
January 31, 2023
European Metals Holdings Limited (ASX & AIM: EMH, OTCQX: EMHXY, ERPNF and EMHLF) (“European Metals” or the “Company”) is pleased to provide an update on its activities during the three-month period ending 31 December 2022 highlighting the continued progress in the development of the globally significant Cinovec Lithium/Tin Project (“the Project” or “Cinovec”) in the Czech Republic.
During the reporting period, the Company made two very significant announcements.
Firstly, the Company announced that it had finalised a considerably simplified Lithium Chemical Plant (“LCP”) flowsheet with the initial six locked cycle test (“LCTs”) providing 99.99% pure Lithium Carbonate. The LCTs were completed at ALS Global in Perth and demonstrated overall lithium recoveries of 88-93%, (refer to the Company’s ASX release dated 31 October 2022) (Simplified Extraction Process delivers exceptionally clean battery grade lithium products with improved economics).
The simplified flowsheet precipitates lithium phosphate directly from the polished PLS and then goes on to clean the lithium phosphate to enable precipitation of a much cleaner crude lithium carbonate. The final purification step of bicarbonation and re-precipitation is the same as in the earlier flowsheet, but the end-product is of even higher quality due to the input crude lithium carbonate being much cleaner. The simplification of the central section of the LCP flowsheet reduces the number of basic chemical engineering unit processes (after the initial roast/water leach) from 15 to 7. The revised process also results in the elimination of all energy-intensive cooling processes.
The Company has been advised by its principal hydrometallurgical adviser, Lithium Consultants Australasia (LCA), that the changes to the LCP noted above are expected to reduce both Capex and Opex in the LCP by 10-20%. The Capex reduction is based upon the fact that the simplified flowsheet requires the use of only two crystallisers vs the four crystallisers and 1 evaporator in the original flowsheet. The similar reduction on Opex in achieved through reduced power use resulting from not having to operate the additional equipment. The Company expects that lower reagent use, and the elimination of all process cooling steps will change the environmental footprint of the project positively, reducing the chemicals and energy required in the LCP process.
As can be seen from the table, the crude lithium carbonate first precipitated (i.e., with no purification or re-precipitation steps) meets the battery-grade specification for 11 of the 14 impurity thresholds.
The battery-grade lithium carbonate recrystallised after a single bicarbonation step shows an exceptionally clean battery-grade material.
A provisional patent application covering the simplified flowsheet has been lodged by the Company on behalf of Geomet s.r.o. to protect what the Company believes to be a very valuable and simple process to produce battery grade lithium carbonate or hydroxide from any lithiferous ore.
Secondly, the Company announced the appointment of Luthardt Investment GmbH, (“Luthardt”) a Berlin-based consultancy specializing in energy production and government relations support to large infrastructure projects internationally. Luthardt is led by Sven Luthardt, who has broad business experience supporting companies in Europe and the Middle East, particularly in the field of Government relations.
Luthardt will advise the Company as well as the project company, Geomet, on EU and national government-level relations, with the aim of promoting official support of the Cinovec Project. In consideration for the engagement, the Company will issue Luthardt a total of 2 million unlisted options to acquire fully paid ordinary shares, exercisable at AU$0.80 on or before 30 December 2023, which shall vest in two equal tranches, subject to milestones tied to achievement of downstream partnerships and policy support for the project in Germany being met. (refer to the Company’s ASX release dated 28 October 2022) (Engagement of German strategic energy investment adviser)
Otherwise, the quarter was marked by continued progress by the Company towards finalisation of the Definitive Feasibility Study (“DFS”) together with ongoing discussions with prospective offtakers and Project Finance participants. From a macro perspective, the price for lithium remains extremely strong with Lithium Carbonate setting all time high prices in October and the expectation of continuing strong demand within the European Union for lithium resulting from the announcement of Gigafactory production capacities of approximately 120 GWh in 2022. By 2025, this is expected to quadruple to over 500 GWh, and by 2030 potentially fourteenfold to up to 1.7 TWh.
There were also significant macro events within Europe for the period that are likely to have a positive effect on the demand for lithium and the support of the Cinovec Project. Amongst these was the announcement of the European Critical Raw Materials Act by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in September which is aimed at securing a sustainable EU supply of critical raw materials for Europe and lessening European dependency on certain other suppliers.
During the reporting period, European Metals was pleased to announce the appointment of Marc Rowley to lead the DFS team to progress the Cinovec Project in the Czech Republic (refer to the Company’s ASX release dated 10 November 2022) (Experienced Lithium Project Delivery Specialist Marc Rowley to join European Metals and the Cinovec Project).
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from European Metals, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
EMH:AU
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12 June
Rock Bottom: Strategic Window for Ground-level Lithium Investment in 2025
When lithium prices hit bottom, savvy investors know that’s exactly where the next big discovery begins — literally. Beneath the surface of global markets and remote exploration grounds, new opportunities are forming in the wake of a sharp price reset and renewed geopolitical urgency.
Macroeconomic and policy shifts in 2025 are creating ideal conditions for those willing to look past the headlines. While volatility in lithium prices has tempered short-term sentiment, the underlying demand trajectory remains strong. With governments reshaping supply chains to reduce reliance on China and accelerate the energy transition, lithium is emerging not only as a critical resource, but as a strategic investment theme with long-term upside.
For investors, this reset isn’t a retreat; it’s a rare chance to get in early, at ground level.
Critical metal for a low-carbon future
Lithium demand is being driven by structural, not cyclical, forces.
Global sales of electric vehicles are expected to reach 17 million units in 2025, up from just 6.6 million in 2021, according to a report from the International Energy Agency. At the same time, the rollout of renewable energy infrastructure has created a parallel boom in demand for lithium-ion batteries in stationary storage applications.
These trends have elevated lithium to the status of a strategic resource. The US, EU, Canada and Australia have all included lithium on their critical minerals lists, with policy frameworks and funding programs aimed at reshoring supply chains and reducing dependence on dominant producers such as China.
New landscape for investors
Three major forces are shaping the lithium market in 2025:
- Geopolitical realignments: China continues to dominate lithium refining and cathode production, but western economies are responding with policies that promote domestic and allied resource development. Africa, in particular, is emerging as a new frontier, offering significant untapped lithium reserves in relatively underexplored jurisdictions.
- Strategic consolidation: Major lithium producers are moving aggressively to secure future output. Rio Tinto's (ASX:RIO,NYSE:RIO,LSE:RIO) $6.7 billion acquisition of Arcadium Lithium, and SQM's (NYSE:SQM) joint ventures in Brazil and Australia reflect a renewed emphasis on long-term control of raw materials. These moves also signal confidence in lithium’s medium- and long-term pricing. Rio Tinto, in particular, remains “consistent in its belief in the long-term outlook for lithium,” according to a June 3, 2025, report from Reuters.
- Price volatility creates opportunity: Spot lithium prices experienced a steep drop in 2023 following the oversupply concerns post-2022 highs. But market watchers are now seeing signs of recovery as supply rationalizes and demand from automakers rebounds. For investors, downturns often mark the most opportune entry point — when high-quality assets are undervalued and underfunded.
Lithium Africa: A strategically aligned explorer
Amid this shifting landscape, junior exploration company Lithium Africa is capitalizing on timing, partnerships and geography. The company is focused on unlocking lithium potential across Africa, with an early focus on pegmatite-rich regions in Morocco, Zimbabwe, Côte d’Ivoire and Guinea — jurisdictions that are fast gaining attention as future pillars of global lithium supply.
Strategic partnership
One of Lithium Africa’s most distinctive value propositions is its technical and financial partnership with Ganfeng Lithium, one of the world’s largest lithium producers. Ganfeng brings deep chemical processing expertise and project development experience, providing critical de-risking support as Lithium Africa advances its early stage projects. Importantly, Ganfeng is matching every dollar raised by Lithium Africa — with $1 raised equating to $2 spent on exploration — an arrangement that reduces dilution, improves capital efficiency and signals external validation of project potential.
Raising capital at the bottom of the cycle
Unlike many juniors sidelined by the recent downturn, Lithium Africa is using the current market reset as a window of opportunity. The company has secured funding during the trough of the lithium cycle, allowing it to acquire prospective tenements at low cost and accelerate fieldwork, while competitors are cash-constrained or inactive. This countercyclical strategy is designed to generate value precisely when assets are overlooked by the broader market.
Efficient exploration for discovery-driven growth
Lithium Africa’s exploration model emphasizes efficiency. The company employs low-cost but technologically advanced geophysical and geochemical techniques to quickly evaluate and rank prospects before committing to intensive drilling campaigns. In regions like Zimbabwe — already home to several lithium occurrences — this approach allows for rapid advancement toward discovery. Should a world-class deposit be delineated, history shows that such a find is recognized and rewarded by both majors and markets, regardless of the broader cycle.
Africa's lithium frontier: Gaining global attention
Lithium Africa is part of a broader wave of explorers turning their attention to the continent. Companies such as Leo Lithium (ASX:LLL,OTC Pink:LLLAF) and Atlantic Lithium (ASX:A11,LSE:ALL,OTCQX:ALLIF) have drawn investor interest for their hard-rock projects in Mali and Ghana, respectively. Africa offers the geological potential, lower entry costs and increasing regulatory clarity that resource developers seek in a post-China supply chain strategy.
However, Lithium Africa’s differentiators — its timing, capital alignment and strategic partnership — set it apart in a competitive field.
Investor takeaway
The lithium market may be entering a phase of short-term volatility, but its long-term trajectory is defined by structural demand growth. For investors, the opportunity lies not just in producers, but in the well positioned explorers who can secure quality ground, deploy capital wisely and advance toward discovery with strong technical backing.
Companies like Lithium Africa, which align with geopolitical supply trends, partner with strategic industry leaders, and commit to efficient, high-impact exploration, offer a uniquely leveraged way to gain early exposure to the next chapter of global lithium supply.
This INNspired article is sponsored by Lithium Africa. This INNspired article provides information which was sourced by the Investing News Network (INN) and approved by Lithium Africain order to help investors learn more about the company. Lithium Africa is a client of INN. The company’s campaign fees pay for INN to create and update this INNspired article.
This INNspired article was written according to INN editorial standards to educate investors.
INN does not provide investment advice and the information on this profile should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. INN does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company profiled.
The information contained here is for information purposes only and is not to be construed as an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of securities. Readers should conduct their own research for all information publicly available concerning the company. Prior to making any investment decision, it is recommended that readers consult directly with Lithium Africaand seek advice from a qualified investment advisor.
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11 June
Leadership Streamlining and Cost Reductions
10 June
Outstanding High Grade REE Diamond Drill Results
10 June
Beneficiation Delivers 4,480ppm Lithium Clay Concentrate at Red Mountain Project, USA
Latest results reinforce ability to upgrade Red Mountain mineralisation
Astute Metals NL (ASX: ASE) (“ASE”, “Astute” or “the Company”) is pleased to report further positive results from the latest phase of beneficiation testwork for its 100%-owned Red Mountain Lithium Project in Nevada, USA. The results continue to strengthen the Project’s commercial development potential.
Key Highlights
- Follow-up Falcon C beneficiation testwork completed on diamond drill core samples from the Red Mountain Project.
- Sample upgraded from 3,245ppm to 4,481ppm Lithium.
- Successful removal of 51.8% of dense material and concurrent 38% increase in lithium grade.
- Reinforces the April 2025 results indicating that Red Mountain mineralisation may be upgraded using beneficiation.
- Attrition Scrubbing beneficiation testwork now underway for comparison with the Falcon testwork results.
- Leaching testwork to be undertaken on Falcon and Attrition Scrubbing products to confirm reduced acid consumptions.
Following on from the results announced on 22 April 2025, this second phase of Falcon Beneficiation testwork was designed to concentrate lithium-bearing clay and remove unmineralized gangue (waste) in order to decrease mass and increase lithium grade. In a mineral processing context, a reduction in tonnes and volume processed with an increased head-grade typically results in lower processing costs.
This second Falcon testwork program was conducted by Sepro Laboratories (Sepro) and utilised high- clay drill core samples from hole RMDD002 (which intersected 86.9m @ 1,470ppm Li from 18.3m4). This follow-up test was designed to establish how high-clay material performed using the Falcon method, for comparison with results from the previous test conducted on lower grade mineralisation from Red Mountain.
The latest result indicates a strong ability to upgrade mineralisation, achieving a reduction of sample mass by 51.8% with a concurrent increase in lithium grade of 38% (from 3,245 to 4,481ppm Li), with an overall 66.6% lithium recovery. These results compare favourably with the previous round of testwork, exhibiting both a greater upgrade in lithium and reduction in mass, with a substantial 43% reduction in calcium and carbon (interpreted as calcite removal) expected to result in a significant reduction in acid consumption. The Company has commissioned Attrition Scrubbing testwork – another method of beneficiation – for comparison with the Falcon results. Once complete, sample products from both the Falcon and Attrition Scrubbing tests will be assessed for acid consumption in future leachability tests.
Astute Chairman, Tony Leibowitz, said:“The demonstration of a commercial pathway to a lithium product is the natural complement to the establishment of a Mineral Resource. It is for this reason that Astute has actively advanced workflows for both exploration drilling and metallurgical testing at Red Mountain, in tandem. These positive results, which reinforce the previous results from the project, represent the systematic de-risking of what continues to emerge as an important US- based critical metals project.”
Figure 1. Clay-rich RMDD002 drill-core from 160-165ft (3,280ppm Li) used in Falcon beneficiation testwork.
Background
Located in central-eastern Nevada (Figure 4), adjacent to the Grand Army of the Republic Highway (Route 6), which links the regional mining towns of Ely and Tonopah, the Red Mountain Project was staked by Astute in August 2023.
The Project area has broad mapped tertiary lacustrine (lake) sedimentary rocks known locally as the Horse Camp Formation1. Elsewhere in the state of Nevada, equivalent rocks host large lithium deposits (see Figure 4) such as Lithium Americas’ (NYSE: LAC) 62.1Mt LCE Thacker Pass Project2 and American Lithium (TSX.V: LI) 9.79Mt LCE TLC Lithium Project3.
Astute has completed substantial surface sampling campaigns at Red Mountain, which indicate widespread lithium anomalism in soils (Figure 3) and confirmed lithium mineralisation in bedrock with some exceptional grades of up to 4,150ppm Li1,5.
A total of 19 RC and diamond drill holes have been drilled at the project to date for a combined 3,666m. Exploration drilling has been highly successful, with strong lithium mineralisation intersected in every hole for which assays have been received9.
Scoping leachability testwork on mineralised material from Red Mountain indicates high leachability of lithium of up to 98%, varying with temperature, acid strength and leaching duration, and proof-of- concept beneficiation testwork has indicated the potential to upgrade the Red Mountain mineralisation6,8.
About Beneficiation
The primary purpose of beneficiation is to optimise the value of mineralised material by separating unwanted waste material (gangue) from valuable minerals.
Testwork conducted to date at Red Mountain indicates that clay-hosted lithium mineralisation may be upgraded through beneficiation, which seeks to remove coarser grained material, such as particles of sand, that do not contain appreciable lithium8. Successful beneficiation can result in reduced reagent consumption, reduced plant wear and tear, and a reduced environmental footprint.
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from Astute Metals NL, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
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04 June
Pursuit Dispatchs 99.5% Lithium Carbonate Samples to Potential Strategic Partners as Feasibility Studies Progress
Pursuit Minerals Ltd (ASX: PUR) (“PUR”, “Pursuit” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that high- purity lithium carbonate samples have been dispatched to multiple parties as part of its engagement with prospective offtake and strategic partners. The samples were produced from the Company’s 250tpa Pilot Plant in Salta, Argentina, using synthetic brine chemically identical to that of the Rio Grande Sur Lithium Project.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Final product assays confirm 99.5% lithium carbonate purity, upgraded from pilot output via bench scale processing.
- Certified samples dispatched to multiple potential offtake and strategic partners for qualification.
- Feasibility study progressing for low cost, 5,000tpa operation at Rio Grande Sur.
- Ongoing small batch lithium carbonate production to support offtake qualification while preserving capital discipline in current market conditions.
- Pursuit continues to advance its dual-pronged growth strategy progressing Rio Grande Sur while accelerating the evaluation of strategic gold, silver, and copper acquisitions in Argentina.
Figure 1 – Pursuit’s 99.5% Li₂CO₃ Sample Ready for Dispatch to Potential Offtake Partners
In relation to the dispatch of samples, Pursuit Managing Director & CEO, Aaron Revelle, said:
“Achieving 99.5% lithium carbonate purity is a major technical milestone for Pursuit and a clear demonstration of the capability embedded within our flowsheet, team, and pilot plant infrastructure. It not only validates the compatibility of our process design with Rio Grande Sur brines but also confirms our ability to deliver a consistently high-quality product suited to a wide range of industrial and energy storage applications. Dispatching these samples to potential offtake partners is a critical first step in our commercialisation pathway, enabling product qualification and accelerating engagement with strategic customers in tough market conditions. As we transition into the next phase of development, our focus is firmly on advancing feasibility for our 5,000tpa operation and securing long-term partnerships that will underpin the future production and growth of the Rio Grande Sur Project.”
Initial pilot production at Pursuit’s 250tpa Pilot Plant in Salta successfully produced 15 kilograms of lithium carbonate at 98.9% purity, validating both the compatibility of the Rio Grande Sur brine and the efficiency of the Company’s conventional processing flowsheet. To enhance product quality and simulate potential refinement steps at commercial scale, a portion of this material was further treated at bench scale using fractional crystallisation (FX) and ion exchange (IX) techniques. These post processing steps upgraded the product to 99.5% purity, meeting established benchmarks for technical-grade lithium carbonate.
The final product assays confirm not only the effectiveness of Pursuit’s downstream purification strategy but also the scalability and robustness of its broader flowsheet. This achievement represents a critical milestone on the path to commercial readiness supporting key feasibility assumptions, validating end product quality, and enabling active engagement with prospective offtake partners.
Pursuit is well positioned to undertake additional small-batch production as required to meet partner qualification needs and advance strategic discussions. Furthermore, it demonstrates Pursuit’s capability to produce high-purity lithium carbonate suitable for industrial use, with potential to meet battery-grade specifications through additional refinement.
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from Pursuit Minerals, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
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02 June
Ore Reserve Quadruples for Rhyolite Ridge Project; Reaffirms Robust Project Economics
Ioneer Ltd (ASX: INR, Nasdaq: IONR) (Ioneer) is pleased to announce a 308% upgrade to the Ore Reserve estimate for its 100%-owned Rhyolite Ridge Lithium-Boron Project (‘Rhyolite Ridge’ or the ‘Project’) in Nevada, USA, alongside updated Project economics.
- Rhyolite Ridge Ore Reserve more than quadrupled from 60 million tonnes in 2020 to 247 million tonnes, delivering a mine life of 95 years
- Ore Reserve now contains a total of 1.92 Mt of lithium carbonate equivalent and 7.68 Mt of boric acid equivalent
- Underpinning plans for a large, long-life, low-cost expandable operation, producing lithium carbonate, boric acid and then battery-grade lithium hydroxide
- Stable co-product - boric acid accounts for an average 25% of annual revenue in the first 25 years; helping ensure positive EBITDA at low lithium prices and EBITDA margin of 65.7% based on average production over first 25 years
- All-in sustaining cash cost of US$5,745 per metric tonne lithium carbonate equivalent places the Rhyolite Ridge Project in the bottom of the global lithium cost curve
- Compelling Project economics with an after-tax NPV of US$1.367 billion, and an unlevered, after-tax internal rate of return (IRR) of 14.5%
The Ore Reserve has increased by 186.6 million tonnes (Mt) and approximately 48% of the Mineral Resource has been converted into Reserve, now estimated at:
- 246.6 Mt at 1,464 ppm lithium and 5,444 ppm boron
- Containing 1.92 Mt of Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE) and 7.68 Mt of Boric Acid Equivalent (BAE)
“Today’s updated Reserve and Mine Plan reinforces the importance of Rhyolite Ridge’s remarkable mineralogy. Our Ore Reserve estimate of 247 Mt containing a total of 1.92 Mt LCE and 7.68 Mt BAE make it the largest lithium-boron Reserve in the world,” said Bernard Rowe, Managing Director, Ioneer. “It allows Ioneer to match prevailing market conditions and blend or prioritise ore to produce a valuable boric acid co- product, whose market is uncorrelated with the Project’s primary lithium product. No other lithium project offers this level of flexibility and economic advantage. In periods of low cycle lithium pricing, like today, we plan to prioritize the high-boron ore production to optimize the relative proportion of total revenue derived from boric acid.”
By prioritising High-Boron (Hi-B) ore in the first 25 years of production, the Project is poised to produce an average of ~19,200 tonnes per annum (tpa) of LCE, and 116,400 tpa of boric acid (see Table 1).
The updated Ore Reserve estimate, 95-year mine plan for stage one operations, and Project economics reaffirms Rhyolite Ridge as a highly attractive global Project to produce lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide and boric acid. The updated findings position Ioneer, on an LCE basis, in the lowest cost quartile for lithium production globally with an estimated all-in sustaining cash cost to produce battery grade lithium hydroxide of US$5,745 and a cash cost of C1 $3,858 per tonne net of expected boric acid revenue in the first 25 years.
The Project has a stable overall operating cost structure to produce lithium carbonate and battery grade lithium hydroxide due to the scale and reliability of its boric acid credit. Boron remains one of the most stable natural resource commodities over many decades.
Ioneer has refined Project plans over the past four years and updates now include an Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering (AACE) Class 2 capital cost estimate (-10%, +15%) with approximately 70% of the Project’s engineering complete. As a result of this and other engineering work including RAM analysis and detailed engineering design, Ioneer has adopted a more conservative approach to plant availability, equipment downtime and maintenance strategies. While this approach reduces bottom line economics, the Company believes it is appropriate for a Project of this type and scale.
The Company now estimates total capital expenditure to complete the Project will be US$1,667.9 million, including a 10% contingency.
Click here for the full ASX Release
This article includes content from Ioneer Ltd, licensed for the purpose of publishing on Investing News Australia. This article does not constitute financial product advice. It is your responsibility to perform proper due diligence before acting upon any information provided here. Please refer to our full disclaimer here.
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