Episode 245: Lithium Volatility

My Guests today are: Emilie Bodoin the Founder and CEO of Pure Lithium & Dr Yuan Gao the long time industry veteran who serves as a director of Pure Lithium in addition to the multitude of other roles he has in the lithium and battery space.Topics:Origins of the rechargeable lithium batteryThe lithium ion "compromise"The use of excess lithium in cathodeEnergy densityGoing to court to protect IPScaling new technologiesFunding issuesSolid state development challengesSodium ion hypeFalse lithium narrativesSupply/demand/priceAdditional information:Panasonic Court Case Information is below:Pure Lithium Corporation v. Panasonic Corporation of North America,Case No. 26CV487768https://santaclara.courts.ca.gov/online-services/case-information-online 

Carlos Galli is the VP of Growth and Innovation at Lithium Argentina.Topics: Update on phase 1 of CauchariQuality, recovery and costThe planned brownfield expansionStarting with DLEManaging weather impactsBuffering pondsAn El Nino yearRIGI benefitsPriceArgentina's infrastructure challengesBrine reinjectionThe future impact of AIMy comments on current market confusion

A solo episode where I discuss the reasons for the recent price action, two schools of thought about where we are headed from here and why China needs Argentina more than Argentina needs China from a lithium perspective.

A stream of consciousness solo episode where I talk about the recent drama concerning SMM's inventory number and change in their process. Did it make sense? Who does it serve? I also talk about comments from Ganfeng on the quality of inventory information and the fact that some of the GFEX warehouse inventory isn't usable.

My guests are the co-founders of ILiA: Anand Sheth and Roland Chavasse. Topics:The membership mixNot just a producer organizationCommunicating the industry messageWhat is success for ILiA?ChallengesCommodity or specialty chemical?Communicating with regulatorsChemicals or mining?Lithium triviaChina: flexibility, growth and chaos

My guests are: David Park and Dr. Andy Robinson, the CEO and President/COO, respectively. Topics:The LG offtake agreementHow deals get doneThe market tailwindStandard's path to FIDThe DLE journeyAdvantages of Smackover brineTightening specificationsBi-carbonationThe buildSafetyCultureThe Smackover's LT potentialThe midstream

Dr Yuan Gao is one of the most respected voices in the lithium-ion battery supply chain. A battery scientist with a number of cathode patents that has worked for a lithium producer, been the CEO of a major cathode maker, and is now on the board of directors of Lithium Americas and Pure Lithium, Dr Gao has a unique perspective on the history and future of the battery industry.Topics:The holy grailThe future of BESSWhat's next in cathodeDemand growth The evolution of lithium intensityRepurposing US gigafactoriesCATLSodium-ionRobin Zeng's teamSolid state batteriesInnovation in lithium metalMaking a difference Lessons from Lithium AmericasUS-China relationsLithium-ion surprisesRapid fire

In this solo episode, I discuss the state of the lithium market: the good, the bad and the ugly.Despite the market’s overreaction to misinformation from China about the impact of a mine reopening on the supply and demand balance and the threat of sodium ion, lithium’s long-term fundamentals have never looked better.Demand continues to go from strength to strength. Meanwhile, production shortfalls, project delays and efforts by African countries to retain more of the value created from their resources continue to put pressure on supply.Topics:ALB's bullish market commentarySQM displaces ALB as the #1 producerCATL: #1 in GWH & misinformationThe pulled US lithium tenderThe midstream/downstream future in OzUS critical metals "hype machine"Tesla's long ramp up in TexasBuy the book

Venkee Sharma is the Executive Chairman of Aquatech, a global leader in water and critical metals technology.Topics:Aquatech’s “superpower”Seizing opportunities in lithiumThe TeamAquatech’s view of the marketDLEThe op-ex challengeBelievers in brineThe future of battery gradeFans of the SmackoverDifferent customers – different problemsSelling solutions not technologyA family cultureThe White Silver ProjectPearlRapid fire

David Park is the CEO of Standard Lithium. Topics:Leaving retirement for a lithium juniorCapital challengesPartnersCritical success factorsGetting to FIDOfftake agreementsDLE The TeamBipartisan projectsThe benefits of ArkansasThe Smackover vs. hard rockPrice"6 hours of angst"Shout outsRapid fire