I agree this is huge (& much needed) validation for the work ZEO has been doing over the past 12 mths on its lithium cleantech IP.
Finally we get to see who ZEO is working with and from my googling (DYOR) there’s no bigger player(s) by sheer scale of market capitalisation than Westfarmers & SQM’s 50/50 JV being Covalent Lithium in the Aust lithium refinery space. You’d have to think ZEO lithium tech holds plenty of promise if this crew is at the table – you'd think ZEO won’t have to worry about availability of funds to build a commercial plant – if it all comes together, that’s for sure (Covalent JV partners combined market valuation is $85bn = WES $55bn + SQM $30bn)
The way I read it the Trailblazer project offers ZEO excellent funding runway for a $10m demo-plant project, only needing to inject net $2.5m to $3m of its own cash – especially on a large-scale demonstration plant what is an absolute necessity if this is going to end up being commercialised.
And, no doubting Covalent Lithium’s interest / intent in ZEO’s IP
The other thing I noted, which highlighted the focus of UQ was it mentioned ZEO above all others in its media release – when it had projects from majors such as BHP Nickel, Umicore, BHP, Glencore, Newcrest Mining & Rio Tinto -
ZEO's project was sure up there in lights !
Whichever way you look at it - there’s little ZEO can do about the macro sharemarket gyrations, which will see SH’s edgy heading into a tough EoFY, but on the delivery front
ZEO looks to be punching well above its weight !
(20min delay)