Episode 228: Rene LeBlanc

Tom Benson (aka the "Doctor of Volcanoes") is the Vice President of Exploration at Lithium Argentina. Topics:Being creative in explorationThe major upgrade to the Cauchari - Olaroz resourceBigger than the Atacama?Tom's history at Thacker PassLithium Africa - Tom's latest focus The Africa lithium "recipe"Use of new technology & AI in exploration"Permitting Purgatory"Making Africa a lithium successComments on the Smackover & Salton SeaIt's "nice to be nice"Rapid fire

This is a short solo episode.Topics: What lithium investors are askingThe converter in TexasA tale of two earnings callsMy visit to Thacker Pass

YJ Lee is a Director and Fund Manager at Arcane Capital in Singapore. Find him on X @usuallyYJLeeTopics:The BackstoryYJ's path to lithiumThe learning processHis bullish forecasts EVs, E-trucks & BESSPicking winnersGanfeng & Tianqi turn bullishCATL's diminishing lithium market influenceIs another price spike coming?Thacker PassDLE & the SmackoverErametVulcanNemaskaCanadian potential?Rapid fire

Rene is a VP at Lithium Americas and one of the best technical minds in the industry. Topics:How the industry has changed in 20 yearsThe return of LFPFlowsheetsChina's overnight success after two decadesThe challenge for AmericaThe next cycleIs the low hanging fruit gone?What derailed high nickel cathodeTesla's Texas converter hypeBESSDLEThacker Pass update

This is a solo episode. In the past I wrote a time limited "stream of consciousness" New Year's post on LinkedIn. This year I decided to do a podcast with the same rules.

Daniel Jimenez is the founder of iLi Markets and formerly worked for SQM. On X: @D_Jimenez_SchTopics:The rapid growth of BESSCATLChina's weakening grip on lithium Hidden costs in AfricaThe tightening marketWhere is the money made in LIBChile's lithium futureArgentinaRio Tinto's next movesWhen does DLE matter?Alternatives to CO3 & LiOHThe coming price spikeConversion capacity outside ChinaRapid fire

This episode is a panel discussion that took place at the Arkansas Lithium Innovation Summit in October on the missing midstream. The panelists were:David Park, CEO of Standard LithiumDan Blondal, CEO of Nano OneHugh McDonald, Arkansas Secretary of CommerceBhageerath Vadhi, Geologist - Ford Motor CompanyTopics:What is the midstream?Why does it matter?The cathode bottleneckChina's current dominant positionMarginsNano One's LFP advantageWashington's perspective and roleEmphasizing energy storage over EVsGeopoliticsWhat does success look like?

There are three guests and a cameo appearance in this episode.Sam Pigott and Carlos Galli from Lithium Argentina are joined by Jason (Xiaofeng) Luo from Ganfeng. The cameo appearance is from Kelly O'Brien the head of investor relations at Lithium Argentina.Topics:History of the LAR - Ganfeng partnershipConsolidating assets - PPGThe "marriage" & synergyGanfeng's view of ArgentinaRIGIThe success of CauchariThe teamGanfeng's recent market growth commentsThe incentive priceComponents of demandWhen does Argentina become #1 in brine?Funding PPGGanfeng's Marianas projectWater issuesDLE Rapid fire

This solo episode was recorded November 19th 2025 in Los Angeles while I was attending Benchmark Week.Topics:Ganfeng on supply / demand / priceCanaccord's take on the marketBESS Exxon's comments on lithiumThe midstreamDLERio's lithium future US Congress on China's predatory pricingLiontown's spod auctionIGO's Kwinana woes

The state of Arkansas is poised to be the next great lithium brine province. This week at the Arkansas Lithium Innovation Summit I interviewed Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders along with Allie Kennedy Thurmond and Jason Muller from Equinor, Ashu Sharma from Aquatech and Jesse Edmondson of Standard Lithium.Topics:Why Arkansas?Angela's storyGoing downstreamNo DLE, no SmackoverUS policy gapsStockpile optionsBuilding value chainsThe Smackover Lithium cultureForce multipliersAquatech's businessProcess optimization Li-Pro & PearlWhat's next for the Summit?