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Electric Cars Put Battery Metal Prices in Fast Lane

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Marcus Leroux, The Times – The metals needed to power electric vehicles were in hot demand in 2017, but a leading observer of the market believes that prices are still only in the foothills of the peaks they may yet achieve.

Demand for lithium, cobalt and nickel for batteries surged on the back of rising expectations about the move towards electric vehicles and the adoption and viability of large-scale energy storage. The prices of lithium and cobalt have more than doubled in the past year.

Andrew Miller, an analyst at Benchmark Minerals, which collects price data for the lithium-ion battery supply chain, said: “There is a big trend in the energy storage market and we’re now starting to see the beginnings of these big megafactories we’ve talked about.”

Tesla, the electric vehicle manufacturer, is building the best-known battery facility, its so-called gigafactory in Nevada. However, Benchmark calculates that there are 26 such factories under construction, although it will be several years before there is enough production of the commodities needed to make batteries to meet demand.

Peter Secker, chief executive of Bacanora Minerals, which is constructing a lithium mine in Mexico that is due to come into production in 2019, said: “It’s scary. The numbers are changing almost every day. Contract prices for lithium carbonate are at $13,000 a tonne, but spot prices far, far higher. The market is really tight.”

In September Great Wall Motors, a Chinese vehicle manufacturer, tried to secure a supply of lithium by buying a 3.5 per cent stake in Pilbara Minerals. Hanwa, a big trader of battery materials, has a 9 per cent stake in Bacanora. Despite being quoted on London’s junior market, Bacanora’s shareholder is dominated by big investors such as Blackrock, Capital Group and M&G, signalling the interest in lithium.

Glencore has been loudest among the big mining groups in talking up the prospects of battery technology for the commodities it produces. Its big copper mines in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia have the added benefit of producing cobalt as a byproduct, unlike operations in Chile and Peru.

Glencore recently cited data from CRU, a consultancy, suggesting that the growth in electric vehicles and the consequent increase in grid infrastructure and charging kit would require additional copper equivalent to 18 per cent of global supply and a fourfold increase in the amount of cobalt.

Mr Miller warned that a lithium supply crunch was looming. “There’s no question of there not being enough of this stuff out there, but it’s whether it will come in the time period that Volkswagen or BMW want it to,” he said.

Published by The Times – View Article Here.

A.I.S. Resources Begins Exploration at the De Quirón, Salta, Argentina

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Vancouver, British Columbia – December 1, 2017 – A.I.S. Resources Limited (TSX: AIS, OTCQB: AISSF) (the “Company” or “AIS”) is pleased to announce that it has begun exploration activities in the Salar de Quirón, (the “Chiron Project’) in the Province of Salta, located approximately 10 kilometers from the township of Pocitos.

The Chiron Project is comprised of the following concessions:

File No

 Concession Name Area Ha Environmental Study Current

N° 19.457

 Pocitos 1 800 Yes

N° 19.458

 Pocitos 2 532 Yes
N° 19.463 Pocitos 7 800

Yes
N° 19.465 Pocitos 9 599

No
Pocitos 2,732 Ha

Environmental impact assessments have been completed on all four concessions. Applications for sampling, seismic, and 6,000 metres of drilling have been submitted.

A VES geophysics study is being prepared by Quantec Geoscience Argentina S.A. to cover the newly acquired concessions.

AIS has planned an intensive exploration program of sampling, mapping, geophysics and drilling for the period December 2017 – March 2018 and plans to complete a NI 43-101 compliant study in the first quarter of 2018.

Previous Exploration in the Salar de Quirón
The 60-kilometre-long Pocitos salar basin has been previously drill tested with 12 shallow holes in 1979 by an Argentine government agency. The most significant result from the historical work programs includes a shallow drill hole, which averaged 417 parts per million (ppm) lithium and 15,300 ppm potassium. However, AIS’s recent research suggests that highly concentrated brines are at 100-350 meters depth.

AIS has completed research to understand the likely occurrence of lithium rich brines in the Salar at depth. The research model suggests that at least three adjacent salars in the region of the Salar de Quirón have been exposed to significant tectonic and volcanic events during the Proterozoic period “burying” previously existing salars at depths of 100-350 meters. AIS intends to determine the extent of this hypothesis.

In 2010, Li3 Energy Inc. announced the results of 46 brine samples taken immediately east of the Chiron Project, with brine assays ranging from 300 ppm to 600 ppm lithium.

AIS-Resources-Chiron-Project-Map

Millennial Lithium Corp. and Liberty One Lithium Corp’s August 2017 VES survey reported encouraging results in the area of the Salar de Quirón near the Chiron project (view here).

Portions of Pure Energy’s October 2017 VES seismic traverse the Chiron project (view here).

Marc Enright-Morin, AIS President and CEO, commented: “Very encouraging results from nearby explorers classify the Chiron Project as having significant prospectivity. We look forward to testing the hypothesis that highly concentrated brines exist at depth through our upcoming program of geophysics and drilling. Our strategy is to fast track both our Mina Guayatayoc and Chiron Projects.”

Qualified Person
Phillip Thomas, BSc Geol, MBusM, MAIG, MAIMVA, (CMV), a Qualified Person as defined under NI 43-101 regulations, has reviewed the technical information that forms the basis for portions of this news release, and has approved the disclosure herein. Mr. Thomas is not independent of the Company as he is an officer and shareholder.

About A.I.S. Resources
A.I.S Resources Limited a TSX-V listed investment issuer, was established in 1967 and is managed by experienced, highly qualified professionals who have a long track record of success in lithium exploration, production and capital markets. Through their extensive business and scientific networks, they identify and develop early stage projects worldwide that have strong potential for growth with the objective of providing significant returns for shareholders. The Company is currently focused on the exploration and development of lithium properties in Northern Argentina.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,
AIS Resources Ltd.
Marc Enright-Morin, President and CEO

Contact
A.I.S. Resources Limited
Marc Enright-Morin
President and CEO
T: 778-892-5455
E: memorin@aisresources.com
W: www.aisresources.com

ADVISORY: This press release contains forward-looking statements. More particularly, this press release contains statements concerning the anticipated use of the proceeds of the Private Placement. Although the Corporation believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the Corporation can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. The intended use of the proceeds of the Private Placement by the Corporation might change if the board of directors of the Corporation determines that it would be in the best interests of the Corporation to deploy the proceeds for some other purpose. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and the Corporation undertakes no obligations to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

A.I.S. Resources Announces Option Grant

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Vancouver, British Columbia – November 24, 2017 – A.I.S. Resources Limited (TSX: AIS, OTCQB: AISSF) (the “Company” or “AIS”) is pleased to announce that effective November 24, 2017 it has granted 2,200,000 stock options to directors and consultants of the Company pursuant to the Company’s Stock Option Plan. The options have an exercise price of $0.91 per share and an expiry date of November 24, 2022.

About A.I.S. Resources
A.I.S Resources Limited a TSX-V listed investment issuer, was established in 1967 and is managed by experienced, highly qualified professionals who have a long track record of success in lithium exploration, production and capital markets. Through their extensive business and scientific networks, they identify and develop early stage projects worldwide that have strong potential for growth with the objective of providing significant returns for shareholders. The Company is currently focused on the exploration and development of lithium properties in Northern Argentina.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,
AIS Resources Ltd.
Marc Enright-Morin, President and CEO

Contact
A.I.S. Resources Limited
Marc Enright-Morin
President and CEO
T: 778-892-5455
E: memorin@aisresources.com
W: www.aisresources.com

ADVISORY: This press release contains forward-looking statements. More particularly, this press release contains statements concerning the anticipated use of the proceeds of the Private Placement. Although the Corporation believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the Corporation can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. The intended use of the proceeds of the Private Placement by the Corporation might change if the board of directors of the Corporation determines that it would be in the best interests of the Corporation to deploy the proceeds for some other purpose. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and the Corporation undertakes no obligations to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

A.I.S. Resources Expands Lithium Footprint in Argentina

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Vancouver, British Columbia – November 21, 2017 – A.I.S. Resources Limited (TSX: AIS, OTCQB: AISSF) (the “Company” or “AIS”) is pleased to announce that the Company has entered into an option agreement to acquire four prospective properties in the Quinos Salar in Salta province (“the Chiron Project”), south of the Company’s flagship Guayatayoc Project in Jujuy province.

Marc Enright-Morin, AIS President and CEO, commented: “We’re delighted that after considerable due diligence by our team of lithium brine experts led by Chief Operating Officer Phil Thomas and Dr. Carlos Sorentino, we’ve been able to advance our strategic plan to complement Guayatayoc with a pipeline of high quality properties in such a favorable and active region of Salta province where encouraging results are being reported.

“Ultimately, as we focus on economies of scale, our goal is to have one central processing facility handle concentrated brine from Guayatayoc and one or more other nearby properties. We have access to a lab and a pilot plant in Salta which gives AIS. a competitive advantage and helps makes this property acquisition so compelling.”

The Chiron Project expands the Company’s footprint in Argentina by 35% to more than 100 sq. kilometers (10,500 hectares). The option to purchase can be exercised for $US 1.4 million by May 15, 2018 (of which $US 200,000 has been paid). This averages $US 514 per hectare and compares favorably with other properties with similar prospectivity in the region.

About A.I.S. Resources
A.I.S Resources Limited a TSX-V listed investment issuer, was established in 1967 and is managed by experienced, highly qualified professionals who have a long track record of success in lithium exploration, production and capital markets. Through their extensive business and scientific network, they identify and develop early stage projects worldwide that have strong potential for growth with the objective of providing significant returns for shareholders. The Company’s most recent activities have been the exploration of lithium properties in Northern Argentina.

On Behalf of the Board of Directors,
AIS Resources Ltd.
Marc Enright-Morin, President and CEO

Contact
A.I.S. Resources Limited
Marc Enright-Morin
President and CEO
T: 778-892-5455
E: memorin@aisresources.com
W: www.aisresources.com

ADVISORY: This press release contains forward-looking statements. More particularly, this press release contains statements concerning the anticipated use of the proceeds of the Private Placement. Although the Corporation believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the Corporation can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. The intended use of the proceeds of the Private Placement by the Corporation might change if the board of directors of the Corporation determines that it would be in the best interests of the Corporation to deploy the proceeds for some other purpose. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and the Corporation undertakes no obligations to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.