I'm just a greedy, corrupt Yank (right, Goldnumber?), but I've given this a bit of thought, and with all the various balls that need to be juggled when there is this much money, and political considerations to consider, I think that the elegant solution to this entire "Albermarle takes over Australian Lithium" situation is for the Australian government to declare certain mineral assets "strategic national assets," or something similar, and limit the mount of foreign ownership of each such asset.
Here in the States, we've created our list of strategic minerals. I'd imagine that in Oz, Iron Ore, Nickel, Copper and Lithium would all be obvious choices for such a list. Maybe Uraniam and REEs, as well.
As for the particulars, I'm sure Australians can figure it out without my input, but a couple of options might include:
1. A cap on the total amount of foreign ownership of each asset class, i.e., no more than (fill in the blank) percent of all Lithium or Uranium reserves can be owned by foreign firms.
2. A cap on how much of a mining company a foreign company can own. Perhaps a limit of 50% ownership in any particular mine involving these types of assets. Keeping this particular transaction in mind, perhaps the Australian government would allow ALB to purchase 50% of LTR in return for divesting 50% of Greenbushes.
This sort of approach would allow Australia to keep control of their mineral rights without putting Australian onwership of Lithium assets in North America at risk. A complete ban, either of foreign ownership or this particular transaction, might put Australian rights in the US and/or Canada at risk, but a more measured approach and the fact that any overreaction by the US could put the assets ALB already has in Oz at stake (Greenbushes and half of Wodgina, in addition to the LiOH plant) should minimize any potential blowback.
Australians know how to mine spudomene as well or better than anyone else. This isn't the Ivory Coast or Myanmar trying to open a Lithium mine, and nobody in the nation has ever worked with the relevant technologies or performed this sort of mining, before. Foreign capital might help a few projects along, and those foreign investors deserve their fair share of any project, but Australia doesn't just own the minerals, they have the know-how, and they should be keeping at least half of each "strategic" mine.
Just my thoughts. Have a nice day.
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