Liontown ships first spodumene from Kathleen Valley lithium project
The miner achieved a premium price for the spot sale of uncontracted production from the project.
Australian miner Alchemy Resources said on Monday it had signed an agreement for a Japanese government agency to earn up to 51% of its Roe Hills tenure in Western Australia by funding up to A$6 million ($4.15 million) of exploration costs.
Alchemy Resources would manage the project during the partnership period, and upon Japanese agency JOGMEC earning its vested interest in the tenements, the two companies will form a joint venture, the company said in a statement.
The Roe Hills tenure is part of the diversified miner’s Karonie lithium and gold project.
The agreement comes amid a global downturn in prices for electric vehicle battery materials lithium and nickel, which have been hit by slower-than-expected EV uptake.
Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC) is tasked with securing stable resource supplies for Japan, as concerns over critical mineral shortages grow.
As resource-rich Australia seeks investment from allies for green energy projects, the agreement aligns with efforts to bolster minerals crucial for the energy transition, which are at risk of supply chain disruptions.
($1 = 1.4457 Australian dollars)
(By Roshan Thomas; Editing by Kim Coghill and Jamie Freed)
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