Junior Lithium Miners: 2015 in Review

Last year was certainly another eventful year for the lithium space, and analysts watching the sector had plenty to say about Tesla Motors’ (NASDAQ:TSLA) conditional supply agreements with juniors and other happenings in the lithium market.
However, companies operating in the lithium space also have insight to offer on the metal’s prospects. Responding to a survey on the market this year, Wanda Cutler of Nemaska Lithium (TSXV:NMX,OTCQX:NMKEF); John Kanellitsas of Western Lithium (TSX:WLC); Ron Malashewski and Pierre Neatby of Avalon Rare Metals (TSX:AVL); and Brian Paes-Braga, president and CEO of Lithium X (TSXV:LIX) shared their thoughts on the lithium market in 2015.
Certainly, the broader downturn in the commodities space has had an effect on the ability of junior lithium miners to raise money, despite positive prospects for lithium prices. However, companies in the space still managed to reach significant milestones in 2015, and are optimistic as lithium demand continues to grow.
Here’s what they had to say.

1. The big milestones for East Kemptville were the release of the conceptual economic study on the East Kemptville tin deposit in Nova Scotia early this year, showing the potential of this project, as well as the announcement of the start of a $1.3-million work program at East Kemptville in mid-year (drilling, metallurgical and environmental work) to gather data for the upcoming preliminary economic assessment.
2. The announcement in August of the start of the pilot plant program for the Separation Rapids lithium project in Kenora, Ontario, along with the continued support of major potential customers in the glass-ceramics industry, were the milestones for Separation Rapids.

Paes-Braga: Lithium X’s most important milestone was acquiring its significant Clayton Valley North land position, contiguous to the only producing lithium operation in North America, Albemarle’s (NYSE:ALB) Silver Peak in Clayton Valley, Nevada.
We have also built a strong team having recently brought on Paul Matysek as executive chairman. Paul sold a lithium company, Lithium One, in 2012 to Galaxy Resources (ASX:GXY) for $112 million. He has an incredible track record of success as a CEO, also selling Potash One to K+S (ETR:SDF) in early 2011. Before that, he sold Energy Metals to Uranium One (TSX:UUU) for $1.8 billion in 2007, having built the company from a market cap of $10 million. Then, of course, there is legendary mining entrepreneur Frank Giustra, who has been behind several billion-dollar resource deals, including selling UrAsia Energy to Uranium One for $3.4 billion.
 
Stay tuned for what these companies had to see regarding the outlook for lithium in 2016.
Securities Disclosure: I, Teresa Matich, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Editorial Disclosure: Nemaska Lithium and Avalon Rare Metals are clients of the Investing News Network. This article is not paid-for content.
The Investing News Network does not guarantee the accuracy or thoroughness of the information reported in the interviews it conducts. The opinions expressed in these interviews do not reflect the opinions of the Investing News Network and do not constitute investment advice. All readers are encouraged to perform their own due diligence.