So I think there’s going to be some opportunistic acquisitions.”There is already evidence of frenzied deal activity involving pre-producing companies. Develop Global, a base metals explorer backed by diversified miner Mineral Resources, last month proposed to acquire lithium developer Essential Metals for A$152.6 million ($97.98 million). “Even though battery chemistry is evolving and impacting certain metals, lithium is a mainstay and the demand story remains robust. The battery metals landscape, and lithium in particular, looks poised for further M&A activity,” said Gavi Friedland, head of metals and mining at Goldman Sachs in Australia & New Zealand. Mineral Resources is deciding whether to build an Australian lithium battery chemical plant, while Albemarle is expanding production at its Kemerton hydroxide plant and SQM is also building a lithium hydroxide plant.

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Persons: Ivan Alvarado, acquirers, ”, Kaan, “, Gavi Friedland, Goldman Sachs, Guy Alexander, Buyers, Japan’s Idemitsu, Delta, Tony Chong, Squire Patton Boggs, Jakob Stausholm, Stausholm, ” Dale Henderson Organizations: MELBOURNE, REUTERS, Chile, Albemarle Corp, RBC, Develop, Mineral Resources, Metals, Minerals, Liontown Resources, Climate Capital, Consultancy, EV, Goldman, New Zealand, Resources, ”, Rio Tinto, Patriot Metals, Canada, Reuters Locations: Albemarle Chile, Chile, Australia, Sydney, Andover, Albemarle, Perth, China, U.S, Rio, Canada, Quebec