The next focusIR Investor Webinar takes places on 14th May with guest speakers from Blue Whale Growth Fund, Taseko Mines, Kavango Resources and CQS Natural Resources fund. Please register here.
March 14, 2023
The Netherlands needs 10GW of battery storage by 2030 and, while the market is being held back by onerous grid fees, developers like Lion Storage are working on deploying multi-hundred megawatt systems.
Movement in the country’s battery energy storage system (BESS) market has picked up over the past 12 months. The largest operational system in the country was brought online in October last year by GIGA Buffalo, followed in quick succession by the largest under-construction projects being launched by Rolls-Royce and Alfen in November 2022 and February 2023 respectively.
Lion Storage has early-storage projects in the pipeline with two totalling 350MW/1,400MWh targeting a 2025 commercial operation date (COD) and another two with 400MW/1,600MWh combined capacity for 2026.
In an in-person interview at the Energy Storage Summit in London last month, the firm’s co-founder and CTO Jeroen Althoff talked Energy-Storage.news through the company’s plans, market drivers, regulatory issues, future value stack and other challenges he sees.
Flow batteries seem to be off the menu!………….
https://www.energy-storage.news/netherlands-bess-developer-lion-storage-talks-opportunities-and-challenges/
Perhaps of more relevance is- where is all the hardware (batteries) going to come from that they intend to pour this stuff into? You have to take baby steps and walk properly before you can start to run. Also it’s BMN that will be responsible for selling the electrolyte …. to MUST/BE???
And could it be possible that Must/BE will then be responsible for any leasing arrangements from there?
The next step is to discover exactly how this ‘vertically integrated’ set up - is being planned to be structured.
IDC own 45% of the ELZ plant. As it comes into commercial production I’m hoping we might get an indication of how that’s going to affect future electrolyte revenues and any what possibilities of getting that paid off are.
“Mantas …. also noted the importance of the energy transition being just for multiple communities dependent on the coal value chain for their livelihoods. He said that the African continent is well positioned to meaningfully benefit from the just energy transition, as it is endowed with minerals suitable for green energy production.
"Many of the people who are demonstrating think we must not mine because we are tampering with the environment. But those minerals are important to move from high carbon emissions to low carbon emissions," Mantashe said. The mining of minerals like vanadium and lithium - useful for battery storage and platinum - useful for the production of green hydrogen - should be allowed.”
https://www.news24.com/fin24/climate_future/news/just-in-mantashe-speech-disrupted-by-greenpeace-activists-20230307.
6 Mar 2023
President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday announced Kgosientsho Sputla Ramokgopa as the new minister of electricity who will focus on solving the power crises at Eskom.
“The state of disaster will allow the new electricity minister to exclude certain institutions from load-shedding. This minister will remain in office for as long as it’s necessary to resolve the energy crisis,” Ramaphosa said as he announced a cabinet reshuffle in a live television address.
He said the electricity minister would be expected to coordinate all departments responsible for energy response, and would also be responsible for turnaround plans and overseeing new generation capacity.
“The electricity minister’s primary task will be to reduce the severity and frequency of load-shedding, to oversee the electricity crisis response. He will have political responsibility over all aspects of the energy action plan,” Ramaphosa said, adding that the new minister would “expedite various regulatory processes for energy projects; and enable Eskom to undertake critical maintenance more quickly and efficiently”.
https://mg.co.za/news/2023-03-06-kgosientsho-ramokgopa-gets-green-light-for-minister-of-electricity/
The duty will also be applied to other steel products from the Russian Federation
From April 1, 2023, the USA will introduce a 70% customs tariff on pig iron imports from the Russian Federation. This rate will be extended to other steel and ferroalloy products, as well as scrap. S&P Global reported about it.
In April 2022, the US president signed a law suspending permanent normal trade relations between the United States and the Russian Federation, which made it possible to limit the import of Russian metals and other products.
In June 2022, the United States increased the customs tariff on a wide range of Russian steel products to 35%. Pig iron is not included in this list…………
https://gmk.center/en/news/the-us-is-introducing-a-70-tariff-on-russian-pig-iron/
Alan Patrick Ryan • 3rd+
Mining For Facts, llc;
intherightvein.com
Biden' announcement puts FeV users on notice
ON FEBRUARY 24, 2023
The news that President Biden plans to raise duties on more than 100 Russian metals may be a wake-up call for US vanadium consumers, many of whom reportedly have purchased FeV that was produced from Russian vanadium **** in Europe.
"Some consumers stopped buying Russian-origin months ago," said a trader. "Others are likely to be more vigilant after today's announcement."
One question worth examining is whether US mills that only take 80% FeV can shift to using 50% FeV. Mills that use 80% FeV have options outside of Russia including Brazil and South Africa. But with AMG looking to double its production capacity of 50% FeV this year, it seems plausible that some mills may want to investigate investing in changes that would allow them to rely on domestic supply.
AMG will not be doubling capacity right away given that it just started its new plant in Zanesville, OH, in late October, but the company says it is aiming to be at full capacity in the second quarter.
AMG's production expansion will not help the aerospace sector which needs high purity V205. Largo produces high purity V205 but has had production shortfalls in the last few months.
The question wasn’t so much about the investing communities, it referred to larger entities not being interested the acquiring BMN as its one of “only four primary vanadium mines outside of China to supply the massive demand of VRFB manufacturers, military and steel producers”
Imo - the answer to that question is, back in the shadows there may well be huge ‘long term play’ interests from some the energy majors, we don’t know their isn’t - we won’t know and no-one will know - until someone decides the ducks are all lined up and the time is right to play their cards.
So - also imagine the finance BMN would have to find to finance a new mine and processing plant at Mokopane - on top of the $151 million aspirations to increase capacity of the existing processors- after settling the Orion debt.
BEIJING/MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Rare discounts offered by Chinese battery giant CATL to automakers have accelerated a plunge in lithium prices, and the market is set to drop a further 25% with supply growth outpacing demand, analysts and traders say.
After a frenzied rush by electric vehicle makers to secure raw materials over the past two years, which drove prices for lithium carbonate up more than six-fold and spodumene up nearly ten-fold, the bubble has burst.
"Supply is coming on stream faster than you can say 'boo'," said analyst Dylan Kelly of Ord Minnett in Sydney.
"Demand remains strong but prices have been unsustainable for some time now."
The turning point for lithium prices came late last year as electric vehicle demand in China slowed sharply ahead of Beijing's planned halt to subsidies for the $87 billion industry, the world's biggest and fastest growing.
The slide steepened, analysts say, as investors were spooked by a drop in China's January electric vehicles sales and by CATL's discount terms, which included an assumption that prices of lithium carbonate, a key component in auto batteries, would more than halve.
But even as demand worries have rocked markets, it is the looming supply from China, Australia and Chile that will bring prices back down to earth, analysts say.…………….
https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/other/analysis-lithium-price-slide-deepens-as-china-battery-giant-bets-on-cheaper-inputs/ar-AA181UUt?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=2717e3c1e30f4ccea32042c7c52a5fcf
Link.
https://home.treasury.gov/system/files/126/determination_02242023_eo14024.pdf
DETERMINATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 1(a)G) OF EXECUTIVE ORDER 14024
Metals and Mining Sector of the Russian Federation Economy
Section 1 (a)(i) of Executive Order (E.O.) 14024 of April 15, 2021 (*Blocking Property With Respect To Specified Harmful Foreign Activities of the Government of the Russian Federation") imposes economic sanctions on any person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State, or the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, to operate or have operated in such sectors of the Russian Federation economy as may be determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State.
To further address the unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy. and economy of the United States described in E.O. 14024, and in consultation with the Department of State and pursuant to 31 CFR § 587.802, I hereby determine that section I(a)(i) of E.O. 14024 shall apply to the metals and mining sector of the Russian Federation economy. Any person determined, pursuant to section 1(a)(i) of E.O. 14024, to operate or have operated in this sector shall be subject to sanctions pursuant to section |(a)G).
This determination shall take effect on February 24, 2023.
Andrea M.
23 Feb 2023
ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula has hit back at former Eskom chief executive Andre de Ruyter, threatening to take legal action against him over his explosive allegations in a television interview that senior members of the ruling party were involved in corruption within the parastatal.
In the interview, De Ruyter said available evidence showed that the ANC saw Eskom as an “eating trough.”
https://mg.co.za/politics/2023-02-23-anc-to-take-legal-action-against-former-eskom-chief-executive-andre-de-ruyter/?utm_content=buffer921a1&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
The move comes after de Ruyter made startling revelations about alleged government interference at the power utility during a televised interview with eTV’s Annika L****n on Tuesday.
De Ruyter said he did not believe the government had the political will to end corruption within the power utility.
He added that evidence suggested that the power utility is a feeding trough for the ANC.
https://www.sapeople.com/2023/02/23/the-bombshell-interview-that-saw-eskom-axe-andre-de-ruyter-with-immediate-effect-watch/
RNS Number : 7777Q
Invinity Energy Systems PLC
23 February 2023
Placing Update
Further to the announcement regarding the Placing, Subscription and Open Offer released yesterday evening, Invinity is pleased to confirm that the Placing is now oversubscribed and in response to demand, the Directors are expecting to increase the size of the offering. The Company will provide a full update on the result of the Placing shortly.
Invinity Energy Systems PLC Placing, Open Offer & Strategic Investment
Source: UK Regulatory (RNS & others)
RNS Number : 7581Q
22 February 2023
Invinity Energy Systems plc (AIM: IES) (AQSE: IES) (OTCQX: IESVF) , a leading global manufacturer of utility-grade energy storage, announces its intention to raise a minimum of GBP16 million, by way of a conditional placing (the "Placing") of new ordinary shares of EUR0.01 each ("Ordinary Shares") (the "Placing Shares") and Subscription (the "Subscription") for 42,187,500 new Ordinary Shares (the "Subscription Shares") raising GBP2.5 million, both at an issue price of 32 pence per new Ordinary Share (the "Issue Price").
In addition, the Company is also offering all qualifying shareholders the opportunity to participate in an open offer (the "Open Offer", together with the Placing, the "Fundraising") at the Issue Price. The Open Offer will raise up to c. GBP4 million, pursuant to which up to 12,500,000 new Ordinary Shares (the "Open Offer Shares") will be offered to existing shareholders at the Issue Price on the basis of:
2 Open Offer Shares for every 19 Ordinary Shares held
The Open Offer is in addition to and separate from the funds raised pursuant to the Placing and the Subscription. The Fundraising and Subscription are not being underwritten.