Tech. & Low Emission Min. Conf. to showcase emerging Aust. battery metals industry

Investors and company leaders are gearing up for the Technology and Low Emission Minerals Conference (TLEM) to be held in Perth next week, with the conference boasting an impressive line-up of emerging and established Australian battery metal companies.

TLEM features companies producing from or developing projects focused on lithium, graphite, vanadium, cobalt, manganese, magnesium, rare earths and other minerals associated with clean energy and battery components.

The opening address will be delivered by the Hon Bill Johnston MLA, WA Minister for Mines and Petroleum, and the two-day event will include feature presentations from industry leaders and experts.

Emerging Australian battery metals industry

Speaking to Proactive Investors, Vertical Events manager for resources Doug Bowie said the conference began in 2004 as the successful Australian Uranium Conference.

He said: "It evolved due to changes in the supply and demand in minerals over that time and in 2013 incorporated rare earths leading up to the change to add new energy' and technology minerals in 2016.

"The conference has been designed to assist the resources companies in these markets to share ideas, create shareholder interest, and to promote forward sales of those commodities.

"It also is there to promote Australia and importantly Western Australia as the premium headquarters for companies involved in these markets."

Doug Bowie speaking at last year's conference 

Decrease in cobalt companies

Bowie continued: "Last year's conference attracted over 400 attendees and this year is tracking ahead of that event with more companies involved along with more investors.

"Of note is the increase in graphite, vanadium and uranium companies and the decrease in cobalt companies.

"Lithium is still the most common commodity of the conference coinciding with some of the heavyweights of the WA lithium industry such as Tawana Resources, Pilbara Minerals and Tianqi Lithium who all appear in the closing session of the conference."

First day feature presentations

Following Minister Johnson's keynote address, brokerage firm Argonaut Ltd's director of metals, mining & energy research Matthew Keane will present a market update.  

Among the presenters on the first day will be Bannerman Resources Ltd (ASX:BMN) chief executive officer Brandon Munro, who will make a presentation titled 'Uranium: Big Bears Mother Bigger Bulls, as well as CSA Global Pty Ltd's principal consultant Tony Donaghy, who will present on vanadium and renewable energy.

Australia's Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) senior process chemist Chris Griffith will talk on the challenges of high purity concentrate production before lunch and Federal Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy the Hon Mark Butler MP will address the conference mid-afternoon.

A company speaker at last year's event

Features on second day

The second day will be opened by opto-digital manufacturer Olympus' industrial sales specialist Simon Bailey, who will speak about breakthrough technologies for cobalt analysis using pXRF.

After morning tea Argosy Minerals Ltd (ASX:AGY) managing director Jerko Zuvela will present on South American lithium brines and their impact on global battery markets.

Second-day features will also include: TradeTech LLC's mining geologist & analyst Patrick Plummer on evolving supply and demand dynamics in the uranium market; CRU senior consultant Toby Green speaking about the attractions and risks of battery metals; and a presentation on developing a battery minerals industry in Australia by Warren Pearce, chief executive officer of the Association of Mining and Exploration Companies.

Tianqi Lithium Australia general manager Phil Thick will also give a talk titled 'Leading the Move Downstream in WA'.

Other companies presenting on the first day include: Altech Chemicals Ltd (ASX:ATC); Aura Energy Ltd (ASX:AEE); Australian Mines Limited (ASX:AUZ); Boss Resources Ltd (ASX:BOE); Comet Resources Ltd (ASX:CRL); Earth AI; Element 25 Ltd (ASX:E25); European Metals Holdings Ltd (ASX:EMH); Hazer Group Ltd (ASX:HZR); Hexagon Resources Ltd (ASX:HXG); Ioneer Ltd (ASX:GSC); Northern Minerals Ltd (ASX:NTU); Protean Energy Ltd (ASX:POW); Renascor Resources Ltd (ASX:RNU); and Venture Minerals Ltd (ASX:VMS).

Second day presenters include: Australian Vanadium Ltd (ASX:AVL); BlackEarth Minerals NL (ASX:BEM); Blackstone Minerals Ltd (ASX:BSX); Core Exploration Ltd (ASX:CXO); Galan Lithium Ltd (ASX:GLN); Infinity Lithium Corporation Ltd (ASX:INF); International Graphite Pty Ltd; Ironbark Zinc Ltd (ASX:IBG); Kibaran Resources LTd (ASX:KNL); Lithium Australia NL (ASX:LIT); Metalicity Ltd (ASX:MCT); New Energy Minerals Ltd (ASX:NXE); Peninsula Mines Ltd (ASX:PSM); Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX:PLS); Sovereign Metals Ltd (ASX:SVM); Triton Minerals Ltd (ASX:TON); and Tawana Resources NL (ASX:TAW).

The Technology and Low Emission Minerals Conference will take place on November 13-14 in Perth.

To see a program, please visit https://www.technologyandlowemissionmineralsconference.com.au.