Investor Perception
Lithium Universe’s mine-to-battery-grade lithium technique affords buyers a compelling alternative to capitalize on the quickly increasing battery metals market.
Overview
Lithium Universe (ASX:LU7) is devoted to closing the ‘Lithium Conversion Hole’ in North America by growing a mine-to-battery-grade lithium carbonate technique in Québec, Canada. Our mission is to assist the availability chain wants of unique gear producers (OEMs), notably within the automotive sector, by changing spodumene provide into lithium chemical substances for EV battery crops in North America.
Our enterprise mannequin focuses on changing spodumene provides beneath “take or pay” agreements with OEMs. These agreements embody protecting pricing mechanisms, similar to flooring and ceiling costs, to make sure secure margins and mitigate market volatility. This strategy ensures our LU7 refinery’s payback whereas offering OEMs with a dependable and sustainable provide of lithium chemical substances.
The ’Lithium Conversion Hole’
North America anticipates a surge in battery manufacturing, with over 20 main producers planning to deploy an estimated 1,000 GW of battery capability. These are corporations similar to Common Motors, LG Vitality Answer, Ford, Energy Co, Northvolt, Tesla, AESC, Toyota and Honda. Assuming the deliberate battery manufacturing capability of 1,000 GW by 2028, utilizing a ratio of 850 g lithium carbonate equal (LCE) per KWh, the corporate estimates that 850,000 tons of LCE each year shall be required to fulfill demand in North America.
On the availability facet, Canada has surpassed China to assert the highest spot in BloombergNEF’s World Lithium-Ion Battery Provide Chain Rating, a complete annual analysis of 30 international locations’ potential to develop safe, dependable, and sustainable lithium-ion battery provide chains. Québec has been established as one of the crucial potential areas with over 40 corporations devoted to lithium exploration and growth. The cumulative lithium useful resource in simply Québec exceeds 500Mt at +1 % lithium oxide throughout eight distinct initiatives, which has elevated over one hundred pc inside the final 12 months. Many corporations have plans to develop mines and concentrating services to provide spodumene focus.
Determine 1: Projected US EV Battery Demand and Introduced Battery Manufacturing Capability (2022-2032)
[Source: US Department of Energy, January 2023]
Spodumene focus must be transformed to battery-grade lithium carbonate or hydroxide for use within the manufacturing of cathode supplies for lithium-ion batteries. Presently, there are not any operational converters in North America and the corporate estimates roughly solely 100,000 tons of deliberate arduous rock converters are slated for development within the area. The area seeks to lower dependence on Chinese language lithium converters, aligning with each business and nationwide safety targets. Canada, acknowledging the importance of vitality safety, has intensified efforts to cut back Chinese language involvement within the sector as a part of a “decoupling” or “de-risking” technique, mirroring the actions taken by america.
The ’Lithium Dream Group’
The corporate’s technique entails assembling a seasoned crew of lithium specialists famend for quickly delivering profitable initiatives, dubbed the ‘Lithium Dream Group’, boasting in depth experience in each arduous rock lithium extraction and downstream operations, all inside a single firm.
Lithium Universe is headed by the chairman, Iggy Tan, who is taken into account a pioneer within the fashionable lithium business. Over 20 years in the past, Tan was one of many first Australian mining executives to acknowledge the potential of the rising lithium-ion battery business. He led Galaxy Assets and constructed the Mt Cattlin spodumene venture (137,000 tpa of spodumene product) and the downstream Jiangsu lithium carbonate venture (with a capability of 17,000 tpa). This was the primary large-scale vertically built-in, mine-to-battery-grade lithium carbonate venture on the planet.
Becoming a member of Iggy on the board are Pat Scallan and Dr. Jingyuan Liu. Scallan is a seasoned veteran of the lithium business with over 25 years of managing the world-class Greenbushes Mine. He oversaw the mine’s many expansions, growing annual output from 200,000 in 1997 to over 1.4 million tpa immediately. Liu is extensively considered a number one technical professional within the lithium business. He was beforehand the final supervisor of growth and applied sciences at Galaxy Assets, the place he was chargeable for overseeing the development and commissioning of the Mt Cattlin spodumene venture and the world-renowned Jiangsu lithium carbonate plant. Liu has acted as a particular adviser to numerous lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide initiatives globally.
Further Dream Group members embody Terry Stark, who beforehand served as the final supervisor of operations for each Mt Cattlin and James Bay initiatives; Roger Pover, with in depth expertise as plant supervisor at Greenbushes and Mt Cattlin; and Huy Nguyen, identified for his experience within the design and development of the Mt Cattlin mine. John Loxton, who was concerned within the development of the Jiangsu lithium carbonate plant for Hatch Engineering, has additionally joined the corporate. John Sobolewski, former CFO and firm secretary of Galaxy Assets pivotal in financing each initiatives, assumes the position of chief monetary officer position at Lithium Universe, marking a big addition to the LU7 crew’s monetary experience within the lithium area.
The Jiangsu lithium carbonate plant was designed to provide 17,000 tpa of battery-grade lithium carbonate. It adopted superior Western model steady course of management methods, setting a typical for lithium refineries globally. The plant now exceeds its design capability, producing 20,000 tpa, and its battery-grade product ranks among the many business’s most interesting.
Developing and attaining steady-state high quality was achieved inside two years of ground-breaking. Lithium Universe plans to copy the profitable design of the Jiangsu lithium carbonate plant completely, using the identical suppliers, gear and engineering agency – mitigating the second main threat. Lithium Universe has contracted Hatch Restricted to conduct the definitive feasibility research (DFS), the identical engineering firm chargeable for the unique design and development of the Jiangsu lithium carbonate plant.
Lithium Universe is advancing a mine-to-battery-grade lithium carbonate technique in Canada by way of the Québec Lithium Processing Hub (QLPH). The QLPH features a multi-purpose impartial 1 Mtpa concentrator and an impartial 16,000 tpa battery-grade lithium carbonate refinery. The QLPH concentrator and lithium carbonate plant goal to copy the confirmed success of the Mt Cattlin spodumene operation and Jiangsu lithium carbonate plant to attenuate startup and operational dangers.
Determine 2: The Firm’s proposed lithium carbonate refinery at format at Bécancour, Québec.
The corporate has efficiently executed an possibility settlement to amass a business property within the Bécancour Waterfront Industrial Park (BWIP) between Québec Metropolis and Montréal. The commercial land secured is barely 2.5 kms to the Bécancour deep-water port, permitting the import of spodumene to the ability. The corporate is taking a big step in direction of the manufacturing of greener battery-grade lithium carbonate on the proposed Becancour lithium refinery.
Outcomes of its preliminary feasibility research (PFS) for the Bécancour Lithium Carbonate Refinery affirm the viability of a powerful lithium conversion venture, even inside a below-average pricing atmosphere. LU7 continues to progress full definitive feasibility research whereas offtake discussions with OEMs underway.
Monetary Modelling:
- Economically viable with glorious pre-tax NPV8 % of roughly US$779 million
- IRR (pre-tax) of roughly 23.5 % and payback of three.5 years based mostly on;
- Value forecast of US$1,170/t SC6 and US$20,970/t for battery grade Li2CO3
- Present spot value is approx. US$775/t SC6 and US$10,680/t for battery grade LC
- Working prices at round US$3,976/tonne; capital value estimate of US$494 million
- Anticipated annual income of approx US$383 million and EBITDA of round US$147 million
- Challenge break even at round US$780 /t (SC6) and round US$14,000 per tonne LC
The definitive feasibility research for the Becancour Lithium Refinery is on monitor with 80 % of provider pricing program accomplished. The procurement technique and materials take-offs are being finalized and engineering design has been tailor-made to new website situations.
As an integral a part of the corporate’s DFS, Lithium Universe has initiated metallurgical testing on numerous sources of spodumene. This course of entails using the move sheet developed for the Québec Lithium Processing Hub refinery.
The testing is progressing easily, and no challenges have been recognized with any of the spodumene samples. Every check program is thorough and spans a number of weeks, with two full packages already concluded efficiently attaining larger than the worldwide battery grade specification of 99.5 % lithium carbonate. All impurity ranges had been effectively inside specification limits.
LU7 has signed a memorandum of understanding with Servitank, a neighborhood, Quebec-based firm, that makes a speciality of optimizing provide chain processes and logistics options throughout numerous industries, together with chemical substances and uncooked supplies. The partnership goals to optimize provide chain processes and improve the operational effectivity of each corporations within the quickly rising lithium sector.
Administration Group
Iggy Tan – Govt Chair
Iggy Tan, a trailblazer of the fashionable lithium business, was one of many first Australian mining executives to determine the numerous alternative inside the rising lithium-ion battery sector when he spearheaded Galaxy Assets Restricted. Tan is seeking to replicate that success with Lithium Universe, having constructed Galaxy’s Mt Cattlin Spodumene Challenge and the downstream Jiangsu Lithium Carbonate venture. He additionally acquired the James Bay Spodumene Challenge in Canada and the Sal de Vida Brine Challenge in Argentina for Galaxy.
When Tan began at Galaxy, the corporate’s market capitalization was lower than AU$10 million. It rose to AU$2.5 billion when the corporate merged with Orocobre Restricted in August 2021. Tan’s earlier expertise working with lithium dates again to the early Nineties when he briefly managed the Greenbushes Lithium Mine and commissioned the primary lithium carbonate plant for Gwalia Consolidated.
Tan has over 30 years of chemical and mining expertise and has served as govt director for a variety of ASX-listed corporations. He holds a Grasp of Enterprise Administration from the College of Southern Cross, a Bachelor of Science from the College of Western Australia and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Firm Administrators. He’s presently CEO and managing director of Altech Batteries (ASX:ATC,FRA:A3Y)
Alex Hanly – Chief Govt Officer
Alex Hanly has over 10 years of expertise in capital supply and operational administration for publicly listed corporations inside the mining, oil & gasoline, and manufacturing industries in Australia and Africa. Over the past three years, Hanly held the position of chief govt officer of ASX-listed gold firm Polymetals Assets (ASX:POL). He was chargeable for the profitable IPO of the corporate, the operational administration and the environment friendly execution of the fast-track technique.
Hanly has a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering and Grasp of Enterprise Administration specialising in international venture administration.
Patrick Scallan – Non-executive Director
Patrick Scallan’s in depth expertise within the lithium business is a beneficial addition to the LGX board. With over 25 years of administration expertise on the world-class Greenbushes Mine, he’s a seasoned veteran. Greenbushes is the most important lithium arduous rock mine globally and likewise hosts the highest-grade ore physique on the planet. This makes Greenbushes a singular anomaly, as no different lithium deposit worldwide compares to it.
Scallan oversaw the mine’s many expansions, growing annual output from 200,000 in 1997 to 1.4 million tpa immediately, and navigated quite a few possession adjustments throughout his tenure. He’s a specialist in arduous rock mining and spodumene concentrating, with downstream relationships with main spodumene converters worldwide.
Scallan can be extremely expert in managing local people relationships, having acted as shire councillor for practically 20 years throughout his time at Greenbushes, receiving his Order of Australia Medal for his group and native authorities contribution. His earlier roles embody administration positions at Capel and Eneabba Mineral Sands in Western Australia and Western Deep Ranges Gold Mine in South Africa.
Dr. Jingyuan Liu – Non-executive director
Dr Jingyuan Liu is extensively considered a number one technical professional within the lithium business. He beforehand held the place of basic supervisor of growth and applied sciences at Galaxy Assets, the place he was chargeable for overseeing the development and commissioning of the Mt Cattlin Spodumene Challenge and the world-renowned Jiangsu Lithium Carbonate plant. Liu additionally performed a key position in designing the move sheet for the Sal de Vida brine venture.
Following his work with Galaxy, he has acted as a particular adviser to numerous lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide initiatives globally, together with the Lithium Hydroxide Plant operated by Tianqi in Kwinana, Western Australia.
Liu has over 30 years’ expertise in venture administration, course of and gear design for minerals processing and the chemical substances, non-ferrous metals, iron & metal and vitality industries, each in Australian and internationally. He was awarded a PhD in chemical engineering from the College of Newcastle, Australia and has labored in senior chemical engineering roles with main corporations similar to Hatch Engineering and Metso Minerals in Australia and Malaysia.
He’s presently chief expertise officer for Altech Batteries (ASX:ATC), growing excessive capability silicon anode lithium-ion batteries.
John Sobolewski – Chief Monetary Officer
John Sobolewski’s expertise within the lithium business affords one other beneficial addition to the LU7 dream crew. At Galaxy Assets, he performed a pivotal position in the course of the feasibility, funding, development and operation phases of the Mt Cattlin Spodumene mine and Jiangsu Lithium Carbonate refinery. He was additionally essential in establishing groups and methods in Australia and internationally. His expertise in monetary modelling and debt modelling for each initiatives shall be essential in Lithium Universe, finishing definitive feasibility research of the Québec Lithium Processing Hub concentrator and lithium carbonate refinery initiatives.
Sobolewski is a chartered accountant and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Firm Administrators. His earlier roles embody managing director and CEO with Mintrex, CFO and firm secretary with Mintrex, Galaxy Assets Restricted and Important Metals Restricted, monetary controller and firm secretary with Croesus Mining NL, and group accountant and firm secretary with Titan Assets NL.
Justin Rivers – Head of Geology
Justin Rivers possesses greater than 20 years of senior govt, technical and business expertise in Africa, Australia, Asia, Arctic, Center East, North America and South America within the main and junior area, with a selected concentrate on Iron Ore and Gold. He has a well-tenured strategic and tactical strategy to the mining business with intimate business, enterprise growth and M&A expertise in Tier-1, publicly listed and personal fairness environments.
Previous to becoming a member of Lithium Universe Restricted, Rivers held the place of govt director and CEO of Mauritian domiciled personal fairness firm Convertible Assets, driving strategic growth of its gold initiatives within the Siguiri area of northeast Guinea. He has a Bachelor of Science (firstclass honours) majoring in geology and environmental science from the College of Tasmania.
Terry Stark – Head of Mining
Terry Stark was beforehand managing director – sources division for Galaxy Assets (ASX:GXY), the place he was chargeable for all of Galaxy’s mineral sources property similar to exploration and mine operations. Stark oversaw the Mt Cattlin development and subsequent profitable start-up. He additionally managed the Galaxy James Bay venture and had a great relationship with the native Cree Nation.
A veteran mining engineer, Stark holds a Bachelor of Utilized Science specialising in mining engineering.
John Loxton – Head of Lithium Carbonate Refinery
John Loxton’s lithium expertise commenced in 2010 with work on the Jiangsu Lithium Carbonate Plant EPCM for Galaxy Assets in China the place his obligations initially had been at a Sponsor stage, and additional into the venture. He was the venture supervisor for the ultimate levels of development and commissioning. In 2019, Loxton was engaged by Tianqi Lithium as head of initiatives for the execution of their funding in a lithium hydroxide processing plant in Kwinana, Western Australia. He managed the commissioning of the primary practice attaining the primary product in 2021 and undertook execution planning and establishing a venture crew for an equivalent second practice in 2022. Loxton is a venture supervisor with over 45 years of expertise throughout a various vary of vitality, industrial, course of, civil, and main infrastructure initiatives.
Roger Pover — Head of Processing
Roger Pover was beforehand the Mt Cattlin plant supervisor for Galaxy Assets (ASX:GXY). He was a part of the commissioning and begin up crew and operated the plant for a few years. Pover additionally directed all optimisation modifications made at Mt Cattlin.
Pover is a veteran within the lithium business, having commenced his profession at Greenbushes Lithium mine within the early 90s. He has a 45-year profession within the mining and chemical processing industries involving mineral sands, alumina refining, lithium, iron ore, tantalum minerals and tin manufacturing.
Huy Nguyen — Engineering Supervisor
Huy Nguyen has been seconded from Mintrex to behave as Lithium Universe Restricted’s engineering shopper consultant. Mintrex was the lead engineering firm that designed and constructed (along with DRA World) the Mt Cattlin Spodumene Plant.
Nguyen was a part of the development supervision when Mt Cattlin was constructed, so he’s skilled with not solely the design but additionally the development course of that delivered a venture on time and on funds.
Nguyen has a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from Curtin College, Grasp of Enterprise Administration and a member of Engineer Australia.
Victoria Vargas – Director, Lithium Universe Holdings (Canada)
Victoria Vargas brings to Lithium Universe (Holdings) greater than 25 years of expertise within the North American capital markets, with a big concentrate on the Canadian mineral sector. She started her profession at Kinross Gold Company and joined Alamos Gold in 2004. Throughout her tenure, she performed a pivotal position in enhancing investor publicity and facilitating the corporate’s transition from the TSX Enterprise to the TSX. Earlier than becoming a member of Alamos Gold, Vargas labored for H2O Innovation, a Québec-based firm targeted on offering best-in-class applied sciences and companies for the water and wastewater remedy business.
