Bloomberg News | April 17, 2023
Chilean state-owned copper companies Codelco and Enami are holding talks with private-sector firms to develop lithium deposits in a country that holds the world’s biggest reserves of the battery metal.
Top copper supplier Codelco and Enami, which provides services to small- and mid-sized producers, will represent the state in new lithium projects given it will take “some years” to set up a separate national lithium company, Mining Minister Marcela Hernando said in an interview.
NOW READ: Chile’s Codelco sets up lithium subsidiary
The administration of left-leaning President Gabriel Boric expects to deliver this week its long-awaited lithium development strategy, in which companies will partner with the state in new projects. It also plans to present a bill to Congress this week to establish the state lithium company. But until that happens, the new joint-venture model will begin via Codelco and Enami.
“Each company has had conversations and some confidentially agreements have been signed,” Hernando said on Monday from the sidelines of an industry conference in Santiago.
ALSO READ: Tesla lobbying to secure lithium from Chile — report
Negotiations are separate to Codelco’s lithium exploration at the Maricunga salt flat, she said, adding that some of the prospective projects have already been the subject of exploration.
Chile is trying to attract private capital to the industry, at the same time as maximizing tax revenue, defending the environment and expanding downstream operations. Output is currently restricted to two companies — SQM and Albemarle Corp. — from a single, though giant, salt flat. The nation is losing market share just as demand for the key ingredient in electric-vehicle batteries accelerates.
(By James Attwood)
Sigma Lithium begins production at Grota do Cirilo project in Brazil
Reuters | April 17, 2023 |
Credit: Sigma Lithium Corp.
Sigma Lithium Corp said on Monday it has started production at the Grota do Cirilo mine in Brazil, days after the government allowed it to sell and export the electric-vehicle battery metal.
An inaugural shipment of about 15,000 tonnes is expected in May, the Vancouver-based company said.
Production is expected to slowly ramp up in coming months and hit an annual rate of 270,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate by July.
In 2021, Sigma agreed to supply at least 60,000 tonnes to LG Energy Solution Ltd starting this year. The remaining output is expected to be sold on the spot market to customers that will likely process the metal in China.
Earlier this year, media reports said Tesla Inc and Chinese lithium rival Ganfeng Lithium Group Co were considering making a bid for Sigma.
(By Arshreet Singh; Editing by Devika Syamnath)
Reuters | April 17, 2023 |
Credit: Sigma Lithium Corp.
Sigma Lithium Corp said on Monday it has started production at the Grota do Cirilo mine in Brazil, days after the government allowed it to sell and export the electric-vehicle battery metal.
An inaugural shipment of about 15,000 tonnes is expected in May, the Vancouver-based company said.
Production is expected to slowly ramp up in coming months and hit an annual rate of 270,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate by July.
In 2021, Sigma agreed to supply at least 60,000 tonnes to LG Energy Solution Ltd starting this year. The remaining output is expected to be sold on the spot market to customers that will likely process the metal in China.
Earlier this year, media reports said Tesla Inc and Chinese lithium rival Ganfeng Lithium Group Co were considering making a bid for Sigma.
(By Arshreet Singh; Editing by Devika Syamnath)
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