Member Info for Inbrackets

And the purpose of this…….

Wave a flag? Show that there is still life? Introduce Dale to wider shareholders prior to the APA resubmission and 50 days response timeline and all that may flow from that?

Tee up the ball.

A link posted by Researchmeister Saloccin pointed towards confirmation from Quadrante that agreements had been signed with CALB. They recently signed agreements with Portuguese Gov subject to additional land being available for their planned investment.

“ We’re thrilled to announce we signed a contract with CALB Co., Ltd. to develop the design and environmental licensing of the first Portuguese Gigafactory to be built in Sines.
This is a remarkable moment as this will be the first CALB’s European factory and one of the biggest ever built in Europe with more than 1Bi€ of investment. Moreover, the facilities will place Sines as an important logistic hub connecting a global lithium supply chain.
QUADRANTE will lead the design consortium to deliver a highly sustainable factory that will definitely contribute to the Energy Transition.”

Interestingly Quadrante are therefore I the driving seat for CALB, Aurora (Galp and Northvolt) and SAV. As Saloccin rightly pointed out “ The data they will be collating across the process from mine to battery will surely lead to an exceptionally robust life cycle assessment”. Tracking provenance will be a feature of EU management in the future.

However frustrating this period may be, and it is, there would seem to be regular snippets that confirm that the rest of the patchwork quilt are being stitched together.

And as if by magic…

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/SPEECH_22_6988

Confirmation from Maros Sefcovic today, though what it will say, who knows.

I was wondering when the Raw Materials Act would actually appear and it looks like q1 next year. Unlike Portugal’s auctions, at least we can expect delivery of said document.

https://www.savannahresources.com/media/videos/

A good piece added to the SAV website. Far from being SAV specific, but looks to get the message over regards mining and the possibly irrational fear of mining across Europe and its need for self sufficiency.

Wasn’t it a disposal by Galp to Allianz?
Few months as NED to get feet under table, then acting CEO due relocation difficulties for Dale, then CEO when/if things fall into place (limiting any potential taint should things fail)…..could be one scenario. Alternatively, the search continues.

We have seen lower prices, much lower prices although that was without the time limited, binary outcome that is due over the next 6 or so months. It was also when lithium prices were much lower and the longer term price of $685 in the scoping study almost needed justification.

Admittedly it’s all quite raw now, with no multiple projects to hide behind, DAlome gradually stripped of the other veils to leave tantalising glimpses of what might be behind the last one. I can only pray that it is not Mrs Mitty (rebooting the old boot character that often featured in earlier posts) who I had thought was practicing her ballroom techniques for the village hall Strictly Night.

Currently they stress that it is an MOU but reading through, confirmation of the access to the land needed would strengthen and deepen the plan. Sounds as if most of the land is sorted so if there is a will, a way will be found.

Just in case this hadn’t been seen elsewhere:

Thought people may be interested in these links:
https://econews.pt/2022/11/03/chinese-electric-car-battery-plant-could-be-built-in-sines/
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/calb-technology_industrial-base-europe-activity-6993977410018820097-gW5X
Doesn?t guarantee anything but adds to the likelihood, possibly.

Today’s RNS not exactly riveting but did remind us that the resubmission is due Q1. Not that far away and under the terms of the current review, has time limits.

At least that will bring things to a head, however frightening a thought that might be.

Might one solution be that projects of national importance are administered from the centre and not the metaphoric ‘smoke filled rooms’ of relatives that were all at primary school together.

Fair comment, but the politics of it is the current reality.
As with most if not all mining projects, the permitting is a high hurdle with razor blades on the top. The next hurdles only become applicable if this one is scaled. Hopefully we can get over it without too much damage to the undercarriage.

Now that France want to produce raw material lithium, Will they look to ditch their attempts to get Lithium recognised as a toxic substance in Brussels across Europe.

https://twitter.com/valaafshar/status/1584167579853037568?s=61&t=YWXhoomWCVLUiKxXr7MKZw

Strikes me that this is a lesson that would be well learnt.

New high of 8,000 reached at the auction. Continued strength in effectively the spot price. Now about x12 the original assumed price in the PFS. With an increasing gap between demand and supply over the coming years, whilst the current spot price would be unrealistic, a longer term contract price of x4-5 the original might still be conservative for an assumption.

Would make for an attractive IRR for all to share in.

You may well be right. The emission noose doesn’t tighten in Europe again until 2025 (Ithink) and a fair excuse would be that the relevant local, national and EU legislatures have caused the delays with their lack of action and inability to confirm what can / cannot be done.

Easy to understand possible frustration between OEM and the differing levels of politics.

Would VW look at re-locating to Portugal? That might be a bit of a toughie, but it might be a timely reminder to the Port Gov that business and the world can’t wait indefinitely for them to take political decisions. They don’t have the luxury of endless delays .

What is needed has been an open secret for the past 3-4 years minimum.

https://twitter.com/globallithium/status/1583210089552699393?s=61&t=MDV1dX1wBm4wF1LCnxdYcw

Local communities hammer out an agreement with LAC and the Thacker Pass project.
Practical, pragmatic leadership from the local community for the benefit of the community. Can but hope that similar negotiations are not just taking place but will arrive at an agreed solution over the coming weeks/months.

Agreements can be reached.

So Macron is looking at ways for everyone to have access to EVs, but it is France that has brought the case to make Lithium toxic.

Meanwhile the article states that work on MDB has been suspended. No RNS about that. Can understand no physical work as they wait for confirmations and permissions/agreements as to where things need to go.

Is Europe seriously going to be 100% reliant on imports or wait until sufficient supplies of recycled material become available?

No disagreement there but it is just another hurdle that needs sorting and time delays that these things can take.
Sometimes wish that the EU would drop the Don Quixote chivalrous search for ever more windmills to tilt at.

Portugal’s time to shine?

https://www.wsj.com/articles/eu-proposal-to-call-lithium-toxic-may-affect-refining-projects-11666083603

Not if one EU office gets its way, ahead of a different EU office looking for a different outcome. Hopefully they will come up with a good old EU fudge so all sides can win.