Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Sumario
Litio
1. Allkem Limited successfully produces first lithium hydroxide product
2. Infinity Stone Ventures discovers lithium in Ontario. Proyect located in Canada
3. Jourdan Resources signs agreements for lithium project. Proyect located in Canada
4. Frontier releases new lithium results. Proyect located in Canada
5. Lithium Energy’s first hole at Solaroz yields “highly encouraging” initial results.
Proyect located in Jujuy, Argentina.
6. Essential Metals identifies multiple lithium targets at Pioneer Dome.Proyect located
in Australia.
7. Los planes de Zijin para segunda fase en Tres Quebradas
8. Lithium Power International produces 99.92pc-purity lithium carbonate
9. SPOD Lithium Corp. (CSE: SPOD) to acquire North Nipigon Lithium Project.
Proyect located in Canada
10. Rock Tech Lithium completes Pre-Feasibility Study for its Georgia Lake
Project. Proyect located in Canada.
11. Rover Metals signs option agreement for Nevada lithium project.Proyect
located in Nevada,USA.
12. Scotch Creek Ventures Increases Land Package to Over 10,000 Acres in North
America's Prolific Clayton Valley, Nevada
13. Frontier Lithium Intersects 338M Of Pegmatite Averaging 1.64% Li2O,
Including A 68M Zone Of 2.00% Li2O
14. Demand-Driven Lithium Carbonate Supply Deficit Extends in October, Lifting
its Prices
15. Will Lithium Prices Maintain Momentum following Recent Drastic Surge?
16. Firering Strategic Minerals announces assay results at Atex project
17. Rumours of Production Cuts Spread! Will Winter Befall the Lithium Battery
Industry Soon?
18. Lithium Battery Recycling Market Weakened in Sep on Boomig Cost and
Mounting Risks
RSE-Comunidades
1. Salta: Ganfeng brindará capacitaciones en la Puna y Güemes junto a UPATecO
Otros
1. Sube índice de precios de metales exportados pero no soluciona trabas a la
importación
2. Gerardo Morales en IEFA: Argentina puede exportar en 4 años 10.000 millones
de dólares en Litio
3. En minería, los planes de inversión se diluyen por suba de costos y restricciones
de dólares.
4. China busca apoderarse del mercado global de EV
5. Acciones de litio caen por los pronósticos de Goldman Sachs y Credit Suisse
6. Fernanda Ávila sostuvo que "Hoy la exportación minera es de 3.200 millones,
en 2026 lo duplicaríamos solo con las de litio"
7. Möhle: El desafío de la gestión sostenible del litio
LITIO
With our partner TTC, we have achieved a major milestone in successfully producing
lithium hydroxide, further delivering our vertical integration strategy and the
diversification of our product offering. This facility is the first of its kind in the region,
and we have proven the technology of converting Olaroz technical-grade lithium
carbonate feedstock into lithium hydroxide. We have a first mover’s advantage and will
ultimately be supplying the high-end battery and cathode market.
TTC Chief Operating Officer for Metal Division, Masaharu Katayama, says:
It is with great pleasure that we announce the completion of construction and first
production at Naraha. I want to thank all of the Toyotsu Lithium Corporation team, and
local and provincial authorities whose dedication has ensured this successful outcome.
Finally, I want to acknowledge the Naraha operation is another valuable addition to the
enduring and successful partnership with Allkem that started over a decade ago at
Olaroz.
The image below shows the finished Lithium hydroxide product at the Naraha
operating facility.
Allkem Limited (AKE) is an industrial chemical and mineral exploration
company.
Allkem Limited (AKE) is trading at C$13.05.
https://themarketherald.ca/first-lithium-hydroxide-successfully-produced-at-
naraha-2022-11-15/
Several holes intersected pegmatites with low average grades of lithium oxide.
Some of the holes confirmed pegmatite extensions, grade continuity, and converted
inferred materials.
Garth Drever, Vice President of Exploration for Frontier Lithium, commented,
“We’re confident we’ve converted the required tonnage on the Spark pegmatite
for our upcoming [prefeasibility study] and have also added to the total resource with
new inferred material to the west and at depth.”
The Phase XII program ended with the inclusion of geotechnical drilling for
ground control and pit design purposes, as well as step-out drilling to define the eastern
and western extents of the ore body.
Frontier Lithium Inc. (FL) is up 1.55 per cent and is trading at $1.96 per share.
https://themarketherald.ca/frontier-tsxvfl-releases-new-lithium-results-2022-11-16/
5. Lithium Energy’s first hole at Solaroz yields “highly encouraging” initial results
Lithium Energy (LEL) has completed the first drill hole at its Solaroz lithium
brine project in Argentina.
The company drilled the hole to a depth of 337.5 metres, and it reported
cumulative intersections of up to 235 metres of lithium brine mineralisation across
upper and lower aquifers within the hole.
LEL said preliminary packer sampling assays of conductive brines returned highly
encouraging” lithium concentrations of up to 555 milligrams per litre (mg/L) in the
upper aquifer, with positive flow rates and low magnesium-to-lithium ratio.
Encountering up to 235 metres of cumulative lithium brine mineralisation for our
maiden drillhole at Solaroz is a significant lithium discovery for the company, LEL
Executive Chair William Johnson said.
Mr Johnson also said the high initial lithium grades, positive flow rates and low
Mg/L ratio were “very positive indicators” for a “potentially significant” maiden
mineral resource estimate (MRE) at Solaroz.
Lithium Energy reportedly attempted to drill deeper into the lower aquifer into the
basement rock, but it faced challenging” drilling conditions and couldn’t risk damaging
the hole as this may have prevented the company from proceeding with geophysical
logging.
The drilling conditions also prevented the company from collecting any packer
samples from 293 metres to the bottom of the hole. However, Lithium Energy noted the
brines encountered were mostly contained in sandstone, which is considered favourable
for potential future brine extraction.
Full hole assays are pending, with core samples sent to a US laboratory for
centrifuge brine extraction, chemical analysis, and porosity and specific yield testwork.
A second rig is currently mobilising to the project to continue with diamond
drilling as the company focuses on accelerating the 5000-metre program to complete a
maiden MRE.
Lithium Energy shares were down 7.21 per cent to 96.5 cents.
https://themarketherald.com.au/lithium-energys-asxlel-first-hole-at-solaroz-yields-
highly-encouraging-initial-results-2022-11-16/
Essential Metals (ESS) has identified over 40 lithium targets at its Pioneer Dome
project in WA following a recent structural geological study in the area
The company said the study highlighted the “substantial exploration upside”
outside of the project’s current 11.2-million-tonne (Mt) lithium mineral resource.
The data from the geological study, alongside other exploration data including
geophysical surveys and field mapping, allowed the targets to be defined and ranked by
an external consultant, Xirlatem, who reviewed the project.
While pressing ahead to get the Dome North lithium mineral resource ready for
development, we are very much focused on making new lithium discoveries across a
very large and prospective land position in WA’s premier lithium corridor,” Managing
Director Tim Spencer said.
This is an exciting time for Essential as we advance our development to the next
level and begin to unlock the broader potential of the Pioneer Dome project.
Essential said it would now continue field mapping and reconnaissance work to
delineate a drill plan for the March quarter of 2023.
Essential plans to complete an updated mineral resource in the next three weeks,
which will help underpin an ongoing scoping study for the Pioneer Dome project.
Shares in Essential Metals were down 1.06 per cent and trading at 46.5 cents.
https://themarketherald.com.au/essential-metals-asxess-identifies-multiple-
lithium-targets-at-pioneer-dome-wa-2022-11-16/
https://miningpress.com/nota/351609/los-planes-de-zijin-para-segunda-fase-en-
tres-quebradas
9. SPOD Lithium Corp. (CSE: SPOD) to acquire North Nipigon Lithium Project
SPOD Lithium Corp. (SPOD) has signed a property purchase agreement with
arm’s length vendors for the North Nipigon exploration property.
The property is comprised of a total of 403 mineral claims located north of the
town of Nipigon in Ontario. SPOD will acquire an undivided 100 per cent interest in
and to the property by making an aggregate cash payment of $65,000 and by issuing an
aggregate of 4,000,000 common shares.
There are known pegmatite occurrences in the region, and many have been drilled
with positive results. On the North Nipigon Project, there have been historical grab
samples of pegmatite boulders which returned assay values of 0.764 % Li 2O and 0.685
% Li2O.
Covering 84.7 sq. km., the North Nipigon Project shares borders with RockTech
Lithium’s Georgia Lake Project, Imagine Lithium’s Jackpot Lithium Project and Ultra
Lithium’s Georgia Lake Project.
SPOD Lithium Corp. (SPOD) is a mineral exploration company focused on the
acquisition and development of mineral properties containing battery, base, and
precious metals in Quebec and Ontario. Its projects include NW Abitibi Project and
Golden Moon Property.
SPOD Lithium Corp. (SPOD) is up 18 per cent, trading at C$0.295 per share.
https://themarketherald.ca/spod-lithium-corp-to-acquire-north-nipigon-lithium-
project-in-ontario-2022-11-17/
10. Rock Tech Lithium completes Pre-Feasibility Study for its Georgia Lake
Project
Estimated pre-tax net present value at an 8% discount rate ("NPV") of USD 223
million at an average life of mine ("LOM") price of USD 1,500/t, 6% spodumene
concentrate ("SC6").
Estimated pre-tax internal rate of return ("IRR") of 47.8% at an average LOM
price of USD 1,500/t, SC6.
LOM of 9 years, with low-cost open pit mining for the first 4 years and
underground mining for the last 5 years.
Pre-tax payback of 2.9 years.
Update to Mineral Resource estimate: Total Indicated Mineral Resources of
10.6mt at grading 0.88% Li2O and total Inferred Mineral Resources of 4.2mt at grading
of 1.00% Li2O.
Declaration of Mineral Reserves: Total Probable Mineral Reserves of 7.33mt at
grading of 0.82% Li2O.
Pre-production costs estimated at USD 192.2 million and sustaining capital costs
of USD 98.5 million (including closure costs).
Average annual spodumene concentrate production of approximately 100,000 t
of SC6.
Total LOM average cash costs of USD 719/t concentrate.
The objective of the PFS was to assess the technical and economic viability of
achieving spodumene concentrate production at the Georgia Lake Project. The PFS
evaluated the construction and operation of a 1,000,000 tonne-per-annum concentrator
with open pit and underground mining operations over a 9-year LOM. The Company is
pleased that the positive results of the PFS support the viability of lithium mining
activities and the concentration of spodumene at the Georgia Lake Project.
The metallurgical testwork completed on sample feedstock from the Georgia Lake
Project positively demonstrates the suitability of the spodumene concentrate for
conversion into battery-grade lithium hydroxide. Rock Tech's CEO, Dirk Harbecke,
commented on the encouraging developments, "These results support the integration of
Georgia Lake with the downstream conversion industry, where we have been building
strong partnerships and extensive know-how. The encouraging results also demonstrate
that we are well positioned to explore potential fields of collaboration in the North
American and European EV supply chain".
The PFS and Mineral Reserve and Resource estimates have further increased the
confidence level of bringing the Georgia Lake Project towards feasibility level, which
will provide the basis for a construction decision. The Company intends to undertake a
feasibility study for the Georgia Lake Project as part of its efforts to optimize and
advance the Georgia Lake Project.
These efforts are expected to include upgrading the Mineral Resource and Mineral
Reserve estimates through exploration drilling, optimizing mining operations with the
opportunity to become owner-operated, and enhancing infrastructure detail through
support from the Company's indigenous partners to reduce capital costs and increase
operational efficiency.
https://greenstocknews.com/news/otcmkts/rcktf/rock-tech-lithium-completes-pre-
feasibility-study-for-its-georgia-lake-project
11. Rover Metals signs option agreement for Nevada lithium project.
Rover Metals (ROVR) has signed an option agreement for total ownership of a
claystone lithium project located in Nevada.
The land package under option is a district-scale lithium claystone deposit situated
on Bureau of Land Management land.
The company has verified high-grade lithium surface samples at the Let’s Go
Lithium Property.
Highlights of surface grab samples:
The company’s earn-in of the claystone lithium project calls for US$200,000 in
exploration expenditures within 24 months of the signing of a definitive agreement and
a common share payment of US$25,000 worth of the company’s common shares to be
made on January 31, 2023.
The Let’s Go Lithium property is located in Nevada’s famous southwest lithium
jurisdiction and is approximately 6,000 acres in size. The company has verified high-
grade lithium surface samples at the project.
Rover’s CEO, Judson Culter, sat down with Sabrina Cuthbert to discuss the news.
Rover is a junior mining company developing critical mineral and precious metal
projects in Canada and the U.S.
Rover Metals ) opened trading at $0.085 per share.
https://themarketherald.ca/rover-metals-tsxvrovr-options-nevada-lithium-project-
2-2-2022-11-17/
12. Scotch Creek Ventures Increases Land Package to Over 10,000 Acres in North
America's Prolific Clayton Valley, Nevada
Scotch Creek Ventures Inc. is pleased to announce the addition of 54 claims
adjacent to its 100% owned Macallan East Lithium project ("Macallan"). This
expansion increases the Macallan project's total acres to 6,360 acres, making Scotch
Creek one of the largest lithium landholders in Clayton Valley.
The Macallan East project now lies on trend South-Southeast (SSE) of one of the
world's most prolific lithium claystone belts. The recently completed gravity
survey outlined this trend and provided the Company with important data. As a result,
Scotch Creek is evaluating new and unexplored lithium drill targets that follow along
this rich lithium belt that merit exploration.
Mr. David Ryan, Scotch Creek's CEO, said, After assessing the first exploratory
drill results along with the recently completed Gravity survey on Macallan, we
identified these new claims as a possible extension of the world class lithium claystone
belt discovered by Cypress Development Corp. and Noram Lithium Corp. The gravity
survey clearly shows this SSE trend onto the newly staked claims. Drill targets are
currently being determined on Macallan as we look towards additional drilling in 2023
on the project. We believe that this property expansion provides Scotch Creek with the
best chance to make a substantial lithium discovery on Macallan East.
https://greenstocknews.com/news/otcmkts/scvff/scotch-creek-increases-land-
package-to-over-10-000-acres-in-north-america-s-prolific-clayton-valley-nevada
Lithium Inc. is pleased to announce the results for four additional drill holes and
1 channel completed during the Phase XII drill program on the Spark pegmatite which
began in May with two diamond drill rigs and finished in October of 2022
with 14,641m in 45 holes. The main objective of the program was focused on
converting inferred material to the indicated category for the planned open pit. The
Spark pegmatite is one of the two delineated premium spodumene-bearing lithium
deposits on the PAK Lithium Project.
Highlights
When combining Phase XI and Phase XII delineation and infill drilling, the
Company completed 15,984m of drilling in 50 holes in 2022. Analysis from 4 of the
Phase XII diamond drill holes and channel are reported herein.
DDH PL-074-22 intersected 35.8m of pegmatite averaging 2.05% Li2O.
Collared in the mafic volcanic host rock 50m west of PL-044-22, the hole was designed
to define the western extent where the main Spark pegmatite orebody begins to break up
into smaller pods separated by mafic rafts.
Includes 10.2m from 89.8m to 100.0m averaging 4.27% Li2O.
DDH PL-075-22 intersected 83.2m of pegmatite averaging 1.66% Li2O.
Collared in the mafic volcanic host rock 15m west of PL-074-22, the hole was fanned
out further to the west to define the western extent where the main Spark pegmatite
orebody begins to break up and narrows into smaller pods.
Includes 10.5m from 111.7m to 122.2m averaging 2.62% Li2O.
Includes 5.8m from 203.3m to 209.1m averaging 2.37% Li2O.
Includes 8.3m from 220.0m to 228.4m averaging 2.74% Li2O.
DDH PL-076-22 intersected 338.0m of pegmatite averaging 1.64% Li2O.
Collared in the mafic volcanic host rock in the same location as PL-072-22, the hole
was designed to convert inferred material at depth as well as define a mafic raft on the
eastern extent of the main orebody. The hole had to be abandoned in high grade
pegmatite due to blockage downhole.
Includes 14.4m from 184.6m to 199.0m averaging 2.14% Li2O.
Includes 68.0m from 206.0m to 274.0m averaging 2.00% Li2O.
Includes 12.0m from 367.0m to 379.0m averaging 2.25% Li2O.
Includes 18.0m from 420.0 to 438.0m averaging 1.89% Li2O at the end
of the hole.
DDH PL-079-22 intersected 107.0m of pegmatite averaging 1.37% Li2O.
Collared in the mafic volcanic host rock 35m west of PL-075-22, the hole was stepped
out to define and cutoff the western extent of the Spark pegmatite. The results have
extended the southern pod of the pegmatite further to the west and remains open with a
strike length of 500m.
Includes 27.9m from 158.0m to 185.9m averaging 1.90% Li2O.
Includes 7.6m from 202.4m to 210.0m averaging 1.99% Li2O.
Includes 9.4m from 238.0m to 247.5m averaging 2.12% Li2O.
Channel CH-51 totaling 21m in length averaged 1.92% Li2O. The channel was
cut on the eastern end of the main Spark pegmatite between CH-35 and CH-38 to
confirm grade continuity at surface in an area where the terrain made it difficult to
mobilize a diamond drill.
Includes 3.0m from 0.0 to 3.0m averaging 2.46 Li2O.
Includes 7.0m from 7.0 to 14.0m averaging 2.34 Li2O.
We're pleased with the progress made at our PAK Lithium Project this year as the
drilling season comes to an end." states Garth Drever, V.P. Exploration. "We're
confident we've converted the required tonnage on the Spark pegmatite for our
upcoming PFS and have also added to the total resource with new inferred material to
the west and at depth.
The initial objective for the Phase XII drill program was focused on converting
the inferred resource within the Spark deposit to the indicated category in preparation
for a pre-feasibility study on the PAK Lithium Project. The latter half of the program
included geotechnical drilling for ground control and pit design purposes as well as step
out drilling to define the eastern and western extents of the ore body.
https://greenstocknews.com/news/otcmkts/litof/frontier-lithium-intersects-338m-
of-pegmatite-averaging-1-64-li2o-including-a-68m-zone-of-2-00-li2o
https://news.metal.com/newscontent/102003681/demand-driven-lithium-carbonate-
supply-deficit-extends-in-october-lifting-its-prices-
15. Will Lithium Prices Maintain Momentum following Recent Drastic Surge?
The prices of lithium carbonate have been booming drastically recently as a result
of the expected cancellation of new energy subsidies next year, which has pushed the
terminal players to frenziedly ramp up the production in the fourth quarter. And the
production rush in the material sector comes two months ahead of the terminal sector
considering the demand transmission cycle. Today we will talk about the latest price
trend of lithium carbonate and see what substantial changes are happening in the
market!
Recently, the production scheduling of LFP and ternary cathode material factories
has been rising along with the gradual release of their production capacity and the
production rush in the fourth quarter. As such, lithium carbonate prices rose drastically
especially when the demand was growing quickly.
However, the price hike has slowed down recently. First of all, the arrivals of
imported South American lithium carbonate have filled up the supply void in the market
to some extent. In addition, the downstream purchase pace slows as well after the recent
production rush has peaked. And lithium carbonate prices are even likely to pivot in the
near future.
The slump in lithium carbonate prices on the trading platform on November 14
could be taken as an advanced feedback from the market. Taken together, the demand
for lithium carbonate is unlikely to be that high during the rest of 2022, as the price
surge last month is already a strong reflection of the production rush in the new energy
sector in the fourth quarter before relative subsidies are cancelled in 2023.
In detail, the demand for ternary cathode materials is likely to post a MoM decline
in the following two months based on the disclosed production scheduling of power
battery and material factories. The cathode active material factories will focusing on the
digestion of in-plant stocks. The market is currently bearish on lithium carbonate prices,
and the supply and demand balance is likely to be reversed soon.
https://news.metal.com/newscontent/102003575/will-lithium-prices-maintain-
momentum-following-recent-drastic-surge
Highlights:
Positive results received from first assays from scout drilling including:
https://www.globalminingreview.com/exploration-development/15112022/firering-
strategic-minerals-announces-assay-results-at-atex-project/
17.Rumours of Production Cuts Spread! Will Winter Befall the Lithium Battery
Industry Soon?
SHANGHAI, Nov 17 (SMM) - Recently, there has been a lot of talk in the market
about the production reduction by a leading global power battery company.
SMM believes that this rumour may not be groundless evidenced by the slowing
demand growth in the Chinese automobile market amid multiple influencing factors
such as the current economic downturn, high battery material prices, as well as the
expected cancellation of new energy vehicle (NEV) subsidies. According to statistics,
446,000 units of new energy passenger vehicles were insured in October, a sharp
increase of 53% from 291,000 units in the same period last year, but a 17% drop from
September. OEMs such as GAC, Geely, NIO have all reported a sharp drop in sales, and
even BYD, which beat the headwinds several times, experienced its first MoM sales
retreat in more than half a year.
The fourth quarter this year is the last season before the NEV subsidies are full
cancelled. Coupled with the traditional production rush around the end of the year as
well as advanced demand in the first quarter of 2023, the demand should have been
revived in the fourth quarter. However, the sales of new energy vehicles seem to have
encountered a bottleneck based on the historical data, and is hard to break through the
500,000 mark. And the traditional seasonal high has failed to achieve its glory.
As the industry has been highly optimistic about the NEV market, OEMs and
some downstream battery cell companies have built large stocks of raw materials in
response to the expected traditional seasonal high. However, when the actual demand
has shown signs of weakening momentum, some OEMs are challenged by lack of
strong new orders after the delivery of backlog orders, including renowned brands like
Tesla and XPeng. Therefore, the OEMs and battery makers, in order to mitigate the
risks, have decided to reduce the purchases of raw materials and digest their in-plant
stocks first.
Some power battery cell companies generally have about 4 months of battery cell
and raw material inventory. A number of top-tier battery cell companies have expressed
intensions of significantly reducing the purchases of cathode active materials and
electrolyte, with a reduction of more than 20% according to some. In addition, the
follow-up purchases will also be maintained at a low level except for the procurement
on rigid demand as the battery companies mostly have abundant stocks.
At present, most leading ternary cathode materials and LFP enterprises are
pessimistic about the demand outlook after November, and the uncertainties concerning
procurement, production and sales have greatly aggravate. As such, the material
manufacturers are also cautious about building finished material stocks and purchasing
raw materials. As far as the current and near-future picture is concerned, the winter may
befall the lithium battery industry soon.
https://news.metal.com/newscontent/102006271/rumours-of-production-cuts-
spread-will-winter-befall-the-lithium-battery-industry-soon
18. Lithium Battery Recycling Market Weakened in Sep on Boomig Cost and
Mounting Risks
According to SMM research, in October 2022, a total of 27,802 mt of lithium
battery scraps were recycled in China (including scrap in the form of battery, pole piece
and black mass), and the recycling volume fell slightly by 1% compared with
September. Specifically, the recycling volume of ternary battery scrap came in at 18,958
mt, taking up 68% of the total volume; LFP battery scrap 8,021 mt, taking up 29%; and
LCO battery scrap 823 mt, occupying the remaining 3%.
In October, the price of lithium battery scrap, including ternary and LFP battery
scrap, continued to rise rapidly trailing the price hike of lithium carbonate. In light of
high cost and greater risks, powdering enterprises tended to purchase battery scrap
based on the sales result to ensure the sales prices and channels. Hydrometallurgy
companies, on the other hand, also found the prices of pole plate and black mass
relatively high. Therefore, in order to avoid losses, they raised the purchase prices of
battery-grade and industrial-trade lithium carbonate and crude lithium carbonate to
boost the market quotes. At present, due to the market's bearish sentiment on the prices
of cobalt products as well as the stable demand of nickel products, recycling companies
tried their best to recycle scrap with high nickel and low cobalt content.
The SMM Lithium Battery Scrap Price Calculator was officially launched in late
October. It is mainly dedicated to addressing the two pain points of "benchmark price
determination" and "discount calculation" in the process of lithium battery recycling.
The Calculator uses SMM battery-grade nickel sulphate, cobalt sulphate and lithium
carbonate prices as the benchmark price, as the prices of primary metal are mostly
settled by overseas ore traders, which mirror the alloy market dynamics in Europe and
US. On the contrary, the spot prices of nickel, cobalt and lithium salt could better reflect
the supply and demand dynamics in the Chinese new energy market, which is closer to
the actual trading situation. The discount calculation is made independently based on
the spot prices of nickel, cobalt and lithium salts, which is designed to try to mirror the
actual production situations of manufacturers as a result of varied process routes,
production costs and profit expectations.
SMM estimates that the total recycling volume of battery scrap will amount to
28,062 mt in November, up 1% MoM, including 18,469 mt of ternary battery scrap,
8,563 mt of LFP battery scrap, and 1,031 mt of LCO battery scrap.
https://news.metal.com/newscontent/102004921/lithium-battery-recycling-
market-weakened-in-sep-on-boomig-cost-and-mounting-risks
RSE-COMUNIDADES
OTROS
2- Las baterías de fosfato de iones de litio (LFP) siguen ganando cuota de
mercado. Las baterías LFP no contienen cobalto ni níquel y, como resultado,
generalmente cuestan menos que otros tipos de baterías EV.
La cantidad de nuevos modelos EV en China que usan baterías LFP está
aumentando rápidamente y ahora representa la mitad de todos los modelos que se
lanzan al mercado. Muchos de estos modelos son vendedores de gran volumen, por lo
que la proporción real de unidades enviadas ya está muy por encima de ese umbral.
Más fabricantes de automóviles están adoptando la química para ayudar a
controlar los costos. Esto está dando lugar a importantes revisiones a la baja en la
demanda prevista de cobalto y destaca cómo el mercado de vehículos eléctricos puede
adaptarse a diferentes dinámicas de precios y presiones externas. Otros fabricantes de
automóviles fuera de China están comenzando a seguir su ejemplo y preparando el
escenario para niveles aún más altos de adopción de LFP a nivel mundial en 2023.
3- La eficiencia de los EV en China está mejorando lenta pero constantemente.
A pesar de los rangos promedio crecientes y los tamaños de paquetes de baterías
asociados, la eficiencia promedio de los vehículos eléctricos ha mejorado en
aproximadamente un 2 % por año desde 2018.
Esto se debe principalmente a motores y electrónica de potencia más eficientes,
mejores sistemas de gestión térmica y esfuerzos para reducir el peso en otras partes de
el coche. Los vehículos más grandes han experimentado las mayores mejoras, a pesar de
que el tamaño promedio de sus paquetes de baterías aumentó durante este período.
Probablemente todavía haya más espacio para ejecutar aquí, con el lanzamiento de
arquitecturas EV más dedicadas en los próximos años, más diseños de batería de celda a
paquete y de celda a chasis y otros avances.
5. Acciones de litio caen por los pronósticos de Goldman Sachs y Credit Suisse
Los pronósticos de Goldman Sachs y Credite Suisse para el litio golpearon a las
acciones de Allkem , Pilbara Minerals y Core Lithium , que han bajado al menos 10%.
El sector local del litio estaba a punto de retroceder después de una débil ventaja
de Wall Street. Más específicamente, los ETF relacionados con el litio, como el ETF
Global X de litio y tecnología de baterías y el ETF de VanEck Rare Earth/Strategic
Metals, cayeron un -2,6% y un -1,0%, respectivamente, durante la noche del lunes,
según informó Kerry Sun en Market Index
Credit Suisse: Rumores de producción de cátodos
Credit Suisse notó una fuerte caída en los futuros de carbonato de litio de Wuxi
provocada por los rumores de futuras rebajas de la producción por parte de un fabricante
chino de cátodos, según Bloomberg.
Los futuros del carbonato de litio de Wuxi cayeron un -7% debido a la
especulación en China de que un importante productor de cátodos podría haber
recortado los objetivos de producción y algunas empresas chinas pronosticaron un
debilitamiento del mercado más adelante en 2023, dijo Saul Kavonic, analista de Credit
Suisse.
Goldman Sachs: Oferta superara la demanda
Goldman Sachs reafirmó sus puntos de vista bajistas sobre el litio a principios de
esta semana, con la opinión de que la oferta comenzará a superar la demanda a partir de
2023.
No es la primera vez
Goldman Sachs tiene mucha experiencia en desencadenar una venta generalizada
entre las acciones de metales para baterías. El 1 de junio, el banco de inversión escribió
una nota en la que decía: "Vemos que el mercado alcista de los metales para baterías ha
terminado por ahora", debido a una "respuesta de oferta desmesurada muy por delante
de la tendencia de la demanda". Ese día, nombres como Allkem, Pilbara Minerals y
Core Lithium cayeron un -15,4%, -22% y -20,4% respectivamente. A pesar de otros
factores que pueden haber influido en el desempeño del precio de las acciones, los tres
pesos pesados del litio tardaron aproximadamente 2 meses en recuperarse de la venta
masiva inducida por Goldman.
Hace años se repite que el litio representa una enorme oportunidad productiva y
económica para la Argentina. Hay cierto consenso acerca de su potencial por su aporte
en materia de exportaciones, divisas, empleo local, desarrollo de proveedores y demás.
Tanto que ya parece instalado en el sentido común. Sin embargo, es poco lo que
realmente se sabe sobre el mineral en sí mismo. ¿Ya se explota en Argentina? ¿Cuánto
deja en el país? ¿Qué normativa regula el litio? ¿Cuáles son los impactos ambientales?
¿Hay conflictos territoriales? ¿Hay riesgo de que esto sea un boom pasajero? ¿Podemos
hacer baterías? ¿Qué tenemos que hacer para aumentar la potencialidad del litio?
Que es el litio?
Actualmente, los mayores productores de litio son Australia (46%), Chile (23%) y
China (16%). En conjunto extraen aproximadamente el 86% del total global. Argentina,
con un 7% del mercado, es el cuarto productor del mundo. En el triángulo del litio, que
compartimos entre Argentina, Bolivia y Chile, se concentra más del 56% de los recursos
de litio identificados en el mundo. Martín Obaya, en esta nota, hace un repaso por las
principales estrategias de cada uno de los países para la explotación del mineral.
El impacto ambiental
La doctora en Química Victoria Flexer explica este proceso de obtención del litio
en profundidad, los impactos ambientales que genera, qué alternativas están
desarrollando en el Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Materiales Avanzados y
Almacenamiento de Energía de Jujuy (CIDMEJU) que ella dirige, y cómo funciona la
vinculación tecnológica y qué desafíos tiene en el país.
Por ejemplo, en Jujuy las comunidades del salar Salinas Grandes se han opuesto a
los proyectos de explotación, mientras que las vecinas al salar de Olaroz han aceptado la
instalación. Asimismo, sostiene que luego de la aceptación de los proyectos la
negociación entre las comunidades y las empresas por los cánones, empleos y demás es
considerado un acuerdo entre privados, generando así situaciones de desigualdad de
poder e información donde el rol del Estado como garante no está regulado.
La abogada e investigadora de Fundar Victoria Arias Mahiques profundiza en los
desafíos de gestionar los impactos negativos de la explotación del litio. Será uno de los
aspectos centrales por venir: cómo conseguir que la transición a la economía verde sea
justa e inclusiva. Para ello, Mahiques identifica como uno de los aspectos principales la
dispersión en la aplicación de las evaluaciones de impacto ambiental y los mecanismos
de participación social en las diferentes provincias.
Por su parte, Sales de Jujuy es operada por Allkem, una empresa de capitales
australianos. Hersen Porta, su COO, habla en esta nota de una articulación muy
productiva con la provincia y las comunidades locales y sostiene que el aumento de la
demanda de litio a nivel mundial indica que el futuro del sector solo puede ser de
crecimiento.
En este punto también vale resaltar la creación de YPF Litio en 2022. La entrada
de la firma al sector brinda oportunidades en el desarrollo de proyectos de exploración
como el que está llevando adelante en Fiambalá, Catamarca, el desarrollo tecnológico a
través de YTEC a partir de la planta laboratorio de fabricación de celdas de batería en
Ensenada y de la investigación sobre tecnologías de extracción directa de Litio que
están llevando a cabo junto al CICDEMJU-CONICET, como así también en la
aplicación de 100 años de experiencia adquirida en el sector hidrocarburos en roles
como la exploración, la respuesta a desafíos logísticos, y la investigación y el desarrollo
aplicado a la mejora de procesos.
El tiempo dirá cuál de los modelos caracterizados por Obaya fue el más exitoso,
pero a partir de la caracterización del modelo argentino como fragmentado, la instancia
de la Mesa del Litio es celebrada entre todas las voces como un espacio
institucionalizado de interlocución entre jurisdicciones y niveles de gobierno para
articular una visión estratégica que permita una mayor coordinación de las políticas
públicas y consecuente aprovechamiento de la explotación del mineral.
El desarrollo nacional
El litio es el tercer mineral que se exporta, después de oro y plata, pero viene
disputando el segundo lugar. Actualmente es una porción pequeña de las exportaciones
(menos del 1%). No obstante, la expectativa de la Secretaría de Minería es que en 2030
lleguemos a 8.000 millones (el equivalente al 9% de las exportaciones totales de 2021).
Es decir, se prevé aumentar más de 10 veces los montos actuales a partir del crecimiento
exponencial de las cantidades producidas dado que es posible que los precios
seguramente bajen respecto del pico donde se encuentran ahora
¿Por qué son relevantes las exportaciones en sí mismas? Cada punto de
crecimiento del PBI requiere importar, dado que la población consume más y las
empresas necesitan más insumos para producir. Se estima que, aproximadamente, por
cada punto que crece la economía las importaciones suben en 1.400 millones de dólares.
De esta manera, llevar las exportaciones de litio a 8.000 millones de dólares permitiría
dar oxígeno al conjunto de la economía, que podría crecer con más fuerza, con sus
consiguientes impactos positivos en la generación de empleo y reducción de la pobreza.
Tercero: empleos y salarios. De acuerdo a los datos del SIACAM del Ministerio
de Economía, el empleo en el sector viene creciendo sin parar: en 2016 eran 658 puestos
de trabajo directos, en julio de 2019 fueron 1.494, y en julio de 2022 ascendió a 3.016.
Prácticamente todo el empleo es en las provincias litíferas: en Jujuy son 1.289, en Salta
900 y en Catamarca 453 y con una alta proporción de los puestos ubicados en
localidades alejadas de las capitales provinciales (como Susques, San Antonio de los
Cobres o Tinogasta). Otra característica de estos trabajos es que los salarios más que
duplican el promedio del sector privado: en el primer semestre de 2022 la producción de
litio pagó sueldos de $337.000, mientras que el promedio del sector privado para el
mismo período fue de $147.000.
Desarrollo productivo.
En síntesis, hay un boom del litio, debemos ser muy inteligentes para
aprovecharlo de manera justa y sostenible.
https://miningpress.com/debate/351620/mohle-el-desafio-de-la-gestion-sostenible-
del-litio