is there a compelling reason why albemarle couldn’t just swallow standard lithium whole? Or roll over and squash them?

I mean, lithium is their business and southern AR is their turf

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Posted by Woodbird

Member since Jun 2017

267 posts

Posted on 9/16/20 at 8:59 pm to cgrand

The Standard Lithium demonstration plant is onsite at one of Lanxess’ plants in South Arkansas extracting Lithium from Lanxess tail brine before they pump back down hole. Lanxess and Albemarle are direct competitors. I don’t know what the agreement between Lanxess and Standard Lithium is but there has to be an agreement between the two since the full buildout which was mentioned in the article linked above will be at the Lanxess facilities. I’m not sure if Standard Lithium has the capital to build those facilities or if Lanxess would buy them out, etc but I’m sure there’s a deal made that is clear on what the next steps are between the two should the demonstration plant prove viable.

Regarding squashing them, my understanding is the Standard Lithium technology is a proprietary technology they’ve discovered. The Lithium being present in the tail brine isn’t new news...just how they are processing it once they extract it. Albemarle’s South Arkansas facility is pumping tailbrine with trace lithium back in the ground every day. I’m sure if they had the technology to process it then they would love to extract it and do so.

This post was edited on 9/16/20 at 9:03 pm

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Posted by SmackoverHawg

Member since Oct 2011

27755 posts

Posted on 9/16/20 at 11:05 pm to cgrand

quote:
is there a compelling reason why albemarle couldn’t just swallow standard lithium whole? Or roll over and squash them?

I mean, lithium is their business and southern AR is their turf

Because Standard Lithium is partnered with Lanxess. And Lanxess has agreed to foot the bill for the megaplant. Albermarle went with a different group. Standard Lithium chose Lanxess because they had more brine locally with Tetra's at higher concentrations than Albermarle's. Lithium is not their business in south Arkansas. Lanxess is the big dog here. Albermarle bigger worldwide. Standard lithium is tied to Lanxess. Unless Albermarle wants to swallow the 3rd largest chemical company in Europe, they ain't touching STHLF.

This post was edited on 9/16/20 at 11:07 pm

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Posted by Auburn1968