E7: Like a Rock(wood Lithium)

In this episode, Lithium-ion Rocks! welcomes two esteemed ex-Rockwood Lithium senior executives.

We ask Gerrit Fuelling, who oversaw $200M in lithium sales from Asia, whether $40,000 capital intensity per lithium hydroxide paid by Albemarle for JV with Mineral Resource at Wodgina is the new norm? Are Argentina brines really as low cost as advertised? Where might we see lithium chemical prices in 5, 10 years? Gerrit addresses these more and also shares thoughts on Albemarle, Livent, Ganfeng, SQM and Tianqi assets and M&A growth strategies.

From KKR portfolio company to 4X+ return over the 2005-2015 10-year period, Rockwood Lithium is the source of Albemarle being one of the best positioned specialty chemical lithium producers on the planet. With continued bold bets on lithium will ALB CEO Luke Kissam pull off from the 2015-2025 10-year period similar returns to his ROC predecessor Seifi Gashemi?

Tim McKenna shares tales from 10 years in an important government, investor and public relations role at Rockwood Lithium which included a battle and then partnership with China's Tianqi for the world’s best hard rock lithium mine at Talison/Greenbushes . Tim also share his success with the US Department of Energy during the Obama administration and his views on the current US government perspective about critical battery raw material security of supply.