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Australian lithium refinery at Port Hedland takes a step closer today. Lithium sulphate SUPPLY TO THE UK Tees Valley Lithium plant should see interested suppliers now come out.

These guys will need spodumene rock to work on ?

Odds on Pilbara Minerals OR Rio Tinto after my research.

Pilbara Minerals have 1BILLION + in CASH...

Maybe this is the kick up the backside the shortsighted UK Gov needs to support the UK North with MULTIPLE lithium projects.

Here Tees Valley Lithium owned and backed by Alkemy Capital are trying NOT to use Gov funding as the Gov is SOOOO CARP !!!

Sunak - its a NO BRAINER. Stop thinking about your wifes money and legacy and make a UK lithium industry ??? Donkey to water = Sunak !

Merchant lithium refinery dedicated to the processing of spodumene fines and tailings will proceed in conjunction with the engineering and approvals work already underway for train 1 processing standard specification spodumene concentrate at Port Hedland. Running these two work streams in parallel will provide us with significant optionality prior to making a final investment decision on the development of the Port Hedland lithium sulphate refinery."

Australian lithium merchant lithium refinery dedicated to the processing of spodumene fines and tailings will proceed in conjunction with the engineering and approvals work already underway for train 1 processing standard specification spodumene concentrate at Port Hedland. Running these two work streams in parallel will provide us with significant optionality prior to making a final investment decision on the development of the Port Hedland lithium sulphate refinery."

Should be good for Cornish Lithium association deal with brine processing. Two heads better than one !

More chance of CUSN royalties from CL spinout and progress !

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/23512498.lithium-success-vital-energy-link-made-geothermal-brines/

Alkemy Capital Investments formed Tees Valley Lithium to develop the UK’s first lithium hydroxide monohydrate (LHM) processing facility at the Wilton International within the Teesside Freeport.

TVL has already signed an MoU with Weardale Lithium as a potential feedstock supplier from its lithium project here in the North East, so news of positive tests with Manchester-based, Watercycle Technologies will be a huge boost to their plans.

Lithium is a critical raw material utilised in the production of electric vehicle batteries. In order to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles and meet net-zero targets, the UK needs a secure supply of lithium as there is currently no commercial lithium production or refining in the UK or Europe.

Stewart Dickson, CEO of Weardale Lithium, said: “The supply of domestic lithium is of strategic importance to the UK’s net zero ambitions and production of high-value batteries for electric vehicles.

“We have taken a significant step forward in establishing that the naturally occurring geothermal brines are amenable for lithium production and validated a number of direct lithium extraction processes. We will now accelerate and scale-up the testing of increased volumes of brine towards first production. "

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/23512498.lithium-success-vital-energy-link-made-geothermal-brines/

Funding and binding offtake secured in Oz.

"Recharge IndustriesTM has already secured the production equipment for the first 2 GWh production line with binding off-take contracts and secured funding. The equipment is scheduled to arrive in Australia in late May 2023."

This is technically NOTHING to do with ALK / TVL.

The offtake is MoU level with ALK BUT there are MANY other suppliers wanting Lithium Hydroxide in the EU + 30+ Gigafactories so the requests for LCE & LiOH are going to be multiple.

"So, then, why did it fail?

Collard spotted six areas of weakness, all for which he says he has a better plan.

First, Britishvolt had no binding offtake agreement, but Collard’s Recharge does with a power company whose revenues run into the billion of dollars.

Second, Britishvolt did not yet have proven, validated technology, but Recharge does with its C4V technology supervised by British Nobel laureate Stanley Wittingham. The technology, which involves no cobalt or nickel, is being used by Recharge for the development of a 30GWh battery manufacturing facility in Australia.

Next on the list of Britishvolt failures was a weakness in secure supply chain. Collard argues that Recharge has locked in a robust and verified supply chain that can leverage raw material supply relationships out of its Recharge Australia business. Australia is the world’s largest producer of lithium and produces nine of the 10 elements required to produce most lithium-ion batteries.

The fourth weakness was Britishvolt’s balance sheet. It just couldn’t attract the capital.

Collard is confident Recharge’s balance sheet is cleaner and better secured. A pension fund is in the final stages of supplying a £2.5 billion facility, while five investment banks have been shortlisted for a capital raise. Bridging finance of £60 million is in a final round of diligence with a separate financier.

The fifth and sixth reasons are that Britishvolt didn’t have multiple product segments, and its working capital wasn’t as lean as that of Collard’s Recharge. There were rumours of extravagance at Britishvolt before the collapse."

https://www.afr.com/world/north-america/the-aussie-in-america-reviving-britain-s-biggest-battery-project-20230430-p5d4b5

From Dimon Moore of Bechmark , regarding UK battery failings by Gov. Seems they want to listen, thats twice in 4 weeks. Once at Critical Metals when Rio & Benchmark argued for action. Also this Parlimentary event on China v UK.

Gotta be something being said by the Universities and large companies needing some form of Gov plan ?

Could be a big vote winner ?

"Proud to be a part of a really excellent hearing in Westminster 🇬🇧 yesterday.

The UK has missed the boat (twice) to build a lithium ion battery and EV economy.

The third and probably final chance is to start now for 2030 and beyond.

Here is @benchmarkmin’s written evidence… https://t.co/HqgXVEUdnb https://t.co/U29hiv7OTa

Recharge Industries 3rd May 2023 UK lithium news.

" The boss of new Britishvolt owner Recharge Industries has set out why his company is better placed to deliver a gigaplant on the Northumberland site, saying it has lined up significant funding for the project.

David Collard, whose firm bought the failed start-up's business and assets from administrators at the end of February, has confirmed that an unnamed pension fund is in the final stages of agreeing a £2.5bn facility with Recharge and bridging finance of £60m is close to being secured with a financier. The New York-based entrepreneur gave an interview to The Australian Financial Review in which he set out reasons why he thought Britishvolt had failed.

A well understood concern was Britishvolt's lack of confirmed customers, despite some initial agreements, including with luxury car makers Lotus and Aston Martin. Recharge, which has called the gigaplant project a "massive opportunity" to develop North East skills and the supply chain, will initially focus on batteries for the energy storage market and says it already has an offtake agreement with a power company.

Read more: Norstead collapse leaves more than 300 companies owed millions

In his interview with journalist Matthew Cranston, Mr Collard also pointed to Britishvolt's lack of technology, a problem Recharge avoids via its partnership with US lithium-ion battery specialist C4V. The tech underpins Recharge's gigaplant planned for Geelong in South East Australia.

And Mr Collard has also hailed his firm's supply chain links - pointing to Australia as a global source of lithium, one of the key elements in battery production. Earlier this year, Tees Valley Lithium - which is driving forward plans for a lithium hydroxide refinery on Teesside, said it had signed an agreement with Recharge that it hoped would become an offtake contract. Tees Valley Lithium will ship its raw materials from Australia to the North East for processing."

https://www.business-live.co.uk/manufacturing/recharge-industries-highlights-financial-muscle-26830793

@AlkemyCapital @TVLithium @grantshapps @cabinetofficeuk @Jacob_Rees_Mogg #lithium #GreenEnergy @Tesla @VW @RioTinto @PilbaraMinerals @PiedmontLithium @jaguarlandrover @ToyotaUK @RollsRoyce @NissanUK @globallithium @LithiumIonRocks @sdmoores @benchmarkmin Please retweet its vital

There is a poll included which simply asks to keep the UK car industry going does the UK need a gigafactory or not ?

I know there are already 2 plus the new planned but struggling old British Volt site , now owned by Australians Recharge Industries.

SD Moore on twitter went to the UK parliment on behalf of Bemchmark Minerals to present the fact that China has a SIGNIFICANT strangle hold on the global trade in lithium , batteries and energy storage.

I think it is worthwhile putting in a vote , please pass on this if you feel it is appropriate

Lithium $10BILLION Mega merger. The race is truely on.

Buyouts , mergers AND ..... Joint Ventures ;-))))

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/allkem-and-livent-to-create-a-leading-global-integrated-lithium-chemicals-producer-301820685.html

The LITHIUM ARMS RACE picks up pace !!!

Major lithium news.

"@Allkem and ⁦@LiventCorp⁩ in lithium $10bn mega merger

Immediate scale is key here: more production clout, offer customers bigger contracts, & increases lithium pricing power

What’s most interesting is what comes next, esp for Canada & Argentina https://t.co/M29Y019xog"

UK Parliment Lithium presentation.

"Proud to be a part of a really excellent hearing in Westminster 🇬🇧 yesterday.

The UK has missed the boat (twice) to build a lithium ion battery and EV economy.

The third and probably final chance is to start now for 2030 and beyond.

Here is @benchmarkmin’s written evidence… https://t.co/HqgXVEUdnb https://t.co/U29hiv7OTa"

I am going to shout now.

ITS AMAZING HOW DUMB THIS COUNTRY IS.

100% NO BRAINER

DING DING DING MONEY TO BE MADE YOU F WITS.

GET OFF YOUR FAT .... AND GET THE UK INVOLVED.

OH AND WE CAN ALL MAKE SOME MONEY FOR GRIM UK.

ARRRGGGGGHHHHHH.

Lithium hydroxide news :-

Come on Tees Valley & Alkemy , where is the news flow?

Just in: @Tesla breaks ground at the new #lithium refinery, Texas

"We can bring in the spodumene which is the rock input to this refinery from all over North America"

Currently, who is the ONLY hard rock lithium producer in North America?

➡️ @SayonaMining $SYA $SYAXF https://t.co/1kue5Zs8b3

Lithium news - view of Pilbara minerals

"Henderson expected prices to level or soften further in the June quarter, with a turnaround likely in the later half of this year. Despite the current slowdown, EV sales in China were experiencing 27 per cent year-on-year growth, and global EV growth remained strong at about 25 per cent year-on-year, he said.

Analysts at Macquarie Bank hold an “outperform” rating against 19 lithium and rare earth miners. They said in a note to clients this week that while spot prices for lithium source material spodumene were largely unchanged, prices were up at one of the sector’s leading indicators, the Wuxi futures.

China battery grade prices have rebounded. “We believe market sentiment could continue improving in May, supported by potentially strong consumption data,” Macquarie said.

Western Australia News.

https://www.watoday.com.au/business/markets/is-the-wild-ride-over-outlook-brightens-for-lithium-as-ev-sales-surge-20230502-p5d4vm.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feed

???? Immensely proud to be representing @benchmarkmin in front of @HouseofCommons next Tuesday 9 May, Palace of Westminster, London

I’ll be giving evidence on the state of the UK’s battery, gigafactory and critical minerals status versus the rest of the world.

We used to have… https://t.co/hQrA55pl38

As China starts to buy lithium from the open market, and funding from the EU and US is increased through offtake agreement and equity offerings, the next twelve months should be brighter for the lithium lightweights than the previous twelve. With increased funding, these small players should be able to excel at becoming producers at a faster pace, providing much needed support to the surging EV demand.

https://www.sharecafe.com.au/2023/05/05/ev-makers-must-intensify-efforts-to-aid-lithium-players/

The future few months ? Its going to change most likely for the better.
"9-12 months ago, when lithium stocks were booming, companies could raise funds by issuing equity. At this time, cost of debt was also cheaper.

However, as these stocks prices have been falling, and interest rates have been rising, companies are finding it increasingly difficult to raise funds for operations.

Several have been lucky to obtain funds through the signing of offtake agreements.

The US has been on the ball with this.

In recent months, Tesla (NASDAQ: TSLA) has agreed to amend its previous offtake agreement with Piedmont Lithium (ASX: PLL) to supply lithium concentrate for the next 3 years.

Ford Motors (NYSE: F) also signed a binding offtake agreement with Ioneer (ASX: INR).

They have also been providing equity investments to EV players, including General Motors (NYSE: GM) investing $69 million equity stake in Queensland Pacific Metals (ASX: QPM).

However, whilst the US companies have been actively investing, European EV companies have been asleep at the wheel.

There are now signs that this will change.

When referring to their shared project with Bayrock Resources in Sweden, QX Resources (ASX: QXR) Managing Director Steve Promnitz commented, “end users are now actively looking for these sorts of assets,” whereby end users refers to the car makers, battery makers, cathode makers.

Mr. Promnitz also brought to light the fact that there are not that many projects around, especially when catering for the huge demand growth for EVs, meaning these end users need to get involved once a project gets to a resource or a feasibility study, in order to secure future supply of the likes of battery components including lithium, nickel, graphite etc.

To support this, there have within the last week been reports that the EU is willing to proceed on a critical minerals’ agreement with the US. The agreement involves removing trade barriers from Joe Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. The deal encompasses cobalt, graphite, lithium, manganese, and nickel, and will function as a free trade agreement, allowing electric vehicles that incorporate vital minerals extracted from the EU to qualify for subsidies."

A nugget of great coverage regarding the last 12 months and the coming reversal. Just have to change the funding model ? JV and bonds.
"For months, China has stopped buying lithium from the open market, instead using their current stockpiles to feed the current demand, driving down its price.

China is the largest consumer of the key battery ingredient so they can essentially manipulate its price.

Their impact can be compared to the actions of oil producing powerhouse OPEC+, whose announcement of cuts to production in recent months has boosted the price of oil.

However, these stockpiles have now gotten so low that China has begun re-buying from the open market.

Jesline Tang, a non-ferrous metals pricing analyst at S&P Global Commodity Insights, commented, “There’s also talk of declining inventories at battery makers, which could drive restocking activity.”

China’s influence has obviously been hurting the smaller players, especially at a time when obtaining funding to becoming a producer is significantly more difficult."