Climate change is at the forefront of many government programs and economic drivers, sparking a shift to replace fossil fuels with renewable, climate-friendly alternatives. Recognizing this as a “generational opportunity,” Canada has designed a new critical minerals strategy, to address the entire value chain of the critical minerals required for renewable energy technologies, including high-capacity batteries. The six priority critical minerals identified by the Canadian government are: lithium, graphite, nickel, cobalt, copper and rare earth elements (REEs). Canada is doing everything possible, including a C$3.8-billion budget to develop the country's critical minerals industry and establish a domestic supply chain for these minerals as it strives to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
The federal government's new critical minerals strategy was welcomed by the Mining Association of Canada, stating it is "arguably the most significant industrial strategy the country has seen in decades."
Canada is rich in critical minerals, and there is significant potential for new projects to become world-class assets. Nunavut and the Northwest Territories host some of the world’s richest mineral deposits. Nunavut’s natural resources industry alone is responsible for 41.2 percent of the province’s GDP. Miners exploring and developing these underexplored regions have the potential to make significant discoveries that will support the electrification transition.
StrategX Elements Corp. (CNSX:STGX) is a Canadian exploration company focusing on discovering new energy transition metal deposits required for the shift to clean and sustainable energy technologies. The company’s assets focus on cobalt, nickel, and other energy transition metals to contribute to Canada’s domestic supply chain. StrategX’s five 100-percent-owned assets are within Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. These projects are all underexplored and undervalued but with the greatest potential for world-class discoveries.
The company’s assets cover 110,00 hectares in the Northwest Territories and 60,000 hectares in Nunavut. StrategX’s flagship project, Nagvaak in Nunavut, is highly prospective for nickel, vanadium, cobalt, copper, molybdenum, silver and PGMs. In Q1 2023, the company plans to conduct a first phase 2,000-meter drill program to confirm suspected deposits. The company’s additional projects are moving towards exploratory drilling as exploration campaigns aim to identify priority targets.
StrategX believes in the importance of maintaining a positive ESGI rating as a company focusing on supporting renewable energy. Leadership has prioritized building solid relationships with local communities from the beginning and integrating these communities into the project. The company understands that communities need to be involved in unlocking the critical mineral potential of its assets.
An experienced management team with an impressive track record of success leads StrategX toward its goals. Darren Bahrey, CEO, has had exploration success with Placer Dome and has been involved in numerous additional discoveries throughout his career. Additional technical and financial experts bring decades of experience in the natural resource industry to lead the company toward fully realizing the value of its underexplored assets.
The company’s flagship asset in Nunavut is believed to contain world-class polymetallic deposits to support the domestic critical mineral supply chain. Additionally, the asset has the potential to contain gold and silver to contribute to the project’s overall value.
Contains geological formations hosting primary targets believed to contain critical metals. In addition, the asset is nearby coastal communities and shipping routes for future development needs.
The Tasijuaq project is prospective for nickel, copper, cobalt, and PGE deposits. The asset covers 3.5 square kilometers of mineralization with an associated conductive zone.
Project 939 contains five identified target areas with significant potential for world-class cobalt deposits. The asset contains bedrock showings indicative of extensive mineralized systems that remain underexplored.
This additional asset is located on the south side of the East Arm project. The project covers 5,963 hectares and an additional 82,714 hectares in permits. The asset has significant potential for oxide copper-gold deposits. It is located approximately 250 kilometers east of Yellowknife.
Darren Bahrey began his career as a geologist working for Placer Dome from 1989 until 2004 and has since been involved in forming public companies serving as founder, CEO, president, and chairman. Bahrey is an entrepreneur, explorer and passionate about building companies and teams creating exceptional results and value growth for all involved including shareholders, stakeholders, and local communities. He has been involved in numerous major discoveries throughout his career and has played a lead role in transitioning from exploration discovery into resource definition, feasibility development and mining stages.
Paula Caldwell St-Onge had a 30-year career in the Canadian public service in various departments, such as the Privy Council Office, Environment Canada, and Global Affairs Canada. An experienced and multilingual ambassador, Caldwell St-Onge brings a wealth of knowledge, expertise and network in international relations, risk management, governance issues, international trade, environmental stewardship, sustainable development, and community and stakeholder engagement. She was a director on the board of Teranga Gold Corp. (acquired by Endeavour Mining).
Ryan McEachern has 25 years in the mining industry starting as a geologist on projects in the far North and internationally. He also has experience in capital markets, global supply chains and manufacturing. He now serves as the managing director of the Mining Suppliers Trade Association Canada. McEachern brings expertise in government relations, advanced clean technologies, innovation, and advocacy. He is actively engaged in the critical minerals ecosystem and net-zero economy.
Andrea Yuan directs the company’s overall financial planning, and risk management, and ensures market compliance.
Ariel Cobangbang manages shareholder relationships and drives the company’s overall integrated marketing and communication initiatives.
As lead project generator, Adam Vary's focus is to grow the company’s robust project pipeline.
StrategX Elements Corp. (CSE: STGX) ("StrategX" or the "Company") has mobilized and established key logistics for its 2025 exploration program at the Nagvaak Project ("Nagvaak"). Nagvaak represents a geological discovery with the potential to delineate a significant critical metals deposit on the Melville Peninsula. New regional exploration efforts and recently analyzed data have also highlighted a series of additional prospective targets.
Key Developments:
StrategX is focused on advancing Nagvaak as its flagship project, aiming to define a world-class critical metals deposit in Canada. With the summer financing having raised $4.5 million (see StrategX news release June 25th, 2024), the Company is well positioned to achieve its objectives, supporting both the global green energy transition and national supply chain security.
The establishment of a field base camp on the Melville Peninsula (see Figure 3.) is essential to support the success of future exploration programs developing a new critical metals province in Canada. This underexplored region exhibits geological similarities to other Proterozoic sedimentary belts hosting large-scale critical mineral deposits, providing a strong foundation for future discoveries.
StrategX filed its third-quarter results on November 29th, 2024, on SEDAR.
Figure 1. Melville Critical Metals Regional Belt Exploration Focus.
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Figure 2. Diamond drill rig set up at the first target site DDH1 at Nagvaak for the 2025 drill campaign.
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Figure 3. - StrategX's field base camp.
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About StrategX
StrategX is an exploration company focused on discovering critical metal deposits in Canada. With five strategic projects situated on the East Arm of the Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories and on the Melville Peninsula in Nunavut, we are pioneering exploration discoveries in these untapped regions. By integrating historical exploration data and applying innovative exploration methodology, StrategX is offering investors a unique opportunity to be part of multiple discoveries of new critical metal districts. These important metals are essential for supporting the global green energy transition and national supply chain security. For the latest updates and insights, visit our Investor Portal.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors
Darren G. Bahrey
CEO, President & Director
For further information, please contact:
StrategX Elements Corp.
info@strategXcorp.com
Phone: 778.231.2767
For further information about the Company, please visit our website at www.strategXcorp.com
Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information
All statements included in this press release that address activities, events, or developments that the Company expects, believes, or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions made by the Company based on its experience, perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. In addition, these statements involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections, and other forward-looking statements will prove inaccurate, certain of which are beyond the Company's control. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend to revise or update these forward-looking statements after the date hereof or revise them to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events.
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StrategX Elements Corp. (CSE: STGX) ("StrategX" or the "Company") is pleased to announce Marcio Fonseca has been appointed to the Board of Directors of the Company as an independent director and the new Chair of the Company's Audit Committee effective immediately.
Darren Bahrey, President and CEO, stated, "On behalf of the Company we are excited to have Mr. Fonseca join the Board. His appointment further enhances our board by adding business development, capital markets, and track records in the discovery and development of successful mining projects worldwide. We look forward to working closely with him on continuing the responsible growth of the Company with his knowledgeable guidance on delineating potential Tier 1 discoveries and the development of critical mineral deposits in northern Canada. With the addition of Marcio, our team and board have extensive experience working in all phases of exploration, project development and operations, including transactions in the capital markets."
Mr. Fonseca's broad skill set and experience in international mining finance and project development will be extremely valuable in advancing the Company's position in the critical metals sector.
The Company acknowledges the support of the recently engaged Advisors to the Board noted below, who will continue contributing to the Company's growth. StrategX also announces the resignation of David Haig from the Board of Directors effective immediately and advises that the previously announced private placement in which Mr. Haig's company was to participate was not completed within the time required under CSE policies and accordingly has been terminated.
Marcio Fonseca, Director
Mr. Fonseca brings significant experience and expertise to the Company having successfully achieved a +30-years professional career working in multicommodity and multi-jurisdictions with large mining corporations and investment banks worldwide.
He previously served as the Division Director for Metals and Energy at Macquarie Bank, where he played a pivotal role in business growth in North America. Mr. Fonseca's career achievements include direct involvement in successful discoveries of Tier 1 deposits and developing mine operations in world-class mining districts. Renowned for his ability to identify, enhance, and develop natural resource opportunities, he has focused on delineating attractive prospects for development. His expertise in various jurisdictions encompasses all phases of mineral asset development, and he has held senior corporate development positions with Vale, Phelps Dodge, and Echo Bay Mines in Latin America.
Notable accomplishments include his instrumental role in orchestrating successful transactions such as the CAD$155M acquisition of SilverCrest Mines by First Majestic Silver Corp in Mexico. More recently, Mr. Fonseca has created new ventures in Latin America laying the groundwork for business development. He has extensive experience in capital markets, strategic partnerships, and securing equity and debt financing for natural resource projects on a global scale.
Strategic Advisory Team
The Company has been attracting additional support to guide on technical, financial, legal, and marketing. As we continue to build our company and unlock our discoveries in critical metals in northern Canada, they will play important roles in advising our management team and Board. Together, we are excited to achieve significant milestones and drive forward our vision of sustainable growth, innovation, and discovering and developing projects in green energy. The start of strategic advisory is the following:
Blaine Bailey - Financial & Accounting
Mr. Bailey is a Chartered Professional Accountant, CGA working with public and private companies listed on the TSX, TSXV and NYSE over the past 20 years. He brings complementary skills to the team in the areas of finance, administration, and financial reporting. Blaine is the CFO of GR Silver Mining Ltd, VR Resources Ltd, American Copper Development Corporation, Aztec Minerals Corp, and Panorama Capital Corp. (CPC). He received his Bachelor of Commerce degree (Honours) from the University of Manitoba in 1977 and qualified for the CPA, CGA designation in British Columbia in 1983. He also served in the capacity of accountant for Molson Brewery B.C. Ltd. and was controller for Nabob Coffee Co. with head offices in Zurich, Switzerland.
John Land - Project Field Operations
Mr. Land has over four decades of expertise in the energy sector. With a rich background in pioneering innovative exploration and production ventures, he adeptly navigates and mitigates risks while maximizing operational efficiency. John's extensive experience spans many decades of drilling in remote locales, where his strategic approach has consistently yielded successful outcomes. Moreover, his approach in fostering collaborative relationships with diverse stakeholders, including industry counterparts and indigenous communities, underscores his commitment to responsible resource development. He will play a role alongside the exploration project leaders and the VP of Exploration as we advance our field programs.
Kathleen MacInnes - Corporate & Legal Counsel
Ms. MacInnes of K MacInnes Law Group. Kathleen has been the Company's legal counsel since its inception. She has been practicing law for 30 years and specializes in corporate and securities law. Before starting her firm in 2011, Kathleen was a principal owner of a medium-sized Vancouver-based boutique corporate, securities and commercial litigation law firm. She has played an integral role with the management team and Board during the past decade, also ensuring the successful transition of private companies to Canadian public stock exchange listings and finalizing key corporate transactions.
About StrategX
StrategX is a Canadian exploration company dedicated to discovering critical metal deposits in Northern Canada. With five strategic projects situated on the East Arm of the Great Slave Lake in the Northwest Territories and on the Melville Peninsula in Nunavut, we are pioneering exploration discoveries in these untapped regions. By integrating historical data from previous exploration programs conducted by major mining companies and applying innovative exploration methodology, StrategX is offering investors a unique opportunity to be part of multiple discoveries and the development of new critical metal districts. These important metals are essential for supporting the global transition towards green energy. For the latest updates and insights, visit our Investor Portal.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors
Darren G. Bahrey
CEO, President & Director
For further information, please contact:
StrategX Elements Corp.
info@strategXcorp.com
Phone: 778.231.2767
For further information about the Company, please visit our website at www.strategXcorp.com.
Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information
All statements included in this press release that address activities, events, or developments that the Company expects, believes, or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions made by the Company based on its experience, perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. In addition, these statements involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections, and other forward-looking statements will prove inaccurate, certain of which are beyond the Company's control. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend to revise or update these forward-looking statements after the date hereof or revise them to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events.
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StrategX Elements Corp. (CSE: STGX) ("StrategX" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce the successful completion of its previously announced $4,500,000 charity flow-through private placement (the "Charity FT Financing"). No warrants or finder's fees were issued or paid in conjunction with this financing.
The Charity FT Financing, closed on June 24, 2024, involved the issuance of 15,000,000 common shares (the "Charity FT Shares") priced at $0.30 per share, generating gross proceeds of $4,500,000. These funds will be dedicated to funding "Canadian exploration expenses" qualifying as "flow-through critical mineral mining expenditures," pursuant to the Income Tax Act (Canada), related to StrategX's properties by December 31, 2025. The Company will renounce all Qualifying Expenditures in favour of Charity FT Shares subscribers effective December 31, 2024. All Charity FT Shares issued under the Charity FT Financing are subject to a hold period expiring October 25, 2024, in accordance with applicable securities laws in Canada and the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE").
Northern Exposure Minerals LP ("Northern Exposure"), a Nevada Limited Partnership, acted as the sole back-end purchaser, thereby acquiring approximately 28.5% of the issued shares of StrategX on a non-diluted basis, resulting in the creation of a new control person under Canadian securities laws and CSE policies. As such, this transaction necessitated shareholder approval under CSE policies, which has been obtained by way of written consent, as permitted under CSE policies, from shareholders holding approximately 77.5% of the Company's issued shares.
Prior to the closing of the Charity FT Financing, Northern Exposure did not hold any securities of the Company. Following the acquisition of 15,000,000 common shares under the Charity FT Financing, Northern Exposure now possesses 15,000,000 common shares, constituting approximately 28.5% of StrategX's outstanding shares on a non-diluted basis. Northern Exposure does not hold any convertible securities of the Company. The acquired 15,000,000 common shares are held strictly for investment purposes. Northern Exposure reserves the right to acquire additional securities of StrategX or to divest its holdings (via market or private transactions) as deemed appropriate. Interested parties can access a related early warning report through the Company's profile on the SEDAR+ website (www.sedarplus.ca) or by contacting Northern Exposure at 3275 South Jones Blvd, Suite 104, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89146.
Darren Bahrey, President and CEO of StrategX, commented "Thanks to the ongoing support we received from the Company's shareholders, as evidenced by an overwhelming approval to the creation of the new control person under this financing. I would like to welcome Northern Exposure as our newest shareholder. StrategX is now sufficiently financed to execute substantial exploration programs on the Company's properties in northern Canada. The StrategX team is eager to commence the newly funded drill program on the Nagvaak property. We look forward to providing updates as we advance what we believe are exceptional discovery targets which hold significant deposit potential for critical metals."
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States of America. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons (as defined in the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration is available.
About StrategX
StrategX is a Canadian-based exploration company focused on discovering critical metals in northern Canada. With five projects strategically situated on the East Arm of the Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories and the Melville Peninsula, Nunavut, we're leading exploration discovery in untapped regions. This first-mover advantage in underexplored regions presents a unique opportunity for investors to be part of multiple discoveries and the development of new districts for critical metals essential for the global green energy shift. For updates and the latest insights, explore our Investor Portal.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors
Darren G. Bahrey
CEO, President & Director
For further information, please contact:
StrategX Elements Corp.
info@strategXcorp.com
Phone: 778.231.2767
For further information about the Company, please visit our website at www.strategXcorp.com.
Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information
All statements included in this press release that address activities, events, or developments that the Company expects, believes, or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions made by the Company based on its experience, perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. In addition, these statements involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections, and other forward-looking statements will prove inaccurate, certain of which are beyond the Company's control. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend to revise or update these forward-looking statements after the date hereof or revise them to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events.
Not for distribution to United States newswire services or dissemination in the United States.
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StrategX Elements Corp. (CSE: STGX) ("StrategX" or the "Company") held the annual general meeting (the "AGM") of its shareholders on June 24th, 2024. All resolutions at the AGM were unanimously (100%) approved, including:
21,634,317 shares, being approximately 57.55 percent of the issued and outstanding shares, were represented at the AGM.
Darren Bahrey, President and CEO, stated, "On behalf of the board, I would like to thank the shareholders for their support in favour of our plans to move the company forward. We are excited to keep you updated on our exploration progress as we unlock groundbreaking discoveries of critical metals new to Canada."
About StrategX
StrategX is a Canadian-based exploration company focused on discovering critical metals in northern Canada. With five projects strategically situated on the East Arm of the Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories and the Melville Peninsula, Nunavut, we're leading exploration discovery in untapped regions. This first-mover advantage in underexplored regions presents a unique opportunity for investors to be part of multiple discoveries and the development of new districts for critical metals essential for the global green energy shift. For updates and the latest insights, explore our Investor Portal.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors
Darren G. Bahrey
CEO, President & Director
For further information, please contact:
StrategX Elements Corp.
info@strategXcorp.com
Phone: 778.231.2767
For further information about the Company, please visit our website at www.strategXcorp.com.
Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information
All statements included in this press release that address activities, events, or developments that the Company expects, believes, or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions made by the Company based on its experience, perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. In addition, these statements involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections, and other forward-looking statements will prove inaccurate, certain of which are beyond the Company's control. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend to revise or update these forward-looking statements after the date hereof or revise them to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events.
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StrategX Elements Corp. (CSE: STGX) ("StrategX" or the "Company"), announces that it proposes to undertake an up to $4,500,000 non-brokered private placement of flow-through shares (the "Charity FT Shares") to be sold to charitable purchasers at a price of $0.30 per Charity FT Share. The gross proceeds received from the sale of the Charity FT Shares will be used for work programs on the Company's exploration properties. All securities issued and sold under this financing will be subject to a four-month-and-one-day hold period under securities laws in Canada. The Company expects to complete this Charity FT Share financing on or before June 24, 2024.
This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States of America. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons (as defined in the 1933 Act) unless registered under the 1933 Act and applicable state securities laws, or an exemption from such registration is available.
About StrategX
StrategX is a Canadian-based exploration company focused on discovering critical metals in northern Canada. With five strategic projects situated on the East Arm of the Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories and the Melville Peninsula, Nunavut, we're leading discovery in untapped regions. This first-mover advantage in underexplored regions presents a unique opportunity for investors to be part of multiple discoveries and the development of new districts for critical metals essential for the global green energy shift. For updates and the latest insights, explore our Investor Portal.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors
Darren G. Bahrey
CEO, President & Director
For further information, please contact:
StrategX Elements Corp.
info@strategXcorp.com
Phone: 778.231.2767
For further information about the Company, please visit our website at www.strategXcorp.com.
Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information
All statements included in this press release that address activities, events, or developments that the Company expects, believes, or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions made by the Company based on its experience, perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. In addition, these statements involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections, and other forward-looking statements will prove inaccurate, certain of which are beyond the Company's control. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend to revise or update these forward-looking statements after the date hereof or revise them to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events.
Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States.
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Following a two-year study, Glencore to scale the use of Ceibo's sulfide leaching technology that significantly improves copper recovery
Ceibo , a clean copper extraction technology company, and Glencore ‘s (GB:GLEN) Lomas Bayas Mining Company have entered into a partnership to deploy Ceibo's proprietary leaching technologies that enable a more effective extraction of copper from low-grade sulfides at one of Chile's leading mines. Lomas Bayas has validated Ceibo's technology and is moving toward scaling up to assess this as an alternative to extend the life of their mining operations. This partnership follows two years of testing by Glencore, an important contributor to Chile's position as the world's largest copper producer.
Under the terms of the memorandum of understanding, Ceibo's technology will scale up with on-site testing through the Lomas Lab, a Glencore world-scale test site, and the company's research and development branch. This agreement opens a significant commercial avenue for Ceibo, demonstrating its unique approach with a major mining company and affirming the value that Ceibo's advanced leaching technologies bring to copper assets globally.
Lomas Bayas is known for its focus on innovative and efficient new solutions. Through this partnership, they will be able to further capitalize on their copper reserves by increasing and optimizing extraction. It also positions Lomas Bayas at the vanguard of sustainable mining by increasing the volume of copper while simultaneously minimizing the impact. Lomas Bayas strives to maximize technologies that allow the production of copper cathodes from sulfide species containing chalcopyrite, with the goal of extending the life cycle of their mine.
Ceibo's leaching processes extract copper in all sulfides using existing leaching plants. This process more quickly and effectively catalyzes the oxidation in the ore through electrochemical reactions, resulting in higher recovery rates in shorter operational cycles. In recent industrial testing on over 20 chalcopyrite-rich ores, the technology has recovered over 75% of copper, a significant increase compared to traditional leaching. Ceibo's technologies can be used in many ways, including increasing the output of existing operations, extending the life of a mine, and enabling new brownfield and greenfield projects.
"We are excited to expand our partnership with Ceibo to scale an innovative technology that can transform the copper industry. Ceibo's ability to produce copper from sulfide-rich ores brings a huge value for assets like Lomas Bayas to sustain production while transitioning from oxides to sulfides," said Pablo Carvallo, General Manager of Lomas Bayas. "This increase will help us maximize our production to service growing worldwide demand."
"The copper industry is facing increased demand alongside environmental standards," said Cristobal Undurraga, co-founder and CEO of Ceibo. "We are thrilled to have such an innovative partner in Glencore's Lomas Bayas, who is at the forefront of adopting new technologies. Together, we are proving that our advanced leaching technologies are allowing the extraction of even more copper from the existing operation while significantly improving sustainability – all while we meet the urgent global need for copper in the clean energy transition."
With demand for copper surging worldwide, this partnership provides a mining industry template for how to immediately increase copper production by significantly extending the life and capacity of mine operations. Ceibo's technologies greatly reduce the implementation time and resource consumption of traditional production methods such as concentrators and smelting, which require many years to build and secure permit approvals and are burdened by an extreme reliance on water and energy.
About Ceibo
Ceibo is accelerating access to copper with its clean, innovative technologies that bridge the supply-demand gap to further the energy transition. Founded in 2021, with dual headquarters in the US and Chile, Ceibo brings together a diverse team of scientists, metallurgists, engineers, and operators with a common passion for using technology to advance net zero goals. For more information, please visit www.ceibo.tech . Media enquiries: ceibo@consortpartners.com
About Glencore in Chile
Glencore is engaged in the production and marketing of raw materials such as copper, sulfuric acid, and molybdenum. In Chile, it operates in the Antofagasta region, including Compañía Minera Lomas Bayas and the Altonorte Metallurgical Complex, and holds a 44% stake in Compañía Minera Doña Inés de Collahuasi.
About Glencore
Glencore is one of the world's largest diversified natural resource companies, with more than 150,000 employees and contractors in over 35 countries. The company produces, processes, recycles, and markets more than 60 commodities that support decarbonization and meet current energy needs.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241120482815/en/
Media Contact
Consort Partners for Ceibo
ceibo@consortpartners.com
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He went on to note that during the third quarter, all of the cobalt grades Benchmark follows sank to their lowest levels since the company began tracking prices for the battery metal in 2017.
Cobalt metal price chart, Q3 2024.
Chart via Trading Economics.
“Prices for cobalt metal approached US$10 per pound, and cobalt hydroxide, a feedstock for cobalt metal and battery chemicals, approached US$6 per pound due to weak buyer interest and bearish market outlook,” he said.
“Cobalt sulfate prices had initially held a floor of RMB 27,500 per MT (US$3,857.23)," continued Aubry.
"However, as the quarter came to an end, cheap recycled cobalt sulfate in China undercut prices from the virgin market and has led to a further decrease in prices.”
The cobalt price pressure seen during the third quarter was largely due to a combination of oversupply and weakening demand, particularly from the electric vehicle (EV) battery sector.
The market is grappling with the effects of cobalt's diminishing role in battery chemistries as manufacturers increasingly turn to lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) batteries, which contain no cobalt, or opt for nickel-based alternatives with lower cobalt content. This shift has been fueled by efforts to mitigate the environmental and ethical issues associated with cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the largest cobalt-producing nation.
Additionally, as cobalt production capacity expands in countries like Australia and Angola, oversupply pressures are expected to persist, keeping prices relatively low in the near term.
Industry experts predict that unless there is a significant surge in demand from emerging technologies or battery innovations, cobalt prices will remain suppressed, reflecting a structural change in market dynamics.
“The supply of cobalt has proven to exceed what the market has been able to absorb, and weak buyer interest and full stocks have led to prices being incapable of recovering,” noted Aubry. “Overall, a bearish market is expected through 2025 as participants speculate on what is the lowest price cobalt can fall to.”
For Project Blue’s Jack Bedder, the most prevalent trend weighing on the cobalt market in Q3 was oversupply.
“Refined cobalt metal producers in China kept on increasing production volumes for an increased metal premium dampening prices even further,” Bedder told the Investing News Network (INN).
“(London Metal Exchange) off-warrant stockpiled cobalt metal has been rising, and trade data indicated an increase in China’s cobalt metal exports to the European market," the expert added.
Bedder, who is the co-founder and director of the critical metals consultancy, also pointed to higher output in the DRC and Indonesia as a headwind to cobalt price growth.
“Oversupply of cobalt intermediate continues, underpinned by increased production from the DRC’s cobalt hydroxide and Indonesian Ni-Co MHP (nickel-cobalt mixed hydroxide precipitate),” he said.
While Bedder explained that declining prices have caused companies to reschedule production plans and reduce their production guidance, there is still promise on the development side.
In mid-August, Electra Battery Materials (TSXV:ELBM,NASDAQ:ELBM) received a US$20 million grant from the US Department of Defense to support its cobalt refinery project in Ontario, which it says is set to be North America's first producer of battery-grade cobalt sulfate. Located in Temiskaming Shores, the C$250 million facility aims to strengthen the EV supply chain and reduce US reliance on foreign sources for critical minerals.
The funding aligns with the US' strategy of securing essential minerals for defense and technology sectors.
Less than a month later, the company garnered another funding infusion.
“Electra received ample financial backing from the US government to develop its cobalt sulfate refinery in Canada,” said Bedder. “The company has received a total of US$40 million in Q3 2024.”
Electra’s Department of Defense funding wasn’t the only news on the development side.
In late June, Nth Cycle commissioned a 21,000 square foot facility designed to refine metal scrap, e-waste and refinery waste into high-purity critical metals like nickel and cobalt.
“Nth Cycle commenced commercial production of Ni-Co MHP from its refinery in Fairfield, Ohio,” Bedder explained to INN. “The refinery will recover metal from electronic waste and scrap processing up to 3,100 MT per year of scrap materials to produce up to 900 MT per year MHP.”
In addition to building domestic cobalt mining and refining capacity, the US and Canada are working to reduce purchases of Chinese EVs. Both countries have implemented steep tariffs on EVs originating in China.
At the end of August, the Canadian government levied a 100 percent tariff on Chinese EVs. The heightened tariff followed a similar announcement out of the US in May. America also added smaller tariffs on strategic goods necessary for EV production, such as solar cells, semiconductors and lithium batteries.
While the spirit of the new EV taxes aims to spur on domestic production and EV sales, both Aubry and Bedder said they don’t see the tariffs supporting cobalt price growth.
“It is unlikely to have any effect in the short term, as Chinese EVs still remain much cheaper than their western counterparts, even with the tariffs in place, so there is limited incentive for North American producers to build domestic capacity as they are not cost competitive,” said Aubry.
Expressing a similar sentiment, Project Blue’s Bedder said he sees the taxation as a potential catalyst for North American production in the long term. “I don’t see (tariffs) impacting the cobalt market in the short term. Chinese EVs in the US do not currently sell well,” he commented to INN. “However, in the long term, tariffs and the ban on Chinese-connected vehicles may give some support to cobalt demand, as China will likely be targeting LFP EVs.”
As North America looks to bolster ex-China supply, the Asian nation continues to build its cobalt presence.
“In August, GEM (SZSE:002340) commenced commercial production of a 10,000 MT per year refinery in Hubei province, China. The refinery will be using recycled material to produce standard-grade cobalt metal 99.8 percent,” Bedder said.
He also noted that Tengyuan Cobalt (SZSE:301219) has announced plans to build a new nickel-cobalt refinery in Ganzhou province, China. Commercial production is planned for the fourth quarter of 2025.
“Last year, the company produced 15,400 MT of cobalt metal after completing expansions in December 2022,” he said.
Some of that increased output could be earmarked for China’s strategic cobalt reserve. In late May, reports surfaced that the country’s State Reserve Bureau planned on purchasing 15,000 MT from domestic producers.
While Benchmark’s Aubry sees the move as largely supportive of China’s cobalt sector, he told INN that doesn’t see the purchase adding tailwinds to prices for the critical battery material.
“Although this purchase was significantly bigger than previous years, the increased tonnage of the purchase is largely believed to have been a measure taken by the Chinese State Reserve Bureau to offset the significant ramp up in Chinese cobalt metal production capacity,” he said. “As a result, it did not have the strengthening effect that many hoped it would, as Chinese metal production still exceeds what the market is able to absorb.”
As the end of 2024 approaches, INN asked both experts what cobalt investors should watch heading into 2025.
Benchmark’s Aubry advised monitoring cobalt contracting.
“The price floor for cobalt hydroxide is currently set due to long-term contracts that are set to expire early in 2025, and as a result we may see further price erosion moving into next year,” he said.
While he cautioned that the supply/demand story is still very weak moving forward, he noted that cobalt’s future is heavily correlated to copper. “If prices come off further, we may see margins squeezed due to an increasing oversupply next year,” he said. “If the copper market stays strong, producers in the DRC will be incentivized to continue mining copper and cobalt, even if the price of cobalt hydroxide declines below US$6 per pound.”
Moving into to 2025, Bedder is tracking cobalt stockpiling from China's State Reserve Bureau.
High quantities of Chinese cobalt flowing into European markets, coinciding with existing London Metal Exchange warehouse inventories, is another development he is monitoring.
Elsewhere, Bedder noted the ongoing dispute between Glencore (LSE:GLEN,OTC Pink:GLCNF) and the DRC government.
“Much like the situation with CMOC Group (OTC Pink:CMCLF,SZSE:603993) in 2022, the DRC government has alleged that Glencore’s subsidiary, Kamoto Copper, owes the state 800 million euros (US$894 million) related to royalty payments,” said Bedder. “As we approach Q4 and 2025, we are eager to see how this might impact cobalt prices, particularly if significant evidence supports the claim. Notably, this also comes after Glencore’s recent decision to halt cobalt hydroxide stockpiling in the DRC.”
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Securities Disclosure: I, Georgia Williams, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Editorial Disclosure: 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.
HIGHLIGHTS
Sonu Cheema, Executive Director, commented:
"It is a pleasure to update the market on quarterly activities of High-Tech’s, specifically the Werner Lake cobalt, nickel, and PGE Project. Over the last 18 months High-Tech has generated significant data from the successful sampling and drilling programs. Through the compilation of the available historical data and the data derived from our successful exploration, I believe we will unlock the true value of Werner Lake.”
Desktop Review – Werner Lake
HTM commenced a desktop review of Werner Lake in the previous quarter aimed at delineating future exploration programs based on all available historical data and newly acquired data. The data derived from the successful Drilling Program, which focused on high priority drill targets, adds to the extensive data available on Werner Lake (refer ASX announcement – Drilling Results at Werner Lake – released 27 November 2023).
High-Tech’s Exploration at Werner Lake
From the outset of the 2023 campaign, focus was on testing new targets away from the Werner Lake deposit. Two areas were selected for a comprehensive evaluation and assessment of the potential to locate economic cobalt, nickel, and PGE targets. These are shown below, essentially, the ‘East’ and ‘West’ blocks or grids.
The objective was to test cobalt, copper and nickel targets on a portion of the Werner Lake Property. The drill program was planned and carried out by the in-country geological consultants, Apex Geoservice (APEX). The program was completed on time and under budget.
Targets were based on a comprehensive appraisal and evaluation of historical geological and production data covering exploration and production on and around the Property, and on the somewhat limited geological and production data from the Gordon Lake Cu-Ni mine.
Table 1 – Total of 798 metres of NQ core was drilled over six holes.
Figure 1 – Werner Lake final DDH locations and access.
The results from the ground-based magnetometer survey, lithogeochemical sampling, and prospecting provided additional focus with the primary targets all located on the east block, east of Gordon Lake and the Gordon Lake mine (refer ASX announcement – WERNER LAKE SAMPLING DISCOVER HIGH GRADE Ni SULPHIDE & Cu-Co – released 30 August 2023).
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This article includes content from High-Tech 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.