Amigo, I think of it this way. If you were a seriously big...

Amigo, I think of it this way. If you were a seriously big player in this game of supplying and processing a critical metal, like lithium, you could increase the demand causing a massive boost to the price, as well as a big expansion of production and an increase in exploration. Then use your stockpile to turn off the tap, causing a fall in prices. Over time, the suppliers of the critical metal would be forced to either decide about care and maintenance of their operations or to look for takeovers and mergers. It is ruthless - survival of the fittest. Then the process is repeated. Each cycle causes the weaker projects to fall away and the big/monopoly player to get bigger. Junior explorers have to weather these storms and we need to make hay while the sun shines.