfaa-11ec-b5df-1fba61a66c75_story.html

Ps, is it significant that DA hasn’t posted anything about the refinery news on social media?

Agree the project economics should be excellent. It’s just the economics of zero carbon which DA has committed to. All that additional mileage by HGVs will have to be mitigated somehow. A refinery on our doorstep would have been ideal.

Let’s not lose sight of the news on the refinery, welcomed in the local community of Setubal, by its mayor. A refreshing change from attitudes around the mine’s location. Would have preferred it in Porto rather than Lisbon as transport bears a cost and carbon penalty but nevertheless it’s progress!

Honestly I don’t think it need take that long?
Piedmont Lithium Ltd has a deal with Tesla but was only founded in 2016. Lithium production needs to rise 20% per year to 2030 to meet demand so new production has to come on line at a much faster rate.

…..not just in Teeside!

….meanwhile, Europe’s first lithium processing plant is in (drum roll) Teeside!
https://theenergyst.com/europes-first-lithium-processing-plant-progresses-at-teesside/

The longer we can remain independent the better in my view. Rio Tinto sounded good but proved to be a dead weight in Moz. Predators abound like Gangfeng who come in with low ball offers and sideline private investors. Let’s hope we can get over the current hurdles, add value and attract project finance ourselves.

A politician not making good on his promises?
( The Emperor has no clothes!)

The only fly in the ointment is that the Portuguese minister vowed that no spodumene would leave the country unrefined?

It seems DA shares my frustration “ What Europe needs now is for the same legislators who rightly seek to affect the energy transition and cut emissions, to also facilitate the responsible supply of all the raw materials with the removal of unnecessary red tape, siloed bureaucracies and the application of project management tools to make this target achievable.”

The 60 days has just about passed since the last promise from Portugov to announce the auction. Just no sense of urgency from this re-elected administration. So frustrating!

More greed than guilt perhaps? They can both smell the money. DA is whistling a confident tune, hitting all the right notes although not necessarily in the right order ( for my impatient ear anyway).

Or just window-dressing?

ABB is Swedish-Swiss with HQ in Switzerland if you would allow me a small correction. Hopefully the EU will overlook the fact that neither Switzerland nor the UK are members when they dish out funding! The “intent to work together”statement made by ABB has a lot more detail than the RNS https://new.abb.com/news/detail/89278/abb-signs-agreement-with-savannah-resources-as-plans-progress-for-zero-emission-lithium-project-in-europe
Nice little earner for them if it develops into a contract for work.

ABB is number 1 in process control technology which is fine but the MOU is really just an understanding that ABB is the preferred supplier when SAV get the go ahead and the financing to issue a contract. In the meantime it enables the sharing of confidential information like the flow sheet from which the equipment spec, project plan and coatings can be drawn up. All essential preparatory work of course.

Indeed, where else can you find a welder when you need one (particularly in this weather!).

The Gigafactory has ~40 GW capacity which translates to about 40,000 Tons of lithium per year. The addressable market grows each time a new factory is announced. Additionally the new carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) announced by the EU in Feb plans to put a surcharge on Chinese (carbon- intensive) lithium, incentivising local production. What are the Portuguese authorities waiting for?

Hi IB, Valencia has always been a centre for car manufacturing as I understand so it’s a good place to find relevant technology skills.
Its mere conjecture how this supply chain will piece together and I’m not sure if anyone holds the master plan. The good news is that we are learning that there is significant investment being made from the EV manufactures in plant and transport infrastructure so in time something may trickle down to SAV if we are given the green light in any sort of reasonable timescale.