[LAC #55] 리튬 아메리카스 2021 연말 보고서

요약본이 회사 홈페이지에 올라와 있어 올려본다. 두 축은 아르헨티나, 미국이며, 아르헨티나는 카우차리, 파스토스 그란데, 그리고 아레나 미네랄 삼두 체제로, 그리고 미국은 태커패스 올인이다. 

 

HIGHLIGHTS

Argentina

Caucharí-Olaroz

• Construction continues to advance with a revised timeline; currently the project is approximately 85% complete and commissioning is targeted to commence in H2 2022. (현재 85% 완공, 2022년 2/4분기 운영 시작 목표)  
  • 1,500 workers are on site with 100% of the workforce having received at least two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. (1500명 근로자 일하는 중, 모두 코비드 백신 최소 두 방씩 다 맞음)
  • Around the end of 2021, construction activities were impacted by COVID-19 Omicron disruptions impacting supply chains and availability of the main contractor. Activities have returned to normal and the Company continues to monitor the situation closely. (코비드 때문에 지연된 공사 지금은 제대로 진행중)
  • Additional resources have been added to accelerate and de-risk commissioning and ramp-up timeline. (추가적인 자원 공급이 있었음)
• Total capital cost estimates have been revised to $741 million (on a 100% basis), up 16% from $641 million, to reflect additional resources and manpower, engineering modifications and inflationary cost pressures. (현재 카우차리 총 자본비용 추정치는 641 million에서 100million 추가된 741 million으로 상승. 이는 인플레에 따른 추가 자원 비용, 인력 비용 상승등이 원인)
  • As of December 31, 2021, 76%, or $565 million, of the $741 million budget has been spent. (2021년 12월 말 기준으로 741 million 예산 중 76% 사용). 

• Progress on the second stage expansion of at least 20,000 tonnes per annum (“tpa”) of lithium carbonate equivalent (“LCE”) continues to advance with additions to the technical leadership team and drilling program underway. (2차 단계에서 연간 2만톤 증산하는 계획 수립중)

Pastos Grandes

• In January 2022, the Company completed the acquisition of Millennial Lithium Corp. and the 100% owned Pastos Grandes for total consideration of approximately $390 million. (2022년 밀레니얼 리튬 인수 완료, 약 390millon 주고 삼)
• In February 2022, the Company hired Carlos Galli as Senior Director, Project Development, Latin America, to oversee the development planning for Pastos Grandes and integration and expansion of a team of over 50 workers based in Salta, Argentina. (2022년 2월 Carlos Galli를 이사로 위촉, 파스토스 그란데 진척 상황 및 기존 50여 명이 있는 팀 통합하는 사안을 검토 중임). 

Arena Minerals

• In November 2021, the Company increased its strategic investment in Arena Minerals Inc. (TSX-V: AN) to approximately 17.4% for $10 million.(아레나 미네라 지분 2021년 11월 기준으로 17.4% 보유 중)

United States

Thacker Pass

• In October 2021, Measured and Indicated (“M&I”) Resource estimates were updated to 13.7 million tonnes (“Mt”) LCE at 2,231 parts per million lithium (“ppm Li”). See the Company’s news release dated October 7, 2021 for full details. (태커패스는 현재 13.7 백만톤 LCE 정도의 매장량이 있는 것으로 추정) 
• The Company continues to advance the Feasibility Study with an increased targeted capacity of 40,000 tpa lithium carbonate and incorporating a second phase expansion to reach a targeted total capacity of 80,000 tpa lithium carbonate. Results of the Feasibility Study are expected in H2 2022. (현재 회사는 feasibility test 계속 하고 있는 중이며, 초기에는 4만 이후에는 8만으로 연간 생산량 늘리는 계획을 잡고 있음). 
• The Company is continuing to optimize engineering to complete capital and operating estimates. Capital costs are expected to substantially increase due to the incorporation of increased scale, additional processing and related infrastructure changes, and the results of engineering and testing, as well as to account for external factors such as inflationary pressures and supply chain considerations. (태커패스 자본 및 운영 비용 효율화를 위해 최대한 노력 중; (개인의견) 그래서 정부 대출 승인을 한 것으로 보임)
• The Lithium Technical Development Center is expected to be operational in Q2 2022 to support ongoing optimization work and to provide product samples for potential customers and partners. (2022년 2월에 리튬 기술 개발 센터가 가동될 것으로 보임. 여기서는 미래 잠재 고객들에게 샘플을 제공하고 생산 최적화를 위한 지원 등을 할 계획임) 
• In February 2022, the Nevada Department of Environmental Protection (“NDEP”) issued the final key state-level environmental permits: Water Pollution Control Permit, Class II Air Quality Operating Permit and Exploration and Mine Reclamation Permits.(2022년 네바다 주 정부 핵심 주 단위 승인 모두 함). 
• An appeal on the Record of Decision continues to advance through Federal court process with a ruling expected in Q3 2022. (항소심 결론은 2022년 3/4분기에 나올 것으로 예상) 
• In February 2022, the Company announced that it submitted a draft application to the US Department of Energy for funding to be used at Thacker Pass through the Advanced Technologies Vehicle Manufacturing Loan Program. (2022년 2월 미 에너지국에 태커 패스 개발을 위해 대출 요청) 
• Discussions continue with potential strategic partners and customers. (전략적 파트너 및 고객과는 계속 대화 중)

Corporate

• As at December 31, 2021, the Company had $511 million in cash and cash equivalents with an additional $75 million in available credit.(2021년 12월 31일 기준으로 현금 511 million + 추가적으로 사용 가능한 미래 현금 75 million 대강 600million 정도 있는 듯) 
• In December 2021, the Company completed a convertible senior note offering of $259 million at 1.75% due in 2027. Net proceeds were primarily used to repay the $205 million senior secured credit facility and remove security over Thacker Pass, and to repay in early 2022 $25 million outstanding on its subordinate loan facility. (2021년 12월 컨버터블 노트 259 millon 만큼 제공-1.27% 이율 2027년 만기)
• In January 2022, the Company began to work with IRMA (Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance) to pilot their new draft IRMA-Ready Standard for Responsible Mineral Exploration and Development. (2022년 1월 IRMA와 함께 새로운 IRMA 광산 표준을 위한 작업 시작). 
• In February 2022, Richard Gerspacher joined as Senior Vice President Capital Projects to oversee execution of the Company’s development projects. Most recently, Mr. Gerspacher served as Vice President and Projects Director for Fluor Corporation leading the development of an advanced stage lithium chemical project in Australia.  (리차드 게스파처를 vice president capital project로 선임). 
• In February 2022, the Company commenced the process to explore a separation of its US and Argentina operations, through the creation of a standalone public company focused on the development of Thacker Pass. (2022년 2월 회사 분할을 위한 작업 시작)

 

지난 6개월동안 생각보다 많은 일이 다이나믹하게 벌어지고 있다. 회사가 충실하게 잘 보고하고 있는 듯.