Member Info for ChameleonMan

It’s more than seen, it is an unstable government, deeply wounded by scandal, in fear of the power of the President to dissolve it and in fear of widespread public protest on inflation (c 20%), wages, the environment etc. The last thing they need is further public protest following any unpopular decisions. Our default approved status could indeed save the day but I am prepared for some can-kicking from APA in the form of demanding caveats on any approval, playing for time.

If the President feels minded to dissolve Parliament then it will be very difficult for any caretaker government to make any important decisions. Lithium mining being a hot political potato might well be passed around without any significant progress being made.

I always take sodium batteries with a pinch of salt! ;)

……Can you dig it?

Interesting IB, though in the greater scheme of things a 50mW battery represents (only) about 1000 EV batteries. It would need to be replicated many times to become a significant market segment. As far as hydrogen goes, if you can make a reasonably priced car that is cheaper to run on hydrogen and easy to refuel, it’s a winner, but somehow I think this is unlikely in the short to medium term?

Some local progress on downstream refining operations for spodumene as well as brine.
https://www.businessnews.com.au/article/Neometals-cost-study-shows-tech-benefit-for-lithium-refinery?amp

The Chinese will only succeed if we buy their EVs rather than the many alternatives. The choice is ours.

Not an expert in Mexican affairs but from what I read …… https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/mexicos-lopez-obrador-orders-ministry-step-up-lithium-nationalization-2023-02-19/

Bit of a problem for the likes of SQM and Albemarle as the Chilean government moves to nationalise its lithium industry? Mexico has already done so. What next one wonders but it must surely enhance the appeal and value of a European mining project?

Hi TB! I think the expression “never let the facts get in the way of a good story” is perhaps the working motto for Portugal Resident?

912 responses were made according to our friends at Portugal Resident. Many more than last time so you could say the public consultation was “well supported”? Bit of a headache for the APA staff to wade through that lot but they did extend the consultation time so that’s hard Manchega. PR still coming out with the same old issues. Would never have believed wolves were so popular in farming communities? Still quoting Steve Emerman and his tailings dam scaremongering. Wonder if they will issue an apology if they ever bother to read the plan and realise there isn’t a tailings dam? No Pulitzers for them I’m afraid?
https://www.portugalresident.com/lithium-wars-residents-call-to-reject-savannah-resources-revised-mine-plans/

Not a problem we should have in Portugal as they seem to shoot anything with feathers!

…….and yet Stellantis is heavily invested?

IB, the market caps are now almost identical -SAV £62m, EMH £65m. Probably a more reliable measure than the SP for relative valuation? Over and above that there will be speculative funds flowing in to SAV to catch any uplift on the EIA determination which will no doubt be gone the same day as the announcement (provided there is sufficient liquidity)?

Does that imply that there will be no production until the road is built? If EU funding is required that will be another decision we will await, no doubt under local protest for disturbing the flora and fauna? So many ifs and buts remain but we seem to be grinding forwards to some sort of conclusion albeit with further environmental caveats.

Apart from a rather cynical “ the PM extolled the country’s ‘wealth in lithium’ (even before it is being mined)”, they were silent. Previously they fell hook, line and sinker for the antis’ assertion that the resource was uneconomic to mine. Maybe now they are beginning to understand that it is a source of national wealth and don’t want to be caught on the losing side of the argument?

I note that Costa is selling Portugal’s lithium reserves hard to South Korea. For once Portugal Resident had very little negative to say about it!
https://www.portugalresident.com/portugals-pm-promotes-largest-lithium-deposits-in-europe-during-visit-to-south-korea/

To be clear by “premium” I’m talking about quality. As I understand, the current method of recycling Li batteries is to shred everything and purifying the resulting “black mass”. This results in expensive processes with low value products. As a result, it costs more to recycle them than to mine more lithium to make a new one. No doubt the recycling technology will improve in cost and quality as it develops.

Im afraid I can’t agree with either of your conclusions Wolster. The Chinese are happy to corner any and all supplies of lithium and would be sniffing around SAV for a an acquisition on the cheap if possible. They have form in doing this.

Lithium recycling is a good and necessary thing. Completes the virtuous circle of use and reduce thereby reducing environmental impacts. It creates value rather than cost in spent batteries. Forecast demand for lithium ( if you believe it) will devour virgin and recycled lithium with no doubt a premium for the first.
Both types of operation are necessary parts of the lithium ecosphere.

No and I watch the Portugal lithium news quite closely! Why is the Portuguese government making such a significant deal with a Chinese company while pretending to be a good European? Clearly not broadcasting it widely?