We were right with lithium...20 Jul 2019 08:58
We were right with lithium. Profits will remain in the Czech Republic
20.07.2019
Discussion Do you still remember the Lithium case? So pretty much. In fact, before the 2017 election, we were all accused of saying that we were just doing an election campaign when we were fighting to make the most of the possible lithium mining in CĂnovec at home. In our opinion, it is a mineral resource belonging to all citizens of the Czech Republic, and therefore they should have the greatest benefit from it. But then, the former Minister of Industry and Trade of the CSSD, Jiri Havlicek, signed a completely incomprehensible memorandum shortly before the election, which would make profits from possible mining of Czech lithium abroad. Now it turns out we were right. And also that we were serious about it when we were fighting for the interests of Czech citizens. The Ministry of Industry and Trade, led by ANO Minister Karel HavlĂcek, and SeveroceskĂ© doly, a member of the CEZ Group, have jointly decided to explore the potential of the Lithium deposit at CĂnovec. Lithium is one of the basic raw materials for the production of modern high-performance batteries in electric vehicles, and the Czech Republic, of course, wants to be sure that its possible mining in the deposit at CĂnovec pays off. That is why it is definitely great news for all our country's citizens that our largest mining company will also be involved in the Lithium deposit survey, which is also owned by the majority, so that control of any mining will remain in our hands. The involvement of the state-owned company also guarantees that it will definitely take the utmost respect for the environment and all the people who live in or around the deposit or have cottages. Lithium is a unique metal with the lowest atomic weight and is the largest in Australia, Chile or Argentina. It is our CĂnovec that can be one of its most important European deposits, but this must be confirmed by a detailed survey. Therefore, through its subsidiary SeveroceskĂ© doly, CEZ will cooperate with European Metals Holdings, which owns Geomet. She has already obtained some necessary exploration permits, so it is a good thing for our state. If CEZ evaluates the lithium deposit as profitable, it can become a shareholder in EMH and participate in future mining and collect profits. Otherwise, EMH will return to our CEZ a loan that it has provided for exploration. In the end, the Czech Republic can only make money on lithium mining, and that is what we have been trying to do since the beginning of the whole case. For me, a really good deal. And I know a good deal. You can trust me. Photo: About the author: Andrej Babiš, Prime Minister
Mladá fronta Dnes, ANDREJ BABIŠ, page: 013