Beursonline.nl

voda 5 augustus 2021 10:31

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Atomredmedzoloto Plans to Mine Lithium in Kola Peninsula

Arctic Today reported that Russia’s state nuclear power company Rosatom’s mining subsidiary Atomredmedzoloto plans to start producing lithium compounds on both the Kola Peninsula and in Irkutsk region in Siberia. nvestments in the Russian lithium mining projects are estimated at over 50 billion rubles (EUR 570 million). ARMZ does not identify where on the Kola Peninsula such lithium mining is planned, but a well-known geological area with huge amounts of rich spodumene pegmatites of lithium is the Kolmozero deposit, halfway between the Khibiny mountain plateau and the coast to the Barents Sea.

This deposit, bordering the large Murmansk Tundra state national park, is centrally located in Europe’s largest wilderness area with no infrastructure such as roads or other transport means.

Mining in remote locations is nothing new for Rosatom’s subsidiary. At Novaya Zemlya in the Russian Arctic, digging for zinc at the Pavlovsky mine is already in full swing, as previously reported by the Barents Observer.

ARMZ also considers investment in lithium production overseas by buying stakes in companies with mining rights in Argentina, Bolivia and Chile.

Source - Strategic Research Institute

Dividend Collector 7 augustus 2021 17:58

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Update van Portofino:

stockhouse.com/news/press-releases/20...

@EpsteinResearch Near-term drill program at $POR's Argentina brine #lithium project is great news. This 2,900+ ha project is a potential company maker. Unlike some other crowded salars in Argentina, $POR has the salar that Yergo is on entirely to itself. With dozens of Direct Lithium Extraction ("DLE") technologies looking to make a mark, Yergo would be an ideal project to showcase a DLE approach. $POR market cap = C$7M. This project alone could be worth in the tens of millions of C$ if mgmt. can show good potential for 1M+ tonnes LCE.

voda 12 augustus 2021 15:49

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LITHIUM: UK seeks to finance up to 70% of Argentina's Kachi project

The UK Export Finance (UKEF), the country’s export credit agency (ECA), is interested in funding
up to 70% of Lake Resources’ Kachi lithium project, the developer said on Wednesday.

According to the Australia-listed company, UKEF has provided a formal expression of interest
(EOI) to support the development of the project in the Catamarca province, including its expanded
production to 50,000 tonnes/year of lithium carbonate equivalent.

UKEF’s support is not conditional on other ECAs participating and isn’t yet a binding commitment.
It’s subject to several project finance terms and due diligence, including structured offtake
contracts, completion of the definitive feasibility study (DFS), and an environmental and social
impact assessment (ESIA).

Lake Resources explains that ECA backing offers significantly lower cost of capital than traditional
debt financing, with UKEF enabling principal to be repaid over an 8.5-year period post-construction.
“The UKEF has stipulated minimum UK content requirements but is welcoming the participation of
other ECAs, with whom discussions are ongoing,” the company adds, noting that the EOI may
include a portion of direct lending linked to the UK content.

“This offer is a watershed moment for Lake – to have a leading ECA willing to indicate financial
support for Kachi provides an enormous vote of confidence in our clean energy project,”
comments Lake’s managing director Steve Promnitz.

The support of the British government to this lithium project in Argentina will encourage a UK-led
sourcing strategy, as the country gears to electrify its automotive industry. Demand from battery
and EV makers for sustainably produced battery quality lithium is surging and heading into a
supply deficit. Ensuring security of supply is one of the UK’s top priorities, Kallanish notes.

voda 12 augustus 2021 15:50

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LITHIUM, TANTALUM: Canada approves Rose mining project in Quebec

The Canadian federal government has approved Critical Elements’ Rose lithium/tantalum project
in Quebec, Kallanish reports.

The approval came from Minister of Environment and Climate Change Jonathan Wilkinson after a
review by the Joint Assessment Committee comprised of representatives from the Impact
Assessment Agency of Canada and the Cree Nation Government.

The mining project is unlikely to cause significant adverse environmental effects after mitigation
efforts are taken into account so the project can proceed, Wilkinson ruled. The approval came
with 221 legally binding conditions that must be met. Those conditions include measures to
protect fish and fish habitat, migratory birds, wetlands, woodland caribou, bats at risk and current
use of the land and resources by the Crees.

The review is the first under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act 2012 to be jointly
conducted by the federal government and the Cree Nation in accordance with a 2019 agreement
on the Rose project and the James Bay lithium mine project. A second assessment on the
planned James Bay mine is underway.

The project is an open-pit mine and a processing facility located about 38 kilometres north of the
Cree Nation’s village of Nemaska in the Eeyou Istchee James Bay Cree territory in northern
Quebec. It would produce about 4,600 tonnes/day of lithium-tantalum ore over a mine life span of
17 years. The Quebec-based company controls 700 square km of land.

The project still needs additional federal permits and approval from Quebec regulators before
construction can begin.

Bob Downing USA

[verwijderd] 12 augustus 2021 15:53

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Ik beheer zelf, neo lithium corp en die stijgt nu sinds kort, denk dat dit bedrijf wel veel potentie heeft met hun 3Q project.

voda 13 augustus 2021 10:48

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LITHIUM: UK seeks to finance up to 70% of Argentina's Kachi project
207 Views

The UK Export Finance (UKEF), the country’s export credit agency (ECA), is interested in funding up to 70% of Lake Resources’ Kachi lithium project, the developer said on Wednesday.

According to the Australia-listed company, UKEF has provided a formal expression of interest (EOI) to support the development of the project in the Catamarca province, including its expanded production to 50,000 tonnes/year of lithium carbonate equivalent.

UKEF’s support is not conditional on other ECAs participating and isn’t yet a binding commitment. It’s subject to several project finance terms and due diligence, including structured offtake contracts, completion of the definitive feasibility study (DFS), and an environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA).

Lake Resources explains that ECA backing offers significantly lower cost of capital than traditional debt financing, with UKEF enabling principal to be repaid over an 8.5-year period post-construction.

“The UKEF has stipulated minimum UK content requirements but is welcoming the participation of other ECAs, with whom discussions are ongoing,” the company adds, noting that the EOI may include a portion of direct lending linked to the UK content.

“This offer is a watershed moment for Lake – to have a leading ECA willing to indicate financial support for Kachi provides an enormous vote of confidence in our clean energy project,” comments Lake’s managing director Steve Promnitz.

The support of the British government to this lithium project in Argentina will encourage a UK-led sourcing strategy, as the country gears to electrify its automotive industry. Demand from battery and EV makers for sustainably produced battery quality lithium is surging and heading into a supply deficit. Ensuring security of supply is one of the UK’s top priorities, Kallanish notes.

“We have significant work to convert this EOI into a committed funding arrangement,” says Promnitz, noting that a number of international banks are interested to invest, as long as there’s a strong ECA behind the project.

The director is confident that the project will be funded by UKEF, and that combined with backing from international offtakers, investors will see increasing progress towards production and expansion of Kachi, “perfectly timed to meet the needs of a decarbonising world.”

The company estimates the DFS and ESIA will be complete by the end of Q1 2022.

Gabriela Farhangi UK

voda 13 augustus 2021 10:49

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LITHIUM: Ganfeng invests in Core Lithium, secures new spodumene offtake contract
212 Views

Chinese lithium giant Ganfeng Lithium is investing in Australia’s most advanced new lithium project and taking almost half of its future supply, Kallanish reports.

Australia-listed Core Lithium signed an offtake agreement for the Finniss Lithium Project in the Northern Territory, linked to an equity investment of AUD 34 million ($24.9m) by Ganfeng. The transaction remains subject to Core shareholders’ approval, as well as clearance from Chinese authorities.

Under the deal, Core will supply 300,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate to a subsidiary of Ganfeng for a four-year period. This corresponds to 75,000 t/year of material produced by the project during Stage 1.

Pricing will be “referenced to the market price for 6% lithium oxide (Li2O) spodumene concentrate, adjusted for actual Li2O content, with a price floor,” Core explains in a note. Supply will begin with commercial production, but if that doesn’t occur by 1 December, 2023, Ganfeng can terminate the offtake contract.

With the agreement, 80% of the Finniss Lithium Project’s Stage 1 production is already contracted. The first deal was inked with China’s Yahua, also for 75,000 t/y for four years.

Core’s share price to Ganfeng was of AUD 0.338, a 10% premium to the 10-day volume weighted average price. The company also announced on Monday the launch of an institutional placement of 293m new ordinary shares to raise AUD 91m to fully fund Finniss Stage 1 development, which is “on track for first production in late 2022.”

“The equity raising, including the offtake and equity investment by Ganfeng, represents a transformational moment for Core,” says its managing director Stephen Biggins.

Gabriela Farhangi UK

voda 13 augustus 2021 10:50

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LITHIUM: Ganfeng invests in Core Lithium, secures new spodumene offtake contract
213 Views

Chinese lithium giant Ganfeng Lithium is investing in Australia’s most advanced new lithium project and taking almost half of its future supply, Kallanish reports.

Australia-listed Core Lithium signed an offtake agreement for the Finniss Lithium Project in the Northern Territory, linked to an equity investment of AUD 34 million ($24.9m) by Ganfeng. The transaction remains subject to Core shareholders’ approval, as well as clearance from Chinese authorities.

Under the deal, Core will supply 300,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate to a subsidiary of Ganfeng for a four-year period. This corresponds to 75,000 t/year of material produced by the project during Stage 1.

Pricing will be “referenced to the market price for 6% lithium oxide (Li2O) spodumene concentrate, adjusted for actual Li2O content, with a price floor,” Core explains in a note. Supply will begin with commercial production, but if that doesn’t occur by 1 December, 2023, Ganfeng can terminate the offtake contract.

With the agreement, 80% of the Finniss Lithium Project’s Stage 1 production is already contracted. The first deal was inked with China’s Yahua, also for 75,000 t/y for four years.

Core’s share price to Ganfeng was of AUD 0.338, a 10% premium to the 10-day volume weighted average price. The company also announced on Monday the launch of an institutional placement of 293m new ordinary shares to raise AUD 91m to fully fund Finniss Stage 1 development, which is “on track for first production in late 2022.”

“The equity raising, including the offtake and equity investment by Ganfeng, represents a transformational moment for Core,” says its managing director Stephen Biggins.

Gabriela Farhangi UK

[verwijderd] 13 augustus 2021 12:02

1

quote:
voda schreef op 13 augustus 2021 10:50:
LITHIUM: Ganfeng invests in Core Lithium, secures new spodumene offtake contract
213 Views

Chinese lithium giant Ganfeng Lithium is investing in Australia’s most advanced new lithium project and taking almost half of its future supply, Kallanish reports.

Australia-listed Core Lithium signed an offtake agreement for the Finniss Lithium Project in the Northern Territory, linked to an equity investment of AUD 34 million ($24.9m) by Ganfeng. The transaction remains subject to Core shareholders’ approval, as well as clearance from Chinese authorities.

Under the deal, Core will supply 300,000 tonnes of spodumene concentrate to a subsidiary of Ganfeng for a four-year period. This corresponds to 75,000 t/year of material produced by the project during Stage 1.

Pricing will be “referenced to the market price for 6% lithium oxide (Li2O) spodumene concentrate, adjusted for actual Li2O content, with a price floor,” Core explains in a note. Supply will begin with commercial production, but if that doesn’t occur by 1 December, 2023, Ganfeng can terminate the offtake contract.

With the agreement, 80% of the Finniss Lithium Project’s Stage 1 production is already contracted. The first deal was inked with China’s Yahua, also for 75,000 t/y for four years.

Core’s share price to Ganfeng was of AUD 0.338, a 10% premium to the 10-day volume weighted average price. The company also announced on Monday the launch of an institutional placement of 293m new ordinary shares to raise AUD 91m to fully fund Finniss Stage 1 development, which is “on track for first production in late 2022.”

“The equity raising, including the offtake and equity investment by Ganfeng, represents a transformational moment for Core,” says its managing director Stephen Biggins.

Gabriela Farhangi UK

Ik heb ze sinds 0,05 en dit is het nieuws waar we op hebben zitten wachten. Koers zal nog even hangen en wellicht wat terugzakken naar deal waarde (0,31 AUD) maar m.i. daarna fors omhoog. Hotcopper is ook lyrisch. Kijk maar eens naar de Pilbara grafiek en het moment van de off-take aankondiging.

nine_inch_nerd 14 augustus 2021 12:58

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American Manganese Receives Funding to Advance Lithium-ion Battery Recycling Project in Collaboration with Italvolt

American Manganese Inc. (“AMY” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce it is receiving advisory services and funding from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC IRAP) to support a pilot project, entitled, ‘Demonstration of Continuous Recycling of Cathode Material from Lithium-ion Battery Production Scrap’. This funding is delivered through NRC IRAP’s Fast Pilot in Foreign Markets program, designed to help innovative Canadian small and medium-sized businesses overcome barriers to global market entry and facilitate direct adoption of technology in foreign markets.

In collaboration with Italvolt, American Manganese will model, commission, and test a lithium-ion battery cathode material recycling demonstration plant to include continuous operation with specific cathode waste processing objectives, such as capacity, extraction efficiency, and material purity.

Italvolt plans to build one of Europe’s largest lithium-ion battery Gigafactory in Scarmagno, Italy. In March of this year, AMY signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Italvolt to collaborate on developing a commercial recycling plant using the Company’s patented RecycLiCo™ technology, alongside Italvolt’s Gigafactory.

“The collaboration with American Manganese is about to significantly accelerate our goals to become fully sustainable battery manufacturer,” said Lars Carlstrom, Founder and CEO of Italvolt. “We are very impressed with the innovation and skills the collaboration can add to Italvolt, the circular economy is no longer just a vision it’s about to become a reality, AMY will set new standards for the industry and we at Italvolt are very proud to be a part of this project”.

“Lithium-ion battery waste is a global concern, and we are thankful for the FPFM program and the opportunity to collaborate with Italvolt and validate our RecycLiCo™ process to the global market,” said Larry Reaugh, President and CEO of American Manganese, “We are extremely pleased with the support from NRC IRAP.”

About American Manganese Inc.
American Manganese Inc. is a critical metals company focused on the recycling of lithium-ion batteries with the RecycLiCo™ patented process. The RecycLiCo™ patented process was developed to offer a closed-loop and environmentally friendly solution for the recycling of cathode materials used in lithium-ion batteries. The recycling process provides high extraction and purity of cathode metals, such as lithium, cobalt, nickel, manganese, and aluminum. The RecycLiCo™ patented process was designed with the goal to produce recycled battery products that could be seamlessly and directly integrated into the re-manufacturing of battery cathodes using minimal processing steps.

On behalf of Management

AMERICAN MANGANESE INC.

Larry W. Reaugh
President and Chief Executive Officer

The Toronto Stock Exchange has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations are disclosed in the Company's documents filed from time to time with the Toronto Stock Exchange, the British Columbia Securities Commission and the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

nine_inch_nerd 16 augustus 2021 10:00

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PDF: www.ecograf.com.au/wp-content/uploads...

Ecograf (ASX:EGR) lays plans for pilot plant

Ecograf (EGR) has pinned down costs and production estimates for its modular recycling pilot plant in Western Australia
A scoping study completed by GR Engineering estimated the pilot plant's capital cost at $5.8 million
The facility is set to use Ecograf's "HFfree process", which seeks to recover carbon battery anode material from production waste
A pilot plant is hoped to boost the commercial and technical viability of the project amid increased recycling battery mandates
Ecograf shares are up 1.01 per cent to trade at $1.01 at 11:32 am AEST
Ecograf (EGR) has pinned down costs and production estimates for its modular recycling pilot plant in Western Australia after completing an engineering scoping study.

The capital cost associated with the company's planned lithium-ion battery anode recycling pilot plant is expected to total roughly $5.8 million, based on a study by GR Engineering.

Process plant, equipment purchase and construction direct costs are forecast at around $4 million, with the remaining $1.8 million representing "indirect" costs.

The facility will use Ecograf's "HFfree process", which seeks to recover carbon battery anode material from production waste to produce battery materials.

According to EGR, the pant will operate as a standalone facility with throughput rates based on a single shift, five-day operating week.

The pilot plant is hoped to demonstrate purification flowsheet capability, and provide customers with product sample volumes for technical and commercial assessment.

Ecograf affirms the plant could also provide a "customised solution to support new legislation from the EU Commission that demands increased battery recycling".

Looking ahead, EGR said it was developing work programs with potential partners to support the plant.

Ecograf shares were up 1.01 per cent to trade at $1.01 at 11:32 am AEST.

voda 17 augustus 2021 12:33

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American Manganese, Italvolt to partner on lithium-ion battery recycling
170 Views

Italvolt and Canada-based American Manganese are partnering to develop a lithium-ion battery recycling facility in Scarmagno, Italy, Kallanish reports.

The commercial recycling plant will use American Manganese’s patented RecycLiCo technology and the new facility will be located next to Italvolt’s planned Gigafactory, one of the largest lithium-ion battery facilities in Europe.

The two companies had signed a collaborative agreement last March.

“The collaboration with American Manganese is about to significantly accelerate our goals to become fully sustainable battery manufacturer,” says Lars Carlstrom, founder and ceo of Italvolt, in a statement. “We are very impressed with the innovation and skills the collaboration can add to Italvolt, the circular economy is no longer just a vision, it’s about to become a reality. AMY will set new standards for the industry and we at Italvolt are very proud to be part of this project.”

America Manganese president and ceo Larry Reaugh said his company is pleased to collaborate with Italvolt and to validate its lithium-ion recycling technology.

American Manganese, with headquarters in Vancouver, British Columbia, also reports that it has won a lithium-ion recycling funding grant from the National Research Council of Canada to help Canadian firms develop foreign markets and to support the Italian project. The amount of the grant was not disclosed.

In collaboration with Italvolt, American Manganese will model, commission and test a lithium-ion battery cathode material recycling demonstration plant to include continuous operation with specific cathode waste processing objectives, such as capacity, extraction efficiency, and material purity.

Bob Downing USA

voda 17 augustus 2021 12:33

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LITHIUM: Firefinch, Ganfeng create Leo Lithium JV for Goulamina
147 Views

Australia-listed, Mali-focused Firefinch said Monday it has signed official agreements with a subsidiary of Ganfeng Lithium to progress their 50-50 joint venture at the Goulamina lithium project.

The companies plan to list the so-called Leo Lithium Limited JV in the Australian Stock Exchange in the first quarter of 2022, after a positive final investment decision (FID) is taken on the project. The partners agreed to expedite FID to year-end to accelerate first production to 2023, Kallanish learns from Firefinch.

“Goulamina will be the next large-scale global lithium hard rock project to enter production and the first of its kind in West Africa,” Firefinch predicts in a security filing.

The project has minerals resources of 109 million tonnes at 1.45% lithium oxide, and ore reserve of 52m t at 1.51% lithium oxide. The scale of resources supports organic growth via further potential expansions in production capacity. First phase production was planned at 455,000 t/y, but this may change now that Lycopodium has been hired to upgrade the definitive feasibility study (DFS) completed last October.

As part of the deal, Ganfeng will provide up to $194 million in funding, comprising $130m in equity in two instalments, and by arranging up to $64m in debt, to construct the project and take it into production.

The partners are now waiting on approval of Chinese regulators, expected to take up to three months, and then they will proceed with the transfer of exploitation licence for the Goulamina project to the Leo Lithium JV. They also hope to have formal support from the Malian authorities “shortly.”

“We are delighted to move forward in our partnership with Firefinch at Goulamina. We are especially pleased to accelerate the process to achieve FID and look forward to bringing Goulamina to production as soon as possible,” comments Ganfeng’s vice chairman Xiaosheng Wang.

Firefinch’s managing director Michael Anderson adds that “all Firefinch shareholders will receive a pro-rata entitlement to Leo Lithium shares, together with the opportunity to increase their interest, should they wish, under a planned entitlement offer.” He adds Firefinch, which plans to demerge the Goulamina asset to focus on its gold mining, intends to retain up to 20% of Leo Lithium.

When the DFS for the project was complete, the pre-tax net present value of Goulamina was of around AUD 1.7 billion ($1.25 billion), using a price estimate of $666/t for 6% minimum lithium oxide spodumene concentrate. Today this price is at around $850/t, the company notes, pointing to higher economics and heated demand for the battery raw material.

Gabriela Farhangi UK

voda 17 augustus 2021 12:46

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LITHIUM: Changyuan Lico goes public
246 Views

Hunan Changyuan Lico, a subsidiary of China Minmetals Corporation, successfully went public on the Shanghai Stock Exchange on 11 August, Kallanish reports.

The company raised CNY 2.725 billion ($421 million) through issuing 482m shares, which will be used for the first phase of its Lithium Battery Cathode Material Expansion Project and supplementary working capital.

Changyuan Lico expects to commission lithium battery ternary cathode material production lines with a total capacity of 40,000 tonnes/year in the long-term.

According to Chinese consulting firm GGII, Changyuan Lico steadily ranked among the top two domestic ternary cathode material sellers during 2016-2019, and ranked first in 2016 and 2018 respectively.

The firm’s annual net profit stood at CNY 179m, CNY 181m and CNY 206m over 2017-2019, according to the prospectus submitted last year.

By Kallanish Team

voda 17 augustus 2021 12:48

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CATL to raise $9 billion for lithium-ion projects
240 Views

Chinese battery manufacturer CATL plans to issue about 232.9 million shares, which is no more than 10% of the company’s total share capital before this issuance, to fund expansion, Kallanish learns.

The company expects the total fundraising to not exceed CNY 58.2 billion ($8.98 billion), it said in a statement last week. The shares subscribed for this time shall not be transferred or listed for trading for at least 6 months from the issuance.

Cash raised, after deducting the issuance cost, will be used to fund six projects to boost its lithium-ion battery production capacity. CATL also plans to build several battery plants in Fujian, Zhejiang and Guangdong provinces in China, as well as invest in the development of battery technology for energy storage systems.

zie bijlage.

By Kallanish Team

Bijlage:

nine_inch_nerd 17 augustus 2021 21:32

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Taliban en o.a. Lithium

Hoe rijk maken mijnbouw, tolheffingen en drugs de taliban?

Alsof zij een jaarrekening deponeren, zo exact zijn sommige verslagen over de financiën van de taliban. Maar de schattingen van de inkomsten van de extremistische islamitische beweging die deze week de macht greep in Afghanistan, lopen sterk uiteen. Wat zeker is: de taliban verdienden de afgelopen jaren op veel meer manieren geld dan alleen met de handel in opium.

De taliban zouden 'in het gebroken boekjaar tot maart 2020' maar liefst $1,6 mrd aan inkomsten hebben gehad, meldde RadioFreeEurope vorig jaar op basis van een geheim rapport van de Navo. Door drugshandel, illegale mijnbouw en het heffen van eigen belastingen en tol, stevende de beweging volgens het rapport af op 'financiële onafhankelijkheid', sancties konden dan geen vat meer krijgen. Het stuk wordt nog steeds veel aangehaald, met koppen als 'de taliban zijn megarijk'.

De bron van de $1,6 mrd zijn drie hoog geplaatste leiders van de talibanbeweging, die zich zouden hebben laten interviewen. Zij zouden nauw betrokken zijn bij de financiële arm van de taliban onder leiding van moellah Mohammed Yaqoob, de zoon van de overleden spirituele leider van de beweging, Mohammed Omar. Yaqoob wil de taliban onafhankelijk maken van steun uit het buitenland en heeft de financiën, ondanks het chaotische karakter van een land als Afghanistan, zo veel mogelijk gecentraliseerd.

Enorme bandbreedte

De Verenigde Naties houden echter een grote slag om de arm als het gaat om de inkomstenstroom van de taliban. De VN hanteren bij de eigen schatting een enorme bandbreedte: van $300 mln tot $1,5 mrd per jaar. En zegt dat waarnemers de inkomsten in 2019 eerder aan de lage kant schatten, dan aan de bovenkant.

Waar komt het geld van de taliban, hoeveel het ook precies is, dan vandaan? Hun rol in de drugshandel is berucht. Afghanistan is veruit de grootste producent van opium, de grondstof van heroïne. De exportwaarde was in 2020 volgens de VN $1 mrd tot $2 mrd, een schatting gebaseerd op satellietbeelden van landbouwgrond gebruikt voor de opiumteelt en een marktprijs van circa $50 per kilo. Volgens de talibanleiders die worden opgevoerd in het Navo-rapport hebben zij daar $416 mln aan verdiend.

'De handel in opium is een van de belangrijkste inkomstenbronnen voor de taliban', zei Cesar Gudes, hoofd van het VN-kantoor dat zich bezighoudt met de dossiers drugs en criminaliteit (UNODC) eerder deze week tegen persbureau Reuters, zonder cijfers te noemen. Hij waarschuwde bovendien dat die zal toenemen nu heel Afghanistan weer in handen van de taliban is. Zeker als door buitenlandse sancties andere inkomsten wegvallen.

Geen islamitsch drugskartel

Maar het beeld van de taliban als een islamitisch drugskartel klopt niet, stelt Afghanistan-kenner David Mansfield. Hij doet al meer dan vijfentwintig jaar onderzoek naar de opiumteelt in het land, onder meer voor het Overseas Development Institute in Londen.

'Als je weet wat de kosten zijn van de productie van opium, het transport en wat de exportwaarde is, dan is het veel waarschijnlijker dat de taliban $40 mln overhouden dan $400 mln', zegt Mansfield aan de telefoon. Hij ziet niet in waarom de overwinning van de taliban tot een hogere productie van opium zou leiden door Afghaanse boeren. 'De prijs van een kilo opium is in vijftien jaar niet zo laag geweest, terwijl die van graan stijgt. En dat kun je tenminste ook nog eten.'

De taliban verdienen volgens Mansfield het meest aan het heffen van belastingen op legale handel, zoals importheffingen bij grensovergangen, tol op wegen, maar ook met 'concessies' voor mijnbouw in provincies waar zij de facto al de baas waren. 'Het is een illusie dat het bestrijden van de opiumhandel de taliban financieel hard gaat raken', waarschuwt hij daarom.

Saoedi-Arabië voor lithium

De inkomsten van de taliban uit illegale mijnbouw zijn de afgelopen jaren hard gestegen, melden ook de VN. De taliban zelf claimen dat hun mijnbouwactiviteiten al voor de verovering van heel Afghanistan, meer dan $470 mln per jaar opleverden. De Amerikanen hebben het over 'miljoenen per maand'.

Vooral China en de Verenigde Arabische Emiraten zouden belangrijke afzetmarkten zijn voor het marmer, koper, goud en de edelstenen, zoals robijnen, gewonnen in Afghaanse mijnen. Het straatarme Afghanistan beschikt over grote voorraden grondstoffen, zoals 's werelds grootste voorraad lithium. Volgens het Amerikaanse ministerie van Defensie zou het land 'het Saoedi-Arabië voor lithium' kunnen worden. En dat is nu allemaal in handen van de taliban.

voda 19 augustus 2021 14:21

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LITHIUM: BLM approves Schlumberger New Energy's Nevada pilot plant
152 Views

Canada-based Pure Energy Minerals is announcing that the US Bureau of Land Management has approved its Clayton Valley lithium pilot brine extraction plant in Nevada, Kallanish reports.

The federal agency has approved the plan of operations covering construction and operation of the plant in Esmeralda County near Tonopah, Nevada.

The approval was granted to Pure Energy Mineral’s partner, Schlumberger New Energy, which will operate the project. The project’s reclamation plan was also approved by Nevada regulators. Additional state permits are pending.

Last March, Texas-based Schlumberger New Energy had announced its plan to develop a lithium extraction pilot plant through subsidiary NeoLith Energy with assistance from Panasonic Energy of North America. The project covers 8,450 hectares in Clayton Valley. The process uses a differentiated direct lithium extraction process to enable the production of high-purity, battery-grade lithium material while reducing the production time from more than a year to weeks.

The process will remove more than 90% of the dissolved lithium from the brine and pump more than 85% of the brine back to the subsurface in an environmentally safe manner.

Bob Downing USA

voda 19 augustus 2021 14:22

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LITHIUM: E3 Metals graduates to Tier 1 of TSX Venture Exchange
207 Views

Alberta-based E3 Metals Corp says it has received approval to graduate to Tier 1 of the Toronto Stock Exchange Venture Exchange (TSXV), Kallanish reports.

By graduating to the top tier under the Mining Industry, the company will benefit from improved service standards, reduced compliance obligations and increased access to institutional investors, the company says. The TSXV classifies issuers into different tiers based on certain standards with Tier 1 being the premier tier and reserved for the TSXV’s most-advanced issuers.

“We are pleased to become a Tier 1 issuer,” says ceo Chris Doornbos in a statement. “This graduation is yet another milestone for us and is a signal to the market of how far we have come…We believe the graduation will provide us with greater access to investors and generate additional awareness.”

The company is a leading lithium extraction technology innovator and an emerging lithium developer with plans to extract lithium from brine in Alberta.

Bob Downing USA

voda 19 augustus 2021 14:22

0

LITHIUM: Latin Resources confirms potential at Salinas project in Brazil
164 Views

Australia-based Latin Resources Limited has confirmed lithium potential at its Salinas project in Brazil’s Minas Gerais state and intends to accelerate exploration efforts, Kallanish reports.

After an initial mapping exercise with 82 samples, whose assay results remain pending, Latin has identified outcropping pegmatites containing spodumene over a 4 square kilometres area. This confirms the project’s high prospectivity for lithium, the company said in a security filing on Wednesday.

Fully vaccinated geology and sampling teams are now back on the ground after lockdowns to focus on the next priority areas. Preliminary drill sites have been selected and will be finalised for the submission of statutory approvals once all assay results from sampling return from the lab next month, it adds.

“The Jequitinhonha valley is a highly underexplored region that currently contains 100% of the official lithium reserves of Brazil,” Latin says, referring to the region hosting its project. “Lithium exploration efforts will now focus on advancing this highly prospective spodumene tenure. The company’s in-country resources will be working exclusively on these Brazilian lithium projects so they can effectively execute exploration programs to deliver exploration updates and results to its shareholders in a timely manner.”

The initial work was carried out in the Bananal Valley area, located in the northeast of the properties.

Latin’s executive director Chris Gale points out that the development of the Sigma lithium mine with construction well under way, “gives Latin enormous confidence to emulate this same achievement over the next few years.”

Sigma is the most active lithium explorer in the region with a world-class lithium resource base, currently standing at 52 million tonnes at 1.48% lithium oxide. First production of lithium spodumene is slated for 2022.

Gabriela Farhangi UK

voda 20 augustus 2021 08:36

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LITHIUM: Jourdan Resources to begin Quebec drilling on 1 September
179 Views

Jourdan Resources says it has received approval from Quebec regulators to begin 2,000 metres of diamond drilling at its Vallee lithium project, Kallanish reports.

Drilling can begin on 1 September at its Vallee property in Val d’Or, Quebec. The drilling is intended to follow up on a bulk sample collected in 2018 that showed high lithium oxide concentrations. The new campaign is also intended to complete two more fence lines across the lithium-bearing pegmatite swarm that has been mined in the region. The plan is to drill about 10 drillholes, all to a depth of about 200 m.

The company says it is confident that the pegmatite swarm mined at neighbouring North American Lithium’s mine extends into the western part of the Vallee property, says Ontario-based Jourdan Resources.

“We are excited to commence a new phase of exploration on our Vallee property,” says chairman Andreas Rompel in a statement.

Bob Downing USA

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