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Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on March 13, 2025 at 11:15

Equinor, Standard Seek Offtakers for Arkansas Lithium Project

Published: Thu, Mar 13, 2025 Author Marc Roussot, Houston Editor Chris Raine  energyintel.com

Norway's Equinor and Canada's Standard Lithium are looking to sign one or two lithium offtake agreements to secure project financing for their South West Arkansas (SWA) project in the fourth quarter.

 

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Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on March 24, 2025 at 2:29

Standard Lithium Reports Results for Six Month Fiscal Period Ended December 31, 2024

March 24, 2025 08:30 ET  | Source: Standard Lithium

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, March 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Standard Lithium Ltd. (“Standard Lithium” or the “Company”) (TSXV:SLI) (NYSE American:SLI), a leading near-commercial lithium company, today announced its financial and operating results for the six month fiscal period ended December 31, 2024.

“The last year has been crucial for the Company as we move ever closer to a final investment decision, construction, and subsequent production at the South West Arkansas project, and continue to expand our leasehold footprint in East Texas. Our goal as we exited 2024 was to prioritize, focus, and execute, and we continue to do just that,” said David Park, Chief Executive Officer and Director of Standard Lithium. “We closed on our $225 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, which is a testament to the caliber of our South West Arkansas project. We completed a drilling program, conducting extensive reservoir testing that demonstrated better reservoir properties than what was previously assumed in our PFS. We also successfully completed the derisking of our DLE technology through pilot field testing, producing results that exceeded expectations and providing samples that may later be used in the qualification process for offtake discussions. With FEED and DFS taking shape and nearing completion in the summer, and preliminary offtake and financing discussions underway, we continue to press on towards a final investment decision at South West Arkansas, and continue to expand our presence in East Texas, as we move towards the preparation of a maiden inferred resource report and further project definition on that asset.”     

Highlights Subsequent to the Six Month Fiscal Period Ended December 31, 2024

All amounts are in US dollars unless otherwise indicated.

• Finalized $225 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (“DOE”) for the South West Arkansas Project. The grant will support construction of Phase 1 of the South West Arkansas (“SWA”) project. The SWA project is expected to be one of the world’s first commercial-scale Direct Lithium Extraction (“DLE”) facilities.
• Undertook extensive field and reservoir testing program at SWA project.   Completed drilling of new well and multiple well re-entries into the Smackover Formation to conduct detailed reservoir testing and brine sampling work.
• Completed final test of field-pilot plant at SWA project. In partnership with Koch Technology Solutions, successfully operated a field-pilot plant at SWA project as final DLE derisking step prior to commercialization. Lithium recovery far exceeded design criteria, with over 99% recovery from brine sourced from the project’s International Paper Company well.
• Launch of Smackover Lithium. On January 29, 2025, at a community townhall in Stamps, AR, the Company and Equinor announced Smackover Lithium as the new name for their joint venture developing DLE projects in Southwest Arkansas and East Texas.
• Continued Strategic additions to board of directors. The Company announced on March 19, 2025 the appointment of Karen G. Narwold, as an independent member of its board of directors.

Highlights From Six Month Fiscal Period Ended December 31, 2024

• Entered into a license agreement (“Agreement”) with Koch Technology Solutions (“KTS”) to deploy and use KTS’ Li-Pro^TM Lithium Selective Sorption (“Li-pro LSS”) technology. Under the license agreement, SWA Lithium, the jointly-owned U.S. subsidiary of Standard Lithium and Equinor, will utilize Li-pro LSS at the commercial processing facility for Phase 1 of the SWA project. The Agreement includes a first-of-its-kind performance guarantee from KTS for lithium recovery, contaminant rejection and water use. In addition, it allows for continued, exclusive joint development of the technology in the Smackover Formation.
• Commercial-scale DLE at the Demonstration Plant continues to exceed expectations. The Company installed a commercial-scale DLE column in late March 2024 and has been operating the column continuously. The column is a Li-pro LSS unit, supplied by KTS and identical to those currently being integrated into the front-end engineering and design (FEED) study for the SWA project. Key technical highlights of the commercial-scale DLE column include: lithium recovery efficiency of 95.4% and excellent contaminant rejection rates. Nearly 10,000 operational cycles have been completed by the Li-pro LSS technology to date.
• Strategic additions to board of directors and executive team strengthen leadership. David Park assumed the position of Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Director of the Company on September 1, 2024, following the retirement of CEO, Director and founder Robert Mintak. Further, the Company announced on December 10, 2024 the appointment of Paul Collins as an independent member of its board of directors.
• Cash and working capital of $31.2 million and $27.5 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2024.
• The Company has no term or revolving debt obligations as of December 31, 2024.

Consolidated Financial Statements

This news release should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements and MD&A for the six month fiscal period ended December 31, 2024, which are available on the Company’s issuer profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and on EDGAR at www.sec.gov.

Six-Month Fiscal Period Ended December 31, 2024 Call and Webcast

The Company will hold a conference call and webcast to discuss its six-month fiscal period ended December 31, 2024 on Friday, March 28th at 3:30 p.m. ET. Access to the call is available via webcast or direct dial.

Conference Call and Webcast Details
Standard Lithium Six Month Fiscal Period Ended December 31, 2024 Results Call and Webcast March 28, 2025 3:30 p.m. Eastern Time (US and Canada)

Participant Information:
Conference ID: 6644028

USA / International Toll +1 (646) 307-1963
USA - Toll-Free (800) 715-9871
Canada - Toronto (647) 932-3411
Canada - Toll-Free (800) 715-9871

Attendee Webcast Link:
https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/457319305

Incentive Grant

The Company also announces that it will grant stock options (“Options”), restricted share units (“RSUs”), and deferred share units (“DSUs”) valued at $3,513,000 to management and directors under the Company's shareholder-approved incentive plans effective March 26, 2025. An additional 300,000 Options will be granted to Ms. Narwold effective March 26, 2025 in connection with her appointment to the board of directors. All Option entitlements will be calculated using the Black-Scholes method and will be exercisable for a period of sixty months at a price equivalent to the US dollar closing price on the NYSE American on March 26, 2025. A portion of the Options will vest in equal thirds over thirty-six months, with the balance vesting immediately. All RSU and DSU entitlements will be calculated using the US dollar closing price on the NYSE American on March 26, 2025. The RSUs will also vest in equal thirds over 36 months. DSUs will vest after 12 months and settle in common shares upon the holder’s departure from the Company or a change of control.

The grant of the incentive securities is intended to align compensation of directors and management with the interests of shareholders. For further information regarding the shareholder-approved incentive plans, readers are encouraged to review the management information circular prepared for the Company’s annual general meeting which includes summaries of the incentive plans and which is available under the Company’s profile on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.com) and by visiting the Company’s website (www.standardlithium.com).

About Standard Lithium Ltd.

Standard Lithium is a leading near-commercial lithium development company focused on the sustainable development of a portfolio of large, high-grade lithium-brine properties in the United States. The Company prioritizes projects characterized by the highest quality resources, robust infrastructure, skilled labor, and streamlined permitting. Standard Lithium aims to achieve sustainable, commercial-scale lithium production via the application of a scalable and fully integrated DLE and purification process. The Company’s flagship projects are located in the Smackover Formation, a world-class lithium brine asset, focused in Arkansas and Texas. In partnership with global energy leader Equinor, Standard Lithium is advancing the South West Arkansas project, a greenfield project located in southern Arkansas, and actively exploring promising lithium brine prospects in East Texas. Additionally, the Company is advancing the Phase 1A project in partnership with LANXESS Corporation, a brownfield development project located in southern Arkansas. Standard Lithium also holds an interest in certain mineral leases in the Mojave Desert in San Bernardino County, California.

Standard Lithium trades on both the TSX Venture Exchange and the NYSE American under the symbol “SLI”. Please visit the Company’s website at www.standardlithium.com.

Qualified Person

Steve Ross, P.Geo., a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, and Vice President Resource Development for the Company, has reviewed and approved the relevant scientific and technical information in this news release.

Investor and Media Inquiries

Chris Lang
Standard Lithium Ltd.
+1 604 409 8154 
investors@standardlithium.com

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Permalink Reply by Sam Goodman on April 10, 2025 at 0:12

10 April 2025

6A1259703_PFE.pdf

https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=SB568&ddBienniumSess...

https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Home/FTPDocument?path=%2FBills%2F2025R%2...

Arkansas Legislation Delivers Major Boost to Pantera Lithium’s US Strategy

The passage of SB568 is a major validation of Pantera’s strategic position in the Smackover Formation—one of the most prospective and commercially viable lithium brine basins in North America.

Key Highlights:

• Bill SB568 delivers significant fiscal and regulatory incentives for lithium companies in the state of Arkansas1

• Exempts lithium development activities from sales and use tax, reducing future project costs.

• Demonstrates strong government support for exploration/extraction and processing and refining industries.

• Exemption from severance tax for new brine units established after 1 January 2023, will remain in effect until June 30, 2033.

Pantera Lithium Limited (ASX: PFE) (“Pantera” or the “Company”) is pleased to advise that the Arkansas Senate has introduced Senate Bill 568 (“SB568”), landmark legislation that delivers significant fiscal and regulatory incentives for lithium resource development within the state. The Bill is currently under consideration in the Arkansas Senate and requires both the Senate and the House to approved, followed by Governor Sarah Huckabee-Sanders.

Pantera Chairman & CEO Barnaby Egerton-Warburton commented:

“Senate Bill 568 sends a clear signal that Arkansas is open for business when it comes to critical minerals. For Pantera, this legislation de-risks our operational and fiscal outlook and demonstrates strong state-level backing for lithium development. We commend Arkansas lawmakers for recognising the strategic importance of lithium and taking decisive steps to build out a secure domestic supply chain.”

1. https://arkleg.state.ar.us/Bills/Detail?id=SB568&chamber=Senate...

Key Provisions of SB568

• Sales and Use Tax Exemptions for lithium exploration, development, processing, and recycling

• Modernisation of severance tax laws to incorporate lithium as a critical mineral

• Alignment with broader U.S. federal initiatives for battery material security and domestic supply chains

Advantage for Pantera Lithium

• Pantera’s current and future operations stand to benefit materially from this legislation, which lowers the cost of development and strengthens the economic profile of lithium projects in Arkansas. In particular, SB568:

• Enhances project economics through CAPEX and OPEX relief

• Positions Pantera competitively alongside Tier-1 entrants such as ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM) and Standard Lithium (NYSE: SLI)

Next Steps for the Pantera Lithium Brine Project

With a validated geological model and six strategic drilling locations identified, Pantera is poised to commence:

• Discussions with potential strategic partners.

• Well surface location negotiations.

• Finalising all drill permitting approvals.

• Rig contracting for up to three initial wells.

• High-impact drilling program to commence.

This release is authorised by the Board of Directors of Pantera Lithium Limited.

For further information, please contact: Barnaby Egerton-Warburton Executive Chairman and CEO E: bew@panterali.com P: +61 (0) 437 291 155

ABOUT PANTERA MINERALS Jane Morgan Investor Relations E: jm@janmorganmanagement.com.au P: +61 (0) 405 555 618

Pantera Lithium Limited (ASX:PFE) is a forward-looking lithium brine exploration and development company focused on developing high-grade lithium brine resources in the Smackover Formation, Southwest Arkansas. The Company is dedicated to leveraging advanced subsurface modelling and strategic partnerships to establish a leading position in the U.S. lithium supply chain.

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Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on April 21, 2025 at 11:49

Exxon, Standard Lithium asking state to approve 70,000 acres of lithium brine production

by Phillip Powell April 21, 2025

On Tuesday, two major lithium companies head back to the state Oil and Gas Commission to try and expand their production capacity in south Arkansas.

Standard Lithium and Saltwerx LLC, a Texas-based subsidiary of energy giant ExxonMobil, are asking state regulators to allow them to establish lithium brine production units that cover tens of thousands of acres in three south Arkansas counties.

Saltwerx’s proposed “Pine Unit” would cover a sprawling 56,245 acres in Lafayette and Miller counties, where the company intends to begin pumping lithium-rich brine out of the Smackover Formation. The United States Geological Survey estimates that the underground ...  and could meet the 2030 global demand for the mineral in car batteries “nine times over.”

For the companies to move into commercial extraction and sale of lithium, they first need state regulators’ permission to establish  production units and royalty rates for mineral rights to be paid to landowners who have not directly contracted with the companies. Last fall, representatives of Saltwerx and Standard Lithium, along with three other companies, asked the Oil and Gas Commission to set a blanket royalty rate for ...  The commission unanimously rejected that joint application, agreeing with landowners that the companies were not being financially transparent, did not offer owners a fair royalty deal, and skipped key procedural steps in setting up a royalty rate.

If their applications to establish lithium production units are accepted, Standard Lithium and Saltwerx could submit another proposal for a royalty rate. The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported earlier this year that Standard Lithium aims to “go it alone” on its next royalty application.

The companies aim to pump lithium-rich brine from deep below the surface of the earth, separate the lithium through a chemical process called direct lithium extraction, and then sell it to meet demand for electric car batteries, phone batteries, solar panel systems, and other needs. 

In its application to the Oil and Gas Commission, Saltwerx projects the Pine Unit will generate $316 million in revenue and $27 million in profit before taxes every year by producing 165,000 barrels of lithium brine a day.

But as with the earlier joint application, lithium companies are facing some opposition from other interests in south Arkansas.

Occidental Petroleum Corporation, an energy company  headquartered in Houston, Texas, is objecting to Saltwerx’s application. The company says they “potentially own brine interests” within the proposed Pine Unit and argue that Saltwerx is attempting to “monopolize a massive potential production area without any detailed development plan.”

Occidental told the industry news website Energy Intelligence last ... that they were joining the Arkansas lithium rush a few weeks after the royalty application by Saltwerx and others collapsed.

Standard Lithium is asking the Oil and Gas Commission to establish a 20,854 acre unit of production in Columbia and Lafayette counties called the “Reynolds Brine Unit.” The company suggested that their total capital investment would be over $230 million, but did not include details on their projected revenues or profits. Standard Lithium received a $225 million grant from the Biden admin... funded by a bipartisan infrastructure bill passed by Congress.

But a familiar foe of the lithium companies, the South Arkansas Minerals Association (SAMA), is objecting to Standard Lithium’s application. SAMA represents dozens of landowners in south Arkansas and led the charge against the joint royalty application last year.

SAMA argues that Standard Lithium is still not offering the Oil and Gas Commission evidence that they can profitably extract lithium, so the commission should once again deny their application.

South Arkansas University encouraged the commission to approve Saltwerx’s and Standard Lithium’s applications. The Magnolia-based school launched a program earlier this year to partner with lithium compan... The Southwest Arkansas Development Alliance, a regional economic development organization, also wrote in favor of Saltwerx’s application.

State legislators passed a bill last week that would create tax credits for lithium companies that make investments of $100 million or larger in the state. The bill passed by a large margin with bipartisan support and was sponsored by Sen. Steve Crowell (R-Magnolia) and Rep. Matthew Shepherd (R-El Dorado). As of Monday afternoon,  Gov. Sarah Sanders had yet to sign the bill.

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Permalink Reply by Sam Goodman on April 24, 2025 at 1:43

ExxonMobil Secures Critical Lithium Rights in Arkansas, Positioning for U.S. Battery Mineral Dominance

https://www.ctol.digital/news/exxon-secures-arkansas-lithium-rights...

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Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on April 24, 2025 at 8:58

Smackover Lithium's South West Arkansas Project Receives Unanimous Vote of Approval to Establish the Phase I Brine Production Unit from the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission

LEWISVILLE, Ark., April 24, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Smackover Lithium, a Joint Venture (“JV”) between Standard Lithium Ltd. (“Standard Lithium” or the “Company”) (TSXV:SLI) (NYSE:A:SLI) and Equinor, is pleased to announce that the brine production unit, now formally named the Reynolds Unit, for Phase I of its South West Arkansas (“SWA”) Project has been unanimously approved by the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission (“AOGC”) with no objections or opposition in a hearing that was open to all stakeholders from the community.

“We thank the AOGC for their due diligence in reviewing our application and for their swift approval,” said Standard Lithium’s President and COO, Dr. Andy Robinson, who provided testimony at the hearing. “The establishment of the Reynolds brine unit is another key milestone our team has now successfully completed as we march towards a final investment decision for the SWA Project, and also a necessary statutory requirement as we look to set a royalty for the unit in late May.”

“Gaining regulatory approval for our first brine unit is an important step in our project timeline. We look forward to working with the AOGC and community stakeholders to establish a competitive royalty rate for this unit and continue momentum with the SWA Project,” said Allison Kennedy Thurmond, VP of US Lithium at Equinor.

The Reynolds unit is 20,854 acres in size and is planned to produce 22,500 tonnes per year of battery-quality lithium carbonate once in full commercial production, expected in 2028. For more information about the SWA Project and Smackover Lithium, please visit www.smackoverlithium.com

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Permalink Reply by Lisa on Friday

Any news on the landowners’ royalty amount— to be decided by the state?

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Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on Friday

No.  That was not on the agenda for this commission meeting.  At the previous meeting the commission made it clear that the operators needed to first submit and get approval of a unit.  Now that the units are approved for Exxon/SaltWorx and Standard Lithium/Equinor, the next step is to place the royalty proposal on an upcoming agenda.  It appears that royalty may be approved on a unit by unit basis.

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Permalink Reply by Lisa on Friday

Good to know

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Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on Friday

TETRA Technologies, Inc. announces expansion of smackover formation evergreen unit and update on additional test well results

• April 24, 2025

(Oil & Gas 360) – THE WOODLANDS, Texas, April 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — TETRA Technologies, Inc. (“TETRA” or the “Company”) (NYSE:TTI) announced that on April 22, 2025 the Arkansas Oil & Gas Commission (“AOGC”) approved TETRA’s application to expand the previously approved Evergreen Unit from 6,138 gross acres to 6,953 gross acres.  A test well reported by a third party within the expansion unit acreage shows lithium concentrations above the estimated average within the original 6,138 acres Evergreen Unit, and based on reservoir studies conducted by Lonquist Engineering, the new expansion unit is expected to enhance and prolong the production of bromine and other minerals within the Evergreen Unit from the Smackover Formation.  The reservoir studies will be provided to the Company’s “qualified person” for further evaluation.

The AOGC approved TETRA’s application to establish the expansion unit and integrate landowners.  The formal AOGC order is expected to be finalized within the next 30 days.  Saltwerx, LLC is a participant in the Evergreen Unit, owning approximately 35% interest of the brine interests.  TETRA is the operator of the Evergreen Unit.

TETRA recently completed the drilling and sampling operations of an additional test well in the Evergreen Unit with very encouraging results. With the Evergreen Unit expansion approved and the additional test well results, the reservoir engineering model will be updated to reflect new resource volumes for bromine and lithium in the coming weeks.  In addition to the rich volumes of bromine and lithium in the expanded Evergreen Unit, recent test well results have shown encouraging levels of magnesium and manganese, which are on the U.S. list of critical minerals and which are largely supplied from countries outside the U.S.  Given TETRA’s progress with mineral extraction from produced water, the Company is evaluating extraction technologies and development of these additional minerals, including engineering studies.  It is encouraging that all these minerals, three of which are on the U.S. critical minerals list, may be produced from the same brine that will be developed first for TETRA’s bromine project requirements.

TETRA is expected to publish an updated resource study prepared by the Company’s qualified person identifying the incremental volumes of bromine and lithium in the expanded Evergreen Unit.  TETRA remains focused on developing the bromine assets and continues to advance engineering efforts as well as key timeline  investments to advance the project.

Also on April 22, 2025 the AOGC approved SWA Lithium’s application to establish a unit for acreage under an option agreement between Standard Lithium, SWA Lithium and TETRA. The option agreement compensates TETRA with a 2.5% royalty on gross revenues from the lithium that Standard Lithium produces and sells from the TETRA option acreage.  TETRA maintains rights to the bromine and all other non-lithium minerals extracted from the brine produced by Standard Lithium in their approved unit.  Standard Lithium recently announced a joint venture agreement with Equinor to develop the TETRA option acreage to produce brine for lithium extraction.

Company Overview

TETRA Technologies, Inc. is an energy services and solutions company focused on developing environmentally conscious services and solutions that help make people’s lives better. With operations on six continents, the Company’s portfolio consists of Energy Services, Industrial Chemicals, and Lithium Ventures. In addition to providing products and services to the oil and gas industry and calcium chloride for diverse applications, TETRA is expanding into the low-carbon energy market with chemistry expertise, key mineral acreage, and global infrastructure, helping to meet the demand for sustainable energy in the twenty-first century. Visit the Company’s website at www.onetetra.com for more information.

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Permalink Reply by Skip Peel - Mineral Consultant on Sunday

BYD’s Sodium Bomb Just Blew Up the Lithium Cartel

Brian Iselin  medium.com

Lithium’s reign over the battery world isn’t over, but BYD just threw down a challenge that the US cannot extort anyone for; sodium. In just the last two weeks, with two bombshell tech announcements, one battery and one charging — BYD has emerged as possibly the most revolutionary EV company in the world. Obviously they have procured some excellent chemists!

The world has spent years obsessing over lithium. Markets boom and bust on the price of lithium carbonate; countries scramble to ink mining deals from South America’s “lithium triangle” to the salt flats of Serbia; analysts herald the next “white gold rush.” Then late last year, BYD, China’s electric vehicle juggernaut, announced plans to build sodium-ion batteries at commercial scale — beginning not with cars, but with stationary energy storage and potentially lower-end vehicles.

BYD’s sodium batteries are real and headed for production, but they’re not replacing the lithium-ion pack in your Tesla or BYD Han tomorrow. This isn’t fantasy or vapourware — construction is underway, prototypes exist, and Chinese battery firms (not just BYD, but CATL too) are moving rapidly. But the Seagull, that new city runabout everyone was sure would get sodium cells? It launched with trusty old LFP. For now, lithium remains the backbone of the world’s electric cars.

So what’s the big deal about sodium? It’s not “energy density” or record range — lithium still has the edge there. The win is in security and economics. Sodium is cheap, globally abundant, easy to source, and immune to the geopolitical chess match that has turned lithium into a strategic bargaining chip. One presumes nobody is going be extorted by the US for their sodium. BYD’s move is a shot across the bow: “We can do it another way. And as our tech gets better…so will our scale.” That’s a wakeup call for anyone betting on lithium’s permanent monopoly.

U.S. and EU efforts to secure critical minerals in Ukraine and Serbia reflect economic self-interest, although the US gambit in Ukraine is strongly underwritten by coercion. The West is hungry for lithium and has moved quickly to secure supply agreements, help rebuild, and open new mines. There’s plenty of hard bargaining, and local communities have every right to protest if their land or water is threatened. But that’s — up to a point — negotiation, not shakedown.

What about the mines themselves? Nobody with a functioning calculator really believes lithium brine operations in Chile or hard rock mines in Australia are going dark just because sodium-ion is getting serious attention. Lithium is baked into nearly every high-density cell that now powers EVs and grid storage. Sodium is coming — soon for grid batteries, eventually for buses, maybe for small urban commuters. But for performance cars, long-haul trucks, and aircraft, lithium will hold the fort for some years to come depending, though, on whether we see more such revolutionary advances in battery tech that see sodium replace lithium for range and in larger vehicles. That cannot be discounted if the last 2 weeks are accounted for.

The real risk — as always — is complacency. Western automakers and policymakers have bet heavily on the idea that lithium is the only game in town. Tesla sure did, and will be their downfall (or part thereof) in 2025. BYD, and their Chinese peers, are hedging their bets. They have the flexibility to switch chemistry as costs or supplies demand. They’re not toppled by one mineral’s price spike or a mining bottleneck. That’s a strategic edge the rest of the world should be worried about.

Think of this as the start of a new arms race, not a sudden regime change. The big players are doubling down on lithium even as they scout alternatives. If sodium keeps developing, if costs keep falling, and if the technology crowds lithium out of the mass market in five or ten years, miners in South America and Africa will have to pivot — but not tomorrow.

However, that is talking in terms of incremental advances. If the likes of BYD’s chemists can very soon revolutionise batteries such that sodium can replace all lithium uses, we will see the ass drop out of the world lithium market, and BYD secure their role at the top of EV tech for years to come.

So what’s really happening? BYD’s sodium-ion battery doesn’t kill lithium’s dominance in a single swipe. Or overnight. What it does is signal the days of lithium’s uncontested throne are numbered — short-term numbered if there are a few more revolutionary advances and medium-term numbered is battery tech advances now in only increments. My money is definitely on some more revolutionary battery tech in the next 12 months which will shake lithium investors even more.

The world’s biggest battery and EV makers will keep searching for every possible advantage, and that means the “white gold” era may not last as long as the industry once boasted. The old guard isn’t overthrown yet, but there’s a new rival at the table — and the rules of the game are changing.

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Permalink Reply by Rock Man on Monday

Interesting post - and something that many (including you) have been concerned about over the past year. Sodium is not a "short supply" mineral.

It will be interesting to see how the whole lithium effort responds to this new development.

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