Caesium Competitor SuppliersThe world's largest supplier of Cs...

Caesium Competitor Suppliers
The world's largest supplier of Cs is Sinomine Resource Group Co., Ltd (Sinomine). It is a subsidiary of state-run China Nonferrous Metal Mining Group Co. Ltd (owned by the Communist Party of China).

With Albemarle's pollucite resource exhausted, its Langelsheim factory will close shortly. This will leave Sinomine as an effective global monopoly supplier.

Sinomine's Strategy
"We actively reserve rare light metal mineral resources, focus on the layout of lithium battery materials and cesium & rubidium materials industries, improve the upstream and downstream industrial chain, continue developing the oversea geological exploration, mineral rights investment and rare light metal resources."

Acquisitive Sinomine
Sinomine acquired the world's remaining significant Cs mine (Tanco in Manitoba) from Cabot, and is actively securing resource rights in other parts of Canada and across Africa (especially Zimbabwe).

Lepidico Threat
The global market for Cs is approx. 1200tpa. LPD may supply up to 400tpa into the market. This will be the first and only new supply this century. It is a critical mineral that Sinomine needs to continue to control pricing.

Securing LPD's mineral resource is necessary but not sufficient. The key prize for Sinomine will be access to the unique hydrometallurgical processes developed and patented by LPD. Without that IP, the CS is not accessible from the lepidolite mineral.

Project Funding
Investors interested in securing the future of LPD's lithium project in KIZAD will also be considering whether to participate in the current capital raising - a necessary thought indeed if Sinomine is to be prevented from abusing a monopoly position.

We have examples already where the Chinese Communist Party felt offended by some comments in Japan, then within a week, export of all rare earths to Japan was blocked.

Securing a separate supply channel into the global market will at least prevent the Party from doing the same with Cs, and crippling countries who may not toe the Party line. Participation by investors in the CR will significantly move LPD towards production.