Lithium One Inc (fka LITHF)

[Kidela]

Lithium One Announces Joint Venture in Argentina with Multi-National Korean Partners

In 2008, Warren Buffett surprised everyone by investing in a little known Chinese Lithium battery production company – BYD. When studying the implications of this investment, people began to realize that this lithium battery manufacturer was also expanding into car manufacturing. By manufacturing lithium powered electric vehicles, BYD planned to transform the auto industry in China.

Patrick Highsmith – President and CEO of Lithium One puts the transition that is taking place in the auto industry into perspective. “Toyota is projecting production of 2.5 million lithium-powered hybrid cars by 2015, and between 2015 and 2020 they expect hybrids to phase out and full electric to come on. A general point of view is that at least 10% of the cars sold in 2020 will be either hybrid or electric. This is 6 to 8 million vehicles.” Estimates are that full electric cars will require approximately 10 times more lithium than a hybrid car which will do much to increase lithium demand.

Battery and auto makers in Korea and Japan have responded by setting out to secure a consistent source of their own lithium supply. In addition to hybrid electric cars, lithium is used in the pharmaceutical industry, air conditioning systems, alloys for aerospace applications, aluminum production, in greases, and ceramics and glass. Lithium is relatively abundant, however ensuring that the supply of the mineral meets the rigorous specifications of end users with respect to the quality and purity is essential.

Lithium is so important to the future economies of producing nations that they have set out to lock up consistent and secure sources of supplies. For example, Korea has designated Lithium as a strategic commodity and has launched an initiative named Battery 2020. The South Korean government is backing this initiative with 15 trillion won ($12.5 billion U.S.) in an effort to have their nation become the world’s dominant rechargeable battery producer within the next ten years.

Lithium One (TSXv: LI), a Canadian based Lithium mining company, has taken a bold step into the ring after announcing the addition of a group of Korean heavyweights to the joint venture that will develop LI’s Lithium project in Argentina.

LI’s partners in this development project include: the Korea Resource Corporation, (“KORES”) which is a state-owned corporation of the Government of the Republic of Korea. Its mandate is to pursue resource development opportunities to supply Korea’s expanding industrial economy. GS Caltex Corporation (“GS Caltex”) is one of the largest energy companies in Korea and is jointly owned by GS Holdings and Chevron. GS Caltex’s goal is to become a globally competitive total energy service provider. And last but not least, LG International Corp. (“LG International”). This arm of the LG Group specializes in natural resources exploration and development projects, and is the trading company for the LG Group.

“Demand for lithium is increasing from the current market of 100,000 tons Li2CO3 equivalent.
Overall demand for lithium is growing at a rate of 4-5% per year while demand for lithium
destined for battery usage is predicted to grow by 20% per year.”
- USGS

Patrick Highsmith commented on this agreement by saying “We have a relationship with a government that has named lithium as a strategic commodity and a country that produces 38% of the world’s rechargeable batteries and also has the fastest growing automotive company in the world (Hyundai).”

Highsmith may have his timing down pat as today The General Electric Co. (GE) announced that they “ . . .will purchase 25,000 electric vehicles by 2015, a move that marks the largest ever electric vehicle commitment.” 12,000 of those vehicles will be the GM Volt, which are powered by cells from LG’s lithium ion battery company, Compact Power.

Realizing that LI now is in business with some of the world’s largest companies who are hungry for lithium, and given that Warren Buffet recognized early on that lithium can be at the heart of a great investment, it will be interesting to see what fortunes the quest for lithium will power next.

For more on this story, visit Kidela:
http://www.kidela.com/lithium-one/joint-venture-argentina-korean-partners