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REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsDec 4 (Reuters) - Caterpillar (CAT.N) is investing in recycling technology developer Nth Cycle as part of a push to boost the reuse of metals used to make batteries and construction equipment. "The beauty of our system is that it's truly modular," Megan O'Connor, Nth Cycle's co-founder and CEO, said in an interview. Texas-based Caterpillar, which makes heavy machinery emblazoned with its iconic yellow paint, said Nth's Cycle's technology can "help get valuable materials" back into circulation. "Caterpillar's collaboration with Nth Cycle supports our commitment to helping our customers achieve their climate-related objectives and establishing a circular value chain," said Rod Shurman, Caterpillar's senior vice president of electrification and energy solutions, in a statement released by Nth Cycle. Equinor had invested in Nth Cycle's last funding round, announced in 2022.

Persons: Brendan McDermid, Megan O'Connor, Nth's, Rod Shurman, Caterpillar's, Equinor, Ernest Scheyder, Kirsten Donovan Organizations: Caterpillar, REUTERS, Earth Ventures, Thomson Locations: Harbor, Brooklyn , New York, U.S, Massachusetts, Ohio, Texas

MP Materials (MP.N), Lynas Rare Earths (LYC.AX) and other Western rare earths companies have struggled at times to deploy it due to technical complexities and pollution concerns. "The existing rare earths refining process is a nightmare," said Isabel Barton, a mining and geological engineering professor at the University of Arizona. Fannon and several U.S. politicians have called for Western governments to create central rare earths processing hubs, a plan already being pursued by Canada. In Saskatchewan, government scientists are working to launch their own rare earths processing technology after attempts to buy Chinese technology sputtered in 2020. "These new sources for rare earths are going to be paramount if we're going to reach global net zero targets," said Steve Schoffstall of the Sprott Energy Transition Materials ETF (SETM.O), which holds shares in several rare earths companies.

Persons: Isabel Barton, Michael Schrider, Ucore, Luisa Moreno, REETec, Robert Fox, Frank Fannon, Mike Crabtree, Crabtree, Steve Schoffstall, Ernest Scheyder, Veronica Brown, Claudia Parsons Organizations: International Energy Agency, University of Arizona, U.S . Air Force, Pentagon, Defense Metals, U.S . Department of Energy's, U.S . Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory, Saskatchewan Research Council, SRC, Ucore, Reuters, Thomson Locations: ALEXANDRIA, Louisiana, China, United States, U.S, American, Alaska, of New Orleans, British Columbia, South Africa, Florida, Norway, Massachusetts, U.S . Department of Energy's Idaho, Wyoming, Canada, Saskatchewan

☆ Western lithium, graphite miners boost prices for ESG-friendly supply
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Ernest Scheyder | Thomson Reuters | Ernest Scheyder Is An Award-Winning Senior Correspondent Covering The Green Energy Transition | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLOS ANGELES, Nov 17 (Reuters) - Western lithium and graphite miners have started charging the electric vehicle (EV) supply chain higher prices for their material, meeting demand for environmentally-friendly and consistent supply that is not linked to China. Lithium, the lightest metal, is used to make a battery's positively charged cathode and prized for its ability to store energy. Miners say the surcharges make investors more comfortable financing new projects, especially as Chinese rivals have been known to sell metals below prevailing market rates. Brazil's Sigma Lithium (SGML.V) has already begun selling its production at prices it says reflects its sustainability. The surcharge talk comes despite recent plunges in a range of lithium prices.

Persons: Ivan Alvarado, Patrice Boulanger, Shaun Verner, Amanda Hall, surcharges, Hugues Jacquemin, Ernest Scheyder, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, Washington, China, EV, Panasonic Energy, Miners, Syrah Resources, Department of Energy, Tesla, ESG, Summit, Thomson Locations: Antofagasta region, Chile, China, Los Angeles, Brussels, Beijing, North America, United States, Louisiana, North, South America, Quebec

[1/4] A wheel loader operator fills a truck with ore at the MP Materials rare earth mine in Mountain Pass, California, U.S. January 30, 2020. Market leader Tesla (TSLA.O) garnered headlines earlier this year saying it would cut rare earths from its next-generation EVs. China dominates the mining and processing of a group of 17 metals known as rare earths, though companies elsewhere are trying to loosen China's grip. 'WAITING IN THE WINGS'The average EV permanent magnet motor uses around 600 grams (1.32 lb) of heavy rare earth neodymium. Tesla's announcement on dropping rare earths "opened up buyers' eyes to the fact that you don't really need rare earths to make EV magnets," Niron CEO Jonathan Rowntree said.

Persons: Steve Marcus, Tesla, Otmar Scharrer, Scharrer, you've, Ben Chiswick, Uwe Deuke, Gerd Roesel, Jonathan Rowntree, Oki, James Edmondson, Edmondson, Mike Grant, Nick Carey, Christina Amann, Paul Lienert, Ernest Scheyder, Gilles Guillaume, Giulio Piovaccari, Ben Klayman, Sharon Singleton Organizations: REUTERS, Auto, LONDON, General Motors, Rover, Nissan, ZF, U.S, BMW, Renault, GM, EV, Warwick Acoustics, Thomson Locations: Pass , California, U.S, China, BERLIN, German, Detroit, Europe, London, Berlin, Houston, Paris, Milan

☆ As Exxon eyes lithium, crucial decision looms on filtration technology
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-14 | by ( Ernest Scheyder | Thomson Reuters | Ernest Scheyder Is An Award-Winning Senior Correspondent Covering The Green Energy Transition | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Choosing which DLE technology to license will be a crucial decision upon which Exxon's production of the battery metal will rely. The company has held talks with a range of DLE technology providers, including International Battery Metals (IBAT.CD) and privately held EnergySource Minerals. "We haven't chosen a (DLE) company yet. Because it not yet chosen a DLE technology, Exxon also has not yet forecast how much lithium it ultimately aims to produce. Exxon is also studying where else in the world it could produce lithium, Howarth said.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Patrick Howarth, Howarth, we'll, Ernest Scheyder, David Gregorio Our Organizations: Exxon Mobil, REUTERS, Reuters, Rio Tinto, International Battery Metals, EnergySource, Exxon, Tetra Technologies, Thomson Locations: ., Arkansas, Sunresin, Rio, Los Angeles

The Biden administration is still concerned about environmental, social and governance standards in Indonesia and is examining how a deal might work, the sources said. "There's a lot of work to do before we are able to formally announce negotiations on a critical minerals partnership," the person said. Indonesia does not have a free trade agreement with the United States. The only U.S. nickel mine is set to close in a few years, and the country has no nickel smelter, a risk to Biden's goal for the United States to lead in EV manufacturing. Many U.S. miners have said that the Biden administration should focus more on approving domestic projects than seeking international supply.

Persons: Joko Widodo, Joe Biden, Aditya Pradana, Biden, Katherine Tai, EVs, Talon, Trevor Hunnicutt, Ernest Scheyder, Fransiska, Grant McCool Organizations: United, Indonesia G20 Media, White, U.S, . Trade, Talon Metals, Tesla Inc, Thomson Locations: Rai Forest, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia, Aditya Pradana Putra, WASHINGTON, United States, Washington, North America, China, North Dakota, Minnesota, Jakarta

☆ Exclusive: Exxon aims to begin lithium production by 2026 in Arkansas
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-11 | by ( Ernest Scheyder | Thomson Reuters | Ernest Scheyder Is An Award-Winning Senior Correspondent Covering The Green Energy Transition | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

For Exxon and other oil companies, lithium production offers the prospect of selling a new product with relatively little added cost. OTHER ACREAGESeparate from its Tetra partnership, Exxon also controls more than 100,000 acres in Arkansas from which it plans to begin lithium production by 2027, according to the source. It was not clear whether Exxon plans to expand lithium operations outside Arkansas. Like all oil producers, Exxon extracts water containing traces of lithium as part of fossil fuel production. The Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission, which overseas lithium operations in the state, has said it plans to hold hearings on the matter.

Persons: Darren Woods, Mike Blake, Albemarle, Ernest Scheyder, Caroline Humer, David Gregorio Our Organizations: ExxonMobil, Milken, Global Conference, REUTERS, Exxon Mobil, Exxon, Tetra Technologies, EV, Reuters, Tetra, Chevron, Battery Metals, EnergySource Minerals, Energy, Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission, Benchmark Minerals, Thomson Locations: Beverly Hills , California, U.S, Arkansas, Florida, Texas, Albemarle, Louisiana, Los Angeles

☆ GM, Stellantis invest in EV magnet startup in move to reduce China reliance
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] The GM logo is seen on the facade of the General Motors headquarters in Detroit, Michigan, U.S., March 16, 2021. Today, roughly 90% of the rare-earth magnet supply is dependent upon China." "There's a lot of manufacturing steps and a lack of price transparency in this industry with rare earths, given the concentration of supplies in China," Niron Senior Director Tom Grainger said. The deal comes despite GM's 2021 agreement to buy rare-earth magnets from MP Materials (MP.N). MP has struggled to refine its own rare earths in California, but has been building a magnet facility in Texas.

Persons: Rebecca Cook, Jonathan Rowntree, Anirvan Coomer, Adam Bazih, Niron, Tom Grainger, Nathan Gomes, Ernest Scheyder, Ben Klayman, Matthew Lewis Organizations: General Motors, REUTERS, GM, Stellantis Ventures, Materials, Thomson Locations: Detroit , Michigan, U.S, China, Minneapolis, California, Texas, Bengaluru, New York

☆ Albemarle cuts annual forecast on slumping lithium prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A lithium evaporation pond is seen at Albemarle Lithium production facility in Silver Peak, Nevada, U.S. October 6, 2022. REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsNov 1 (Reuters) - Albemarle (ALB.N), the world's largest producer of lithium for electric vehicle batteries, trimmed its annual forecast on Wednesday and reported a lower-than-expected quarterly profit amid slumping prices for the ultralight metal. That is reflected in lithium prices, which have tumbled more than 60% this year. Albemarle reported third-quarter net income of $302.5 million, or $2.57 per share, compared to $897.2 million, or $7.61 per share, in the year-ago period. For the year, the company trimmed its net sales forecast to a range of $9.5 billion to $9.8 billion.

Persons: Carlos Barria, Albemarle, Hancock, Gina Rinehart, Ernest Scheyder, Chris Reese, David Gregorio Our Organizations: REUTERS, Liontown Resources, Thomson Locations: Albemarle, Silver, , Nevada, U.S, Charlotte, North Carolina, Argentina

New drilling technologies during the so-called Bakken Boom turned North Dakota into the nation's second-largest crude oil-producing state from 2012 to 2020. "This sale is a big deal in North Dakota," said Ron Ness, head of the North Dakota Petroleum Council, an industry trade group. "There's a sentimentality to this sale," said Kathy Neset, who runs a prominent North Dakota oil industry consulting firm and counts Hess as one of her largest clients. Chevron could take Bakken production higher than the output targeted by Hess in the future, said Matthew Bernstein, a senior analyst at Rystad Energy. Bakken oil production could drop to 1.15 million bpd from 2026 and be flat through 2030, before entering gradual decline as inventory exhaustion sets in, said Nathan Nemeth, a principal analyst at Wood Mackenzie.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Hess, Boom, Mike Wirth, Wirth, Ron Ness, Kathy Neset, Matthew Bernstein, Bernstein, Jessie Jones, Jones, Nathan Nemeth, Wood Mackenzie, Stephanie Kelly, Ernest Scheyder, Marguerita Choy, Simon Webb Organizations: Chevron, Hess, REUTERS, Gulf Coast, Reuters Graphics Chevron, North Dakota Petroleum Council, Rystad Energy, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Energy, Thomson Locations: North Dakota, New Mexico, Gulf, Gulf Coast ., Midland, Texas

[1/2] Graphite powder, used for battery paste, is pictured in a Volkswagen pilot line for battery cell production in Salzgitter, Germany, May 18, 2022. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 20 (Reuters) - As China moved to control some exports of key battery mineral graphite on Friday, miners elsewhere face a race against time to bring new projects to fruition to secure supplies for the next generation of electric vehicles. To stay ahead in a fast-changing industry, carmakers have been investing directly in mining projects to ensure future supplies of the battery inputs. "We see China's move as a potential catalyst to highlight the urgency of improving domestic graphite supply," said John DeMaio, president of Graphex's graphene division. "We've aligned ourselves with several graphite miners outside of China.

Persons: Fabian Bimmer, Hugues Jacquemin, China's, John DeMaio, DeMaio, Stefan Bernstein, Graphite's Jacquemin, Shishir Poddar, Nelson Banya, Clara Denina, Divya Rajagopal, Ernest Scheyder, Veronica Brown, Elaine Hardcastle Organizations: Volkswagen, REUTERS, Graphex, HK, EV, GreenRoc, Thomson Locations: Salzgitter, Germany, China, Warren , Michigan, Greenland, Northern, Tirupati, Madagascar, Mozambique

China's decision may escalate trade disputes globally and spur other countries to prioritize research into alternative sources and materials, industry executives said. "We see China's move as a potential catalyst to highlight the urgency of improving (U.S.) graphite supply," said John DeMaio, president of Graphex Group's (6128.HK) graphene division. It has graphite supply deals with Syrah Resources (SYR.AX) and is looking for other sources, DeMaio said. Synthetic graphite could account for nearly two-thirds of the EV battery anode market by 2025, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence estimates. Chief Operating Officer Hans Erik Vatne told Reuters recently that developing synthetic graphite production is costly, but that is the price to pay to reduce reliance on China.

Persons: Fabian Bimmer, John DeMaio, Graphex Group's, DeMaio, Tesla, Hans Erik Vatne, Rob Anstey, Alvin Liu, Akash Sriram, Ernest SCheyder, Nick Carey, Christina Amann, Marie Mannes, Gilles Guillaume, Ilona Wissenbach, Ben Klayman, Josie Kao Organizations: Volkswagen, REUTERS, Syrah Resources, Magnis Energy Technologies, Mineral Intelligence, Reuters, EVs, BMO Capital Markets, BMW, Volvo, Renault, General Motors, Ford, Thomson Locations: Salzgitter, Germany, China, Warren , Michigan, West, U.S, Europe, Oslo, Norway, Bengaluru, Houston, London, Berlin, Stockholm, Paris, Frankfurt

☆ Freeport-McMoRan beats quarterly profit estimates on production boost
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The logo of copper miner Freeport-McMoRan Inc is displayed on their offices in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. June 30, 2022. REUTERS/Ernest Scheyder/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsOct 19 (Reuters) - Copper miner Freeport-McMoRan (FCX.N) beat Wall Street estimates for third-quarter profit on Thursday, helped by higher copper production and sales volumes. Average copper prices were up about 8% in the reported quarter compared to last year, as economic stimulus in China spurred hopes of a rise in industrial activity. The mining giant said its quarterly production of copper rose to 1.09 billion pounds, from 1.06 billion pounds a year earlier. Reporting by Sourasis Bose in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja DesaiOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Ernest Scheyder, Sourasis Bose, Pooja Desai Organizations: McMoRan, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Freeport, Phoenix , Arizona, U.S, McMoRan, China, Indonesia, Bengaluru

☆ Posco-backed group invests in lithium technology startup EnergyX
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-17 | by ( Ernest Scheyder | Thomson Reuters | Ernest Scheyder Is An Award-Winning Senior Correspondent Covering The Green Energy Transition | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Posco, which invests through those funds, will work with EnergyX to help its technology reach commercial production, the companies said. The companies declined to say how much of the EnergyX Series B that the consortium is funding. Reuters reported in April that the EnergyX Series B is being led by General Motors (GM.N). Allkem (AKE.AX), Livent (LTHM.N) and others produce lithium nearby. In addition to working with Posco, EnergyX is looking for Argentine brine deposits to purchase, Egan said, though he declined to be more specific.

Persons: Kim Hong, EnergyX, Jaeho Rhee, Posco's Sal, Teague Egan, Posco, Egan, China's CATL, Ernest Scheyder, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, South, Posco Holdings, EnergyX, Elohim Partners, IMM Investment, Reuters, General Motors, EnergyX's, GM, Thomson Locations: Seoul, South Korea, KS, Argentina, Oro, Argentina's Salta Province, Posco's, Posco, Chile, Bolivia, South

☆ Albemarle pushed into corner, dumps $4.2 billion lithium play for Liontown
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Ernest Scheyder/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsMELBOURNE, Oct 16 (Reuters) - U.S.-based miner Albemarle (ALB.N) said it had dumped a A$6.6 billion ($4.16 billion) buyout bid for Australian lithium developer Liontown Resources (LTR.AX), in part because of "growing complexities" around the transaction. Liontown went into trading halt just after making the announcement to the market, pending a finalisation of funding for its flagship Kathleen Valley lithium project in Western Australia, which is due to start producing lithium next year. Liontown had last week granted the world's biggest lithium chemical maker an extra week to examine its books and allow Albemarle to put forward a binding offer. "Our engagement with the Liontown team has been meaningful and productive. Hancock has not yet approached Liontown which until now has been under an exclusivity deal with Albemarle, the source added.

Persons: Ernest Scheyder, Albemarle, Hancock, Gina Rinehart, Liontown, Kathleen Valley, Kent Masters, Melanie Burton, Scott Murdoch, Rishav Chatterjee, Lisa Shumaker, Sandra Maler, Jamie Freed Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Liontown Resources, Ford Motor, LG Energy, Thomson Locations: Silver, , Nevada, U.S, Albemarle, Western Australia, Melbourne, Sydney, Bengaluru

☆ Head of Exxon's shale oil business faces sexual assault charge in Texas
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( Gary Mcwilliams | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Exxon Mobil's Spring, Texas, campus where the bulk of the oil company's new trading will take place in Spring, Texas, U.S., April 21, 2017. David Scott, an Exxon senior vice president who oversees all its shale oil and gas production business, was arrested early Thursday morning at a La Quinta Inn & Suites hotel in Magnolia, Texas, the Montgomery Sheriff's Office said. Scott, 49, was arrested at the budget hotel near Exxon's Spring, Texas, headquarters where rooms cost about $120 a night. He become head of Exxon's Permian Basin operations in 2020 and was promoted to senior vice president earlier this year in charge of all its shale oil and gas. As a senior vice president, he would not necessarily be involved in merger talks, a person familiar with the matter said.

Persons: Ernest Scheyder, Exxon Mobil's, David Scott, Scott, Emily Mir, Gary McWilliams, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: Exxon, REUTERS, Rights, Natural Resources, Montgomery Sheriff's, Reuters, United Arab Emirates, Thomson Locations: , Texas, Spring , Texas, U.S, Texas, Magnolia , Texas, Montgomery, Exxon's Spring , Texas, Australia, Melbourne, Malaysia, Abu Dhabi

☆ Exclusive: Brazil mineral rights dispute casts shadow on Sigma Lithium expansion
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-28 | by ( Fabio Teixeira | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

View shows Sigma Lithium Corp SGML.V production at the Grota do Cirilo mine in Itinga, in Minas Gerais state, Brazil April 18, 2023. That transaction, Gardner's lawyers argued, would grant Sigma mineral rights to valuable lithium deposits and hurt RI-X's ability to develop its own mining project. At the time of the transfer, Gardner owned 49% of RI-X and Cabral-Gardner held 51%, documents show. Sigma shares, which had been up 4% in afternoon trading on Thursday, erased gains to close more than 2% lower after Reuters reported on the court injunction. Sigma declined to comment on the New York lawsuit, and said "the divorce proceedings are a private, personal matter and have no impact on how Sigma Lithium conducts business."

Persons: Washington Alves, Ana Cabral, Gardner, Calvyn Gardner, Cabral, Sigma, Fabio Teixeira, Ernest Scheyder, Gabriel Stargardter, Brad Haynes, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Sigma Lithium Corp, REUTERS, DE, Sigma, Reuters, Deloitte, Brazilian Mining Association, New, Thomson Locations: Itinga, Minas Gerais, Brazil, DE JANEIRO, Vancouver, Sao Paulo, New York

☆ Exxon sees $16 billion in earnings for fuels, chemicals by 2027
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-20 | by ( Erwin Seba | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Ernest Scheyder/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Exxon Mobil Corp FollowHOUSTON, Sept 20 (Reuters) - Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N) expects its motor fuels and chemicals earnings to reach $16 billion by 2027, up about $4 billion from current levels as demand continues to rise, executives said on Wednesday. Exxon combined its once separate chemicals and oil refining businesses and redesigned operations to quickly shift between fuels and chemicals based on which delivers the highest profit. Its fuels outlook differs from oil-consuming nations group International Energy Agency, which expects the use of oil for transportation fuels to decline after 2026. "We have the hypothesis this could be a game changer for Exxon Mobil," McKee said. The company's 564,440 barrel-per-day (bpd) Baytown, Texas refinery, which is co-located with a chemical unit, will allow it to evolve from primarily making fuels to chemicals, Williams said.

Persons: Ernest Scheyder, Jack Williams, Karen McKee, McKee, Exxon's, Beaumont, Williams, Refining's, Erwin Seba, Deepa Babington Organizations: Exxon, REUTERS, Companies Exxon Mobil Corp, Exxon Mobil Corp, International Energy Agency, Product Solutions, Exxon Mobil, Thomson Locations: Spring , Texas, U.S, , Texas, Beaumont , Texas, West Texas, Baytown , Texas

A sign at the approach road leads to Albemarle's lithium evaporation ponds at its facility in Silver Peak, Nevada, U.S., January 9, 2019. REUTERS/Ernest Scheyder/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 4 (Reuters) - Australia's Liontown Resources (LTR.AX) shares shot 11.5% higher after the lithium developer's board on Monday backed a refreshed A$6.6 billion ($4.26 billion) bid from Albemarle Corp (ALB.N), the world's biggest lithium producer. The news prompted Liontown shares to shoot up 11.5% to A$2.92, the highest since July 14. Liontown controls two major lithium deposits in Western Australia, including its flagship Kathleen Valley project slated for first production in mid-2024, which is among the world's largest and highest-grade hard rock lithium deposits. Albemarle's latest offer for Liontown was its fourth, having also proposed A$2.20 per share on Oct. 20 last year and A$2.35 per share earlier in March before its rejected A$2.50 a share offer was made public.

Persons: Ernest Scheyder, Liontown, Albemarle, Kathleen, Greenhill, Scott Murdoch, Poonam, Jamie Freed, Christopher Cushing Organizations: REUTERS, Albemarle Corp, Australia, Ford Motor, LG, Co, UBS, JPMorgan, Thomson Locations: Silver, , Nevada, U.S, Australian, Chile, Western Australia, South, Albemarle, Sydney

☆ Lithium developer Liontown backs Albemarle's sweetened $4.3 billion offer
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

A sign at the approach road leads to Albemarle's lithium evaporation ponds at its facility in Silver Peak, Nevada, U.S., January 9, 2019. REUTERS/Ernest Scheyder/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSept 4 (Reuters) - Australian lithium developer Liontown Resources (LTR.AX) said on Monday its board had recommended an improved takeover proposal from the world's biggest lithium producer Albemarle Corp (ALB.N) valuing the company at A$6.6 billion ($4.26 billion). Liontown said its board intended to unanimously recommend shareholders vote in favour of the new takeover proposal, adding that an independent expert concluded that it was in the best interests of shareholders. Albemarle's latest offer for Liontown was its fourth, having also proposed A$2.20 per share on Oct. 20 last year and A$2.35 per share earlier in March before its rejected A$2.50 a share offer was made public. Liontown said Greenhill & Co and UBS would act as financial advisers and Allens as its legal adviser in relation to the revised proposal.

Persons: Ernest Scheyder, Liontown, Kathleen, Greenhill, Poonam Behura, Kim Coghill, Christian Schmollinger, Jamie Freed Organizations: REUTERS, Liontown Resources, Albemarle Corp, Co, UBS, Thomson Locations: Silver, , Nevada, U.S, Albemarle, Australian, Western Australia

REUTERS/Ernest Scheyder Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Aug 17 (Reuters) - Production cuts announced by Saudi Arabia and its OPEC⁺ allies are expected to tighten the global petroleum market moderately over the remainder of 2023 and into the first quarter of 2024. Since then, additional production cuts announced by Saudi Arabia will remove an extra 90 million barrels from the market between July and September. Russia has also announced extra cuts amounting to 25 million barrels in August and September, assuming they are implemented in full. Related columns:- U.S. oil and gas production begins to flatten (August 4, 2023)- Saudi output cut removes downside risk from oil market (July 12, 2023)- Is oil market’s glass half-full or half-empty? (June 29, 2023)- Frustrated oil bulls made to wait for price recovery (June 22, 2023)John Kemp is a Reuters market analyst.

Persons: Ernest Scheyder, Brent, John Kemp, Paul Simao Organizations: REUTERS, OPEC ⁺, OECD, U.S . Energy Information Administration, of, Petroleum, OPEC, Thomson, Reuters Locations: Midland , Texas, U.S, Saudi Arabia, Russia, European, China, Saudi, United States, Europe, Asia

☆ Stellantis invests more than $100 million in California lithium project
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-17 | by ( Ernest Scheyder | Thomson Reuters | Ernest Scheyder Is An Award-Winning Senior Correspondent Covering The Green Energy Transition | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

"This is a significant investment and goes a long way toward developing this key project," Controlled Thermal CEO Rod Colwell said in an interview. Colwell said a $65 million facility recently installed by Controlled Thermal can remove that silica and other unwanted metals. Controlled Thermal aims to obtain final permits by October and start construction of a commercial lithium plant soon thereafter, Colwell said. Controlled Thermal had separately agreed to supply lithium to General Motors (GM.N) by 2024, but that goal has been pushed to 2025, Colwell said. GM said it has a "close working relationship" with Controlled Thermal but deferred comment on technical questions to its junior partner.

Persons: Gonzalo Fuentes, Stellantis, Rod Colwell, Berkshire Hathaway, Colwell, There's, Carlos Tavares, Goldman Sachs, Ernest Scheyder, Jamie Freed Organizations: REUTERS, Resources, Chrysler, Berkshire, Koch Industries, General Motors, GM, Vulcan Energy Resources, Thomson Locations: Velizy, Villacoublay, Paris, France

☆ Piedmont Lithium's plans to supply Tesla face skeptical North Carolina officials
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Ernest Scheyder | Thomson Reuters | Ernest Scheyder Is An Award-Winning Senior Correspondent Covering The Green Energy Transition | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Aug 8 (Reuters) - Piedmont Lithium (PLL.O) on Tuesday drew skepticism and anger at a key meeting with local North Carolina officials about its plans for a lithium mine that would supply the electric vehicle battery metal to Tesla (TSLA.O). Piedmont said it would be open to helping its neighbors in those situations dig deeper wells or connect to municipal water supplies. Piedmont first signed a deal to supply lithium to Tesla in 2021 from North Carolina. "We've not heard from Piedmont Lithium in over two years," said Warren Snowdon, whose land shares an 8,000-foot-border with the proposed site. "So I don't know if they don't care and I don't know if they're concerned about us."

Persons: Keith Phillips, Allen Fraley, Phillips, We've, Warren Snowdon, Ernest Scheyder, Edwina Gibbs Organizations: North, Thomson Locations: North Carolina, United States, Gaston County, Charlotte, U.S, China, Piedmont, Quebec, Gaston, Australia

☆ Albemarle jumps into global race to reinvent lithium production
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-03 | by ( Ernest Scheyder | Thomson Reuters | Ernest Scheyder Is An Award-Winning Senior Correspondent Covering The Green Energy Transition | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/3] A sign at the approach road leads to Albemarle's lithium evaporation ponds at its facility in Silver Peak, Nevada, U.S., January 9, 2019. Already the world's largest lithium producer, a successful move into the DLE sector would likely cement Albemarle's dominance in the fast-growing industry amid the push to electrify the global economy. DLE technologies vary, but they each aim to roughly double lithium extraction rates from brine deposits compared to traditional evaporation ponds. No DLE technology has reached commercial production without the use of those ponds, though, sparking a global race to be the first. If the tests are successful, the company could essentially bolt on DLE equipment to its bromine operations.

Persons: Ernest Scheyder, Kent Masters, Albemarle, Masters, Nick Zieminski Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, General Motors, Ford, Tetra Technologies, Thomson Locations: Silver, , Nevada, U.S, Albemarle, Arkansas

REUTERS/Steve Marcus/File photoAug 2 (Reuters) - Refining rare earths for the green energy transition is hard. "The (rare earths) commissioning process is painstaking, with stops and starts," Jim Litinsky, MP's CEO and largest shareholder, told investors in May. Rare earths magnets turn power into motion and are the essential components in an electric vehicle's motor. Rare earths refining "is not really being addressed even by those who are developing magnet capacity," said Ryan Castilloux, a minerals consultant at Adamas Intelligence. American Rare Earths is working with U.S. government scientists at the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory to develop bacteria that could process rare earths.

Persons: Steve Marcus, Lockheed Martin's, Lynas, Jim Litinsky, Kray Luxbacker, they've, Allan Walton, Ryan Castilloux, Castilloux, refines, Dysprosium, Tesla, Melissa Sanderson, Nathan Picarsic, Ernest Scheyder, Eric Onstad, Nick Carey, Melanie Burton, Veronica Brown, Susan Heavey Organizations: REUTERS, Lockheed, International Energy Agency, General Motors, University of, University of Birmingham, Adamas Intelligence, Trump, Reuters, Pentagon, Blue, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, Edge, Sweden's, U.S, Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, Horizon Advisory, Thomson Locations: Pass , California, U.S, China, Apple's, Beijing, Texas, Western Australia, COVID, California, Myanmar, Vietnam, Malaysia, Australia, Kuala Lumpur, United States, San Antonio , Texas, Sweden, South Africa, Karr

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