NetworkNewsWire
Editorial Coverage: Venture capitalists have been placing
enormous bets on lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. These high-tech
batteries now power everything from smart phones and power tools to
electric vehicles. Demand for lithium is certain to surge as
vehicles become greener, new devices flourish and electricity
becomes cleaner. In a testament to the immense opportunity created
by the batteries’ versatility, venture capital firms have already
pumped a record $1 billion-plus into battery technology this year,
more than double all of last year’s total (http://nnw.fm/3TuqE). Surging demand and inadequate
market supply have intensified the hunt for new sources of this
critical mineral by Lithium Chile, Inc. (TSX-V: LITH) (OTC:
LTMCF) (LTMCF
Profile) and other interested mining
companies such as Albemarle Corp. (NYSE: ALB), Lithium
Americas Corp. (TSX: LAC) (NYSE: LAC), FMC Corporation (NYSE:
FMC) and Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile (NYSE:
SQM).
Lithium has myriad uses, from lubricating grease to fabricating
glass and traditional ceramics, but most important is its use in
the development of high-density storage batteries. Indicative of
its importance, Goldman Sachs identified lithium as “the new
gasoline,” essential to fueling the burgeoning electric vehicle
market. The transformative impact of lithium-based batteries is
likely to be greater than the titanic shift that occurred when
society transitioned from whale oil to petroleum-based energy
sources. Little wonder that smart money is piling into the
sector.
Some of the money is earmarked for research on new technology,
but by far the largest recent capital influx has poured into
existing lithium-ion battery technology, and nothing is more
critical to this essential energy source than lithium. The market
has grown from $244 million in 2014 to more than $394 million in
2017. That’s only the beginning of a burgeoning industry — its 17.4
percent annual growth is expected put the market at over $684
million within the next four years (http://nnw.fm/d5ZRK).
A Race for the Prize
Unabated demand and material shortages have driven up prices and
sparked a global quest for new sources of lithium. Located in the
heart of the world’s foremost reserves for the metal, Lithium
Chile, Inc. (TSX-V: LITH) (OTC:
LTMCF) is well positioned to exploit the market
imbalances and sky-rocketing demand. Chile is currently the largest
producer of lithium in the world and first in lithium reserves.
Lithium Chile is developing one of the largest lithium-rich
exploration portfolios in the country encompassing more than
148,000 hectares (over 570 square miles) across 15 properties.
Their land acquisition began in 2015, exploration got underway in
2017, geochemical programs are complete, geophysics is underway,
and the company is targeting 2018 for drilling and an initial
resource estimates on two projects.
Through strategic acquisition, Lithium Chile has amassed the
largest lithium land package in Chile of any private operating
company. Utilizing over 26 years of mining experience in the
country, Vice President of Exploration and Chief Geologist Terry
Walker has spearheaded the company’s procurement of vast prime
lithium resources. An extraordinary field geologist, Mr. Walker can
precisely identify the status, ownership and viability of every
claim in the country with nothing more than GPS coordinates.
Current land prices hover around $1,500 per hectare, but Mr.
Walker’s acumen and experience proved invaluable Lithium Chile
accumulated large tracts of prime lithium-bearing properties well
before the land rush for only $3 per hectare.
The company’s potential lithium resources are held in salar
brines, which are underground reservoirs containing high
concentrations of dissolved salts, such as lithium. Testing on
Lithium Chile properties has shown some of the highest sample
grades reported throughout Chile. The typical lithium concentration
needed for production in the United States is between 190 and 200
milligrams of lithium per liter. Some of Lithium Chile’s properties
have tested at more than 1,000 milligrams per liter, and one sample
returned 1,400 milligrams per liter taken within three feet of the
surface.
Lithium Chile’s wholly owned assets include 66 square kilometers
on the Salar de Atacama, Chile’s largest mineral salt flat, which
is the source of about 30 percent of the world’s lithium
production. The Salar de Atacama offers multiple competitive
advantages in lithium production, including good infrastructure,
high concentrations of salar brines, low processing costs, superior
evaporation rates and favorable year-round weather. Chile also is
mining friendly and provides a clear, streamlined permitting
process that contributes to the country being the lowest-cost
lithium producer in the world.
Priority Prospects
Field testing has identified multiple high-priority target areas
at Lithium Chile’s Salar De Atacama and Salar Ollague properties
where near-surface brine values of up to 1,330 milligrams per liter
of lithium and 1140 milligrams per liter of lithium, respectively,
have been discovered. Drilling is expected to commence this year
(http://nnw.fm/85Lu2). Steve Cochrane, president
and CEO of Lithium Chile, commented, “We are delighted with the
discovery of such impressive drill target areas at Atacama and
Ollague. The results also follow the recent discovery of a 60km2
target area at another of our top Chilean projects — Helados. . .
.We have an aggressive multi-project drill program planned for this
year, which includes all three of these exciting projects, and we
look forward to sharing drill results as they come through.”
Cochrane has more than 36 years of investment industry
experience and helped raise over $500 million for public companies
in various industry sectors including mining. Totally committed to
company success, Mr. Cochrane and his clients are “all in,” and his
extensive capital market experience will be an inestimable asset as
Lithium Chile continues rollout and expansion of its development
strategy. The management team is rounded with seasoned
professionals in finance and resources including Executive Chairman
Al J. Kroontje and directors Ken Booth and Andrew Bowering. The
company is well funded and driven by a top-tier team with more than
150 years of combined experience in finance, mining exploration and
development in the natural resources sector.
A Competitive Field
Among the world’s major lithium producers, Albemarle
Corp. (NYSE:
ALB) is the largest and derives
nearly 39 percent of its total revenue from lithium sales. Long a
global leader in the specialty chemical business, Albemarle’s
lithium business segment mines lithium and converts it into
different forms along the value chain, such as lithium carbonate
and lithium hydroxide, or value-added specialties such as butyl
lithium and lithium aluminum hydride. With its acquisition of
Rockwood Holdings in 2015, the company now controls one of the only
operating lithium brines in North America and operates one lithium
brine in Chile. ALB also holds a 49 percent share in Talison
Lithium in Australia and plans to expand production there in 2019
under a joint venture.
Lithium Americas Corp. (TSX: LAC) (NYSE: LAC)
is focused on development of two lithium development projects: the
Cauchari-Olaroz project located in the Jujuy province of Argentina
and the Lithium Nevada project located in northwestern Nevada. Its
segments are Organoclay, Lithium Nevada, Cauchari-Olaroz and
Corporate. Its geographical segments are Canada, the United States,
Germany and Argentina. The Cauchari-Olaroz project is a lithium
brine mineral project. The Lithium Nevada project is a smectite
clay-based lithium project.
Primarily serving the agricultural industry, FMC
Corporation (NYSE: FMC) provides solutions to enhance crop
yield and quality by controlling a broad spectrum of insects, weeds
and disease, as well as providing pest control to nonagricultural
markets. The company’s lithium products are utilized in energy
storage, specialty polymers and pharmaceutical synthesis. FMC has
been in business for over a century and acquired a significant
portion of DuPont's Crop Protection business in 2017. FMC employs
approximately 7,000 people throughout the world and operates its
businesses in two segments: FMC Agricultural Solutions and FMC
Lithium.
Chile-based Sociedad Quimica y Minera S.A. (NYSE:
SQM) is an intriguing player in the global scramble to
secure greater supplies of lithium. SQM produces over 45,000 tons
of lithium carbonate equivalent per year and plans to expand
lithium carbonate capacity to 63,000 metric tons in 2018. In
addition to lithium, the company produces specialty plant
nutrients, iodine derivatives, potassium chloride, potassium
sulfate and industrial chemicals. The Chilean government announced
it plans to block the possible $4 billion purchase of 32 percent of
the company by Tianqi Lithium Corporation and any other Chinese
company. The deal was blocked to prevent China from controlling the
lithium resources needed by electric car makers.
From the very first spark of fire forward, humans have sought
out new energy sources. At each step along the way, quality of life
improved. There’s little doubt that lithium will play a major role
in powering the future and it appears to be just the beginning of
another major transformation in the way we live.
For more information on Lithium Chile, visit Lithium
Chile, Inc. (TSX-V: LITH) (OTC: LTMCF).
About NetworkNewsWire
NetworkNewsWire (NNW) is a financial news and content
distribution company that provides (1) access to a network of wire
services via NetworkWire to
reach all target markets, industries and demographics in the most
effective manner possible, (2) article and editorial syndication to
5,000+ news outlets (3), enhanced press release services to ensure
maximum impact, (4) social media distribution via the Investor
Brand Network (IBN) to nearly 2 million followers, (5) a full array
of corporate communications solutions, and (6) a total news
coverage solution with NNW Prime. As a
multifaceted organization with an extensive team of contributing
journalists and writers, NNW is uniquely positioned to best serve
private and public companies that desire to reach a wide audience
of investors, consumers, journalists and the general public. By
cutting through the overload of information in today’s market, NNW
brings its clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand
awareness. NNW is where news, content and information converge.
For more information, please visit https://www.NetworkNewsWire.com
NetworkNewsWire (NNW)
New York, New York
www.NetworkNewsWire.com
212.418.1217 Office
Editor@NetworkNewsWire.com
Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the
NetworkNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by NNW,
wherever published or re-published: http://NNW.fm/Disclaimer
DISCLAIMER: NetworkNewsWire (NNW) is the source of the Article
and content set forth above. References to any issuer other than
the profiled issuer are intended solely to identify industry
participants and do not constitute an endorsement of any issuer and
do not constitute a comparison to the profiled issuer. The
commentary, views and opinions expressed in this release by NNW are
solely those of NNW. Readers of this Article and content agree that
they cannot and will not seek to hold liable NNW for any investment
decisions by their readers or subscribers. NNW is a news
dissemination and financial marketing solutions provider and are
NOT registered broker-dealers/analysts/investment advisers, hold no
investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy
any security.
The Article and content related to the profiled company
represent the personal and subjective views of the Author, and are
subject to change at any time without notice. The information
provided in the Article and the content has been obtained from
sources which the Author believes to be reliable. However, the
Author has not independently verified or otherwise investigated all
such information. None of the Author, NNW, or any of their
respective affiliates, guarantee the accuracy or completeness of
any such information. This Article and content are not, and should
not be regarded as investment advice or as a recommendation
regarding any particular security or course of action; readers are
strongly urged to speak with their own investment advisor and
review all of the profiled issuer’s filings made with the
Securities and Exchange Commission before making any investment
decisions and should understand the risks associated with an
investment in the profiled issuer’s securities, including, but not
limited to, the complete loss of your investment.
NNW HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.
This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and
such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe
harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. “Forward-looking statements” describe future expectations,
plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words
such as “may”, “future”, “plan” or “planned”, “will” or “should”,
“expected,” “anticipates”, “draft”, “eventually” or “projected”.
You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude
of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances,
events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the
forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results
may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking
statements as a result of various factors, and other risks
identified in a company’s annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and
other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the
forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue
reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this
release are made as of the date hereof and NNW undertakes no
obligation to update such statements.
Source:
NetworkNewsWire
Contact:
NetworkNewsWire (NNW)
New York, New York
www.NetworkNewsWire.com
212.418.1217 Office
Editor@NetworkNewsWire.com
Lithium Chile (PK) (USOTC:LTMCF)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jan 2025 to Feb 2025
Lithium Chile (PK) (USOTC:LTMCF)
Historical Stock Chart
From Feb 2024 to Feb 2025
