Issue 97, January 16th January 31st

Transcription

1 Issue 97, January 16th January 31st

2 CONTENT Batteries and Vehicles Saft military battery selected for testing in commercial use A new fund to accelerate PEV technology Samsung SDI plans to build a battery factory in U.S. Patent Office confirmed Argonne battery technology 1Introduction During the second half of January important announcements were made in the lithium and battery industries. Regarding batteries, it is interesting to highlight the new fund announced by the U.S. Department of Energy in order to accelerate the deployment of the hybrid and electric cars in the US. Samsung SDI, a subsidary of Samsung, announced that in order to meet with the Chinese government s goal of 5 million electric cars by 2020 would build a battery factory in China. In regards with the lithium industry, Nemaska released new results of a drilling program which increases the reserves estimates. Lithium Americas, in Argentina, signed a cooperation agreement with Posco, and Li3 Energy, in Chile, announced the execution of US$ 8 million funding with BBL SpA. Lithium Industry FMC Corporation announced Q3 results Lithium Americas and POSCO signed a co-operation agreement Nemaska increases mineral resource estimate at its Whabouchi Project Li3 Energy and BBL SpA signed financing agreement

3 2 Batteries and Vehicles BRIEF NEWS HIGHLIGHTS Nissan LEAF reaches 100,000 units Date: January 20th Source: Nissan Nissan informed that its Nissan LEAF has reach 100,000 units sells worldwide becoming the bestselling electric vehicle with 45% market share. Saft military battery selected for testing in commercial use Date: January 20th Source: Saft Batteries As a part of a program funded by the U.S. Army, the transportation solutions company CALSTART announced that it would start a test to the military e6t Lithium-ion battery developed by Saft in a commercial truck in order to verify if it could be adapted beyond the military use. A new fund to accelerate PEV technology Date: January 22nd Source: U.S. Department of Energy The U.S. Energy Secretary announced a US$ 50 million fund in order to boost the research and development on new vehicle technologies which includes support to make plug-in electric vehicles more affordable.

4 BRIEF NEWS Tesla Motors expands its supercharger network in Europe Date: January 21st Source: Tesla Motors In order to boost the use of Model S, Tesla Motors inaugurated its new supercharger which connects the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Hydro-Quebec expands its EV network Date: January 30th Source: Hydro-Quebec Samsung SDI plans to build a battery factory in China Date: January 22nd Source: Reuters Due the China s central government set a target to have 5 million of electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids by 2020, Samsung SDI Co Ltd signed a preliminary agreement in order to build an electric car battery factory in China which is scheduled to open next year. According to Reuters, the affiliate of Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, Samsung SDI would form a Joint Venture in China to invest US$ 600 million in the announced factory. U.S. Patent Office confirmed Argonne battery technology Date: January 29th Source: Argonne National Laboratory Argonne announced that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has confirmed the novelty of a patent of lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC) cathode technology developed by Argonne which improves the battery range and reduce manufacturing costs. Hydro-Quebec and The Electric Circuit a public charging network announced the signing of a partnership agreement with Allied Properties Real Estate Investment Trust in order to install four public charging stations for electric vehicles on its parking lot.

5 3 Lithium Industry BRIEF NEWS HIGHLIGHTS Canada Lithium and Sirocco mining completes business combination Date: January 21st Source: Canada Lithium Corp. Further to an arrangement agreement signed between Canada Lithium Corp. and Sirocco Mining Inc. in order to pursuant a business combination; the companies announced that the name for Canada Lithium would be RB Energy Inc. Lithium Americas and POSCO signed a co-operation agreement Date: January 17th Source: Lithium Americas Corp. In order to move forward in the Cauchari-Olaroz lithium project, Lithium Americas and POSCO signed a co-operation agreement where the latter will locate its lithium extraction pilot plant at Lithium Americas project. POSCO has developed an innovative lithium extraction technology that would reduce the time for commercial production for lithium and potassium. The pilot plant should be operational in fourth quarter Nemaska increases mineral resource estimate at its Whabouchi Project Date: January 28th Source: Nemaska Exploration Nemaska Lithium Inc. announced that the results of a diamond drilling program showed an increase in the mineral resource estimate at its Whabouchi Project. The results would be included in the upcoming Feasibility Study. The new measured and indicated mineral resource estimate increases in Mt.

6 BRIEF NEWS Bacanora Minerals updates its lithium project Date: January 29th Source: Bacanora Minerals Li3 Energy and BBL SpA signed financing agreement Date: January 30th Source: Li3 Energy In order to move forward in the Maricunga Lithium/Potassium project, Li3 Energy had executed the financing of $ 8 million with the Chilean Corporation BBL SpA. According to the transaction, BBL has acquired 51% of the Chilean subsidiary of Li3 Energy, Minera Li Energy SpA. The funds would be used for the payment of a property acquired by Li3 and for working capital purposes. Bacanora Minerals announced that has received analytical results from 7 holes of the Stage 2 drilling program on the Fleur and el Sauz concessions showing values averaging 1,683 ppm Li (0.90% LCE) in the upper clay and 4,821 ppm Li (2.57% LCE) in the lower clay. In addition, the company informed that a bulk testing pilot plant is under construction in order to produce lithium carbonate from the roast-leach process. Olaroz Lithium project updates Date: January 31st Source: Orocobre Orocobre Limited has updated the information about its flagship Olaroz Lithium-Potash- Boron Project highlighting that the construction is aligned on time and on budget, with 75% physically completed and a total of US$ 164 million spent.

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