Ann: 2019 Diggers and Dealers Corporate Presentation, page-56

“Diggers & Dealers 2019: Pilbara Minerals tips better days ahead as China chemical conversion ramps up

Stuart McKinnonThe West Australian
Wednesday, 7 August 2019 5:10PM



Ken Brinsden say the change to China subsidies was necessary for China to move its battery industry forward.
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But Mr Brinsden said the change was necessary for China to move its battery industry forward.

He noted South Korea and Japan had become the alternative for lithium-ion battery making capacity for the rest of the world and global car makers were relying on them to ramp-up new capacity.

“And what that means is that there is going to be another shortage of lithium raw materials, especially in an environment where people can’t get mines financed today,” Mr Brinsden said.

Pilbara Minerals revealed last month it would stage the $231 million expansion of its Pilgangoora lithium project to lower the upfront capital required and give customers time to ramp up their chemical processing capabilities.

“Subdividing” the stage two development, which would lift throughput capacity from 2 million tonnes a year to 5Mtpa, will also give the company more time to find a cashed-up partner to take an equity stake in the project.

Mr Brinsden said today the company expected to make a decision in the next month or two on a minority project partner for Pilgangoora but again cautioned there was no guarantee that a deal would be done.

He said there was more to securing a big cash sum for 29-49 per cent of its project, it was about making the company more relevant to the industry downstream by getting better connections to the rest of the supply chain.

Pilbara shares closed steady at 42.5¢.”
https://thewest.com.au/business/min...a-chemical-conversion-ramps-up-ng-b881285154z