Mining Magazine August 2017 | Page 25

LITHIUM PRODUCERS

04 SICHUAN TIANQI LITHIUM

Based out of Chengdu , China , this company is considered the global leader in hard rock-based lithium production . Tianqi and Albemarle have been collaborative bedfellows in recent years . After Tianqi out manoeuvred Rockwood Holdings for control of Australia ’ s Greenbushes mines , it sold 49 percent back after Albemarle acquired Rockwood . The joint venture has been lucrative with Albemarle making significant investment into the mines . The leading Chinese operation has been on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange since 2010 and its portfolio includes mining operations in Australia , the Chinese provinces of Yajiang County , Ganzi Prefecture and Sichuan , as well as the Zhabuye Salt Lake Lithium Project in Shigatse , Tibet . Over the last five years , stock values have risen from 7.86 to over 54 in a highly stable fashion . Its Asia operations claim to have access to more than 200,000 metric tonnes of lithium reserves and Greenbushes ’ output nears 40 % of the global market .

03 FMC

With global offices in six countries , FMC has been aggressive in Argentina ’ s Salar del Hombre Muerto and has reported revenues in excess of $ 230 million . The corporation placed emphasis on its lithium hydroxide operation in China last year and that investment is expected to yield a significant capacity boost . A jump from 2016 ’ s 10,000 metric tonnes to 18,000 in 2017 , and an upward trend that may hit 30,000 by 2019 , keeps FMC poised as an industry leader . Along those lines , FMC fostered an agreement with Nemaska Lithium for a supply of 8,000 metric tonnes of lithium carbonate annually . The agreement goes into effect in 2018 . FMC Corp stocks have been upwardly
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