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Lithium

Yesterday

A MinRes truck crash from November. Six trucks have rolled on the miner’s new Onslow road network since August.

Latest MinRes truck crash heaps more pressure on loss-making miner

A sixth jumbo road train has rolled on the critical haul network in WA’s Pilbara, raising questions over the miner’s ability to hit its shipment targets

This Month

The deal will give Rio an immediate production boost from Arcadium’s Olaroz asset in Argentina.

Rio Tinto seeks as much as $14b for Arcadium Lithium buyout

A unit of the world’s second-biggest miner is looking to sell bonds in as many as eight parts, with the longest portion a 40-year note.

Tim Goyder’s shares in Liontown and Chalice, which made him a billionaire in 2023, are now worth less than $250 million.

Short sellers feast on Tim Goyder’s fallen angels Chalice and Liontown

Goyder’s circa $10 million selldown at Chalice could fund a circa $100 million pro-rata rights issue at Liontown if – and it’s a big if – needs to raise cash.

Lithium stocks have been hammered by the collapse in prices.

Morgan Stanley gives up on lithium rebound as supply woes return

The US broker has walked back from its bullish December call that it’s safe for investors to re-enter the beaten up sector. At the time, its top pick was Mineral Resources, which has since dived 40 per cent.

Rio chief executive Jakob Stausholm was warned against issuing more shares by the company’s investors.

Investors warn Rio Tinto executives to scrap billion-dollar issuance

Over dinner in Sydney last week, fund managers urged chief financial officer Peter Cunningham to ditch the plans to boost the Australian register.

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February

Lithium bull Jakob Stausholm, Rio Tinto’s boss.

Rio Tinto’s big equity-raising alert falls on deaf ears

The mining giant’s usually direct boss is thinking about raising equity. Investors are a bit dismissive. Are they overthinking it?

Mineral Resources founder Chris Ellison.

MinRes v the market: Ellison taken to the cliff edge

The mining magnate’s attempts to calm market fears resulted in MinRes shares cratering.

The Kwinana processing facility part-owned by IGO near Perth.

Lithium producer IGO plunges to $782m loss

The miner’s loss highlights Australia’s lithium refining struggles.

Wesfarmers CEO Rob Scott at the company’s Perth HQ.

Wesfarmers boss: rate cut good for consumers but inflation persists

The Perth-headquartered conglomerate delivered better than expected profit for the first half of the financial year, powered by Kmart and Bunnings.

Global Lithium Resources has two WA operations, including its Manna project near Kalgoorlie.

Board drama as Global Lithium succumbs to ‘Chinese’ takeover

New leadership denies claims of covert foreign influence over the WA-based critical minerals group.

Taxpayer cash revives $105m lithium refinery project

The Albanese government’s floundering plan to grow a domestic mineral processing industry has been boosted by the revival of a stalled lithium phosphate project

Bags of lithium at a facility owned by CATL in China. The company has restarted one of its major mines.

Investors fear Chinese mine restart puts lithium resurgence in danger

CATL, the world’s largest electric vehicle battery manufacturer, is restarting its major Jiangxi operation, a move which could keep prices depressed.

January

Liontown Mining, Kathleen Valley Lithium 

Liontown Resources beats expectations amid lithium rout

Lithium miners have struggled through a bear market for the battery mineral, driven by weaker-than-expected sales of EVs and strong supply from new mines.

The Kwinana processing facility part-owned by IGO near Perth.

IGO warns of processing losses as lithium stockpile grows

The ASX-listed miner says the Kwinana plant it owns with a major Chinese group has fallen into the red after failing to find customers for its battery minerals.

Ioneer’s Rhyolite Ridge lithium-boron project.

Ioneer gets $1.6b loan to build Nevada lithium mine

The Australian miner received the loan from the Biden administration to create the first new lithium mine in the US in almost 60 years.

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Global Lithium Resources has two WA operations, including its Manna project near Kalgoorlie.

Global Lithium chair rejects board revamp over foreign influence fears

Two directors have shut down an attempt by a rival to seize control of the WA critical minerals explorer, pledging to vote against proposals at its delayed AGM.

Justine Passaportis is a senior legal counsel for Perentis who benefited from its parental leave policies.

Spotlight falls on outliers as miners embrace paid parental leave

Miners are sweetening benefits to attract female employees. Yet Macmahon, a major employer, is resisting paid time off for new parents.

Resources funds are ready to bounce back.

Resources fundies reveal top picks ahead of ‘stellar’ 2025

Some portfolio managers are chasing the elusive surge in copper stocks or braving the lithium sector, while others plan to ride the rally in bauxite and silver prices.

December 2024

xx

ASX slips; Gold miners’ silver lining; China’s new stealth aircraft

Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.

Marijana Petkovic with her sheaf of court documents. She is one of several vocal opponents to Rio’s efforts in the Jadar Valley.

Inside Rio Tinto’s all out war to unlock Serbia’s lithium riches

The mining giant has been trying to develop the resource rich Jadar Valley for two decades. So why is it persisting in the face of intense opposition?

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/topic/lithium-1m2j