Lithium Producers Expand Amid Market Supply Squeeze

NEW YORK, June 5, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

NetworkNewsWire Editorial Coverage: 

Driven by an unprecedented ramp-up of the electric vehicle industry in China, fears of a lithium shortage nearly tripled the metal's price over the last couple years. Although in a temporary lull, demand and price pressures are expected to consolidate then accelerate at breakneck speed as several nations advance similar plans to increase EV use. Insatiable demand and inadequate market supply have intensified the global quest to bring new lithium sources to market and have created a seldom-seen opportunity. Lithium-related stocks and ETFs have proved to be the best way to play the electric future powered by lithium-ion batteries. With wholly owned prime properties and a plethora of potential lithium assets, prospective junior miner Lithium Chile (TSX-V:LITH) (OTC:LTMCF) (LTMC Profile) may possibly have the largest upside of any lithium miner this year. Other companies investing in the full lithium cycle, from raw resource to battery production, include the Global X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF (NYSE:LIT), while producers such as FMC Corporation (NYSE:FMC), Orocobre Ltd. (ASX:ORE) (TSX:ORL) and Lithium Americas Corp. (NYSE:LAC) are expanding production.

Salt on the Salad

Lithium is, as Tesla co-founder Elon Musk called it, "the salt on the salad" - an interesting analogy since the bulk of the world's lithium comes from salt brines. More importantly, Tesla and every other company dependent on lithium need to be certain there's a steady supply. Even if the market triples, there are still about 185 years' worth of lithium reserves, according to Deutsche Bank estimates. Unmined lithium is so abundant that the next dozen years of production will drain less than 1 percent of global reserves. Lithium is plentiful but critical and in critically short supply. By 2030, lithium miners will have to supply enough lithium to feed the equivalent of 35 battery plants the size of the Tesla Gigafactory in Nevada. Like the salt on a salad, the cost of lithium is negligible - absolutely nothing compared to the current price of an electric vehicle - but it is critical for the future.

Fueling the Future

Located in the heart of South America's "lithium triangle," Lithium Chile (TSX-V: LITH) (OTCQB: LTMCF) is about to unearth what may be a mother lode of the scarce metal. Quietly and strategically, Lithium Chile has managed to amass over 152,900 hectares (590 square miles) across 15 properties in the middle of the world's foremost lithium reserves. Lithium Chile's holdings represent the largest wholly owned lithium land package of any private operating company in all of Chile.

About half the world's lithium reserves are in Chile, predominantly in the arid Atacama Plateau. Lithium Chile's assets include 66 square kilometers directly on the Salar de Atacama, Chile's largest mineral salt flat and home to 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.

Results of field tests announced in April (http://nnw.fm/N9SHl) identified multiple high-priority target areas at both Lithium Chile's Salar De Atacama and Salar Ollague properties. Large, multiple lithium brine targets of 20 to 25 square kilometers were discovered at both properties. The Atacama property contains near-surface lithium brine values up to 1330 mg/L of lithium and the Ollague Property contains near-surface Li brine values up to 1140 mg/L of lithium. By comparison, typical lithium concentration needed for production in the United States is between 190 to 200 milligrams of lithium per liter.

Lithium Chile plans to commence drilling post-haste. Lithium Chile's President and CEO Steve Cochrane stated, "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."

For a Song

Amazingly, Lithium Chile acquired its large property reserves for a song. Land prices in lithium-rich Chile are currently pegged at $1,500 per hectare, but over the last three years Lithium Chile accumulated large tracts of prime lithium-bearing properties for only $3 dollars per hectare. Terry Walker, vice president of exploration and the chief geologist, spearheaded the company's procurement of these properties. Using a 1970s French technical report overlaid on a national database of water well hydrology and water chemistry, he meticulously matched their information with an extensive lands claim database. With full financial backing and support from the company, Terry identified and Lithium Chile acquired the best salars in proximity to the highest lithium concentrations and closest to needed infrastructure such as roads and power. The result may be the most promising lithium-rich land package in Chile.

Quick math shows that Lithium Chile paid less than a half million dollars for its entire 152,900 hectares encompassing 14 salars and one laguna, and the company currently trades at a market valuation of just over $70 million. If Lithium Chile were able to sell all its properties today at the current ask price of $1,500 per hectare, the imputed value would be over $222 million. Obviously, that's not about to happen, but it does give cause to consider what the company may be worth if the promising field tests turn into positive drilling results. Proved lithium reserve parcels sell for north of $10,000 per hectare.

Demand Drivers

Commonly recognized as power sources for portable electronics, rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are lighter and smaller than lead acid batteries, have a high tolerance for movement and temperature changes, recharge much faster and, importantly, maintain their power delivery during use. These attributes are what make Li-ion batteries essential to electric vehicles (EVs). Driving demand much faster that anyone foresaw, the global transition to electric vehicles has created a serious squeeze on lithium. Miners can't deliver it fast enough to satisfy the tsunami of EVs about to hit the road. The world's fleet of electric vehicles grew 54 percent year over year to about 3.1 million in 2017. By 2030, the International Energy Agency forecasts (http://nnw.fm/Ju510) that a minimum of 125 million and as high as 220 million electric vehicles will be on the road around the world.

Ubiquitous EVs are no pipe dream. Bloomberg New Energy Finance forecasts electric car production will increase more than thirtyfold by 2030, and China is leading the way. China wants a sevenfold increase in electric vehicle sales by 2025 and is plotting a course for phasing out fossil-fuel vehicles altogether.

Tripling its demand forecast for lithium, Roskill, a respected leader in international metals and minerals research, raised its projection of lithium carbonate equivalent (http://nnw.fm/P6y7p) to more than 1 million tons in the next eight years. With electric vehicles suddenly competing against laptops and smartphones for lithium-ion batteries, the demand for lithium isn't expected to slacken anytime soon. The planet has plenty of lithium reserves, but battery makers need massive new lithium sources to support production, and they need it much more quickly than anyone thought.

Where Will the Lithium Come From?

With the world racing to an electric future, there's no doubt that more lithium must be produced. Established producers such as FMC Corp. (NYSE: FMC) have announced plans to aggressively expand production, but it won't be nearly enough to meet demand. Estimated to be the fourth- or fifth-largest lithium producer in the world, FMC Corporation primarily serves the agricultural industry, providing solutions to enhance crop yield and quality. FMC is planning to sell off around 15 percent of its lithium business in an IPO late this year, giving the business a market value of more than $3 billion.

Listed on the Australia and Toronto Stock Exchanges, Orocobre Ltd. (ASX: ORE; TSX: ORL) is a global lithium carbonate supplier and an established producer of boron. Orocobre has announced expanded production at its Olaroz Lithium Facility in northern Argentina. The company also owns Borax Argentina, an established Argentine boron minerals and refined chemicals producer, and a 29 percent interest in Advantage Lithium. Lithium Americas Corp. (NYSE: LAC) is also advancing several lithium projects. In a joint venture with Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile, it is advancing its Cauchari-Olaroz project with target production of 50,000 tpa of LCE expected to come on line in 2020.

If there is any doubt at all about the lithium shortage, look at any lithium mining company - every single one is working to rapidly expand production. The shortage won't end any time soon, and increased production isn't likely to keep pace with the burgeoning demand. It appears that a company with vast promising resources in the heart of the lithium triangle may be in for a promising upside ride.

For more information about Lithium Chile, visit Lithium Chile (TSX-V: LITH) (OTCQB: 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.

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. FN Media Group (FNM) is a third-party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. FNM is NOT affiliated with NNW or any company mentioned herein. The commentary, views and opinions expressed in this release by NNW are solely those of NNW and are not shared by and do not reflect in any manner the views or opinions of FNM. Readers of this Article and content agree that they cannot and will not seek to hold liable NNW and FNM for any investment decisions by their readers or subscribers. NNW and FNM and their respective affiliated companies are 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, FNM, 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 & FNM 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 and FNM undertake no obligation to update such statements.

NetworkNewsWire (NNW) is affiliated with the Investor Brand Network (IBN).

About IBN
Over the past 10+ years we have consistently introduced new network brands, each specifically designed to fulfil the unique needs of our growing client base and services. Today, we continue to expand our branded network of highly influential properties, leveraging the knowledge and energy of specialized teams of experts to serve our increasingly diversified list of clients.

Please feel free to visit the Investor Brand Network (IBN) http://www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com

Corporate Communications Contact:
NetworkNewsWire (NNW)
New York
+1-212-418-1217 Office
Editor@NetworkNewsWire.com
   
Media Contact:
FN Media Group, LLC
NNW@FinancialNewsMedia.com  
+1-(954)345-0611