1. August 14 2013
Lithium Industry
A Strategic Energy Metal
Significant Increase in Demand Ahead
Luisa Moreno, PhD, MEng
416-933-3352
luisa.moreno@europac.ca
www.epccm.ca
SPECIALTY / INDUSTRIAL METALS
2. Euro Pacific Canada is an IIROC registered brokerage headquartered in Toronto, with offices in Montreal
and Vancouver, specializing in foreign markets, precious and strategic metals investing. The firm offers
an integrated platform of investment banking, institutional sales and trading, research, and private client
services following the advice laid out by Euro Pacific Capital’s Chief Global Strategist Peter Schiff, an
internationally recognized market strategist. Additional information is available at www.europac.ca.
THE EURO PACIFIC ADVANTAGE
The Euro Pacific Advantage: Despite the growing relative size and importance
of non-North American capital markets, most domestic brokerage firms
continue to offer clients scant exposure to foreign securities. Worse yet, access
is typically limited to trading through ADR stocks or via over the counter with
US based market makers.
Informed by the hard money ideals so clearly and consistently articulated by
Peter Schiff, Euro Pacific Canada looks to prepare investors for a future in which
North American financial leadership is likely to wane. As the developed world
continues to be mired in debt, we see promising opportunities in developing
markets. We have a particular focus on value based and commodity-focused
investments and concentrate on those countries that show greater respect for
economic fundamentals such as savings, production, and monetary discipline.
It is precisely these differences in outlook that make Euro Pacific so unique.
Toronto
130 King Street West
Exchange Tower, Suite 2820
Box 20, Toronto ON, M5X 1A9
416-649-4273
888-216-9779
Montreal
1501 McGill College Avenue
Suite 1450
Montréal, QC, H3A 3M8
Vancouver
1111 Melville Street, Suite 480
Vancouver BC V6E 3V6
Tokyo
Holland Hills Mori Tower
RoP #603 5-11-1 Toranomon,
Minato-Ku, Tokyo, 105-0001
As a full-service broker/dealer, we are constantly expanding our offerings to allow
clients access to global markets that adhere to their personal investment goals. In
addition to foreign stocks, we also offer foreign bonds, mutual funds, and precious
metal investment strategies. For accredited investors, we offer private placements.
If you are concerned about the future of the North American economy, Euro Pacific
Canada may be the only domestic brokerage firm that speaks your language.
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3. August 2013
Lithium Industry Report
Table of Contents
Lithium Properties
Mineralogy and Resources
United States
Canada
Brazil
Australia
Africa
Europe
Commonwealth of Independent States
China
South America
3
4
5
5
5
5
6
6
6
7
Lithium Global Reserve Life Analysis
10
Lithium Processes and Compounds
Brine Processing
Hard-Rock Processing
Other Processes
Applications
Glass
Ceramics
Lubricant Grease
Metallurgy
Lithium Metal
Air Conditioners
Energy Storage
Other Applications
11
11
14
16
Recycling
23
Lithium Outlook
24
Supply
25
Demand
27
Price Outlook
29
Appendix A: Selected Companies
31
Investment Risks
2
3
53
17
17
17
17
18
18
19
19
22
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4. August 2013
Lithium Industry Report
LITHIUM PROPERTIES
Lithium (symbol Li) is an alkali metal element, with atomic number 3 and 6.94 atomic weight
(Figure 1). Unlike some alkali metals, lithium was discovered in rocks. In 1980, José Bonifácio de
Andrade e Silva, a Brazilian scientist, discovered the first lithium mineral, petalite. The element
lithium was only discovered in 1817 by Johan August Arfvedson together with Jöns Jakob Berzelius,
and isolated in 1855 by Robert Bunsen and Augusts Matthiessen. The name lithium is derived
from the Greek word lithos, which means stone, to reflect its discovery in a mineral.
Lithium metal is produced through the electrolysis of fused lithium chloride, which results in a
soft silvery-white lustrous metal. The metal is so soft that it can be cut easily with a knife. Lithium
Figure 1: Lithium Metal;
Source: periodictable.com
is the least reactive of all the alkali metals, but is still highly reactive, thus it must be stored under liquid paraffin, which
contains no oxygen, to prevent oxidation. Lithium is highly reactive when in contact with water, forming hydrogen gas and
lithium hydroxide (LiOH) in an aqueous solution. When in contact with air, the lithium metal is also highly reactive, forming a
layer of lithium hydroxide.
Lithium volume (e.g., resource, reserves, production, tonnage or sales) can be presented in different units, thus when comparing
two deposits it’s important to note whether the volume is, for example, presented in terms of lithium carbonate (Li2CO3), lithium
carbonate equivalent (LCE), lithium hydroxide, etc. Likewise, lithium grades may be presented as lithium oxide (Li2O) or lithium
(Li) content; for example, if a company has a 2% Li2O grade, it is equivalent to a 0.93% Li grade. In this report, lithium volumes
or grades may be presented in different units depending on the context. Figure 2 shows the conversion factor between the most
common forms of lithium compounds that may be referred to in this report.
To convert
Li
LiOH
LiOH-H20
Li2O
Li2CO3
LiAlSi2O6
To Li
1.000
0.290
0.165
0.465
0.188
0.038
To LiOH
3.448
1.000
0.571
1.603
0.648
0.129
To LiOH-H20
6.061
1.751
1.000
2.809
1.136
0.225
To Li2O
2.153
0.624
0.356
1.000
0.404
0.080
To Li2CO3
5.324
1.543
0.880
2.476
1.000
0.199
To LiAlSi2O6
26.455
7.770
4.435
12.500
5.025
1.000
Figure 2: Conversion Factors for Lithium Compounds;
Source: Nemaska Lithium
MINERALOGY AND RESOURCES
Lithium occurs throughout nature at different concentrations (Figure 3). It
is found in sea water at concentrations of 180 ppb and in much higher concentrations in salt lakes (in this report, interchangeably: salares or brines)
around the world, allowing for the commercial production of lithium.
Lithium is found in many minerals (Figure 4), some of which are used in commercial applications. Spodumene (Figure 5) is the most widely used lithium
mineral because of its high lithium content and occurrence. Other minerals,
such as lepidolite and petalite (Figure 6) are also used commercially but are
less common and have lower lithium content.
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Location
Universe
Sun
Meteorite (carbonaceous)
Crustal rocks
Sea water
Stream
Human
ppb by
weight
6
0.06
1700
17000
180
3000
30
ppb by
atoms
1
0.01
4600
50000
160
430
27
Figure 3: Conversion Factors for
Lithium Compounds;
Source: Nemaska Lithium
3
5. August 2013
Most of the world’s lithium supplies are extracted from pegmatites or brines. Granitic pegmatites are an important source of rare metals.
Although pegmatites are widely spread and relatively common, lithium-rich pegmatites are only
a small (<1%) fraction of the world’s pegmatite
resources. Currently, most of the lithium supply is from brines. Brines are widespread and
usually contain larger Li resources compared
to hard-rock lithium deposits; however, most
brines are not economic for the production of
lithium using conventional methods. Lithium is
also found in geothermal brines, such as those
found in the Salton Sea of Southern California. It
Lithium Industry Report
Mineral
Spodumene
Amblygonite
Lepidolite (lithium, mica)
Zinnwaldite (lithium, iron, mica)
Petalite
Triphylite
Eucryptite
Jadarite
Elbaite
Zabuyelite
Nambulite
Neptunite
Pezzottaite
Saliotite
Lithiophilite
Sugilite
Zektzerite
can also be found in oilfield brines and hectorite
Formula
LiAl(SiO3)2
LiAl(F,OH)PO4
KliAl (OH,F)2Al(SiO4)3 or K2Li4Al2F4Si8O22
Le2K2Fe2Al4Si7O24
LiAl(Si2O5)2
Li(Fe,Mn)PO4
LiAl(SiO4)
LiNaB3SiO7(OH)
Na(Li,Al)3Al6(BO3)3Si6O18(OH)4
Li2CO3
(Li,Na)Mn4Si5O14(OH)]
KNa2Li(Fe2+,Mn2+)2Ti2Si8O24
Cs(Be2Li)Al2Si6O18
(Li,Na)Al3(AlSi3O10)(OH)5
Li(Mn,Fe)PO4
KNa2(Fe,Mn,Al)2Li3Si12O30
NaLiZrSi6O15
%Li2O
8.03%
7.40%
7.70%
3.42%
4.50%
9.47%
11.86%
7.28%
4.07%
40.44 %
1.83%
1.65%
2.13%
1.65%
9.53%
3.04%
2.82%
Figure 4: Lithium Minerals;
Source: Webmineral.com
clay, as a magnesium lithium smectite. Below,
we discus some of the known lithium deposits
around the world.
United States
The Kings Mountain pegmatite belt has the
most significant lithium pegmatite deposit in
the U.S. The belt is 0.5–3 kilometres wide and
extends about 50 kilometres northeast from
Figure 5: Spodumene;
Source: USGS photo
North Carolina to South Carolina. Resource estimates include 45.6Mt with an average of 0.7% Li. Rockwood Lithium (NYSE:ROC)
(also referred to as Chemetall, as it is a Chemetall Group Company) owns a pegmatite
deposit in Kings Mountain that was originally exploited for its tin content, but is being
Figure 6: Pegmatite with Large Petalite
(pink) Crystals, Namibia;
Source: The Giant Crystal Project Site
mined for lithium. Also, in North Carolina is the Hallman-Beam pegmatite in Long Creek, operated by Lithium Corporation of America
(purchased by FMC Corp. [NYSE:FMC]), which is estimated to have 62.3Mt of resources at an average 0.67% Li. The only other U.S.
area with significant historic lithium production is the Harney Peak Granite Batholith in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Western
Lithium’s (TSX:WLC) Kings Valley lithium project is located in Humboldt County in Northern Nevada. Lithium pegmatites can also be
found in the Pala district of California and in the White Picacho district in Arizona; New Mexico has the Harding and Pidlite deposits.
There are also some small pegmatite deposits in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah and New England.
One of the first North American brine operations for the recovery of lithium was the Clayton Valley (Silver Peak) brine in Nevada. The
production of lithium from Clayton Valley started in 1966 and was originally owned by Foote Mineral Company (acquired by Cyprus
Minerals Company in 1988 and then by Chemetall in 1998). Over the years, the brines have been pumped at various depths and at
an average concentration level that started at ~650 ppm but has since declined to ~200 ppm. Resources at Clayton Valley are estimated to be about 0.3Mt Li contained. The Searles Lake brines in California produced lithium as a by-product for a number of years;
the brines have a low (>100 ppm) lithium concentration. Lithium can also be found in many other salt lakes in the U.S., including the
Great Salt Lake, and in some oilfield brines, including the Smackover Formation in the northern Gulf Coast basin. Lithium might also
be recovered as a by-product from geothermal power plants, as steam increases the concentration of elements in the waste waters.
Simbol Materials LLC is considering extracting lithium from its Salton Sea geothermal project in California.
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6. August 2013
Lithium Industry Report
Canada
The Tanco deposit in the Bernic Lake area of Manitoba, Canada, is a source of lithium, tantalum and cesium; lithium resources in the area have been estimated at 22.3Mt with an average of 0.64% Li. Other important lithium pegmatites are found
in Quebec. The Pressiac-Lamotte pegmatite is enriched in beryllium and lithium, the largest of which is the Quebec Lithium
deposit with reserves of 17.1Mt averaging 0.44% Li; the project has been developed by Canada Lithium Corp. (TSX:CLQ) and
is currently in commissioning. In James Bay in Northern Quebec, Nemaska Lithium (TSXV:NMX) is developing the Whabouchi deposit with an estimated resource of 29.5Mt averaging 0.71% Li. Critical Elements (TSXV:CRE) is developing the Rose
lithium-tantalum project located in the southern part of the Middle and Lower Eastmain Greenstone Belt; project resources
have been estimated at 26.5Mt with a 0.44% Li grade, excluding inferred resources. Galaxy Resources Ltd.’s (ASX:GXY)
James Bay deposit has an estimated 22.2Mt of resources at 0.59% Li. Glen Eagle Resources (TSXV:GER) owns the Authier
pegmatite deposit with 8.0Mt of resources at 0.46% Li. Perilya Ltd.’s (ASX:PEM) Moblan West deposit is estimated to have
14.25Mt at 0.65% Li. Elsewhere in Canada, the FI, Thor, Violet, Nama Creek and Lac la Croix deposits have an estimated
combined in-situ resources of ~0.6Mt Li.
In Ontario, Houston Lake Mining (TSXV:HLM) is exploring the Pakeagama Lake pegmatite, which was found to contain highly
anomalous lithium, tantalum and cesium concentrations. Avalon Rare Metals (TSX:AVL) is developing the Separation Rapids
deposit (near Kenora), which hosts a large rare metal pegmatite deposit; reserves have been estimated at 7.8Mt grading
0.65% Li. Lithium is also found in some oilfield brines, including the Beaverhill Lake Formation (Leduc Aquifer) in Alberta.
Brazil
Lithium-bearing pegmatites have been found in Araçuaí, São João del Rei and the Governador Valadores districts of Minas
Gerais, in Brazil. The Araçuaí district contains more than 300 pegmatite deposits, including the Itinga field, which hosts the
lithium-bearing pegmatites at the Cachoeira mine. Lithium-bearing pegmatites are also present in large areas of Rio Grande
do Norte and Ceara states in Northeastern Brazil.
Australia
The Greenbushes pegmatite, operated by Talison Lithium (acquired by Tianqi Group [CH:002466]), is in the southwest region of Australia and is the country’s largest lithium deposit. Greenbushes has been mined for tantalum and lithium. The mineable pegmatite
zone extends about 2 kilometres in length and total mineral resources have been estimated at 120.6Mt with an average grade of
1.3% Li. Other lithium pegmatite deposits include the Mount Cattlin deposit (Galaxy Resources), 200 kilometres east of Greenbushes, with estimated lithium resources of 17.2Mt at 0.49% Li; and the Mount Marion lithium project, which is located ~40 kilometres
southwest of Kalgoorlie in Western Australia (jointly owned by Reed Resources [ASX:RDR] and Mineral Resources Ltd. [ASX:MIN]).
Africa
Zimbabwe
The Bikita pegmatite in Zimbabwe (owned by Bikita Minerals Inc.) was originally exploited for its tantalum, tin, beryllium and cesium
minerals, and is currently producing lithium. The mine has been in operation for over 60 years. The original resource was estimated
at 10.8Mt averaging 1.4% Li. Also in Zimbabwe, the 20-kilometre long Kamativi belt hosts tourmaline pegmatites and pegmatites
rich in tin and lithium. Other lithium-bearing pegmatites are present in the Benson region near Mtoko.
Namibia
A number a pegmatite deposits in the Karibib district of Namibia, including Rubicon and Helikon, have been mined for
lithium, as well as beryllium, tantalum and cesium. Estimated resources in the district are about 1.1Mt averaging 1.4% Li.
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7. August 2013
Lithium Industry Report
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The renowned rare metals-rich Katanga province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), hosts the
Manono-Kitolo pegmatite system, which consists of two complex pegmatite zones with lithium. Resource estimates in the area are 120.0Mt averaging 0.6%Li.
Mozambique
In Mozambique, the Alto Ligonha pegmatite belt has been extensively explored for tantalum and more recently for
lithium. Historical drilling work has yielded grades of 1.23% Li.
Europe
The most recent lithium production in Europe has come from the Fregeneda-Almendra region in Portugal near the
Spanish border. The Ullava-Länttä pegmatite system in Finland has been shown to comprise 32 separate pegmatite bodies 450 metres long and 40 metres wide, with a preliminary resource of 2.95Mt, an averaging 0.43% Li.
Other sources of lithium are the jadarite-rich deposits with large boron resources found in the Balkans region of
Serbia and Bosnia. Companies exploring for boron and lithium in the area include Ultra Lithium (TSXV:ULI) and
Pan Global (TSXV:PGZ). Rio Tinto’s (NYSE:RIO) Jadar deposit has an estimated resource of ~125.3Mt averaging
0.84% Li and 12.9% boron trioxide (B2O3).
Commonwealth of Independent States
The Altai–Sayan belt in Russia contains several large lithium-bearing pegmatite deposits. Lithium resources are
found at Goltzovoe, an area rich in a variety of rare metals, including tantalum, with an estimated average grade
of 0.37% Li. The Vishnyakovskoe deposit has been found to have a resource estimate of 42Mt averaging 0.49%
Li. The Tastyq deposit consists of a group of spodumene-bearing pegmatites, 1-kilometre long and 20-metres
thick, with an estimated average grade of 1.86% Li. Other lithium-bearing pegmatite deposits in Russia include
the Belovechenskoye, Urikskoe and Zavitskoye deposits. Lithium is also present in tin- and tantalum-enriched,
lepidolite-bearing peraluminous granite bodies at Orloskoe (Orlovka), Etykinskoe (Etyka) and Alakha. The Ukraine
hosts pegmatites, including the spodumene-bearing deposits at Galetsky, Zaritsky and Knyazev.
China
The largest reported lithium-bearing pegmatite in China is Jiajika in the eastern part of the Tibet plateau. The spodumene-bearing pegmatite is reported to contain lithium reserves of 0.48Mt. Another pegmatite in the area, Barkam, is reported to contain
0.22Mt. The Altai pegmatite field in Northwestern China extends for about 150 kilometres in a northwest–southeast direction
and contains thousands of pegmatites, some of which are reported to have outcrop lengths as high as ~0.7 kilometres. The
producing site with the largest pegmatite is the Koktokay No. 3 pegmatite, which has an oblate outcrop measuring about 120
x 220 metres. The Nanping district in Southeastern China contains at least 500 pegmatite bodies, which have been mined for
tin, lithium, cesium, beryllium and tantalum.
Lithium-bearing brines in China are found in the Qinghai–Tibet plateau. Lithium is produced from two areas along the QuighaiTibet plateau: a zone of magnesium-sulphate lakes in the Quidan Basin in the northern part of the plateau, which covers a
100,000-square-kilometre area and contains 30 brines; and a zone of carbonate-rich brines in the southwestern part of the
plateau in Tibet, which is highly favourable for lithium production because of its very low magnesium concentrations. In the
Qaidam Basin in China, lithium is produced from both the East Taijnar and West Taijnar brines; other lithium-bearing brines in
Qaidam basin are Yiliping in the northern part of the basin and in the Qarhan (Chaerhan) region to the east. Lithium-contained
resources in the Qaidam brines have been estimated at 3.3Mt.
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8. August 2013
Lithium Industry Report
Also in Tibet, the Zabuye brine, from which the lithium carbonate mineral zabuleyite (Li2CO3) is named after, is considered the most
significant lithium-bearing carbonate-type saline lake. Lithium content as high as 1,500 ppm and contained reserves of about
0.2–1.5Mt have been reported for Zabuye. Another lithium-bearing deposit in the region is in the Dangxiongcuo (Damxung, DXC)
brine. According to the Sterling Group Ventures, which evaluated commercial production in the area, the Damxung deposit has an
average depth of 7.6 metres and average lithium concentration of 430 ppm. The Tibetan brines of Dong, Cam and Nyer to the north
of Zabuye and Damxung also have elevated levels of lithium but contain higher concentrations of magnesium.
South America
Lithium-bearing lacustrine evaporite basins, or salares, in South America are mostly found in the Puna Plateau, a ~400,000 squarekilometre area that includes the producing salares of Atacama in Northern Chile and the Hombre Muerto in Northwestern Argentina
(Figure 7). The plateau extends to the west into Bolivia.
Chile
The Salar de Atacama in Chile is currently the world’s largest lithium-producing brine and is located in the Antofagasta region (Figure
8). The Salar de Atacama has a surface area of about 3,000 square kilometres and a contained resource estimate of 6.8Mt Li. In
1982, Foote Mineral (now Chemetall) and CORFO formed a joint venture, Sociedad Chilena del Litio (SCL), to produce lithium and
potash from the Salar de Atacama. Chemetall later acquired SCL outright. The only other company operating at Atacama is SQM,
which used to purchase potash from Chemetall but in the 1990s started its own production at Salar de Atacama by acquiring an
interest in the only other lithium potash corporation in the area. As potash has been SQM’s main product, it stockpiled lithium salts
at first, but later decided to enter the market by selling the lithium at close to cost. This strategy forced the higher cost producers
out of the market, which was then dominated by hard-rock producers. It seems that SQM and Chemetall hold exclusive exploitation
rights in the Atacama brine. It should be noted that there is also a region called Atacama, which is immediately south of Antofagasta
region. The Atacama region also has a number of brines, the Salar of Maricunga, for instance, is being explored by Li3 Energy Inc.
(OTCQB:LIEG), and the Salares de Piedra parada, Grande, Aguilar, Agua Amarga and La Isla are being explored by Talison Lithium.
The geothermal area of the El Tatio may also contain good lithium concentrations.
0.18%
0.16%
Salar de Atacama (RCK),
0.140%
0.14%
Grade (% Li)
0.12%
0.10%
0.08%
0.06%
Salar de
Diablillos
(RM), 0.056%
0.04%
Salar de Hombre
Muerto
(FMC), 0.052%
0.02%
Salar de Atacama
(SQM), 0.140%
Salar de Olaroz
(ORE), 0.069%
Cauchari-Olaroz
(LAC), 0.067%
0.00%
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
LCE Resources / Reserves (Mt)
Figure 7: Location of Puna Plateau Brines;
Source: Modified from Ericksen and Salar (1987),
Geological Survey Open File Rep.88-210, 51
Figure 8: LCE Resources and Li Grades of Selected South American Brines;
Source: Euro Pacific Canada
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9. August 2013
Lithium Industry Report
Argentina
The Salar de Hombre Muerto in Northwestern Argentina, operated by FMC, is the only lithium-producing brine in the country
and the only other South American-producing brine other than the Salar de Atacama. The producing area of the Salar de Hombre Muerto is shallow and grades have been found to vary from 220 to 1,000 ppm Li, with an average of 520 ppm and low
magnesium grades. North of the brine Hombre Muerto, Orocobre (ASX:ORE) is developing the relatively smaller Salar de Olaroz,
currently in the construction phase. Orocobre estimates total resources for the Salar of Olaroz at 1.21Mt of Li. Lithium Americas
(TSX:LAC) is exploring the eastern part of the Salar de Olaroz. Both Orocobre and Lithium Americas also have exploration rights
at the Salar de Cauchari, which is immediately south of Olaroz. Lithium America’s contained lithium reserves at Cauchari are
estimate at 0.51Mt Li at an average of 655 ppm, and contained lithium resources of ~2.2Mt; the company reported grades of
630 ppm for the measured resources and 570 ppm for the indicated resources.
The Salar de Rincon, with a small surface area of ~250 square-kilometers, is being explored by Sentient Group. It has been
reported that Rincon contains brines with relatively lower lithium content and higher magnesium:lithium ratios. Rodinia Lithium’s (TSXV:RM) main project is at the Salar de Diablillos, where it defined an estimated contained inferred brine resource of
~530,000 tonnes of lithium metal. Rodinia and other companies also have exploration rights in a number of brines in Northwestern Argentina, including the Salar de Salinas Grandes, Salar de Ratones and Salar de Centenario, to name a few.
Bolivia
The Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia is potentially the largest undeveloped lithium brine in the world. Lithium concentrations vary, with
high concentration areas of more than 1,000 ppm, but it has also been reported to have a high magnesium:lithium ratio, which
is not good when using conventional processing methods. Resource estimates for Salar of Uyuni include contained resources
of 10.2Mt but higher estimates have also been reported. Given its resource potential, Uyuni has attracted significant attention. Bolivia’s state-owned mining corporation Comibol and a South Korean consortium, which includes POSCO (NYSE:PKS;
KRX:005490) and Korea Resources Corp. (KORES), have formed a joint venture for the development of the Salar de Uyuni.
Most of the brine deposits are located in South America and China. Hard-Rock deposits are found in all five continents (Figure
9). Figure 10 shows the locations of some of the main lithium deposits and occurrences in the world.
9.0
Contained Resources (Million Tonnes)
8.0
7.0
6.0
5.0
4.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
0.0
Figure 9: Contained Resources of Selected Pegmatite Deposits;
Source: Euro Pacific Canada
8
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10. www.epccm.ca
29.
22.
23.‐ 28.
21.
9.‐ 10.
31.
30.
11.‐ 13.
33.
57.
55.
35.
58.
27. Salar de Diablillos, Argentina
Salar de Diablillos, Argentina
56.
34.
22. Salar de Atacama, Chile
26. Mariana Lithium, Argentina
13. James Bay, Quebec
39. Tastyq, Russia
38. Vishnyakovskoe, Russia
37. Altai, China
36. Alakha, Russia
35. Jadar, Serbia
34. Koralpa, Austria
31. Araçuai (Cachoeira), Brazil
Figure 10: Location of Major Lithium Deposits;
Source: Euro Pacific Canada
24. Salar de Olaroz, Argentina
25. Salar de Hombre Muerto, Argentina
11. Whabouchi, Quebec
12. Rose ,Quebec
23. Salar de Cauchari, Argentina
10. Authier, Quebec
9. Quebec Lithium, Quebec
33. Fregeneda‐Almendra, Portugal
20. Sonora, Mexico
21. Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
7. Pakaegama, Ontario
19. Kings Mountain, N. Carolina
8. Nama Creek, Ontario
32. Ullava Länttä, Finland
18. Hallman‐Beam (Bessemer), N. Carolina
6. Separation Rapids, Ontario
30. São João del Rei, Brazil
5. Tanco, Manitoba
29. Maricunga, Chile
16. Brawley (Salton Sea), California
17. Smackover, Texas
3. Thor, NWT
15. Silver Peak (Clayton Valley), Nevada
2. Beaverhill, Alberta
4. Violet, Manitoba
28. Sal de Vida, Argentina
14. Kings Valley, Nevada
Kings Valley, Nevada
18.‐ 19.
4. 7.
8.
5.
6.
32.
1. Fox Creek, Alberta
Fox Creek, Alberta
Major Deposits
Sedimentary Rock
Hectorite Clay
Pegmatite
Brine
2.
16.
17.
20.
14.
`15.
1.
3.
World Lithium Resources
(deposits greater than 100,000 tonnes Li)
38.
42.
43.
47.
52. Nanping, China
51. Barkam, China
50. Gajika, China
49. Maerkang, China
48. Jiajika, China
47. Taijnar, China
46. Damxung, China
45. Dangxiongcuo, China
44. Zabuye, China
43. Zavitskoye, Russia
42. Goltsovoe, Russia
41. Urikskoe, Russia
63. Mount Cattlin, Western Australia
62. Mount Marion, Western Australia
61. East Kirup, Western Australia
60. Greenbushes, Western Australia
59. Pilgangoora, Western Australia
58. Bikita, Zimbabwe
57. Kamativi, Zimbabwe
56. Karibib, Namibia
55. Manono–Kitolo, DR Congo
54. Daoxian, China
53. Yichun, China
Yichun, China
63.
62.
59.
60.‐ 61.
49.
40. Ulug‐Tanzek, Russia
Ulug Tanzek, Russia
.
49.
` 53. 54.
50. 51.
52.
48.
39.‐ 41.
44.
45. 46
37.
36.
August 2013
Lithium Industry Report
9
11. August 2013
Lithium Industry Report
Lithium Global Reserve Life Analysis
Global estimates suggest there is more than 30Mt of lithium resources, however it is important to note that most deposits are
not economically viable. For instance, some of the deposits (brines and hard-rock) may have high levels of impurities that make
processing very costly, while others are in isolated parts of the world and would require high infrastructure expenditures, deeming them uneconomic. In the case of brines, the weather in some regions is not appropriate for the solar evaporation process.
There are also many other factors, thus it is necessary to spend a significant amount of time and resources to determine the
feasibility of these projects before considering them as available resources.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) estimates, global lithium reserves are ~13Mt (Figure 11). These estimates
exclude lithium occurrences and resources than have not been proven economic.
Reserves
38,000
50,000
1,000,000
46,000
7,500,000
3,500,000
10,000
23,000
80,000
13,047,000
Figure 11: Global Lithium Reserves;
Source: USGS (2011), Euro Pacific Canada
85
Sales of New Vehicles, Millions
Country
United States
Argentina
Australia
Brazil
Chile
China
Portugal
Zimbabwe
Canada
Total
80
75
70
65
60
55
50
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Figure 12: Annual Sales of New Vehicles;
Source: International Organization of Motor Vehicles Manufacturers
Based on this reserve estimate, if we were to fully adopt electric vehicles starting next year, how many years of
lithium supplies would we have? Car sales have increased in the last few years, and as China and other emerging
markets continue to develop, sales are likely to increase. Last year, new vehicles sales totalled 82M (Figure 12).
The amount of lithium in batteries depends on different factors, including vehicle range and type (i.e., hybrid electric vehicles [HEVs], plug-in hybrid electric vehicles [PHEVs] or “pure” electric vehicles [EVs]). Electric vehicles use
more lithium per battery as they lack a conventional combustion engine, and a low-range electric vehicle may use
~5 kilograms of lithium; in contrast, an HEV may use >0.5 kilograms of lithium. If we were to adopt pure electric
vehicles with an average of 5 kilograms Li/vehicle, and sell 82M vehicles each year going forward, we estimate
there is only 30 years of reserve life, assuming 100% recoveries and no growth in current lithium demand in other applications/
sectors (Figure 13). However, given that processing recovering rates for the production of
battery-grade lithium are on average 50% using conventional methods, the likely reserve
life would be closer to 15 years. If we were
to adopt a combination of vehicle types and
consume an average of 2 kg Li/vehicle this
10
Annual Car Sales
Avg. Li / Car (kg)
Lithium Required for
Cars (tonnes)
Other Li Consumption
(Excl. Cars)
Total Li Consumption
Lithium Reserves
Years
82,000,000
0.5
82,000,000
1.0
82,000,000
2.0
82,000,000
5.0
41,000
82,000
164,000
410,000
28,659
28,659
28,659
28,659
69,659
13,047,000
187
110,659
13,047,000
118
192,659
13,047,000
68
438,659
13,047,000
30
Figure 13: Simplified Analysis of Lithium Reserve Life;
Source: Euro Pacific Canada
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12. August 2013
Lithium Industry Report
would yield a 35-year reserve life, adjusted to recovery rates. Our analysis is an extreme case as the 100% adoption
of electric vehicles in 2014 is not realistic, but it gives us an idea of the reserves required in the future if lithium is to
become our energy storage medium of choice.
The solution to adding more lithium reserves is to continue to invest in and develop lithium projects around the world.
The largest producers of lithium in South America (brine producers) may have the ability to expand reserves and production but a diversified and reliable supply of lithium will have to include lithium from different regions of the world
and sources (i.e., hard rock, geothermal and clay).
LITHIUM PROCESSES AND COMPOUNDS
Brine Processing
Brine Concentration
The lithium concentration in the brines is usually measured in parts per million (ppm),
milligrams per litre (mg/L) and weight percentage. The recovery process usually involves
solar evaporation of the brine in ponds (Figure 14). The brine evaporation is a necessary
step because of the dilutive concentration of the lithium in the brines (0.010–0.125% in
brines, compared to 0.2–1.5% in pegmatites). Direct chemical processing of the brines
without pre-concentration could be extremely expensive. Solar evaporation is a relatively
inexpensive operation that allows the lithium to concentrate into more economic grades
for later processing at chemical plants. The main brines in the world for the production of
lithium are Clayton Valley in the United States, the Atacama desert brine in Chile and the
Figure 14: Evaporation Pond;
Source: lithiummine.com
Hombre Muerto brine in Argentina. The Clayton Valley brine operations started in 1966
and were one of the first lithium operations from brines.
Example of Brine Salt Crystallization Sequence
From the late 1970s to the mid-1980s, Corporation de Fomento de la Production (CORFO, a Chilean government-owned
firm) and Saline Processors (a U.S. company) conducted extensive tests at Salar de Atacama to estimate its brine resources and economic development potential. During the testwork, they observed the following sequence of salt crystallization
in the ponds:
1. halite (or salt, NaCl);
2. halite and sylvite (or potassium chloride in mineral form);
3. halite, sylvite and potassium lithium sulphate (LiKSO4);
4. halite and kainite (a mineral salt that consists of potassium chloride and magnesium sulphate) and lithium sulphate (Li2SO4);
5. halite, carnallite (a potassium magnesium chloride salt, KMgCl3•6[H2O]) and lithium sulphate;
6. mostly bischoffite (a hydrous magnesium chloride mineral, MgCl2•6H2O); and
7.
bischoffite and lithium carnallite (or lithium magnesium chloride heptahydrate, LiCl•MgCl2•7H2O).
Carnallite is usually the last mineral to form, which is the case in Clayton Valley; however, given the low humidity levels and
weather characteristics at the Salar de Atacama, bischoffite is allowed to form at commercial scale. Bischoffite formation
means that a significant amount of magnesium could be removed from the brine during solar evaporation.
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13. August 2013
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Example Brine Evaporation Process
Given the sequence of salt formations described above, one possible pond design is the one presented in Figure 15.
The process sequence is as follows:
1. Halite crystalizes first. The harvested salt is stockpiled or used to reinforce the walls of the solar ponds.
2. In the following ponds, potassium crystallizes as sylvinite, which is harvested and taken to the potash plant. At the plant,
sylvinite is crushed and ground (to about ~6 millimetres), and the potassium chloride is then separated from the mixture in
froth floatation cells. The potash product is then thickened, centrifuged and washed to produce a moist ~95% KCl product.
The brine leaving the sylvinite ponds can contain as much as 1% Li, which is returned to the lithium ponds.
3. The brine from the sylvinite ponds next goes to carnallite ponds, which is harvested to produce coarse potash.
4. Next, the brine can be mixed with calcium chloride and end-liquor from the processing plant to precipitate gypsum and
some of the boron. The remaining boron in the final brine is later removed by solvent extraction at a chemical plant.
5. In the following ponds, magnesium crystallizes as bischofite, which is harvested to remove most of the magnesium. As
the evaporation proceeds, bischoffite and lithium carnallite eventually crystallize together. To improve lithium recoveries, the mixed salts could be leached to dissolve the lithium and accumulate bischoffite. Alternatively, bischofite can
be sold for road paving applications.
6. At Salar de Atacama, the final brine in the lithium ponds is concentrated to 4–6% Li, with levels of up to 1.8% Mg and
0.8% boron (B), depending on the original lithium, magnesium and boron concentrate in the brine that is pumped from the
deposit and respective recovery rates.
Economic brine concentration by solar evaporation can take 18–24 months, after which additional processing
is required in order to obtain the final products (e.g., lithium carbonate and potash) (See the following section,
Brine — Chemical Plant Processing).
The process sequence described here is a hypothetical process and may not represent an actual process and may not
be in the correct order for any specific brine. Brines processing flowsheets, including the ponds and chemical plant
process design, vary with the characteristics of the brine in consideration.
Brine Fluid Flow
For instance, at Clayton Valley, the magnesium levels are much lower than those
Halite
Ponds
found at Atacama, but the humidity level
Sylvite
Ponds
Carnallite
Ponds
Carbonate
Precipitation
Ponds
Borate
Ponds
Lithium Concentration
Ponds
may not be low enough to favour bischofite
formation, thus part of the magnesium
maybe removed at the beginning of the
Brine
Well
process by adding slake lime. FMC’s brine
Lithium
Plant
operations at Hombre Muerto in Argentration so the brine is first conditioned to
an appropriate pH and temperature then
is treated using its proprietary process
Solids Flow
tina also have a low magnesium concenSalt
NaCl
(Salt)
KCl
B
KCl
KCl
(Potash)
Plant
Mg + Ca Carbonates,
Chlorides
Borate
Plant
based on selective lithium adsorption onto
is further concentrated and purified. FMC
Na2SO4
(Sodium Sulfate)
K2SO4
(Potassium
Sulphate)
KCl
(Potash)
Borates
Boric
Acid
Figure 15: Hypothetical Brine Flowsheet;
Source: Modified from mining.com
brine concentration costs were initially es-
12
Lithium
Carbonate
Lithium
Chloride
alumina. Only afterward is the brine sent
to the solar evaporation ponds where it
Lithium
Hydroxide
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14. August 2013
Lithium Industry Report
timated to be 20% cheaper than the simple solar evaporation approach. Early operations (1930s) at Searles Lake
potash-lithium in California originally consisted of brine evaporation by means of triple-effect evaporators; the salts
were removed by hydraulic classification and fro-floatation.
Brine – Chemical Plant Processing
After the solar evaporation, the concentrated brine is first pre-treated (Figure 16). The brine pH is lowered to about 2 and
then boron is removed by means of a solvent extraction circuit.
Lime is then added to the concentrated brine to precipitate the remaining residual impurities (e.g., magnesium, sulphate
and borate). To remove most of the calcium from the lime reactions, a small amount of soda ash is added at this stage.
The precipitate is settled then filtered and the overflow brine solution is clarified then heated at about ~90°C and reacted
with dry soda ash, hot wash and make-up waters to precipitate the lithium carbonate product. Extra water is usually added
to prevent salt crystallization; hence after washing the lithium, carbonate slurry is thickened in a bank of cyclones.
As ~50% of the lithium is not recovered, the cyclone overflow is returned to the ponds, and the cyclone underflow with
the lithium product is sent to a vacuum belt where it is washed and dewatered. This process usually produces a 99.0%
pure lithium carbonate “commercial” grade product, with the main impurities being boron, sulphate, sodium, potassium,
and trace amounts of calcium and magnesium. At this grade, the product is usually appropriate for ceramic applications
but is not suitable for metal production, batteries (+99.9%), etc. In order to achieve higher-purity levels, the carbonate
product has to be further processed. With the demand for higher-quality product, brine processors have been forced to
improve the quality of the lithium compounds.
Figure 16: Brine Processing Flowsheet;
Source: Modified from Outotec
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15. August 2013
Lithium Industry Report
Assessing Brine Deposits
There a number of brines in the world; however, only a fraction of them have been economically exploited for the recovery of lithium and related materials (e.g., potassium). Some of the most important points to consider when valuing
brine projects include:
•
•
Lithium grade: The higher the grade the better. Solar evaporation of brines can yield a final brine with 0.50–6%
Li, depending on the initial concentration.
Evaporation rate: The rate of evaporation depends on the solar radiation (direct sunlight on the brines), the humidity level, wind and temperature. Evaporation rates in the lab may not be reproduced in the field. If the weather
•
conditions are not appropriate the evaporation cycle could take several years deeming the project uneconomic.
Co or by-products: Boron and potassium products can be recovered from the brines and refined. The sale of
these products can make brine operations more economic. Market conditions of these products are also impor-
•
tant for project economics.
Magnesium and sulphate concentration: The magnesium-to-lithium ratio and sulphate-to-lithium ratio are important parameters in the economic assessment of a brine project. High magnesium levels in the brine means
that a large amount of lithium may be trapped in the magnesium salts during the initial stages of the evaporation
process, reducing recovery rates. Also, a high magnesium-to-lithium ratio means that more soda ash reagent
would be required during the chemical processing of the brine, adding to raw material costs. The lower the sulphate (SO4)-to-lithium ratio in the final lithium brine pond the better. Lithium sulphate (Li2SO4) is highly soluble,
•
thus a high concentration of sulphate would lead to lower lithium recoveries.
Amenability to local production: Brines located in remote areas away from infrastructure would require larger initial
capex, or higher transportation costs if the hydrometallurgical plant has to be positioned hundreds of kilometres away.
Proper design and maintenance of the ponds is also
important for the economics of a brine project (Figure
17). The most important aspect of the pond construction is for it to be leak-free. Also important is pond design efficiency, usually the more ponds the better, as
multiple ponds allow for each of the salts in the brine
to crystallize in separate ponds, improving evaporation
Figure 17: Lining a Pond;
Source: Orocobre
rates and ultimately the recovery of lithium.
Hard-Rock Processing
Most of the hard-rock lithium processing is from pegmatite-ore bodies. In simple terms, the recovery process consists of
concentration by froth floatation, followed by hydrometallurgy and precipitation from an aqueous solution.
Ore Concentration
The pegmatite ore is first crushed and ground to a fine size (e.g. -0.3 millimetres) and cleared with, for example, sodium sulphate, then conditioned with a collector (e.g., oleic acid). After conditioning, the ore is concentrated though floatation. In some
less-sophisticated operations, the ore may be concentrated by hand sorting. The flowsheet for the spodumene concentration
process is presented in Figure 18.
Chemical Plant Processing
The hydrometallurgical process could follow an acid or alkaline route. In the acid route, spodumene is first roasted to convert
the alpha spodumene mineral into an acid amenable beta spodumene (Figure 19). The material is then ground to a finer gran-
14
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16. August 2013
Lithium Industry Report
ule size, mixed with sulphuric acid then heated to convert the
lithium to soluble lithium sulphate. The mixture is then water-
Ore
leached to dissolve the lithium. The lithium-enriched solution
undergoes a number of impurity steps to remove iron, magne-
Comminution
sium, calcium and aluminum. The lithium is then precipitated
with sodium carbonate.
Cleaning
Conditioning
In the alkaline route, the spodumene ore is first heated with limestone, which converts the lithium silicates to lithium aluminates.
Rougher Floatation
The material is then leached to convert the lithium aluminates
into soluble lithium hydroxide, while the calcium forms an insoluble calcium aluminate product. The soluble lithium hydroxide
Cleaner Floatation
Cl
Fl t ti
Tailings
T ili
is passed through evaporators to precipitate lithium hydroxide
Concentrated Ore
monohydrate. The lepidolite ore has also been treated using the
alkaline process.
Detailed flowsheet examples of spodumene processing for
Final Tailing
Figure 18: Pegmatite Ore Concentration;
Source: Modified from Energy Vol.3. pp305-313
W. Werill and D. Olson
the production of lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide
can be found in our Nemaska Lithium and Canada Lithium
initiation reports, dated August 13, 2013.
Figure 19: Spodumene Processing Flowsheet;
Source: Modified from Outotec
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17. August 2013
Lithium Industry Report
Assessing Hard-Rock Deposits
There are numerous hard-rock lithium deposits; some of the points to consider when accessing the economic viability of
these deposits include:
•
Lithium-Grade and tonnage: The tonnage and grade (or concentration) of an ore mineral has a direct impact on production costs. Higher grades generally mean a higher percentage of elements can be extracted, which normally translates
•
into lower unit costs and better margins. High tonnage and grades usually favour the success of feasibility studies.
Grade of co or by-products: Tantalum, beryllium, caesium rare earths are some of the elements that can be recovered
from lithium ore deposits such as LCT pegmatites. The sale of these products could make the operations more econom-
•
ic. However, the mineral composition of the deposit needs to be favourable to the economic recovery of these products.
Impurities: High concentration of impurities (e.g., iron) in lithium ore minerals may limit application in the glass and
ceramics industry and increase processing costs. Radioactive impurities, if present, could also lead to longer permitting
•
times and higher tailings management and disposal costs.
Location: Projects in remote locations with limited or no infrastructure generally require more funding. Companies with
vast infrastructure needs also tend to be further away from production, as they not only have to raise the funds that
could be delayed by poor market conditions but if the project site is in a remote location and difficult to access would
also likely limit the speed of the construction process.
Other Processes
In addition to the commonly used processes described for brines and spodumene, other processes have been developed in
the past; for example, the Limestone Leach Process was commercially used by Foote (now Chemetall/Rockwood), American
Potash and other companies. The process consisted of an initial roast that included mixing the ore with limestone and then
water leaching or a roasting followed by leaching with lime.
There has been extensive research and a number of patents related to processing of the Separation Rapids’ Big Whopper
Petalite ore in Canada, now owned by Avalon Rare Earths. One of the patents reported the production of 4% Li2O petalite
concentrate, and the separation of a number of products, including spodumene and tantalum concentrate.
Clay Processing
Laboratory tests have shown that
it is possible to recover up to 80%
lithium
from
moderately
Lithium Clay
Limestone
Recycle Solution
high-
Na2CO3
grade lithium clay deposits with
Feed
Preparation
a simple sulphuric acid leach,
Pelletized
Feed
but most advanced studies have
Some of the simplest tests includ-
Leach
Water
lowed by a hydrochloric acid leach,
which yielded a 70% recovery rate.
Other tests included five parts of
clay, three parts of gypsum and
three parts of limestone roasted
at 950°C, followed by water-leach-
Evaporator
Calcine
ed a 750°C roast with two parts of
clay for one part of limestone, fol-
Crystallizer
Li2CO3
Precipitation
Roast
shown an increased complexity.
16
Gypsum
Wash
Water
Slurry
Slurry
K2SO4
Na2SO4•10H2O
Water
Slurry
Filter
Leach
Solution
Filter
CaCO3
Residue
Concentrated
Solution
Filter
Product Filtrate
Wash Water
Li2CO3
Figure 20: Lithium Carbonate from Clay Process Flowsheet;
Source: Handbook of Lithium and Natural Calcium Chloride (2004)
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18. August 2013
Lithium Industry Report
ing, which resulted in 80% of lithium being recovered as lithium sulphate. An example of a detailed flowsheet for
the recovery of lithium from clay is presented in Figure 20. To our knowledge, lithium has never been recovered
from clay on a commercial scale.
APPLICATIONS
Glass
Lithium minerals, most often spodumene, are used for the production of a
number of glass products, such as containers, bottles, fiberglass, flaconnage,
internally nucleated glass ceramics, glass for pharmaceutical applications,
photochromic glass, soda lime glass, thermal (cool or hot) shock-resistant
cookware and sealed-beam headlights. The lithium reduces the viscosity and
melting temperature of the glass. A lower melting temperature means less
energy consumption. It has also been found that lithium increases the life Figure 21: Lithium Glass Ceramic Dental Fixtures;
and productivity of the glass furnace, without sacrificing glass quality. Lithium
Source: Thayer Dental Laboratory
improves the strength of the glass and the thermal shock resistance of finished products. The lithium mineral helps
reduce rejection rates and improve the quality of glass by reducing the amount of “bubbles”. Lithium carbonate can
also be used in certain applications (e.g., TV tubes). Lithium ore concentrates with high iron content are not suitable for
glass production, unless the iron content is appropriately reduced. In fact, some high-grade spodumene ores may also
be used without being concentrated as long as the iron content is significantly low.
Ceramics
Lithium minerals are used in ceramics to produce fritz and glazes, porcelain enamels for bathroom fixtures, shock-resistant
ceramics and porcelain tiles. Lithium decreases the melting temperature of ceramics by increasing fluxing power, causing their
thermal expansion co-efficient to decrease, thus increasing shock resistance. Lithium also decreases the pyroplastic deformation of ceramic materials improving their glaze adherence, gloss properties and stain resistance.
Additionally, lithium is used in applications where improved resistance to sudden temperature changes is required,
and in the production of optical glass ceramics and refractories (i.e., brick for furnace linings), where a low co-efficient
of expansion is required. Both mineral concentrates and compounds such as lithium carbonate can be used in ceramic applications, but petalite mineral is usually preferred because when it is heated there are limited structure or
phase changes. Another highly desirable lithium mineral for ceramic applications is lepidolite, which is the only ore
that contains fluorine and rubidium (two good fluxes); however, its availability is limited. Lithium is used in a multitude
of ceramic-type applications (Figure 21).
Lubricant Grease
Most lubricating greases are made of oil and soap, which, when mixed form stable gels called grease.
Lithium soaps hold high volumes of oil, have a high resistance to oxidation and hardening and, if liquefied, return to a stable grease consistency once cooled. Lithium greases make excellent lubricants as they
adhere particularly well to metal, are highly water soluble and offer consistent properties over a range of
temperatures. Most lithium grease uses lithium hydroxide but lithium carbonate can also be used. Lithiumcontaining greases have been in existence since the 1940s and were perhaps the first large-scale commercial application of lithium compounds. Lithium grease is commonly used as lubricant in household
Figure 22:
products (Figure 22) and in a number of demanding service applications in the automotive, military and Lithium Grease;
Source: 3M
aerospace industries, and accounts for about 65% of the lubricant market.
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19. August 2013
Lithium Industry Report
Metallurgy
Lithium compounds are used as brazing and welding fluxes and as welding rod coatings, as they reduce the flux melting temperature and surface tension of steel alloys. Lithium compounds such as lithium carbonate, chloride and fluoride, and lithium metal are used to degasify and
clean a number of metals, including aluminum, copper and bronze (improving their electrical conductivity), and also less common metals such
as germanium and thorium.
Lithium carbonate is used in the aluminum industry, 1.5–4% kilograms
of Li2CO3 per tonne of aluminum produced, during metal processing. The
Figure 23: Lithium Metal;
Source: Google Images
lithium lowers the melting temperature of the molten electrolyte and increases the cell’s electrical conductivity, which
in turn decreases processing costs, particularly energy costs. Lithium carbonate also reacts with cryolite to form
lithium fluoride, which has high electrical conductivity and fluxing properties, and also reduces the consumption of
anode carbons. The use of lithium in the aluminum industry has been declining, however, and is most commonly used
in older plants. Lithium may also be used to produce an aluminum/lithium alloy improving the mechanical properties
of aluminum. For example, it can increase stiffness up to 7% and increase strength up to 30%, while offering weight
savings of about 5% relative to non-alloyed aluminum. Lithium can also be alloyed to silicon and a number of metals,
including copper, silver and magnesium.
Lithium Metal
Lithium metal is used in the production of organic chemicals, batteries, alloys and in numerous other applications
(Figure 23). For example, it is used in the synthesis of organometallic compounds in medical applications and in the
production of polymers and rubbers. It is also used as breeding blanket material and heat transfer medium in nuclear
fusion reactors in the nuclear power industry. As well, it is used in some lithium batteries for military and commercial
applications and in metallurgy applications as a degasifier in the production of certain high-conductivity metals.
Processing
Lithium metal is generally produced by the electrolysis of a
highly pure molten lithium chloride and potassium chloride
mixture. The schematic of the electrolytic cell used to produce
lithium metal is presented in Figure 24. The electrolyte (e.g.,
45% LiCl/ 55% KCl) solution is usually contained in a large
plain-carbon steel box positioned in a refractory-lined fire box.
The cathodes are usually vertical steel shafts and the anodes
are graphite shafts. Electrolysis is conducted at reported temperatures of 420–500°C, with lithium metal reduction occurring at the steel cathodes (Li+ + e- → Li0) and chlorine oxidation occurring at the graphite anodes. The metal accumulates
on the surface of the cell, and is then poured into ingots and
cooled at ambient temperatures. Others have devised alternative processes using direct electrolysis of lithium carbonate
and spodumene, with alleged material cost processing gains
compared to the conventional method.
18
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Figure 24: Schematic of an Electrolytic Cell for the
Production of Lithium Metal;
Source: Handbook of Lithium and Natural
Calcium Chloride (2004)
20. August 2013
Lithium Industry Report
Air Conditioners
Lithium compounds, more specifically lithium bromide and lithium chloride, are used in air conditioners (Figure 25). Both
compounds have high hygroscopic capacity (i.e., high water absorbing ability), and thus can reduce the moisture of the air and
other gases to very low levels. As water is removed from the air, it cools, offering a refrigeration effect. Lithium-based solutions
used in air conditioning applications exhibit low vapor pressure, low viscosity, high stability and non-toxic properties. Lithium
bromide and lithium chloride can also be used as desiccants (humidity absorbing material) in dehumidification applications.
Figure 25: Lithium Bromide Absorption Refrigerator and Process Schematic;
Source: National Climate Data Centre (NCDC NOAA)
Energy Storage
Lithium is an important element in energy storage. Energy storage technologies fall under the category of non-stationary, as in the case of Li-ion batteries
used in electronic devices such as iPads or hybrid vehicles, or stationary, like
those used in electric grid applications.
Battery
Batteries are comprised of electrochemical cells with electrically conductive materials that react to produce electric energy. There are two main classes of bat-
Figure 26: Lithium Batteries AAA
and Coin Shaped;
Source: KyloDee, Wikimedia, Uline
teries: primary and secondary. In primary batteries or cells, the electrochemical
reaction is usually not reversible and the battery cannot be recharged. These batteries need to be constantly replaced with new ones. Primary batteries include the
round alkaline cells used in watches and calculators and non-rechargeable AAA
and AA batteries (Figure 26), which are used in TV remote controls, flashlights, etc.
Secondary cells or batteries are rechargeable, which means that when a charging current is supplied to the cell the electric energy is transformed into chemical
energy that can be stored. The lifespan of secondary batteries is proportional
to the number of discharge/charge cycles, and they may last for thousands of
Figure 27: Lithium Ion Battery Inside
an iPad Device;
Source: AppleInsider
cycles depending on their chemistry and application. Examples of secondary batteries are lithium-cobalt oxide (LCO) batteries commonly used in consumer applications, such as mobile phones, cameras, electric tools and medical equipment.
Demand for secondary batteries has grown exponentially in the last decade, driven by the increasing adoption of
portable data storage devices such as smartphones and tablets (Figure 27).
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21. August 2013
Lithium Industry Report
The current issues surrounding global warming, peak oil
prices and petro-dictatorship have driven policies in many
industrialized nations that support the development of low
carbon and renewable energy technologies. At the centre
of the discussion is the role of the automotive industry and
its impact on the environment and resource preservation.
Thus, there have been significant efforts to bring back the
electric car (Figure 28). Electric cars were first introduced
in 1900s and then again in the 1990s with no success.
Currently, there are three main types of electric cars: 1) Hy-
Figure 28: Location of Battery Pack in a HEV;
Source: Audi
brid electric vehicles (HEV) with both a conventional internal
combustion engine and an electric motor, a start/stop sys-
tem and a regenerating braking energy system to charge the battery; in some hybrid models the combustion engine
is used to charge the electric motors that drive the vehicles; 2) Plug-in hybrids (PHEV), i.e. hybrid vehicles with a
rechargeable battery charged using electricity from the grid; and 3) “pure” electric vehicles (EV) with battery-powered
electric propulsion systems whose battery is charged with electricity from the grid. Electric buses, trucks and bicycles
are also available.
The re-emerging interest in electric cars has driven significant innovation in the battery sector, thus there are a variety of batteries available for electric cars. Toyota is the world’s largest producer of lightweight electric vehicles. Up
until now, the company has used nickel-metal hydrate batteries but has started to move toward lithium-ion (Li-ion)
batteries because of their high density and durability. Lithium batteries are comprised of a variety of materials and
chemistries (Figure 29). The most promising Li-ion batteries for automotive applications include lithium-nickel-cobaltaluminium (NCA), lithium-iron phosphate (LFP), lithium-manganese spinel (LMO) and lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt
(NMC), all with lithium in the cathode and electrolyte,
and lithium-titanate (LTO), which also uses lithium in the
anode. Other important materials used in Li-ion batteries include nickel, cobalt, aluminium, manganese and
titanium. Graphite is often used as an anode in many of
Cathode
Anode
these metals and a ratio of lithium to graphite content
1:4 is not uncommon.
NCA
LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2
Graphite
Battery Type
LFP
LMO
LiFePO4 LiMn2O4
Graphite Graphite
LTO
LiMn2O4
Li4Ti5O12
Figure 29: Selected Battery Composition Types;
Source: Argonne National Laboratory
There are trade-offs with each of the different Li-ion batteries, as shown in Figure 30. Safety is the most important criterion,
also relevant are the cost and lifespan (i.e., overall battery age and ability to fully charge over the years). Good performance
relates to how different temperatures affect the operation and degradation rate of the battery; specific energy refers to the
capacity to store energy per kilogram of weight, which is still a fraction of that of gasoline; and specific power is the power
per kilogram that batteries can deliver.
Given that lithium iron phosphate appears to offer the best safety, lifespan and cost balance at a reasonable performance, we believe the FLP battery may be more widely adopted. These batteries require higher amounts of lithium
than the NCA and LMO-type batteries. As part of our global lithium demand forecast, we have also forecast demand
for electric vehicles (see Demand section).
20
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22. August 2013
Lithium Industry Report
In the U.S. and most industrialized nations, the emergence of electric vehicles has been driven by government policies. The
number of hybrid electric vehicle models in the United States has grown despite slow sales post the 2008 recession and
all major car makers now have multiple HEV models (Figure 31). We believe that as vehicle prices fall and performance improves, demand is likely to increase. In 2012, more than 360,000 HEVs were sold, a 42% increase over 2011.
Figure 30: Main Lithium-ion Battery Technologies Ranking;
Source: BCG
Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid
Toyota Prius C
400
Buick Regal
Buick Lacrosse
Hyundai Sonata
Lexus CT 200h
350
Porsche Cayenne
Mercedes S400
Mercedes ML450
Mazda Tribute
300
Honda CR‐Z
Ford Lincoln MKZ
BMW X6
BMW ActiveHybrid 7
Thousand HEVs
250
Chevrolet Sierra/Silverado
Lexus HS 250h
Mercury Milan
Ford Fusion
200
Dodge Durango
Chrysler Aspen
Cadillac Escalade
Chevy Malibu
GMC Yukon
150
y
Chevy Tahoe
Saturn Aura
Lexus LS600hL
Saturn Vue
100
Nissan Altima
Toyota Camry
Lexus GS 450h
Mercury Mariner
50
Toyota Highlander
Lexus RX400h
Honda Accord
Ford Escape
0
1999
2000
www.afdc.energy.gov/data/
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
Honda Civic
Toyota Prius
Honda Insight
Figure 31: Sales of HEV in the United States;
Source: EERE AFDC
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21
23. August 2013
Lithium Industry Report
Stationary Energy Storage
Energy storage technologies for stationary applications, such as grid energy management, are expected to be important tools for the development of future reliable and economic electricity supply.
Stationary energy storage is expected to support better integration of renewable energies (e.g., solar and wind) by
storing, regulating and managing the flow of energy. Electrochemical stationary energy storage systems include large
Li-ion batteries (Figure 32), lead-carbon and lead-acid batteries, electrochemical capacitor batteries, sodium-based
batteries and flow batteries (e.g., iron-chromium, and vanadium). Other solutions include kinetic-based energy storage systems such as compressed-air energy storage and high-speed flywheels. In addition, emerging technologies for
energy storage include the metal-air batteries in which different metals can be used, including aluminium, zinc and
lithium, and liquid metal batteries that use magnesium and antimony-based liquids as electrodes.
Currently, the most used method to store energy is pumped-storage hydroelectricity (PSH), where excess generated
energy is used to pump water into a reservoir at an elevated level and then released to a lower reservoir through a
turbine to generate electricity during periods of high demand. However, no new PSH locations have been identified
and new alternatives are desperately needed.
Despite their success in mobile applications, Li-ion technologies are not yet the preferred technology in stationary
applications where size and weight are not major considerations, but instead cost, charge/discharge time and battery life are more important. Currently, the best alternatives for energy management applications include advanced
lead-acid batteries with carbon-enhanced electrodes, vanadium redox batteries (flow-type batteries), sodium-based
batteries and emerging compressed air batteries.
It should be noted, however, that the broader energy management
plan, which includes the vehicle to grid (V2G) concept, involves the
use of energy not only from stationary energy storage systems, but
also from the batteries of electric vehicles, bringing together stationary and non-stationary energy storage sources to achieve a balanced
distribution and optimal utilization of energy. Thus, as the global energy management plan advances, lithium is likely to have a critical role.
Other Applications
Figure 32: Li-ion Energy Storage System;
Source: Saft
Lithium is also an important ingredient in many organic compounds, where lithium is usually bonded to carbon atoms,
forming liquids or low melting point solids. These compounds are soluble in hydrocarbon and polar organic solvents
but are highly reactive with oxygen and some may ignite spontaneously when in contact with air. An important organic
lithium is butyl, which is used in the production of polymers and elastomers. Some lithium organics have applications
in pharmaceuticals; for instance, in the preparation of vitamin A, steroids, tranquilizers, etc. In medicine, lithium carbonate or lithium acetate has been used in the treatment of manic depression. Lithium is also used as an additive
for quick-setting of cement and floor tiles, in dyes and pigments to increase brilliance, and many other applications
spanning numerous industries. Lithium compounds are also used in agriculture.
In summary, Figures 33 and 34 show the lithium products output flow from a brine and hard-rock rock operation, and likely
uses as described above. Most of the lithium compounds are derived from lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide.
22
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24. August 2013
Lithium Industry Report
Batteries
Ceramics
Polymers
Alloys
Brine
Li‐Carbonate
Concentrated
Brine
Li‐Hydroxide
Batteries
Lubricants
Lithium
Ore
Glass
Li Mineral
Concentrate
Batteries
Lubricants
Li‐Hydroxide
Batteries
Ceramics
Polymers
Alloys
Li‐Carbonate
Li‐Bromide
Air Conditioning
Li‐Bromide
Li‐Chloride
Air Conditioning
Li‐Metal
Butyllithium
Li‐Chloride
Batteries
Pharmaceuticals
Chemicals
Alloys
Polymers
Pharmaceuticals
Figure 33: Brine Processing Compounds and Derivatives,
and Major End-Use Applications;
Source: Euro Pacific Canada
Li‐Metal
Batteries
Pharmaceuticals
Chemicals
Alloys
Butyllithium
Polymers
Pharmaceuticals
Figure 34: Lithium Ore Processing
Compounds and Derivatives, and Major End-Use Applications
Source: Euro Pacific Canada
RECYCLING
Currently, most lithium products are not recycled. In the case of lithium used in lubricants, the lithium is dispersed in the environment. However, there has been an increasing focus on lithium recycling due to the high adoption of lithium batteries, and a number
of countries in Europe, North America and Asia have funded recycling programs.
There are a number of companies with battery recycling capabilities, such as Toxco Inc., which has been recycling batteries in Canada for over 30 years and in 2010 received funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to build the first Li-ion battery recycling plant
in the U.S. In Belgium, Umicore opened a battery recycling facility with the capability of recycling Li-ion and lithium polymer batteries.
In Germany, the Ministry for the Environment, Natural Conservation and Natural Safety awarded funds to Rockwood Lithium as part
of a consortium called LithoRec, which is co-ordinated by Automotive Research Centre Niedersachsen and includes companies such
as Volkswagen AG and Audi AG to build a recycling facility.
Lithium slags are usually the by-product of battery recycling plants although the technology exists, it is usually not economic to refine
lithium into commercial products due to the small amount of lithium content in batteries and the relatively low raw material price
(~$6,000/tonne of lithium carbonate). With the exception of cement applications, lithium slags are not useful for most applications,
and thus are likely stockpiled and perhaps exposed to the environment.
The most common type of lithium batteries are the small coin-shaped batteries that are used in electronics to power memory circuits
when systems are shut down, saving critical configuration settings and improving start-up time. These batteries are not rechargeable
but have a long lifespan. The other common types of batteries are those used in mobile devices such as smartphones and laptops,
which are rechargeable and re-used many times. Depending on the battery chemistry, steel, cobalt, manganese and other metals
may also be recovered from lithium batteries.
As it is not profitable to recover the relatively small amounts of lithium contained in spent batteries, it is the amount of more valuable
metals (e.g., cobalt) that usually determines the economics of the battery recycling business. As per the lithium slags, they may be
stockpiled for future refining.
Is not uncommon for recycling costs to exceed the value of the materials recovered; in these cases, it is stewardship considerations that are driving the recycling of batteries. In the long term, as more batteries are recycled, the recycling of lithium
batteries may become a more profitable proposition favoured by economies of scale.
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25. August 2013
Lithium Industry Report
Lithium Outlook
Demand for lithium grew at an average of 7.2%/year from 2001 to 2008, slowing due to the global recession and picking
up again in 2010. It is expected that annual demand will continue to rise significantly in the near future as a result of the
increased usage of lithium in battery applications. Primary drivers of lithium demand are expected to come from hybrid and
electric cars, electrical grid storage, cell phones, computers, power tools, iPods and iPads. Lithium batteries are now used
in most electrified vehicles.
According to estimates from Gartner Research and Canalys, feature cellphones still account for the majority of wireless
phone sales, but smartphones, which usually use higher amounts of lithium, are increasingly taking a larger portion of the
market. It is estimated that 1.75–1.93B mobile devices were sold in 2012. Canalys estimates a 7.8% growth in demand for
mobile devices between 2012 and 2016. IDC Research estimates mobile devices in the emerging markets will grow at an
average of 17% year-over-year between 2012 and 2017, compared to 7% in developed markets. Mobile devices usually carry
8–25 grams of lithium, depending on the watt-hour rating of the device. In contrast, vehicles can carry anywhere from 0.3
kilograms (300 grams) to 5+ kilograms of lithium, depending on the type of battery and performance vehicle. We estimate
that in 2013 the battery sector alone will consume 45,000–55,000 tonnes of LCE and will almost double by 2021. The
lithium market is valued at close to $1.0B but the battery market is estimated at $11B. China is the largest consumer of
lithium products but the country is a net importer of lithium. In 2011, China produced 3.93B lithium battery units, valued at
~US$5.4B. In 2011, lithium production in China was estimated to have increased by more than 30% from 2010. Demand in
China is expected to continue to grow, spurred by government policies toward the use of cleaner technologies in the transportation sector (including bikes).
Demand for lithium products has increased in most sectors, and we expect it to continue to grow at a rate close to the average global GDP, which is estimated at 3% year-over-year (Figure 35). We expect China to continue to be the largest lithium
consumer but we should also see an increase in lithium demand from the other major consuming regions (i.e., U.S., Europe,
Japan and Korea) as the global economy improves.
GDP Growth
To fulfil the increasing demand for high-purity
lithium, existing producers have implemented
aggressive growth plans and upgraded plants.
Additionally, a number of projects have mushroomed around the world; however, we anticipate
that only a few will be able to reach production
in the next five years, which should help balance
demand and prices.
Prices for lithium carbonate more than doubled
between 2004 and 2008 to ~US$5,500/tonne.
Currently, high-purity (+99.5%) lithium carbonate
2013
2019-2025
United States
Europe
Japan
Other Advanced
ALL ADVANCED ECONOMIES
China
India
Other Developing Asia
Latin America
Middle East
Africa
Russia, Central Asia & Southeast Europe
ALL EMERGING ECONOMIES
is priced at just above US$6,000/tonne. We ex-
WORLD TOTAL
pect prices of high-purity lithium carbonate to stay
0
above $5,500/tonne but below $7,000/tonne in
1
2
3
4
Percent (%)
Figure 35: GDP Growth Forecast;
Source: The Conference Board
the near to mid-term.
24
2014-2018
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5
6
7
8
26. August 2013
Lithium Industry Report
SUPPLY
The supply of lithium is dominated by four companies, Talison Lithium (owned by
Tianqi Group), Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile (SQM), Rockwood Lithium (a
Chemetall Group subsidiary) and FMC Corporation, which together control an estimated 85% of the world supply (Figure 36). Talison in Australia is currently the
largest producer of lithium: the company has a production capacity of ~740,000
tonnes per year (tpy) of lithium concentrate, or 110,000 tonnes LCE. The world’s
second-largest producer is SQM with operations in the Antofagasta region of Chile.
Rockwood also has lithium operations in Atacama and accounts for 20% of the world
supply. We estimate that FMC, which has brine operations in Argentina, currently accounts for ~9% of world lithium production. Like the other major producers FMC has
recently increased its production capacity, which is now 35% higher than previously.
Figure 36: Lithium Supply per Company;
Source: Euro Pacific Canada
Lithium is sold mostly through private contracts and in a variety of forms (with different lithium contents); as such, estimating lithium supply and demand carries a higher error compared to estimates for the most common base metal commodities
sold on the spot market. For instance, Talison reported 339,501 tonnes of lithium concentrate sales in FY2012; some of the
concentrate was sold and used as it is for glass and ceramic applications, but some is processed into lithium carbonate, and
a portion of that is then converted into lithium hydroxide and/or other compounds. For each step or process (e.g., from lithium
concentrate to carbonate), there is a fraction of lithium that is not recovered. It has been suggested that ~15–25% of lithium
is nonrecoverable during the hydrometallurgical process (e.g., for the conversion of lithium concentrate to lithium carbonate),
which could result in a discrepancy between the estimated lithium content in the mineral concentrate sold by miners such as
Talison and lithium content in the final compounds sold by refiners and ultimately bought by end-users.
Thus, although Talison sold 339,501 tonnes of lithium concentrate, which is equivalent to ~50,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate (LCE), the final lithium compound that refiners sell and may be used to produce other types of compounds will be less than
50,000 tonnes lithium carbonate. For example, if we assume (although this is not the case) that all of the 339,501 tonnes of
lithium concentrate Talison sold was converted to lithium carbonate, the actual lithium carbonate volume would be closer to
~40,000 tonnes assuming an 80% recovery rate. As Talison does not yet have the downstream capability to produce lithium
carbonate but instead sells lithium concentrate mostly to refiners in China, the company discloses a LCE amount, assuming
100% recovery, which is not accurate. However, companies with downstream businesses (e.g., lithium carbonate production
capability), such as FMC, may consume/process all of the lithium concentrate produced, and may be able to report the volume
of lithium carbonate sold with a higher accuracy.
ferent forms of lithium products, the production
in various countries, the downstream capability
of the leading companies including their expansion projects, and the new lithium projects, we
have estimated the world production of lithium
(in LCE) as shown in Figure 37. Our estimates
indicate that global lithium supply for 2013 will
be ~165,000–175,000 tonnes.
Lithium Carbonate Equivalent, Tonnes
200,000
Taking into consideration the market for the dif-
180,000
160,000
140,000
Canada
120,000
Others
100,000
United-States
80,000
Argentina
60,000
Chile
40,000
Australia
20,000
2005E
2006E
2007E
2008E
2009E
2010E
2011E
2012E
2013F
2014F
2015F
Figure 37: Estimates and Forecast of Lithium Carbonate Equivalent Supply;
Source: Euro Pacific Canada; USGS; Various Sources
www.epccm.ca
25
27. August 2013
Lithium Industry Report
For the last few decades, lithium production from brines has been the main source of lithium. For instance, in 2005, brine
production from Chile and Argentina accounted for more than 50% of the world supply. However, as demand has increased,
it seems that companies operating in South America have struggled to maintain their supply share of the market, and we
forecast that in 2014 less than 40% of lithium supply will be from South American brines.
We believe that a number of factors, including water availability, infrastructure constraints and changes in the market of by-products
(which can be obtained from these brines [e.g. potash]) have changed the competitive nature of brine production. Furthermore, it
seems that changes in weather patterns (Figure 38) in the region have led to an increase in average precipitation, particularly in
Argentina where FMC operates, leading to production delays. The lithium ponds evaporation process for the production of lithium
concentrate product usually takes 18–24 months, but can take longer if it rains more than usual. In Bolivia, the government has
partnered with a consortium of Korean corporations to develop the Salar de Uyuni; however, it has been suggested that the ponds,
which were built in 2008, have not yet evaporated to appropriate levels, due to unsuitable weather conditions.
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
TOTAL
2005
0
0
0
0
0.4
0.2
18.4
4.8
0.2
0.2
0
0
24.2
2006
0
0
0
0.2
0.2
0.4
0
0
0
0.4
0
0.2
1.4
2007
0.2
0
0
0.2
0.4
0.2
0.4
0.4
0.4
871.1
871.2
0
1744.5
2008
0
0
0
1.2
1
1.8
7.8
0.2
0.4
0
32.4
0.8
45.6
2009
0
0.9
0
0.2
0.2
0.4
0
0
0
0
0
0
1.7
2010
0
0
0
0
0
0.2
0
3.8
0.2
0
0
0
4.2
2011
0
0.2
0
0
0.2
3.8
25
10.4
1.1
0
0.4
0
41.1
2012
0
0
0
0
0.4
2
0.6
0
0.8
0.4
0.2
0
4.4
2013
0
0
0
0
5.4
0.2
5.6
Figure 38: Precipitation at the Atacama Desert;
Source: ncdc.noaa.gov
As brine production has a natural delay due to the long evaporation cycle brine operators have not been able to respond
as quickly as hard-rock suppliers to the dramatic increase in lithium demand over the last few years. Lithium hard-rock
producer Talison has seized the opportunity by quickly doubling its production capacity and catching up with SQM, the
largest producer in South America, in less than two years. Galaxy Resources also fast-tracked its spodumene project to
start production in 2012; however, the company is facing some financing issues at the moment.
We expect Talison and other hard-rock producers to continue to gain market share over the brine producers in the near term,
with lithium production volumes from Australia to be similar to the total output from Chilean brines by 2015 (Figure 39).
2015F
United-States
3%
Others
15%
Canada
11%
Argentina
7%
Figure 39: Lithium Supply per Country;
Source: Euro Pacific Canada
26
www.epccm.ca
Chile
32%
Australia
32%
28. August 2013
Lithium Industry Report
As mentioned above, Talison has recently doubled its production capacity to 110,000 tonnes LCE. Rockwood Lithium
announced last year that it plans to build a new 20,000-tonne lithium carbonate plant to increase its total capacity
to 50,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate. However, as the company recently lost its bid for Talison, it is not clear where
the feed concentrate for the plant will be coming from. FMC increased its production capacity from 17,000 tonnes to
23,000 tonnes (35%); however, unusual weather patterns in the region may limit output in the near term.
We expect world production to increase at an 8.4% CAGR from 2010 to 2015 as the major producers increase their
production volumes gradually and new producers enter the market.
There are a number of brine and hard-rock projects being developed around the globe. Some of the most developed
projects include Canada Lithium’s hard-rock project in Quebec and Orocobre’s brine project in the Jujuy province of
Argentina. We anticipate production of lithium carbonate in Canada from Canada Lithium in 2014. Orocobre construction work is progressing on time and on budget. As the company is currently performing pond lining work, the first
lithium concentrate may not be produced until late 2015 or early 2016, weather permitting. Lithium carbonate (run of
mine) may be produced by 2016 after successful commissioning of the hydrometallurgical plant. We should also see
increased supply from other regions.
Brine production has the benefit of having a low cost for the production of lithium concentrate, but unfortunately the production cycle is long. Hard-rock mining has a significantly faster production cycle, although cost of lithium concentrate is
higher (15–30%). It should be noted, however, that historical records and company data suggest that the lithium carbonate and hydroxide produced from the hydrometallurgical plants in South America that use lithium concentrate from brines
as feedstock are of “economic” grade and are usually used as the feed material for the production of higher-quality lithium
carbonate. Therefore, we argue that although the overall production cost of hard-rock producers is higher, existing and
new producers maybe able to offer the market a higher quality product at a higher price.
DEMAND
It has been estimated that China is the largest consumer of lithium products, accounting for about 30% of the total
demand, followed by Europe and Japan. The glass and ceramics sector has been the largest consumer of lithium;
however, in recent years, lithium demand for battery applications in the technology and transportation industries has
growth at a faster rate than in any other sector.
2015F
2015F
2011E
Others
18%
Ceramics and
Glass
28%
Air Treatement
5%
Metallurgy
8%
Batteries
28%
Air Treatement
Air
5%
Treatement
5%
Metallurgy
Metallurgy
7%
7%
Lubricants
13%
Others
Others
17%
17%
Batteries
Batteries
33%
33%
Ceramics and
Ceramics and
Glass
Glass
26%
26%
Lubricants
Lubricants
12%
12%
Figure 40: Lithium Demand per Sector;
Source: Euro Pacific Canada
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27
29. August 2013
Lithium Industry Report
We estimate that in 2011 lithium demand for battery applications was likely as large as lithium demand for glass and
ceramics (28%). As long as the consumer electronics sector (e.g. smart devices) stays strong and demand for hybrid
electric vehicles continues to grow, we expect demand for battery-grade lithium to continue to increase and become
the largest lithium consuming industry by 2015 (Figure 40).
In order to estimate lithium demand from the battery sector,
4,000,000
we forecast sales of electric vehicles as presented in Figure
3,500,000
41. As mentioned above, lithium content in car batteries de-
3,000,000
pends on the type of battery (Figure 42). We assumed that
2,500,000
on average, electric vehicles will require 1.5 kilograms of lith-
2,000,000
ium, and that most of the growth will be in China but the U.S.
1,500,000
and Japan will be the first countries to achieve ~1M annual
1,000,000
sales by 2020. Our forecast results in 3.8M sales of electric
500,000
Other
Europe
United states
Japan
China
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2007
rate (our base-case scenario). Our results are similar to those
2008
0
vehicles by 2020, averaging a 12.6% year-over-year growth
Figure 41: Forecast of Global HEV Vehicles
Sales; Source: Euro Pacific
reported by Pike Research in March 2013.
Battery Type
NCA
Vehicle Range (mi) at 300 Wh/mile
Total Li in Battery pack (kg)
LFP
LMO
LTO
4
20
40
100
4
20
40
100
4
20
40
100
4
20
40
100
0.37
1.50
3.00
7.40
0.24
0.93
1.90
4.70
0.17
0.67
1.40
3.40
0.64
2.50
5.10
12.70
Figure 42: Lithium Content in Selected Batteries;
Source: Argonne National Laboratory
In our global lithium demand forecast, we assumed that demand for most sectors, with the
350,000
exception of metallurgy and batteries, will congrowth, which we assume at close to 3% per year
Low (3.9%)
300,000
Medium (5.0%)
High (6.3%)
250,000
(Figure 35). We expect demand in the metallurgy
sector to stay stagnant as demand for lithium in
aluminum smelters falls and demand for alloy
applications rises. We forecast three growth scenarios — low, medium and high, assuming three
different growth rates for lithium demand in the
LCE, Tonnes
tinue to grow at a rate close to the global GDP
200,000
150,000
100,000
50,000
2011E 2012E 2013F 2014F 2015F 2016F 2017F 2018F 2019F 2020F 2021F
battery industry — which equated to a total aver-
Figure 43: Lithium Demand Forecast Curves;
Source: Euro Pacific Canada
age global lithium growth demand of 3.9% (low),
5.0% (medium, base case) and 6.3% (high) (Fig-
ure 43). If demand for wireless devices continues to grow, particularly in the emerging markets, and the HEV adoption targets
set by various countries in the developed world is achievable, a 5.0% average growth rate for lithium demand would be actually somewhat modest. Our forecast does not include demand growth for new lithium uses.
28
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30. August 2013
Lithium Industry Report
PRICE OUTLOOK
Lithium prices have increased steadily since the
2000s, with the exception of 2010. According to reported prices of imported and exported lithium carbonate in North America (Figure 44), it seems the
$8,000
$7,000
$6,000
$5,000
U.S.-exported lithium carbonate is higher quality
$4,000
(higher price) than the lithium carbonate imported
$3,000
from Argentina and Chile where lithium is produced
$2,000
from brines.
$1,000
$0
2006
In fact, technical-grade lithium carbonate is often used
as the starting product for the production of high-pu-
not built for the production of high-purity lithium com-
2008
2009
2010
2011
Li2CO3, US, $/tonne (exports)
Figure 44: U.S. Lithium Carbonate Prices;
Source: USGS
rity or battery-grade lithium carbonate. Many of the
lithium carbonate plants in South America were likely
2007
Li2CO3, US, $/tonne (imports)
$18,000
LiOH.H2O, US, $/tonne (imports)
LiOH.H2O, US, $/tonne (exports)
Li2CO3, US, $/tonne (imports)
$16,000
pounds, as the battery market was rather small at the
$14,000
time. It seems that as demand for higher-purity ma-
$12,000
terial started to grow, increasing amounts of lithium
$10,000
carbonate product had to be further refined to meet
$8,000
specifications for the more sophisticated technologi-
$6,000
cal applications, which probably translated to higher
$4,000
reagent and energy costs. Thus, we argue that as
demand for higher-purity lithium material increased
so did the production costs of lithium carbonate,
which has likely forced the major brine producers to
increase their product prices.
$2,000
$0
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
Figure 45: Imported and Exported Lithium Hydroxide
and Imported Lithium Carbonate Prices;
Source: USGS, Euro Pacific Canada
The higher prices for lithium carbonate have made it possible for the higher-cost producers to enter the market (i.e.,
some hard-rock producers in Asia).
Lithium carbonate is sometimes used for the production of lithium hydroxide. Figure 45 shows the price of imported
lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide compared to the price of exported lithium hydroxide, an increasingly desirable
material for batteries.
China’s battery-grade lithium carbonate (+99.5%) domestic prices have stayed above $6,000/tonne in the last two
years, and are currently at ~$6,800/tonne (Figure 46). As the demand for lithium compounds for batteries and other
electronic applications rises, we expect the prices of exported lithium carbonate to stay above $6,000/tonne in North
America and China for the next 12 months.
www.epccm.ca
29
32. August 2013
Lithium Industry Report
APPENDIX A: SELECTED COMPANIES
The following pages include a number of selected companies with lithium projects around the world.
It is important to note the following definitions:
•
Lithium grades are usually defined in percentage or parts per million (ppm) of lithium oxide (Li2O) content or lithium (Li)
content. Brine lithium content may also be defined in milligrams per litre (mg/L).
•
Lithium carbonate (product/produced) is defined by the formula Li2CO3.
•
Lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) is the total equivalent amount of lithium carbonate — assuming the lithium content
in the deposit (hard rock or brine) or a product such as spodumene concentrate (usually with ~6% lithium oxide [Li2O]
content) is converted to lithium carbonate, using the conversion rates in the table below.
•
Lithium resources and reserves are usually presented in tonnes of LCE or Li.
•
LCE or Li amounts usually assume 100% recovery, particularly for resources and reserves.
•
Lithium concentrate is the mineral or ore concentrate (not leached), usually with ~6%±2% lithium oxide (Li2O) content.
•
The lithium content in the ore concentrate is usually defined in terms of lithium oxide (Li2O) content.
•
Contained resources or reserves are the total resources/reserves multiplied by the grade.
Example: if a company has 12Mt of resources at 1.5% Li grade, total contained resources are 12 x 1.5% = 180,000 tonnes
Li. To convert to LCE: 180,000 Li x 5.324 = 958,320 tonnes of LCE.
•
•
Lithium hydroxide is also defined by the formula LiOH (anhydrous form) and as LiOH.H2O (monohydrate form).
Potash is the term used to defined potassium salts, such as potassium hydroxide (KOH); potassium carbonate (K2CO3);
potassium chloride (KCl), potassium sulfate (K2SO4), potassium magnesium sulfate (K2SO4•2MgSO4), langbeinite
(K2Mg2(SO4)3) or potassium nitrate (KNO3)
To convert
To Li
To LiOH
To LiOH-H20
To Li2O
To Li2CO3
To LiAlSi2O6
Li
1.000
3.448
6.061
2.153
5.324
LiOH
0.290
1.000
1.751
0.624
1.543
26.455
7.770
LiOH-H20
0.165
0.571
1.000
0.356
0.880
4.435
Li2O
0.465
1.603
2.809
1.000
2.476
12.500
Li2CO3
0.188
0.648
1.136
0.404
1.000
5.025
LiAlSi2O6
0.038
0.129
0.225
0.080
0.199
1.000
PPM=1.00 mg/L
km2=100 ha
ha=2.47 acres
www.epccm.ca
31
33. Luisa Moreno, PhD, MEng - 416.933.3352
luisa.moreno@europac.ca
Ollie Primak, MBA, CFA - 416.649-4273 x308, Associate
ollie.primak@europac.ca
August 2013
Lithium Industry Report
Nemaska Lithium Inc.
TSXV - NMX : $0.14 — Speculative Buy
12-MONTH TARGET PRICE : $0.57 | PROJECTED RETURN: 326%
Nemaska Makes the Grade
INVESTMENT OPINION – Well positioned
MARKET DATA AS OF 09/08/2013
Vast and high-grade deposit: Nemaska has one of the highest lithium (Li) grade
deposits in the world, believed to be second only to Tianqi/Talison’s Greenbushes deposit, which is the world’s largest producer of Li mineral concentrate.
Nemaska has 25.08M tonnes of measured and indicated (M&I) resources averaging 1.54% Li2O, with great expansion potential. The company also owns other
highly perspective lithium resources.
Differentiating from Peers: Contrary to most of it peers, Nemaska its targeting
the lithium hydroxide (LiOH•H2O) market; LiOH•H2O is increasingly preferred
over lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) as it offers better properties, particularly for
battery applications.
Simple and Unique Process: Nemaska has adopted a membrane electrolysis
(ME) process to produce high-purity LiOH•H2O and Li2CO3, and it has filed for
a patent. The ME process eliminates the need for soda ash and caustic soda.
Strong Partnerships and Off-take: Tianqi Group is a strategic shareholder of Nemaska, owning ~16.5% of the company; Nemaska also secured an off-take agreement with Phostech Lithium (Clariant Canada Inc.) for the sale of LiOH•H2O.
Near-Term Production: Nemaska is planning to build a modular (Phase 1) plant
with maximum capacity of 500 tonnes per year (tpy) in 2014 to fulfill its 100%
($M except per share data)
Market Cap
Net Debt
Cash & Short Term Investments
Debt
Enterprise Value
Basic S/O (M)
Fully Diluted (M)
Avg Daily Volume (3mo, k)
52 Week Range
Company Description
Nemaska Lithium Inc. engages in the exploration and development
of lithium mining properties in Canada. The company is also
involved in processing spodumene into lithium compounds. It
holds 100% interests in the Whabouchi property consisting of 33
claims covering an area of approximately 1,716 hectares located
in the James Bay area of Quebec province; and the Sirmac property
comprising 15 mining claims covering an area of approximately 645
hectares located in the Quebec province. Nemaska Lithium Inc. is
headquartered in Quebec, Canada.
SHARE PRICE/TRADING VOLUME CHART
2
$0.7
$0.6
1.5
$0.5
$0.4
1
$0.3
$0.2
0.5
0
$0.1
Jul-10
Jan-11
Jul-11
UPCOMING EVENTS/CATALYSTS
Financing
Commodity Prices
Process
Financing
Updated Resource
Construction First Plant
ACTION – BUY
Nemaska is trading close to its 52-week low and at a market price-to-NAV of
0.12x NAV. It has completed a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) and it
plans to complete a Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) in 2014. If the company is
able to raise the necessary funds, it should be in Phase 1 production next year.
We believe this is a great entry point for the stock.
VALUATION
We rate Nemaska a Speculative Buy with a $0.57 target price, which is based
on a P/NAV multiple of 0.5x applied to our NAV of $1.14/share.
Full report available at http://research.europac.ca
32
www.epccm.ca
Jan-12
Volume (M)
off-take with Phostech and attract new clients.
Key Risks
$16.82
-$1.09
$1.09
$0.00
$15.73
116.00
116.04
150.72
$0.13 - $0.65
PROJECT DETAILS
Name
Location
Stage
Property Size
NI 43-101
Average Grade
Off-Take/Partnership
Year Production
Volume Production
Resources
Measured
Indicated
Inferred
Reserves
Proven
Probable
Ownership
Jul-12
Jan-13
$0.0
Price
Whabouchi
James Bay, Quebec
DFS
1,762 ha
PEA
0.714% Li
Yes
2017
20,000 LiOH; 10,000 Li2CO3
11.3 Mt @ 0.735% Li, (441,770 LCE)
13.8 Mt @ 0.698% Li, (511,905 LCE)
4.4 Mt @ 0.698% Li, (163,431 LCE)
n.a.
n.a.
100%
Source: Capital IQ, Company Reports
34. Luisa Moreno, PhD, MEng - 416.933.3352
luisa.moreno@europac.ca
Ollie Primak, MBA, CFA - 416.649-4273 x308, Associate
ollie.primak@europac.ca
August 2013
Lithium Industry Report
MARKET DATA AS OF 09/08/2013
Canada Lithium Corp.
($M except per share data)
TSX - CLQ : $0.485 — SPECULATIVE BUY
12-MONTH TARGET PRICE : $0.900 | PROJECTED RETURN: 86%
Most Advanced!
INVESTMENT OPINION – Major Player
Production Expected in 3Q 2013: The mine and plant are in an advanced commissioning stage, the company expects to start continuous production in late
August and ramp-up to full production by 3Q 2014.
Market Cap
Net Debt
Cash & Short Term Investments
Debt
Enterprise Value
Basic S/O (M)
Fully Diluted (M)
Avg Daily Volume (3mo, k)
52 Week Range
$179.98
$46.76
$31.17
$77.93
$226.75
363.60
374.25
616.35
$0.47 - $0.96
KEY FINANCIAL METRICS (C$)
$000s
2013F
2014F
2015F
2016F
2017F
To Become a Major Player: Canada Lithium expects to capture ~12% of the
Revenue
world’s lithium carbonate supply (20,000 tonnes of Li2CO3/year).
EBITDA
-5,014
-5,208
55,583
61,865
61,650
EBIT
-5,177
-5,611
49,763
56,113
55,960
Secured Off-Take Agreements for 75% of Production: The company has se-
EPS
-0.02
-0.02
0.06
0.07
0.07
cured off-takes with Tewoo Group and Marubeni Corporation.
FCFPS
-0.53
-0.29
0.05
0.11
0.11
Diversified Products: Canada Lithium is planning to produce other lithium
PRODUCTION ESTIMATES
products as early as 2015 (i.e., lithium hydroxide and lithium metal), and build
- 119,115 132,576 132,115 126,825
tonnes
2013F
2014F
2015F
2016F
2017F
-
20,000
20,000
20,000
20,000
a sodium sulphate plant. Preliminary estimates suggest that the addition of
Lithium
Carbonate
multiple products could lead to at least a 30% increase in capex but a 50%
VALUATION
increase in EBITDA.
$000s
2013F
2014F
2015F
2016F
2017F
EV/EBITDA
-38.4x
3.6x
3.2x
3.2x
3.4x
ROIC
-2.2%
11.8%
13.4%
13.0%
12.4%
P/E
-39.7x
15.9x
12.6x
12.0x
11.9x
P/S
-39.7x
15.9x
12.6x
12.0x
11.9x
Key Risks
UPCOMING EVENTS/CATALYSTS
Cost Overruns
Commodity Prices
Production in 1Q2014
By-product, Metal Production
Liquidity
SHARE PRICE/TRADING VOLUME CHART
ACTION – BUY
Canada Lithium’s construction work is mostly complete and the commissioning
should be finalized in early 2014. The company expects to produce 3,000
tonnes of Li2CO3 this year generating $18M in sales to support pre-production
costs. Investors with a long-term horizon could benefit when the company
expands its operations to produce the higher-value lithium products.
VALUATION
Canada Lithium is currently trading at an enterprise value (EV)/EBITDA (2014F)
of 3.6x; our model EV/EBITDA ratio is 7.8x in 2014 and 6.5x in 2015, and it is
expected to drop further going forward as the company repays its debts. We rate
Canada Lithium a Speculative Buy with a $0.90 target price.
Full report available at http://research.europac.ca
25
$2.5
20
$2.0
15
$1.5
10
$1.0
5
$0.5
0
Jul-10
Jan-11
Jul-11
Jan-12
Volume (M)
PROJECT DETAILS
Name
Location
Stage
Property Size
NI 43-101
Average Grade
Off-Take/Partnership
Year Production
Volume Production
Resources
Measured
Indicated
Inferred
Reserves
Proven
Probable
Ownership
Jul-12
Jan-13
$0.0
Price
Lithium Quebec
Val d'Or, Quebec
Commissioning
405 ha
DFS
0.436% Li
Yes
2014
20,000 Li2CO3
6.9 Mt @ 0.549% Li, (201,977 LCE)
26.3 Mt @ 0.553% Li, (775,544 LCE)
12.8 Mt @ 0.563% Li, (412,098 LCE)
6.6 Mt @ 0.428% Li, (150,436 LCE)
10.5 Mt @ 0.442% Li, (245,983 LCE)
100%
Source: Capital IQ, Company Reports
www.epccm.ca
33