Register for free to join our community of investors and share your ideas. You will also get access to streaming quotes, interactive charts, trades, portfolio, live options flow and more tools.
Register for free to join our community of investors and share your ideas. You will also get access to streaming quotes, interactive charts, trades, portfolio, live options flow and more tools.
Fortunes to be Made in Lithium Stocks as EV Market Booms Energy Report, March 13,2013
.
The big bullish story on lithium holds that once consumers make the switch from fuel-burning cars to electric vehicles, the resulting demand for high-quality lithium batteries could make millionaires of investors exposed to lithium miners. Consumers aren't making the switch overnight, but Dundee Analyst Mansur Khan sees a tipping point on its way, along with blue sky potential
Keep your eye on the company plan and watch for developments coming soon!!
.
In May or June of this year, Western Lithium will begin test-mining approximately 1,000 tons of hectorite clay at its Kings Valley property. (from the last news release in April.}
The time is going fast, the year is almost half over and we move closer to production time. Goooooooo WLC!!!
WASHINGTON – Energy companies are lining up for their shot to drill in the Dakotas and Montana after a new government report revealed that a massive geological formation stretching across the states contains twice the oil and three times the amount of natural gas than was originally believed.
While the new estimate is drawing smaller companies to the game, the larger players like Schlumberger, Halliburton and Continental Resources are pushing forward with ambitious multi-year plans to stake their claim in the industry.
Continental recently announced a five-year plan to triple its production by 2017. The company’s growth is based on success in North Dakota and Montana as well as in parts of Oklahoma.
The dash to drill follows news from the government on how much more oil and natural gas there is to tap.
“These world-class formations contain even more energy resource potential than previously understood, which is important information as we continue to reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign sources of oil,” newly confirmed Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said Tuesday in a statement.
The new U.S. Geological Survey estimates there are 7.4 billion barrels of oil, 6.7 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and 0.53 billion barrels of natural gas liquids in the Bakken and Three Forks Formations in the Williston Basin Province of Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.
Since 2008, close to 450 million barrels of oil have been produced in the area and if the government estimates are correct, that leaves billions of barrels of oil and trillions more cubic feet of natural gas left for the taking.
That’s good news for North Dakota -- a state that’s already reaped big benefits from the oil boom and has one of the strongest state economies in the country coupled with an exceptionally low unemployment rate. Tax revenues from natural gas and oil hit $1 billion last year in North Dakota and the state is on track to double that number next year.
Republican Sen. John Hoeven believes numbers from the new USGS survey will draw even more developers to the area.
“This will mean a lot of jobs,” he told FoxNews.com. “Financially we are already very strong, we have no debt, but this will mean a lot more. Stores, restaurants, movie theaters – we’ll have to build and we’ll have to hire workers.”
The competition to court employees is already on at the McDonalds in Dickinson, N.D. where prospective hires are being lured in with $300 signing bonuses, Hoeven said.
Calls to McDonalds Corp. for comment were not immediately returned.
Some environmental experts like John Harju, associate director for research with the Energy and Environmental Research Center at the University of North Dakota, believe the possibilities are even greater than what the government forecasts.
“Like any of these USGS estimates, think of them as a milemarker that’s well behind you in the rearview mirror,” he told the Grand Forks Herald in North Dakota.
Still, not everyone is as gung-ho as Hoeven about drilling for natural gas, and the controversial process known as fracking used to access it.
The government hopes to calm some opposition to natural gas by releasing a set of draft rules to regulate hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. The process involves injecting a high-pressure mix of water, sand and chemicals deep into rock formations to release trapped oil and gas.
Supporters say the drilling method should continue and is credited for the country’s domestic energy boom. They say fracking gives the country a chance to cut its dependence on foreign oil.
Environmental groups have long objected to the practice and say it pollutes the groundwater and kills crops and livestock. They also argue that fracking releases heat-trapping methane gas into the air.
But in mid-April, the Environmental Protection Agency dramatically lowered its estimate of how much methane leaks during natural gas production. The agency said that tighter pollution controls put in place by the industry from 1990 to 2010 cut the country’s average of methane emissions by more than 850 million metric tons overall, or about 41.6 million metric tons annually. That’s a 20 percent decrease from previous EPA estimates – a decrease that took place as natural gas production in the country grew by nearly 40 percent in the past two decades.
It is not clear exactly when the government will release its fracking regulations, but it is expected in the next few weeks.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/05/01/energy-companies-line-up-to-drill-after-government-survey-says-there-more-oil/#ixzz2S5qFVJAR
I have to harken back to the fact that Kite granted Western Lithium a $20,000,000 loan, that which $11,000,000 has already been received by WLC. Nobody lays this kind of money on the table without some assurance that this project is a green light. The test results they liked, the company organization they liked, the trustworthiness they liked, the plan they liked, the feasibility they liked, the marketing plan they liked, the royalties that are to be paid they have deemed likely, the buyers availability they like, the possible buyout offer coming from ROC they liked, the possible buyout from the Chinese they liked, the idea to sell the top layer of below grade hectorite clay to the fracking industry they liked and then selling the lithium to the battery industry they liked, the 20 years worth of royalties they like, the first year start up plan and sizable start the first year after NEPA approval they liked, kissing up to NV Senator Harry Reid, NV State Senator Keller and Nevada Rep. Amodi to create jobs in their state so they will like the plan and help hasten the permit process they liked, and so many other things they like that they know their investment will pay off big for them. As for the little guys, in the short term I think we will see at minimum another bull run in the pps to at least $1.20. This thing is far from finished, so do not get spooked out or impatient and sell prematurely, When this stock hits $15.00 a share, we will be the ones who look down the chart and say, yeah I was one of those guys that bought at .17 and went all the way to the top!!!! GLTA!!!
The last few years brought a handful of new and interesting exchange-traded funds (ETFs) to the market, but one of the most interesting was the Global X Lithium ETF (NYSE:LIT). Because the ETF is the first to concentrate on the niche commodity, it gives investors a way to play the increasing demand for lithium. Lithium is not your typical fuel source, such as oil and coal, but it can be used to generate power in lithium-ion batteries that fuel everything from a cell phone to an automobile. Lithium is a highly reactive metal that currently is not traded on any commodity exchanges and therefore the new ETF is one of the only ways for investors to profit from higher lithium prices and demand.
Investopedia Markets: Explore the best one-stop source for financial news, quotes and insights.
Lithium ETF
Due to the small number of lithium stock plays available, the ETF is heavily weighted in a few big names. The top three holdings make up over 50% of the fund. Half of the ETF is invested in mining and the other half in battery-related companies. The top holding is FMC Corp (NYSE:FMC) with 19.53% allocation, followed by Chemical & Mining Company of Chile (NYSE:SQM) at 18.94%, and Rockwood Holdings (NYSE:ROC) at 9.48%.
(Do you think ROC would like a bigger stake in lithium?)
Lithium Stocks
Chemical & Mining Company of Chile is the largest lithium producer in the world, and is based close to Bolivia, which is the "Saudi Arabia of lithium." Even though SQM produces a large amount of lithium, the stock is not a pure play on the sector because the company has exposure to other areas in the chemical industry, such as fertilizers and iodine. The stock has struggled this year with the entire agricultural chemical sector, but a boost in the sector and the lithium story have the stock moving once again.
The Bottom Line
Keep in mind that lithium is a commodity, but at the same time it offers a clean alternative to fossil fuels in the future. Think Chevy Volt or the Tesla electronic car that uses thousands of small lithium-ion batteries, and do not forget about the millions of handheld devices that use lithium-ion batteries. This is a story that is quickly gaining momentum and could be one of the mega-trends of the next decade.
NOTICE OF ANNUAL AND SPECIAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that an annual and special meeting of the shareholders (the “Meeting”) of Western Lithium USA Corporation (the “Company”) will be held on Friday, March 22, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. local time, at 654-999 Canada Place, Vancouver, British Columbia for the following purposes:
1. to receive the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2012, together with the auditor’s report thereon;
2. to set the number of directors at five (5) for the ensuing year;
3. to elect five (5) directors for the ensuing year;
4. to appoint MacKay LLP, Chartered Accountants, as auditor of the Company for the ensuing year and authorize the directors to determine the remuneration to be paid to the auditor;
5. to consider, and if thought advisable, to approve a special resolution authorizing an amendment to the Company’s articles to require advance notice for director nominations; and
6. to transact such other business as may properly be put before the meeting.
The Board of Directors has fixed Friday, February 15, 2013 as the Record Date for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the meeting and at any adjournment thereof.
A management proxy circular, form of proxy and a return envelope accompany this notice of meeting. The financial statements of the Company will be presented to the shareholders at the Meeting.
A shareholder who is unable to attend the meeting in person and who wishes to ensure that such shareholder’s shares will be voted at the meeting is requested to complete, date and execute the enclosed form of proxy and deliver it to Computershare Trust Company of Canada (“Computershare”) in accordance with the instructions set out in the form of proxy and in the management proxy circular. If a shareholder does not deliver a proxy to Computershare by 10:00 a.m. PST on Wednesday, March 20, 2013 or 48 hours (excluding Saturdays, Sundays and holidays) before any adjournment of the meeting at which the proxy is to be used, then the shareholder will not be entitled to vote at the meeting by proxy.
DATED at Vancouver, British Columbia, the 25th day of February, 2013.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
“Jay Chmelauskas” Jay Chmelauskas President, CEO and Director
The global lithium-ion battery market was worth $11.7 billion in 2012 and is expected to double by 2016, according to Frost & Sullivan. This will happen despite the recent issues experienced by Boeing, and despite Airbus' decision to abandon these batteries. In fact, these incidents may affect the demand only in the short-term.
"Although consumer application accounts for the highest revenues, fastest growth can be witnessed in the industrial segment," confirms Frost & Sullivan's Research Manager Malavika Tohani. North America holds the highest share of revenues for consumer and industrial applications while Europe boasts the highest revenues for industrial lithium-ion batteries (LiBs). The highest growth in industrial battery demand is expected to come from APAC. China, Japan and South Korea account for close to 85-90% of the global LiB production.
China, in particular, has the highest concentration of LiB manufacturers: over 200 players catering especially to the consumer segment and around 30-40 companies for automotive applications. The Chinese Government is strongly promoting EVs, grid scale energy storage and smart grids. Furthermore, many of the US companies that have gone bankrupt have been acquired by Chinese firms and hence this region is expected to further strengthen itself as a leader for LiB production.
In the USA, Obama administration's ARRA funding saw many LiB companies being set up or expanding existing facilities, mainly to cater to the automotive (EV) segment. The past two years have seen many of these companies go bankrupt with the funding drying up. Moreover, the ongoing economic slowdown coupled with high cost of EVs (mainly due to high battery cost) has resulted in less demand for EVs than expected in the past 1-2 years. The number of EVs on the road is much lower than anticipated and this has affected the demand for batteries.
Germany is a strong contributor among European countries and the demand for batteries comes from all the three segments: consumer, industrial and automotive. Germany and Switzerland are the energy storage/battery R&D hubs and quite a few manufacturers are based in these two countries.
The global LiB market holds immense opportunities for growth and expansion. Although the consumer segment is mature in developed economies, this still is a growing application in Latin America, China, India and so on. The highest potential for growth however is exhibited by the industrial applications. Manufacturers that were previously involved only on producing and selling batteries for the automotive segment are now revaluating their strategies and have started to sell LiBs for cordless power tools, forklifts, and garden equipment, along with the batteries for automotive segment.
A presentation that includes some interesting market data on the global lithium-ion market is available on Slideshare here.
Furthermore, for additional information on this subject and to contact the Energy and Environment team at Frost & Sullivan please send an e-mail with your contact details to Chiara Carella, Corporate Communications, at chiara.carella@frost.com.
About Frost & Sullivan
Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, works in collaboration with clients to leverage visionary innovation that addresses the global challenges and related growth opportunities that will make or break today's market participants.
Our "Growth Partnership" supports clients by addressing these opportunities and incorporating two key elements driving visionary innovation: The Integrated Value Proposition and The Partnership Infrastructure.
The Integrated Value Proposition provides support to our clients throughout all phases of their journey to visionary innovation including: research, analysis, strategy, vision, innovation and implementation. The Partnership Infrastructure is entirely unique as it constructs the foundation upon which visionary innovation becomes possible. This includes our 360 degree research, comprehensive industry coverage, career best practices as well as our global footprint of more than 40 offices.
For more than 50 years, we have been developing growth strategies for the global 1000, emerging businesses, the public sector and the investment community. Is your organisation prepared for the next profound wave of industry convergence, disruptive technologies, increasing competitive intensity, Mega Trends, breakthrough best practices, changing customer dynamics and emerging economies?
http://m.yahoo.com/w/legobpengine/finance/news/frost-sullivan-global-lithium-ion-060000065.html?.intl=us&.lang=en-us
January 31, 2013 at 9:55 am Hybrids, electric cars lead charge in January sales for Ford
.
Ford Motor Co.'s electrified vehicles will help boost its January auto sales, an early indicator of what could be a record-setting year for the Dearborn automaker's growing hybrid and electric lineup.
Led by the new Fusion Hybrid midsize sedan, Ford said it expects to report sales of at least 5,500 hybrids for January, which would shatter the company's sales record for the month.
Sales of the Fusion Hybrid will comprise a chunk of the projected 21,000-plus sales of all Fusion models, which will also set a new January sales record for the automaker.
http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130131/AUTO0102/301310352
The recently announced US$724M acquisition of Talison Lithium Ltd. by Rockwood Holdings Inc. supports the Company’s position that the lithium market fundamentals remain positive and future demand will support new production entrants. The Company believes that the main lithium demand driver will be from the adoption of hybrid and electric vehicles in the coming years. Western Lithium is strategically located in Nevada, USA, to serve domestic markets and exports to Asia.
Western Lithium has completed pilot testing of several hundred pounds of gel and organoclay and will begin to identify certain buyers to test the performance of the products for indicative pricing and volumes. The Company believes that it can make a premium product using a cost effective dry processing method. In addition, the Company has initiated discussions with both existing producers, and potential process manufacturers, and is investigating possible sites to establish a dedicated plant.
The NEPA Environmental Assessment (EA) process is anticipated to start in January 2012, with an approval by approximately February 2014.
I hope you are all going to be there!!!
http://www.pdac.ca/pdac/conv/
I hope you are all going to be there!!!
http://www.pdac.ca/pdac/conv/
An electric car boasting more than double the range of the 265-mile-per-charge Tesla Model S is currently in development on the island nation of Malta.
Alternative energy firm Silex Power has announced plans to build a battery-powered luxury car called the Chreos, which it says can go 621 miles between charges.
And it will take only 10 minutes to fill it up.
Using a proprietary system the company calls Hypercharging, owners will be able to plug the Chreos into a high voltage charging station developed specifically for the car for the ultra-fast charge. Tesla employs a similar system for the Model S it calls Supercharging that needs more than an hour to top off the battery pack.
Along with cost, short range and long recharging times are two of the main factors holding back the mainstream adoption of electric cars. A recent, controversial story in The New York Times recounted a trip in the Model S from Washington, D.C., to Milford, Conn., using Tesla's charging station network that highlighted the potential pitfalls of long-distance travel in these types of vehicles and led to hundreds of cancellations for the Model S, according to Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
Many details about the Chreos are still under wraps, but in a telephone interview with FoxNews.com, Silex Power CEO Jonathan Grech said the battery is an evolution of existing technologies, rather than an all-new advance in energy storage.
The four-door sedan is to be constructed using a lightweight carbon fiber body and will feature individual electric motors located in each wheel putting out a total of 640 hp and 3,245 lb-ft of torque that Silex says will allow it to accelerate from 0-60 mph in less than 3 seconds, which would make it one of the quickest cars in the world.
Although Silex has so far released only computer-generated renderings of the Chreos, Grech says the powertrain has already been fitted to other vehicles for testing purposes and it will begin construction of a full-size prototype in July.
The projected price of the car has not been revealed, but Grech is hoping to have it ready for sale by 2015. Images of its interior design are set to be released on April 29.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2013/02/27/maltese-company-announces-electric-car-with-621-mile-range-10-minute-charge/?intcmp=HPBucket&intcmp=features#ixzz2MA9CFbaX
I hate to see them go into any kind of dept though but apparently is necessary to carry out testing.
Rodinia Lithium Secures $2 Million Stand-By Credit Facility From Key Shareholder
February 26, 2013
Toronto, Canada, February 26, 2013: Rodinia Lithium Inc. (“Rodinia” or the “Company”) (TSX-V: RM) is pleased to announce it has entered into a $2.0 million stand-by credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) with Aberdeen International Inc. (“Aberdeen”). Aberdeen is currently a significant shareholder of Rodinia, is a long-time supporter of the Company, and is a member of the Forbes & Manhattan Inc. group of companies.
Under the Credit Facility, Rodinia has the ability to draw down amounts up to a maximum of $2.0 million (subject to the terms of the Credit Facility), with repayment of any draw down to be made by February 25, 2016. Any amounts drawn down will bear interest at 10% per annum, payable quarterly in arrears, with the first installment due on June 30, 2013. As at September 30, 2012 (the Company’s most recent financial statements for the third quarter), the Company had $621,000 in cash and no debt. Rodinia expects that its current funding will be sufficient to fund its operations through the delivery of a revised National Instrument 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate and Feasibility Study for its Salar de Diablilos lithium-potash project in Salta, Argentina.
“The Credit Facility is a tremendous vote of confidence from one of our largest shareholders. It insulates us from market uncertainty and provides a ready source of non-dilutive funding, if required, in the future,” said Aaron Wolfe, Vice President Corporate Development of Rodinia. “We very much appreciate the on-going support of one of the Company’s longest and largest shareholders as we continue to achieve our short term milestones.”
In consideration for Aberdeen’s commitment under the Credit Facility, Rodinia has agreed to secure the Credit Facility against its Salar de Centenario assets. No fees or warrants have been issued in relation to the establishment of the Credit Facility. Promptly after signing the Credit Facility, the Company will draw down $300,000 from the line of credit.
Aberdeen is a non-arm’s length party; as such term is defined by the TSX-Venture Exchange, as Aberdeen and Rodinia have a common senior officer.
Rodinia Lithium Inc. Announces Board Change
Toronto, Canada, January 8, 2013: Rodinia Lithium Inc. (“Rodinia” or the “Company”) (TSX-V: RM; OTCQX: RDNAF) announces that Mark Eaton has resigned as a director on the board of directors of the Company effective December 31, 2012 to comply with corporate governance best practices with respect to the number of boards on which certain officers should sit.
William Randall, Rodinia’s President & CEO, commented, “Mark has been a key member of the Rodinia team over the past 3 years, and played an instrumental role in helping the Company assess strategic opportunities and finance our growth. On behalf of the board and management team, I would like to thank him for his contributions to the Company and wish him well in his other endeavours.”
About Rodinia Lithium Inc.:
Rodinia Lithium Inc. is a Canadian mineral exploration and development company with a primary focus on Lithium exploration and development in North and South America. The Company is also actively exploring the commercialization of a significant Potash co-product that is expected to be recoverable through the lithium harvesting process.
Please visit the Company’s web site at www.rodinialithium.com or write us at info@rodinialithium.com.
For further information please contact
Aaron Wolfe
Vice-President, Corporate Development
Tel: +1 (416) 309-2696
Cautionary Notes
Except for statements of historical fact contained herein, the information in this press release may be deemed to constitute “forward-looking information” within the meaning of Canadian securities law. Such forward-looking information may include, without limitation, statements (express or implied) regarding the anticipated effects of the results and the impact of the Resignation. There can be no assurance that such statements (express or implied) will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from such statements. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities statutes or regulation, the Company expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
I hope the brine is warm here because I am starting to accumulate while it is quiet and cheap.
Just to show you what can happen, last August 23rd 2012 Rockwood Lithium offers a friendly cash offer to Talison Lithium at $6.50 a share. Then last November 19th 2012, Chengdu Tianqi Industry Group Co. (Chinese), announces its intention to aquire all of the Talison shares it does not own for $7.50 a share. Rockwood currently controls over 50% of the lithium market. They also own operations in Silver Peak Nevada. Isn't it interesting how the Canadians, Chinese and Rockwood are quietly taking positions before the boom begins while investors are in hold your horses mode. I could also dream of a merger between Western Lithium and Rodina Lithium Inc. (RDNAF), the two brothers in Nevada that would create more value before ROC or the Chinese take a bite. Whatever happens in the future, it looks like a win, win, win situation looming. Accumulation and patients is the key here! Good luck to all!
First of all ROC has a lot of money, the big fish so to speak. Western Lithium USA is like a small fish sitting on an ocean of easily obtainable lithium and hectorite clay. The big fish is looking at this stake with hungry eyes and the need to satisfy its investors. I would imagine that there will be efforts from ROC and the Chinese to acquire such a vast resource. The loan money they have obtained from Kite suggests that somebody likes the test results other than Western Lithium USA. A loan that big is not given if there is no proof of what is about to be had. The big fish will wait until the right moment to strike. That moment will probably be after the demonstration plant is complete and buyer agreements are secured. Then share holders will get a notice in the mail of the pending buyout and the offer of how much per share they are wanting to pay. Once approved, you will receive a check in the mail of the agreed upon pps buyout. GLTA!! L
Lithium could give Nevada’s economy a needed jolt
You guys may have read this since it is 2 years old but it mentions Western Lithium so I am posting for all sources of news whatever I can find on our favorite subject.
Read more: http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2011/feb/04/lithium-could-give-nevadas-economy-needed-jolt/#ixzz2Lys5JhOg
The Obama administration has backed off its goal of putting 1 million electric vehicles (EVs) on the road by 2015, Reuters reported late last month. Yet the federal government has still committed to $7.5 billion in funding for policies that promote electric vehicles, including $2.4 billion in grants to lithium-ion battery makers.
A Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) team working alongside the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory recently received a five-year, $3.7-million grant from the US Department of Energy. The laboratories’ research is focused on improving the performance, lifetime cycle and safety of lithium-ion batteries.
http://lithiuminvestingnews.com/6942/global-growth-electric-vehicle-sales-good-lithium-battery-market-boeing-united-states/
Congressman Mark Amodei is pushing to streamline mining permitting process. WLC may benefit!!
In the 2012 ranking of countries for mining investment, the United States ranked last in permitting delays. Duplicative regulations, bureaucratic inefficiency, and lack of coordination between federal agencies are threatening the economic recovery of my home state and jeopardizing our national security. Nevada, which is rich in strategic and critical minerals, also has the highest unemployment rate in the nation. Decade-long permitting delays are standing in the way of high-paying jobs and revenue for local communities. This bill would streamline the permitting process to leverage our nation's vast mineral resources, while paying due respect to economic and environmental concerns.
http://www.amodei.house.gov/news-releases/amodei-reintroduces-strategic-and-critical-minerals-production-act/
There were many who purchased WLC back when it was $1.20 a share. I first found WLC back then. At that time I decided it was too expensive for me and I would wait for it to come back to earth. At that time the President O stated the federal government was backing green energy and battery powered cars. He might as well have said, "Lithium investors chaaarge!" So the rush was on and everyone was out snapping up shares at whatever the cost. But from the beginning WLC had given their plan. Everyone should have read it but it was obvious they did not as they piled on in hopes to make a quick buck. Battery powered cars are not dead, the engineers are still catching up to the idea that batteries get hot and need cooling. My cell phone is testament to that. There are other needs besides range with the cars. Charging stations need to be installed, whether in your garage at home or at stations across the nation. All this stuff takes time, it is not just knee jerk like the President wants. I think WLC will be a successful play for (patient) investors. They have already proven their determination and skill at obtaining the capital to help reach their planned goals. Yes we have about year to wait to start digging, but watch for some earlier news about the demonstration plant and possible purchasing agreements secured later this year, before we begin to scrape the dirt. I am also thinking we may see early EPA approval since Sen. Harry Reid is wanting those 150 jobs for Nevada sooner rather than later, we shall see. GLTA!!
GALXF getting cheap enough for a position!
Lithium Boom Spurs Production From Brine: Commodities
By Lydia Mulvany and Jack Kaskey - Sep 21, 2012 Lithium demand, seen doubling in the next eight years on sales of batteries used in electric vehicles, is spurring a U.S. company to build a factory to extract the metal from brine in California.
Simbol Materials LLC’s proposed Imperial Valley plant near the Mexican border would slash the time and cost needed to extract lithium from salty water, Chief Executive Officer Luka Erceg said in an interview. The closely held, Pleasanton, California-based company may boost output from an initial 8,000 tons a year to as much as 64,000 tons by the end of the decade, Erceg said, equal to 21 percent of projected global demand.
Simbol is among prospective lithium producers that are trying to break into a market dominated by four companies including Princeton, New Jersey-based Rockwood Holdings Inc. (ROC) The price of the lightest metal, used to make long-lasting batteries for laptops, power tools and now electric vehicles, jumped 35 percent in 18 months, according to Jonathan Lee, an analyst at Byron Capital Markets in Toronto.
“Electric cars are eventually going to become a bigger part of auto sales, and given that they require hundreds of times the amount of lithium needed for laptops, that’s going to really increase demand,” Chris L. Shaw, a New York-based analyst at Monness Crespi Hardt & Co., said yesterday in a telephone interview.
Hybrid Demand
Global demand will double to 300,000 tons by 2020, according analysts at Dahlman Rose & Co. Sales of 1 million electric vehicles a year would more than double battery-grade lithium use which is currently 40 million pounds (18,144 tons), Rockwood Chief Executive Officer Seifi Ghasemi said Sept. 11 in a presentation.
Each electric vehicle uses about 50 pounds of lithium and hybrids each use about 20 pounds, compared with about 0.1 ounce for a mobile phone and about 1 ounce for an iPad, Ghasemi said. About 40,000 electric vehicles and hybrid plug-ins were sold globally last year, according to the EV City Casebook, a report published on the International Energy Association’s website.
By 2020 there will be annual sales 3.9 million hybrid vehicles, 1.4 million plug-in hybrids and 2.8 million fully electric plug-in vehicles, Erceg said.
While lithium is mined from ore, brine evaporation is the lowest-cost source. Simbol’s technology takes brine from geothermal power plants and extracts minerals via a so-called reverse osmosis filtration system in a process that takes 90 minutes to 2 hours. Conventional methods using evaporation can take 18 months, Erceg says.
Evaporation Process
Brian Jaskula, a mineral commodity specialist for the U.S. Geological Survey, said Simbol’s method could be a breakthrough.
“If they can eliminate the evaporation process, they can produce at a much lower price point, which would be great for the industry,” he said.
Toronto-born Erceg, 41, has a master’s in business administration degree from Rice University in Houston and a law degree from South Texas College of Law. He worked at El Paso LLC, CenterPoint Energy Inc. and Philip Services Corp. for 15 years before co-founding Simbol.
The company’s other founders are Carol J. Bruton and Brian R. Viani, who previously worked at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and M. Scott Conley. The four are shareholders in Simbol, alongside Itochu Corp., Firelake Capital Management LLC and Mohr Davidow Ventures.
Erceg said he expects construction on the first California plant to begin at the start of 2013. He declined to disclose the cost of the project.
Quebec Mine
“Our intent is to build multiple products and multiple plants concentrated in one region,” he said.
Other companies are also planning more lithium capacity. Canada Lithium Corp. expects to start mining 20,000 tons annually in Quebec next year, said Olav Svela, a company spokesman. Perth, Australia-based Galaxy Resources Ltd., which started mining in 2010 and processing at a Chinese plant in April, is developing a lithium and potash project in Argentina. Rockwood, in addition to its own expansion plans, agreed last month to acquire Australian lithium miner Talison Lithium Ltd. for about C$724 million ($743 million).
Rockwood, Talison, Soc. Quimica & Minera de Chile SA and FMC Corp. (FMC) control about 90 percent of the global market, analysts at Jefferies & Co. said in a report in June. Rockwood has about 50 percent of the $900 million market for lithium, excluding Talison, Ghasemi said in his presentation.
Rising demand allowed Rockwood to raise prices for lithium carbonate, the processed form of the material that’s used in lithium-ion batteries, by 20 percent in July 2011 and another 22 percent a year later, Ghasemi said.
‘Berserk’ Industry
Whether Simbol and other companies planning to enter the market will break the dominance of the largest four producers depends on whether they execute their business plans and disregard price to focus on gaining market share, John McNulty, an analyst at Credit Suisse Group AG who has a buy rating on Rockwood, said in an interview.
Erceg says high prices are unsustainable in the long term and that companies like Simbol using new technology will cut production costs.
There are 23 new projects and expansions for lithium, which could turn a tight market into an oversupplied one, said Keith Evans, a retired geologist who worked in the lithium business for three decades. The industry has gone “berserk” with new projects since a report six years ago anticipated a shortage, and if all the companies produce as planned, global output will climb to as much as 642,000 tons a year by 2020, Evans said.
Complex Product
“Some of the new projects are quite good, but there’s no room for them at the moment,” Evans said in a telephone interview from San Diego. “They’ll just have to exercise patience and hope the demand after 2020 will increase dramatically.”
Erceg says he’s not concerned about oversupply of lithium. He says that in 2009, he counted 72 companies talking about getting into the lithium industry, while now there are probably five -- including Simbol -- who have a chance of doing so.
“Most companies, we don’t think they’re going to get there,” he said. “Lithium is not a smile-and-dial product, it’s a complex product.”
To contact the reporters on this story: Lydia Mulvany in New York at lmulvany1@bloomberg.net; Jack Kaskey in Houston at jkaskey@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Simon Casey at scasey4@bloomberg.net
Lithium Boom Spurs Production From Brine: Commodities
By Lydia Mulvany and Jack Kaskey - Sep 21, 2012 Lithium demand, seen doubling in the next eight years on sales of batteries used in electric vehicles, is spurring a U.S. company to build a factory to extract the metal from brine in California.
Simbol Materials LLC’s proposed Imperial Valley plant near the Mexican border would slash the time and cost needed to extract lithium from salty water, Chief Executive Officer Luka Erceg said in an interview. The closely held, Pleasanton, California-based company may boost output from an initial 8,000 tons a year to as much as 64,000 tons by the end of the decade, Erceg said, equal to 21 percent of projected global demand.
Simbol is among prospective lithium producers that are trying to break into a market dominated by four companies including Princeton, New Jersey-based Rockwood Holdings Inc. (ROC) The price of the lightest metal, used to make long-lasting batteries for laptops, power tools and now electric vehicles, jumped 35 percent in 18 months, according to Jonathan Lee, an analyst at Byron Capital Markets in Toronto.
“Electric cars are eventually going to become a bigger part of auto sales, and given that they require hundreds of times the amount of lithium needed for laptops, that’s going to really increase demand,” Chris L. Shaw, a New York-based analyst at Monness Crespi Hardt & Co., said yesterday in a telephone interview.
Hybrid Demand
Global demand will double to 300,000 tons by 2020, according analysts at Dahlman Rose & Co. Sales of 1 million electric vehicles a year would more than double battery-grade lithium use which is currently 40 million pounds (18,144 tons), Rockwood Chief Executive Officer Seifi Ghasemi said Sept. 11 in a presentation.
Each electric vehicle uses about 50 pounds of lithium and hybrids each use about 20 pounds, compared with about 0.1 ounce for a mobile phone and about 1 ounce for an iPad, Ghasemi said. About 40,000 electric vehicles and hybrid plug-ins were sold globally last year, according to the EV City Casebook, a report published on the International Energy Association’s website.
By 2020 there will be annual sales 3.9 million hybrid vehicles, 1.4 million plug-in hybrids and 2.8 million fully electric plug-in vehicles, Erceg said.
While lithium is mined from ore, brine evaporation is the lowest-cost source. Simbol’s technology takes brine from geothermal power plants and extracts minerals via a so-called reverse osmosis filtration system in a process that takes 90 minutes to 2 hours. Conventional methods using evaporation can take 18 months, Erceg says.
Evaporation Process
Brian Jaskula, a mineral commodity specialist for the U.S. Geological Survey, said Simbol’s method could be a breakthrough.
“If they can eliminate the evaporation process, they can produce at a much lower price point, which would be great for the industry,” he said.
Toronto-born Erceg, 41, has a master’s in business administration degree from Rice University in Houston and a law degree from South Texas College of Law. He worked at El Paso LLC, CenterPoint Energy Inc. and Philip Services Corp. for 15 years before co-founding Simbol.
The company’s other founders are Carol J. Bruton and Brian R. Viani, who previously worked at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and M. Scott Conley. The four are shareholders in Simbol, alongside Itochu Corp., Firelake Capital Management LLC and Mohr Davidow Ventures.
Erceg said he expects construction on the first California plant to begin at the start of 2013. He declined to disclose the cost of the project.
Quebec Mine
“Our intent is to build multiple products and multiple plants concentrated in one region,” he said.
Other companies are also planning more lithium capacity. Canada Lithium Corp. expects to start mining 20,000 tons annually in Quebec next year, said Olav Svela, a company spokesman. Perth, Australia-based Galaxy Resources Ltd., which started mining in 2010 and processing at a Chinese plant in April, is developing a lithium and potash project in Argentina. Rockwood, in addition to its own expansion plans, agreed last month to acquire Australian lithium miner Talison Lithium Ltd. for about C$724 million ($743 million).
Rockwood, Talison, Soc. Quimica & Minera de Chile SA and FMC Corp. (FMC) control about 90 percent of the global market, analysts at Jefferies & Co. said in a report in June. Rockwood has about 50 percent of the $900 million market for lithium, excluding Talison, Ghasemi said in his presentation.
Rising demand allowed Rockwood to raise prices for lithium carbonate, the processed form of the material that’s used in lithium-ion batteries, by 20 percent in July 2011 and another 22 percent a year later, Ghasemi said.
‘Berserk’ Industry
Whether Simbol and other companies planning to enter the market will break the dominance of the largest four producers depends on whether they execute their business plans and disregard price to focus on gaining market share, John McNulty, an analyst at Credit Suisse Group AG who has a buy rating on Rockwood, said in an interview.
Erceg says high prices are unsustainable in the long term and that companies like Simbol using new technology will cut production costs.
There are 23 new projects and expansions for lithium, which could turn a tight market into an oversupplied one, said Keith Evans, a retired geologist who worked in the lithium business for three decades. The industry has gone “berserk” with new projects since a report six years ago anticipated a shortage, and if all the companies produce as planned, global output will climb to as much as 642,000 tons a year by 2020, Evans said.
Complex Product
“Some of the new projects are quite good, but there’s no room for them at the moment,” Evans said in a telephone interview from San Diego. “They’ll just have to exercise patience and hope the demand after 2020 will increase dramatically.”
Erceg says he’s not concerned about oversupply of lithium. He says that in 2009, he counted 72 companies talking about getting into the lithium industry, while now there are probably five -- including Simbol -- who have a chance of doing so.
“Most companies, we don’t think they’re going to get there,” he said. “Lithium is not a smile-and-dial product, it’s a complex product.”
To contact the reporters on this story: Lydia Mulvany in New York at lmulvany1@bloomberg.net; Jack Kaskey in Houston at jkaskey@bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Simon Casey at scasey4@bloomberg.net
I have seen this before, they dilute a stock to no end, like stepping on the gas pedal too much and flood the engine and the car will not start thus stalling, and then someone later tells them to decrease the amount of shares outstanding or take your foot off the pedal and the price will go up or the car will start and go, so they do a 5 to 1 reverse split and piss everyone off, abandoning shareholders on the side of the road.
Matrix, I hope you are still holding!! You are doing great!! I can see this stock going to $40.00 per share easy!!!
Moderator Post
Moderator Post
Moderator Post
Yeahhhh, Hot company, Gooooooo INVN!!!!
Nice chart, glad I loaded up. 321 Blast offfffff!!!!
Liquidity Service Rises On Unusually High Volume (LQDT)
By TheStreet Wire 02/01/12 - 02:01 PM EST
NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Liquidity Service (Nasdaq:LQDT) is trading at unusually high volume Wednesday with 1.4 million shares changing hands. It is currently at 4.4 times its average daily volume and trading up 72 cents (+2.1%) at $35.23 as of 1:40 p.m. ET.
Liquidity Service has a market cap of $1.03 billion and is part of the services sector and retail industry. Shares are down 6.5% year to date as of the close of trading on Tuesday.
Liquidity Services, Inc. operates various online auction marketplaces for surplus and salvage assets in the United States. The company has a P/E ratio of 33.1, below the average retail industry P/E ratio of 120.7 and above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7.
TheStreet Ratings rates Liquidity Service as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its impressive record of earnings per share growth, increase in net income, revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures and good cash flow from operations. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company shows low profit margins. You can view the full Liquidity Service Ratings Report.
Support for Electric Vehicle Programs on the Increase in the United States
http://lithiuminvestingnews.com/5083/electric-vehicle-lithium-battery-united-states/?utm_source=Resource+Investing+News&utm_campaign=1a6a0b6e1a-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email
Yes, I keep forgeting I am in the US and we look at life in our way. I have been overseas and I understand people live differently and basic techonology is more likely to take hold than other forms. I think lithium is the oil of the future and as you can see is about $6,000 per tonne at the moment.
Thankyou Cosmic, I will dig into their data!!!
Now take it a step further, imagine them all drone type pedicabs. You strike your card and the battery powered PediCabDrone takes you where you want to go via GPS guidance. OH what the future holds for Lithium sales. Lithium is the new oil of the future. Look at what oil is per barrel. Oil has created many tycoons. We shall be the lithium tycoons of the future!!!