Chairman's Address AGM
Released
Released
Announcement PDF
ASX ANNOUNCEMENT
21 November 2024
Lake Resources Chairman Opening Address
at 2024 Annual General Meeting
Good morning everyone and thank you again for your time today.
I am your Chairman, Stu Crow and I would like to say some brief remarks regarding Lake’s
recent progress and outlook.
Despite all the challenges of the past year, and there were many, the Company has achieved
some significant milestones in FY2024.
Top of the list was delivering a Definitive Feasibility Study for our flagship Kachi Lithium
Project. The results showed that Kachi is truly a tier one project, backed by a significant
resource and with strong economics that position it competitively.
Importantly, Kachi will advance sustainable and responsible lithium production through the
application of direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology. The world’s net zero transition is built
on sustainability and lithium production should be no less sustainable.
The maiden Ore Reserve announced for Kachi on 19 December last year showed the mine
plan can deliver sufficient lithium brine for a 25 ktpa operation over the 25-year life of mine
(See Appendix 1 and ASX Announcements from 22 November 2023 and 19 December 2023).
In another project milestone, Lake submitted in March 2024 the Production Environmental
Impact Assessment for Kachi. It highlighted Kachi’s minimal freshwater consumption and its
significant economic and social benefits for our hosts, Catamarca Province.
These are significant achievements for our key project that we all should be proud of.
Adding to the upside, our technology partner, Lilac Solutions, announced improved long-term
recoveries and reduced costs, resulting in total cost savings of up to 25 per cent for the DLE
technology package.
However, recent news on the lithium market has focused on the negatives – falling prices,
reduced investment, projects being curtailed or put on care and maintenance.
In such circumstances, you might ask why Lake should continue advancing our key project?
The simple answer is that the longer-term outlook remains bright.
In mining, it is often said that the solution to low prices is low prices. Most analysts point to
falling supply and rising demand leading to supply deficits by the end of the decade.
Industry analysts Benchmark Mineral Intelligence project the lithium market needs at least
US$94 billion of investment simply to meet the 2030 demand, and double that for the 2040
demand.
In short, the world needs approximately 68 Kachi Phase One projects, just to balance the
market by 2030.
Notably, the political environment in Argentina for foreign investment has improved
significantly. In July 2024, Argentina announced a new incentive regime for foreign
investment. Argentine President, Javier Milei has been pushing hard to build improved trade
and investment with the United States; in fact he was reportedly the first foreign leader to meet
President-elect Donald Trump since the November election in the United States.
Lake is optimistic that a pathway will be found to facilitate more Argentinian lithium supply into
the U.S. battery market, with Kachi potentially a significant source of battery-grade lithium
carbonate.
Significantly too, Rio Tinto’s US$6.7 billion acquisition of Arcadium has highlighted the value
of Argentinian lithium brine projects, demonstrating that the mining major can see long-term
value in the sector.
In the meantime, the Board is focused on ensuring Lake is “right-sized” for current conditions.
In March 2024, Lake announced a substantial reduction in global headcount and other costsaving initiatives. These initiatives regrettably required some talented people leaving our
Company. I would like to sincerely thank all staff for their contributions.
As well as cost cuts, Lake has actively sought to extract maximum value from our lithium
assets.
In this regard, it was extremely pleasing to announce earlier this month the sale of three of our
non-core lithium brine assets in Argentina for US$9 million (around A$13.6 million). The sale
of these assets in Jujuy Province, namely Paso de Jama, Olaroz and Cauchari, has given the
Company valuable funds to support our financial runway. Funding and closing of this sale is
expected to be completed by the end of calendar year 2024.
With current cash on hand and proceeds from the transaction, Lake’s pro-forma cash position
at 30 September 2024 is around $31.1 million AUD, positioning us with strong financial
liquidity.
In addition, calendar year 2025 outgoings are expected to be materially lower than in CY 2024,
thanks to the right-sizing initiatives, which will further preserve our cash position.
Looking ahead, Lake is continuing the strategic partnering process, with a focus on ensuring
that the process maximises Kachi’s value. Market conditions have made this process more
challenging, however we are optimistic that we will find the right partner to take Kachi forward
in terms of equity investment and offtake.
In conclusion, Lake is now well placed to ride out current market conditions and benefit from
the expected upturn. The security of future lithium supply is virtually impossible without
Argentina. This means Lake is in the right place at exactly the right time.
On a final note, I would like to thank shareholders who have taken the time to attend our
shareholder briefings held in Australia this year, across Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sydney,
Melbourne and Perth. It has been a pleasure to meet you all and I hope you found the events
informative.
Thank you again for your support and I look forward to meeting even more shareholders in
future.
For investor queries, please contact:
InvestorRelations@lakeresources.com.au or log onto Investor Hub through Lake’s public
website
For media queries, please contact:
Nigel Kassulke at Teneo
M: +61407904874
E: Nigel.Kassulke@teneo.com
About Lake Resources N.L. (ASX:LKE OTC:LLKKF)
Lake Resources N.L. (ASX:LKE; OTC:LLKKF) is a responsible lithium developer utilising state
of-the-art ion exchange extraction technology for production of sustainable, high purity lithium
from its flagship Kachi Project in Catamarca Province within the Lithium Triangle in Argentina.
This ion exchange extraction technology delivers a solution for two rising demands – high
purity battery materials to avoid performance issues, and more sustainable, responsibly
sourced materials with low carbon footprint and significant ESG benefits.
Forward Looking Statements:
Certain statements contained in this announcement, including information as to the future
financial performance of the projects and the Company, are forward-looking statements. Such
forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and
assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Lake Resources N.L. are inherently subject
to significant technical, business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and
contingencies; involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties and other factors that could
cause actual events or results to differ materially from estimated or anticipated events or
results, expressed or implied, reflected in such forward-looking statements; and may include,
among other things, statements regarding targets, estimates and assumptions in respect of
production and prices, operating costs and results, capital expenditures, reserves and
resources and anticipated flow rates, and are or may be based on assumptions and estimates
related to future technical, economic, market, political, social and other conditions and affected
by the risk of further changes in government regulations, policies or legislation and that further
funding may be required, but unavailable, for the ongoing development of Lake’s projects.
Lake Resources N.L. disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. The
words “believe”, “expect”, “anticipate”, “indicate”, “contemplate”, “target”, “plan”, “intends”,
“continue”, “budget”, “estimate”, “may”, “will”, “schedule” and similar expressions identify
forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements made in this announcement are
qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking
statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly investors are cautioned
not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty
therein. Lake does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in
accordance with applicable securities laws.
Appendix 1
Resource Statement
Note: This table has been directly extracted from the JORC update
announced on 22 November 2023. Lake Resources N.L. confirms that
it is not aware of any information that materially affects the information
included in Lake’s JORC update announced on ASX on 22 November
2023 and all material assumptions contained in that announcement
continue to apply and have not materially changed. The Company
confirms that the form and content in which the Competent Person’s
findings are presented have not been materially modified from the
original market announcement.
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