LG Chem and Nemaska Lithium announce signature of an 5-year Supply Agreement for Lithium Hydroxide
An aerial view of the Nemaska Lithium facility. — Photo courtesy Nemaska Lithium
Nemaska Lithium Inc. (“Nemaska Lithium” or the “Corporation”) (TSX:NMX) (OTC:NMKEF) and LG Chem, Ltd. (“LG”) are pleased to announce the signature of an agreement providing for the supply of battery grade lithium hydroxide by the Corporation to LG.
“We are pleased with this first step towards establishing a long-term commercial relationship between LG and Nemaska Lithium. The signing of this agreement is a clear vote of confidence by LG in our business plan and our capacity to be a long-term supplier of lithium hydroxide”, said Guy Bourassa, President & Chief Executive Officer of Nemaska Lithium.
Under this agreement, Nemaska Lithium agrees to supply LG, on a take-or-pay basis and through its wholly-owned subsidiary Nemaska Lithium Shawinigan Transformation Inc., with 7,000 tonnes per year of lithium hydroxide produced at the Corporation’s commercial plant in Shawinigan, for an initial 5-year period scheduled to start in October 2020. Nemaska Lithium is entitled, if ever necessary, to reschedule the commencement of the supply period, within certain parameters set out in the agreement and based on the anticipated commissioning, ramping up and production start date for the Shawinigan plant.
With this additional off-take agreement and taking into account the right of first offer granted to SoftBank Group to purchase up to 20% of production, Nemaska Lithium has now committed or has agreement in principle in place for over 90% of its anticipated 33,000 tonnes/y LCE capacity.
Nemaska Lithium is a developing chemical company whose activities will be vertically integrated, from spodumene mining to the commercialization of high-purity lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate. These lithium salts are mainly destined for the fast-growing lithium-ion battery market, which is driven by the increasing demand for electric vehicles and energy storage worldwide. With its products and processes, Nemaska Lithium intends to facilitate access to green energy, for the benefit of humanity.
The Corporation will be operating the Whabouchi mine in Québec, Canada, one of the richest lithium spodumene deposits in the world, both in volume and grade. The spodumene concentrate produced at the Whabouchi mine will be processed at the Shawinigan plant using a unique membrane electrolysis process for which the Corporation holds several patents.
Nemaska Lithium is a member of the S&P/TSX SmallCap Index, S&P/TSX Global Mining Index, S&P/TSX Global Base Metals Index, S&P/TSX Equal Weight Global Base Metals Index, and the MSCI Canada Small Cap Index. For more information, visit www.nemaskalithium.com or twitter.com/Nemaska Lithium.
LG Chem, Ltd. is Korea’s largest diversified chemical company which operates three main business units: Petrochemicals, IT & Electronic Materials and Energy Solution. The company was founded in 1947 and now employs over 29,000 staff globally. The chemical business manufactures a wide range of products, from petrochemical goods to high-value added plastics. It also extends its chemical expertise into high-tech areas such as electronic materials and lithium-ion batteries. With over 20 years’ experience of development and production of these batteries, LG Chem has established itself as one of the world’s leading lithium-ion manufacturers. The company is a primary supplier of lithium batteries throughout the world for the mobile phone and hybrid/electric vehicle industries & Energy Storage System (ESS). For further information about LG Chem, visit http://www.lgchem.com/global/main.
