Column: Electric dreams turn into a nightmare for battery metals
A sector that was once racing to build new supply has been closing mines and deferring projects as low prices bite into the cost curve.
Atlantic Lithium (ASX: A11) reported a $12.4 million loss for the year ending June 2024, up slightly from the previous year’s loss of $11.5 million, as the company stepped up pace of construction at its Ewoyaa project in Ghana, which will be the West African country’s first lithium mine.
The junior hopes to break ground at the project, which will also be its first mine, before the end of the year. The project is being advanced under an agreement with Piedmont Lithium (NASDAQ: PLL; ASX: PLL). The miner is expected to fund close to 70% of the $185 million development costs outlined in a 2023 feasibility study.
Key achievements during the fiscal year included securing a 15-year mining permit for Ewoyaa, which is now waiting to be ratified by the country’s parliament. Atlantic Lithium has also completed critical permitting stages since the end of June, including the recent obtention of the environmental licence for the lithium project.
It also concluded a flotation study that confirmed the viability of a downstream flotation circuit at the site, which could add further value to the operation, according to Atlantic Lithium.
Executive chairman Neil Herbert hailed the “significant progress” made in the past year as the company transitions to a mine developer and operator.
He said that securing the mining lease was a “major de-risking milestone” for advancing the project, which he describes as a landmark achievement for both the company and country.
The executive added that the company has fulfilled the key terms of the lease and now expects the ratification from Ghana’s parliament.
“We now find ourselves within touching distance of achieving full permitting and shovel readiness at Ewoyaa,” Herbert said.
Half of the lithium produced at Ewoyaa will be sent to a Piedmont refinery. Piedmont is the Australian firm’s second-largest shareholder with a 22.5% stake in its projects in Ghana, including Ewoyaa, and has an option to earn 50%.
Atlantic Lithium aims to produce a total of 3.6 million tonnes of spodumene concentrate, or 350,000 tonnes annually, over 12 years from the site. That would make it the world’s 10th-biggest lithium project, according to the company.
