Running discussion on SP, page-48577

Rio Tinto has been particularly cautious with its lithium strategy to date and whilst investing in a new mine, chemical plant, and process is a significant moment, it only means as things stand the company will produce little under 5% of the world’s lithium chemicals in 2029 (Benchmark data).

In lithium carbonate terms, however, Benchmark anticipates that if Rio Tinto hits its production run rate in 2029 that it will account for 9% of the world’s lithium carbonate output.

There is little doubt that any new supply of lithium carbonate that can be used in a battery cell will be in high demand as the great raw material disconnect continues to widen.

Benchmark is forecasting a significant lithium supply deficit of 915,000 tonnes LCE in 2029 even with Rio Tinto’s new supply coming into the market.

This is a supply-demand gap that is more than twice as large as the lithium market will be this year.

One expects, however, for Rio Tinto’s plans in Jadar to aggressively ramp up once its commercial production is confirmed and end users qualify the material.

It also sees Rio Tinto enter the lithium market in a serious way for the first time, opening the door to future acquisitions of both hard rock miners, brine extractors, and chemical makers as the world’s third biggest commodity giant positions itself for the electric vehicle ramp up.








Food for thought on the Road to Mining Manono

Now show me that Highly anticipated Robust updated DFS & BFS

Please Nigel - like this week, pretty please