The Global Lithium Podcast

Adam Panayi is the Managing Director of UK based EV and Battery consultancy Rho Motion. The key to understanding the future direction of the lithium industry is understanding the growth of EVs and batteries as well understanding the developments in cathode chemistry and solid state. Shout outs to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, Simon Moores and Roger Atkins.

In a little less than an hour we cover:

How Rho Motion collects and parses data aka “how the forecast sausage is made”

GWH projections for 2025 and 2030 – the driver of lithium demand

The methodology of predicting Gigafactory utilization

Stated Gigafactory capacity vs effective capacity

EV penetration by region

ESS – taking what batteries it can get (for now)

Gigafactory start-up reject rates (the dirty little secret of battery producers)

Warranties

Why after several EV “false starts” it is different this time

Cathode chemistry projections

Rapid fire

Guests: Standard Lithium’s CEO, Robert Mintak and COO, Dr. Andy Robinson.

Topics include:

Managing a project and building a team remotely during Covid

Getting the process right: scale and quality data matters

The benefits of a building a new plant within a larger, established chemical operation

Seeking attention and support from the Biden administration

Timing of commercialization

Potential of lithium from the Smackover formation beyond El Dorado

The coming lithium supply mismatch with demand

The actions needed from OEMs and policymakers

After "rapid fire" I close the episode with comments/advice for the Biden administration on battery raw material supply chain policy

Alexi Zawadzki is the President of North American Operations for Lithium Americas (LAC).  He is currently leading the effort to bring Thacker Pass into production by mid decade.

In this episode we discuss the resource (type and size), the current status of the project including pilot plant operations, LAC's commitment to sustainable project development, innovative mining and reclamation techniques, planned use of renewable energy and desire to minimize the impact to the environment. 

Thacker Pass will be the first world class lithium resource to be brought online in the US in this century.

Jon Evans is one of the most effective and knowledgeable executives in the lithium world. He is also a great leader.

I have known Jon for well over a decade. First as my boss when I was running FMC Lithium’s Asia operations. When I left FMC and started Global Lithium, Jon was often a source of insightful advice. He remains a mentor to me despite being a Zodiac calendar younger than I am. Yes, you can still use a mentor in your 60s.

Among the topics we cover:

The status LAC’s projects in Argentina (Cauchari) and the US (Thacker Pass)

The positive aspects of Covid project delays

Why a US critical metals supply chain will develop despite many with a “not in my backyard” mindset

The high level of partnership interest in Thacker Pass and why Jon doesn’t want or need an offtake agreement

LAC’s strong balance sheet and the flexibility it brings

Building effective teams and how LAC hires

Risk mitigation

Global supply and demand

The developing “broader audience” for lithium

ESG

Dangerous assumptions

Why the industry will need to produce products beyond carbonate and hydroxide for the battery industry

Rapid fire

Carlos Vicens is the CFO of Neo Lithium. We discuss the 3Qs project in Catamarca Province, Argentina.

Topics include:

Operating in Argentina

Unexpected “benefits” of Covid in moving the project forward

ESG – more than just the “E”

Their partnership with global battery leader CATL

Straight talk on product “cuts”

The top challenges bringing a lithium project into production

Setting the record straight on 3Qs logistics

Price expectations

DLE

Financing path forward

Rapid

The is part 2 of my 100th episode with highlights from some of my favorite episodes and guests. 

Jon Evans - Lithium Americas

Li Liangbin and Wang Xiaoshen - Ganfeng

Eduardo Bitran - CORFO

Ken Brinsden - Pilbara Minerals

Dr Yuan Gao - ex CEO of Pulead

Dan Blondal and Dr Stephen Campbell - Nano One

The Lowry family

Chris Berry, President of House Mountain Partners ( www.discoveryinvesting.com ), is one of the most highly regarded battery metals analysts in the space. He was also the first guest on the Global Lithium Podcast in November of 2017. It seemed natural to bring Chris back for episode 100 especially given the recent resurgence of interest in lithium and other battery metals as the global energy transition unfolds.

Known as "The Voice of Reason" Chris has a unique ability to speak plainly about complex topics. His insights regarding the increasing role of geopolitics in the development of battery supply chains makes this episode worth a listen.

Chris can be found on twitter @cberry1

Jed Dorsheimer is the Global Head of Sustainability Research at Canaccord Genuity, Co-founder and President of the Biophysical Economics Institute and host of the Hidden Joule Podcast. Jed is a leading commentator on: Sustainability/ESG, Allocation of Resources, Climate Change, and Systems Complexity.

We discuss:

Economic ROI (Energy Return on Energy Invested)

Basics of Thermodynamics

An example of something that “Tesla did Differently”

What does “Sustainability” really mean?

Does Nuclear Power get a bad rap?

An example of a well-intentioned German Policy Failure

The Current State of ESG and Life Cycle Analysis

ESG Funds – Clean & Green??

Considering “Negative Externalities”

Concentrated vs Diffused Energy Systems

Jed’s minimum EROI Criteria for Sustainability

ESG Scoring

Rapid Fire

Carlos Galli is an independent lithium consultant in Argentina. Carlos has worked on many brine projects both as a principal and a consultant. He learned from one of the best lithium minds in Argentina, his father Dr Daniel Galli. Topics covered in this episode include:

Covid’s ongoing impact in Argentina

Building a “lithium bridge” from the Argentine Puna to Europe for the EU battery supply chain

Some underappreciated benefits of brine assets

The “water dimension” in lithium projects and why it is often ignored or mischaracterized

Ponds vs Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE)

DLE’s potential to bring quality (if not cost) advantages

Why the Argentina President should stop hyping supply targets

Ranking the top five Argentina lithium projects

Value addition vs chasing the value chain

How many projects can coexist on Salar del Hombre Muerto?

Beyond DLE

Bolivia – Saudi Arabia without oil?

Rapid Fire