Page 47 - pd299-Nov21-mag-web_neat

BAtteRY MIneRALs FocUs

Lithium sector

finds a voice

s the lithium industry has entered the most important
A decade of what is touted the Lithium Century, miners finally
have come together. The International Lithium Association (ILiA)
was launched in October, tasked with providing the industry
with a “central, global voice for the lithium producers and their
stakeholders, and to promote a sustainable and a responsible
future for the lithium value chain”. Ken Brinsden

ounding members SQM, Ganfeng Lithium the end-users,” Sheth said. some of the issues other metals are tainted
FCo., Ltd, AMG Brazil S.A., Orocobre Ltd Pilbara Minerals managing director Ken by. In Africa, the major developers – the likes
and Pilbara Minerals Ltd collectively account Brinsden said the time was right for a global of Leo Lithium [Ltd] and AVZ Minerals [Ltd]
for more than half of global lithium. lithium group. – are ASX-listed companies so don’t need
The ILiA will be led by experienced industry “As a founding member of the Interna- additional guidelines because investors and
association manager Roland Chavasse as tional Lithium Association, Pilbara Minerals stakeholders understand the level of ESG
chief executive and acclaimed international welcomes the development of a global trade performance inherent in Australian compa-
expert Anand Sheth of Titan International Pty body focussed on lithium raw materials, its nies.”
Ltd as chairman. applications and working to promote a better Meeting ESG guidelines is within the con-
Speaking with Paydirt last month, Sheth understanding of the lithium industry’s proac- trol of ILiA and its members but growing geo-
said the recent flourishing of lithium demand tive engagement addressing sustainability political tensions around supply of lithium and
and developments had meant an industry and the important part lithium will play in de- other critical minerals isn’t.
body was essential to support existing and carbonisation of the global economy,” he said. Sheth said the ILiA would work hard to ex-
new entrants. Attention is already being drawn to lithium plain to regulators, policymakers and other
“The idea for an association has been in miners as offtakers, customers, end-users stakeholders that tight demand would be
our minds for many years,” Sheth explained. and consumers increase their demands for solved by a proliferation of supply.
“Then, during COVID we did a lot of thinking supply chain transparency on a wide range “Lithium is only a critical mineral because
and communicated with existing producers. of issues including carbon emissions, human there has never been big investment in the
They all said they saw the need for an asso- rights, water usage and licence-to-operate. past,” he said. “For 30 years there were just
ciation and would support it.” “We will need to focus on every one of three players and it has only been in the last
Chavasse already runs industry bodies 12-13 years, that others have come onstream.
for tantalum and minor metals and agreed to Soon, we will have lithium players around the
manage ILiA from the UK, a deliberate deci- world because the growth of demand will gen-
sion given the global spread of current lithium erate it.”
production. Diversity of concentrate supply is beginning
“The UK was chosen because of its central to emerge but ensuring several sources of the
time zone between the two big producing re- those areas,” Sheth said. “We will create a list lithium chemicals needed for EV batteries is
gions; Western Australia and South America,” of priorities with the executive committee, as still some way off.
Sheth said. “Also, in the UK and Europe there we build up funding and recruit people. Sheth praised the WA State Government’s
is a lot of policy development going on around “We have already started with affiliations push to establish a downstream processing
lithium. These groups have welcomed us and with the likes of ICMM [International Council industry.
asked us to support them on their understand- of Metals & Mining] and RMI [Responsible “We look forward to WA supporting the lithi-
ing of lithium, as we see from other associa- Mining Initiative].” um industry and I think it needs to have its own
tions on nickel, cobalt, copper, etc.” Sheth worked at the Greenbushes mine in value-add downstream processing industry,”
The ILiA will have a similar agenda to Western Australia for more than 20 years and he said. “I’m encouraged by the government
many of those more established metals as- is confident WA lithium’s international reputa- – both state and federal – support for further
sociations, promoting the ESG credentials of tion for responsible and sustainable mining development of precursor capacity. We will
its members and lithium’s role in the energy practices will be retained. However, as new support that and encourage international
revolution. operations sprout up across the world, the companies to come to WA and develop that
“Lithium is key to the current global energy ILiA will work to ensure ESG principals are industry. There are a number of big organisa-
revolution as the world transitions towards ‘net maintained and promoted. tions doing an evaluation on that, it is just a
zero carbon’ which will bring unprecedented “While WA’s reputation is strong, half of matter of time.”
growth to the market but also intense atten- global lithium production comes from South
tion from media, government regulators, civil America, and there is some misinformation – Dominic Piper
society, end-user groups and other external around that industry that we are clarifying,” he
stakeholders. The ILiA will include members said.
from the entire supply chain: from resource to “In lithium, you don’t have to worry about

aUSTRaLIa’S PaYDIRT NOVeMBeR 2021 Page 47