LITHIUM 2021: Industry can learn from E&P mistakes

Given the impetus to grow lithium supply, the industry could learn from mistakes made by oil and gas companies during the United States’ energy independence journey, a Cowen analyst said during Fastmarkets' Lithium Supply & Markets conference 2021 in Las Vegas.

“There are significant similarities with pre-shale oil,” David Deckelbaum, managing director – sustainability and energy transition, said on Tuesday September 21.

There could be a 20-35% supply shortfall in the lithium market by 2025, meaning similar steps will need to be taken to those in making the US energy independent, Deckelbaum said.

This includes more investment in the space, along with government incentives and support. The latter played a large role in transitioning the US to what is now the world’s biggest oil producer from an oil importer around the 2006-07 timeframe.

The push on renewable energy by President Joe Biden’s administration is a step in the right direction, Deckelbaum said.

To attract more investors, the lithium industry will need to avoid the mistakes of oil and gas producers: spending recklessly and not returning money to shareholders are some of them. Environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) should also be high on lithium producers’ lists.

Given evolutions in the ESG space, the lithium industry “has the benefit of holding themselves to a higher standard” than exploration and production (E&P) companies typically have, Deckelbaum said.

Showcasing investors’ concerns, lithium companies’ shares are lagging the rising spot lithium prices, he said.

Other factors hindering investment are China’s dominance in the space, and the number and lack of differentiation between different lithium producer companies, Deckelbaum said.

Fastmarkets’ assessment of the lithium hydroxide monohydrate 56.5% LiOH.H2O min, battery grade, spot price, cif China, Japan & Korea was at $20-21 per kilogram on September 16, more than double the $8.50-9.50-per-kg range recorded a year ago.

What to read next
In the second of a two-part series, Fastmarkets looks at opportunities for the Asia ferro-alloys sector that could result from US-China trade tensions or against a backdrop of greater trade protection, ahead of the Asia Ferroalloys 2025 Conference
As US-China trade tensions intensify, Fastmarkets outlines the key challenges and opportunities for the Asian ferro-alloys sector ahead of the Asia Ferroalloys 2025 Conference.
The 2025 executive order on U.S. mineral production is a major step toward strengthening domestic supply chains and national security. By boosting domestic mineral production, it aims to reduce reliance on imports and ensure a secure future for critical industries. This order will shape the future of U.S. mining and its role in global markets.
Fastmarkets selects the frequency of publication of a market assessment after considering the number of data points (deals, bids, offers, deals heard and assessments) that it can reasonably expect to collect on a consistent basis over the selected period to support the price assessment process. This proposal follows preliminary discussions with the market as well […]
AG-SYB-0078 Crush Margin China Soy (Brazil) March 20, 2024:M1: 104.25 yuan per tonneM2: 63.25 yuan per tonneM3: 43.25 yuan per tonneM4: -44.75 yuan per tonneM5: -122.25 yuan per tonneM6: -132.75 yuan per tonne August 21, 2024:M1: -5 yuan per tonneM2: -6.75 yuan per tonneM3: -50.25 yuan per tonneM4: -100.5 yuan per tonneM5: 23.5 yuan per tonneM6: 34.5 yuan per tonne AG-SYB-0079 Crush Margin China Soy (US Gulf) March 20, […]
This consultation, which is open until April 28, 2025, seeks to ensure that our methodologies continue to reflect the physical market, in compliance with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) principles for Price Reporting Agencies (PRAs). This includes all elements of our pricing process, our price specifications and publication frequency. You can find the […]