The Global Lithium Podcast

Dr Yuan Gao is one of the most respected voices in the lithium-ion battery supply chain. A battery scientist with a number of cathode patents that has worked for a lithium producer, been the CEO of a major cathode maker, and is now on the board of directors of Lithium Americas and Pure Lithium, Dr Gao has a unique perspective on the history and future of the battery industry.
Topics:
The holy grail
The future of BESS
What's next in cathode
Demand growth
The evolution of lithium intensity
Repurposing US gigafactories
CATL
Sodium-ion
Robin Zeng's team
Solid state batteries
Innovation in lithium metal
Making a difference
Lessons from Lithium Americas
US-China relations
Lithium-ion surprises
Rapid fire

In this solo episode, I discuss the state of the lithium market: the good, the bad and the ugly.
Despite the market’s overreaction to misinformation from China about the impact of a mine reopening on the supply and demand balance and the threat of sodium ion, lithium’s long-term fundamentals have never looked better.
Demand continues to go from strength to strength. Meanwhile, production shortfalls, project delays and efforts by African countries to retain more of the value created from their resources continue to put pressure on supply.
Topics:
ALB's bullish market commentary
SQM displaces ALB as the #1 producer
CATL: #1 in GWH & misinformation
The pulled US lithium tender
The midstream/downstream future in Oz
US critical metals "hype machine"
Tesla's long ramp up in Texas
Buy the book

Venkee Sharma is the Executive Chairman of Aquatech, a global leader in water and critical metals technology.
Topics:
Aquatech’s “superpower”
Seizing opportunities in lithium
The Team
Aquatech’s view of the market
DLE
The op-ex challenge
Believers in brine
The future of battery grade
Fans of the Smackover
Different customers – different problems
Selling solutions not technology
A family culture
The White Silver Project
Pearl
Rapid fire

David Park is the CEO of Standard Lithium.
Topics:
Leaving retirement for a lithium junior
Capital challenges
Partners
Critical success factors
Getting to FID
Offtake agreements
DLE
The Team
Bipartisan projects
The benefits of Arkansas
The Smackover vs. hard rock
Price
"6 hours of angst"
Shout outs
Rapid fire

Chris Berry interviewed me about my new book "Lithium Confidential" at the the Fastmarkets Global Lithium event in Las Vegas. The interview was in front of a live audience.
The book is available via both as a paperback and e-book via Amazon but can also be ordered from you local bookstore no matter where you live.