Onwards and upwards., page-62

Pustayo,

From what I have read, i.e. one of the articles from last month, they will be, but aren't there yet. If we get JORCs and offtakes within the next few months, we should be right....is my opinion.


1. Australia

Mine production: 14,300 MT
As in 2015, Australia was the world’s top lithium producer in 2016. It produced 14,300 MT of the metal last year, up 200 MT from the year before.
Australia hosts the Greenbushes lithium project, operated by Talison Lithium, a subsidiary jointly owned by China’s Tianqi Group and Albemarle (NYSE:ALB). Greenbushes is recognized as the longest continuously operating mining area in Western Australia, having been in operation for over 25 years.
Australia also holds over 2 million MT of identified lithium resources, according to the USGS. It is worth noting that most of the country’s lithium is exported to China as spodumene, although in 2016 there was a shortage of imports from Australia to China.
2. Chile

Mine production: 12,000 MT
Chile ranked second for lithium production again in 2016, increasing its production from 10,500 MT in 2015 to 12,000 MT last year.
As per the USGS, SQM (NYSE:SQM), a top lithium producer in Chile, ramped up production in 2016 by 20 percent. The Chilean government also gave Albemarle (NYSE:ALB), another lithium powerhouse in the country, permission to increase its lithium brine extraction.
Unlike Australia, where lithium is extracted from hard-rock mines, Chile’s lithium is found in brines below the surface of salt flats. The Atacama salt flat in Chile hosts roughly 37 percent of the world’s entire lithium production.

3. Argentina

Mine production: 5,700 MT
Lithium production in Argentina significantly increased in 2016, reaching 5,700 MT; that’s up from 3,600 MT in 2015. The USGS notes that the increase was largely due to a new brine operation.
It’s well known that Bolivia, Argentina and Chile make up the “lithium triangle.” Argentina’s Salar del Hombre Muerto district hosts significant lithium brines, while its reserves are sufficient for at least 75 years. At present, lithium mining in the country shows no signs of slowing down. According to Reuters, lithium carbonate production in Argentina will triple by 2019, and has the potential to grow even more if companies are successful in obtaining funding for their projects.