The Wintawari Guruma Aboriginal Corporation says Rio Tinto kept existence of traditional site in its license as secret.

Lithium prices surged from 2015 to mid-2018 as rising demand from electric automakers outpaced available supply.

Adding more capacity to refine metals into specialist chemicals or materials and building expertise in manufacturing lithium-ion cells or battery packs, would enable the battery industry to contribute about A$7.4 billion to the nation’s economy by 2030.

“Clean energy is certainly becoming more and more front and center,” one portfolio manager says.

Sayona says it has the support of NAL’s secured creditors.