I can understand the enthusiasm about the business case for lithium given the apparent likely growth in demand for lithium batteries. However, if it is the case as reported that Albermarle, as owner of 49% of Greenbushes, will no longer being supplying low iron spodumene for ceramic glass manufacture (the chinese owners of the 51% balance only supply to Chinese spodumene converters I believe), then the ceramic glass market which can only use low iron spodumene, will be looking for an alternative supplier. Ceramic glass is roughly 30% of the lithium market....a bit less now possibly as battery production grows. But while the percentage may fall, the quantity required remains at least constant. I'm unaware of any other potential supplier of low iron spodumene apart from PLS. Technical grade for glass will keep PLS in demand regardless of increasing supply from brine which can't be used for ceramic glass.
By all means get excited about batteries, but ceramic glass technical grade will be the point of difference for PLS and I don't see that changing IMHO. PLS will supply for chemical grade as spodumene is ideally suited for conversion by a well proven and time tested process. We won't bypass the battery market but I'm not sure it is the main game for us.
My 2 cents. There are many more here with better knowledge of the industry than me eg Blastfurnace, Cocoa and others
Cheers
JB
PLS Price at posting:
60.0¢ Sentiment: Buy Disclosure: Held
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