Just thinking about the wider implications that the RIO bid for...

Just thinking about the wider implications that the RIO bid for ALTM might mean.

The ALTM assets that the company has in South America, Japan, China, Australia and the US are mostly mature and already generating revenue.

But what about those assets that have not yet reached maturity but have great potential?

I am thinking RIO would like to become the number one lithium player in North America.

If they can do that, they will have pretty much have conquered the lithium world.

In North Carolina for instance, there is the potential to grow much more around the very established Bessemer City facility that has been operating for seventy odd years.

However, it is what is nearby that interests me.

Within in a small radius around Bessemer City are a number of assets that when consolidated, would cement RIO as the number one lithium player in North America, (and the world no less).

The assets I refer to, are undeveloped so far but include Albemarle’s King Mountain, PLL’s proposed mine and lithium hydroxide refinery in Gaston County and Belmont.

There may be others that ALTM have nearby that I am not aware of.

Combined, those assets would form an almighty lithium hub, right in the heart of the US.

Moving further Nirth into Canada, ALTM have the developing Whabouchi Mine in the James Bay region as well as the undeveloped James Bay Mine. In the south of the province they have a half completed lithium hydroxide facility at Becancour.

Also in Quebec, there are a number of other lithium assets belonging to other companies ie PMT, WR1, SYA and PLL.

If RIO wa to take over ALTM, they would no doubt finish developing the Whabouchi Mine and the Becancour Refinery.

But companies like RIO, always look for other opportunities and in Quebec, there are plenty.

These would include, any of the undeveloped mines in the James Bay Region but would also include the developed mine at NAL and other undeveloped sites owned by SYAQ, CLM, etc.

By consolidating assets in Quebec and North Carolina RIO would become (by far), the greatest lithium player in the world.