I understand why you say this
@Kikker1959 BUT in this case it is my understanding that LTR is contractually obligated to supply Sinomine and has commenced the mining, stockpiling and transportation of the ore. In addition the Sinomine contract is effectively paying for LTR to test its mine and machinery. LTR has gone into production on time with arguably the best hard rock mine in the world. Going into C&M now before it has ironed out any residual production issues would be a poor decision and make any later resumption of mining problematic.
LTR also has arrangements with LG, Tesla and Ford, LTR would need to advise them of this and I would assume, but don't know for sure of course, that they,or at least one of them, would want to have high grade ore they are entitled to in 2025.
IMO LTR will want to keep going to make sure the mine is fully tested and operational and has the Sinomine offtake to financially cover that. I also believe LG is in a race to catch BYD and CATL (and the Chinese generally) and to create a non Chinese lithium and battery supply chain for the US and Europe and LTR is a major part of that plan. They will not want LTR slowing down too much or going into C&M. No, I cannot see LTR doing that and commercially it makes no sense to do so unless the whole lithium EV market stops dead and we let the Chinese dominate it 100%. Anything is possible I suppose but I think LTR will persist as planned.
What does concern me is the deliberate attack on LTR and its SP by shorters, the BEOT and some journalists who are fed rubbish by the BEOT or the "Someone" that
@anatol refers to. KV is not yet a fully operating and trading mine (although it will be very soon) yet the press and others are proclaiming it as loss making without an understanding of its historical operational efficiencies (it doesn't have any trading history yet) and they are not taking into account the off take arrangements and requirements of its customers as they are largely still confidential. Yet shorters, downrampers, the press, BEOT instos etc equate us to Mt Caitlin or PLS and predict our possible demise, how and why do they do that? Remember that Not all lithium is the same and not all lithium mines are the same and that is why we invested here. ALB and Gina know this, LG know this and many others do also, but the market is to stupid and fearful to embrace that. Ignore the noise, just concentrate on the next production announcement, oh and here is one now!
(20min delay)