This article is mainly about KDR, but it also has relevant information about Li demand, especially the following part:
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The pressing need for the mining majors to get cracking on finding their next Tier 1 deposits – wherever they may be – hit home during the week when Rio Tinto struck an earn-in deal with exploration junior Sipa Resources (ASX:SRI).
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Given Rio’s recent dramas in Guinea (iron ore) and Mozambique (coal), it’s a credit to Rio that it has not been scared off from doing new African deals all together. It goes to the group’s long-held strategy of maintaining a pipeline of early stage projects that could make the big time and its understanding it has to go where the opportunities are.."