E16: “Changes” – The Past Week in the Lithium World

In a different kind of “drama in the Atacama,” friend of the Global Lithium Podcast SQM’s CEO Patricio de Solminhac has departed, and Joe and Emily talk about what that means for SQM going forward both in Chile as well as in Argentina, Australia, and the world.

The past week in the lithium world has been marked by changes at the top of some of the industry’s biggest players. Joe and Emily catch up and discuss FMC’s name change to livent (pronounced lye-vent), and compare it to some past branding faux pas in FMC’s corporate history. On a personal note, Joe reflects on his relationship with the new president of Albemarle and whether or not he has the operational competence to execute what’s needed at La Negra II in Chile.

In a different kind of “drama in the Atacama,” friend of the Global Lithium Podcast SQM’s CEO Patricio de Solminhac has departed, and Joe and Emily talk about what that means for SQM going forward both in Chile as well as in Argentina, Australia, and the world. Talison is expanding Greenbushes mine in Australia – but as Joe and Andy Miller of Benchmark told Marcos Barrientos at El Mercurio in Chile, this news hasn’t – and shouldn’t – rock the industry. Altura has taken a little bit of heat this week about the viability of their proposed offtaker Shaanxi – but this is likely just the tip of the iceberg and the rule rather than the exception for the majority of conversion capacity announced.

Emily published her assessment of the proposed “Lithium Valley” on Linkedin this week, which contains some problematic apparent misunderstanding of lithium carbonate vs. lithium metal – which leads to 2025 estimates about 16x what Joe and other analysts predict. Joe and Emily discuss similarities between this proposal and other nationalistic, protectionist policies that are contrary to innovation. We touch on the continued negative sentiment affecting lithium stocks, and round off by thanking Cameron Henry for helping former podcast guest Cailin Lowry get closer to her short film “The Society’s” funding goal. Check Cailin’s project out here.

We’re all excited to announce that Anthony Tse of Galaxy will be a guest on a future podcast, and Joe and Emily will be reunited in person in London to welcome guests Simon Moores of Benchmark and Henry Sanderson of The Financial Times to chat pricing.

Please enjoy this screenshot of google images for #Livent (née $FMC #Lithium) pic.twitter.com/nPNzTDRLDC

— Emily Hersh (@LithiumPodcast) July 26, 2018

Condescending to be told to "knock myself out" by a Professor who should be an educator. I read the #LithiumValley report and put forth best effort for a productive dialogue, I'm disappointed by response from @ProfRayWills of the @FSS_Au. https://t.co/x17dYUq1ti pic.twitter.com/OfdYjEP3At

— Emily Hersh (@LithiumPodcast) July 26, 2018