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June 24-27, 2024
Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa, Las Vegas
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Pre-Day, Monday, 24 June
09:00
Registration opens
10:00
17:30 - 19:00
Welcome Ceremony & Drinks Reception
Fastmarkets welcomes all attendees to the drinks reception and the Lithium Supply & Battery Raw Materials Conference 2024 opening ceremony.
Guest Speaker TBC
20:00
Speaker Dinner – Invite only RSVP required
Tuesday, 25 June
Leaders' Debates & Expert Perspectives
06:30
BRM Running Club: 5K Early Morning Run
Calling all early risers who love a challenge. Come together for a purposeful and invigorating morning run. Open to all attendees. Sign up in advance, limited places available. RSVP required.
07:30
Exclusive CEO Networking Breakfast: Navigating the AI revolution: Unleashing leadership innovation
This invite-only session will feature a fireside chat with an AI innovator unveiling what leaders need to be preparing today for the new era driven by AI. Get the inside track on how you stay ahead of fast paced transformation with someone who has been at the heart of this evolution. Unravel hype and myth versus practical implementation. How do you win in this new age. The AI innovator will be interviewed by Fastmarkets CEO, Raju Daswani. Attendees will be able to submit their questions in advance as well as take part in a lively discussion on the day. Breakfast will be served in a location designed to facilitate intimate discussion. RSVP required.
AI expert Guest Speaker TBC
07:30
Networking Breakfast
A morning gathering awaits all delegates, offering a vibrant opportunity to connect with fellow attendees, exchange ideas, and forge valuable relationships over a delightful breakfast spread. Open to all attendees.
Keynotes: Accelerating the Growth of North America’s Value Chain
08:45
Welcome to the Lithium Supply & Battery Raw Materials Conference 2024
Welcome Remarks
Anita Gorny-Moloney, Global Content Director - BRM Events, Fastmarkets
08:48
Conference Chair Welcome
Chair Welcome
Amy McWhirter, Conference Chair - TBC
08:50
CEO Welcome Address
Welcome Address
Raju Daswani, CEO, Fastmarkets
08:50
Keynote opening address: DOE's Vision for Battery Critical Minerals
Keynote Address
- Insights into DOE's strategic initiatives towards securing a sustainable and reliable supply chain for critical minerals essential for battery production
- Addressing supply chain challenges and the future of supportive policy and regulatory frameworks at both domestic and international levels
- Investment in critical mineral projects
Ashley Zumwalt-Forbes, Deputy Director for Batteries and Critical Materials at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
09:15
Keynote industry address: Be Ready: Ramping Up for the Electrified Era
Keynote Address
- Lithium is the linchpin to the clean energy transition. To build a robust, sustainable supply chain that will support the North American market, it will take collaborative efforts and strong policy frameworks. As these dynamic markets evolve, we must prepare now to capitalize on opportunities and drive market growth.
Eric Norris, President of Energy Storage, Albemarle
Eric Norris will be available straight after his keynote presentation to further elaborate key messages within the dedicated Lithium and BRM press hub.
09:35
Leaders’ Keynote Debate: Building Resilient, Smarter, Faster Value Chain
Panel debate followed by a Q&A
- How do we incentivize localized domestic production in price volatility and oversupply environment?
- Ensuring sustainable material prices
- How much reassurance do producers have in terms of the demand in the market?
- Can regulatory and fiscal regimes become more unified across jurisdictions and help speed up the permits and approval processes?
- US 2024 election and the IRA implications
- How can battery and mining companies better align with OEMS requirements, including effective product qualification
Panellists:
Eric Norris, President, Energy Storage, Albemarle Corporation
Sarah Maryssael, Chief Strategy Officer, Arcadium Lithium
Dale Henderson, CEO, Pilbara Minerals
Raj Surendran, CEO, Tianqi Lithium Energy Australia
10:30
Networking & Refreshments Break
The Future of Price
11:00
Fireside chat: From oil to lithium and beyond
Fireside chat
Patrick Howarth, Lithium Global Business Manager, Exxon Mobil
Host: Andrea Hotter, Special Correspondent, Fastmarkets
Patrick Howarth will be available straight after his keynote presentation to further elaborate key messages within the dedicated Lithium and BRM press hub.
11:20
For and Against Debate – The Audience Votes: The Future of Price: Are we heading to the next super cycle?
An exciting and topical (at times heated!) debate to really get under the skin of the main issue of the day. Hear from opposing sides, let the speakers make their case and you the audience gets to vote. Who will win in predicting tomorrow’s future? You will be polled at the start of the session and then at the end – will anyone change your mind.
- Will there be two-tiered pricing for raw materials?
- What is driving prices of lithium, nickel, cobalt, graphite, manganese and rare earth elements
- What can the previous pricing cycles tell us about the future?
- How high or low could the BRM prices go?
- Are current prices fair value, or is this a cyclical point? How long is it likely to last?
- What would be a sustainable price that everybody would be happy with?
- Insights into jurisdictional premiums
Moderator: Anita Natesh, Vice President Global Sales - Lithium and Specialties, Albemarle
Daniel Jimenez, Managing Partner, iLiMarkets
Will Adams, Head of Battery Raw Materials, Fastmarkets
Andrew Timbers, Managing Director, Goldman Sachs
Rodney Hooper, Partner, RK Equity
Ashish Patki, Director, Business Development and Market Intelligence, Arcadium Lithium
Joe Lowry, Mr Lithium, President, Global Lithium
12:10
The IRA and the 2024 US Election: what will happen?
Attend your very own presidential style debate on the future of the Inflation Reduction Act and the future scenarios and global implications of the US 2024 presidential elections. This session will be conducted in the style of a presidential debate. The audience will have the chance to submit their questions and really hear each speaker make their case. We will take snap poll at the end of the session to see who’s vision of the future resonated most with the audience. All speakers will then be available for interviews in the press hub.
- If Donald Trump wins, what does this mean for the demand in the US and the rest of the world?
- Would the ICE vehicle bans hold on?
- Would the mining regulations loosen, and more green light be given to new mineral projects?
- Resilient Resource Reserve: How would it work and help incentivize domestic production?
- Clarification of Foreign Entity of Concern (FEOC) requirements for 45X and 30D tax credits
- What is the future of premiums for the IRA complaint BRM materials?
- Does the IRA help China in Europe?
Moderator: Ken Hoffman, Expert, Basic Materials Practice, McKinsey & Company
Steve LeVine, Editor, The Electric
Howard Klein, Founder & Partner, RK Equity
Grace Asenov, Base and Energy Metals Editor, Fastmarkets
Panellist
Panellist
Panellist
12:50
Lunch & Networking Break
Battery Raw Materials Supply & Demand
14:00
The Battery Big Debate - Will the World switch from NCM to LFP?
Are we at a turning point in the evolution of the EV battery technology. Which way will the world turn. Hear all the views and latest insights and vote throughout the session which way you think the future will be shaped – real time results displayed on the screen with live commentary.
- What is the future of NCM?
- LFM/LMFP vs NCM: how will these chemistries evolve in the longer term
- Is LFP/LMFP a global opportunity to overcome NCM constraints?
- How much market share will LMFP take from LFP/NCM?
- Will there be regional differences?
- Which is best for Energy Storage?
- How might that impact recycling?
Moderator: Matt Fernley, Head of Research, Volta Fund; MD of Battery Materials Review
Vivas Kumar, CEO, Mitra Chem
Muthu Krishna, Battery Manufacturing Cost Modeler Fastmarkets, Former Lead Cell Engineer at Jaguar Land Rover
Cormac O'Laoire, Managing Director, Electrios, Head of strategy, Green Li-ion
Austin D. Devaney, Senior Commercial Adviser, Piedmont
14:35
Unravelling the essence: Lithium and Battery Raw Materials Market: Crashed? Recovered?
A deep-dive presentation, followed by a Q&A from the audience
- Why has the market crashed? When, if ever, will the market recover? How will the new technologies impact the demand for future metals?
- Global and regional supply forecast for Lithium, Nickel, Cobalt, Manganese, Graphite and Rare Earth Elements
- Where will the battery raw materials supply come from, and in what capacity? An overview of upcoming projects
- What impact does the crash have on recycling?
Paul Lusty, Head of Battery Raw Materials, Fastmarkets
14:55
Networking & Refreshments Break
15:20
The Voice
Listen to different and varied voices on how we build a new world. Which method will deliver us to decarbonization and truly deliver the energy transition goals? One speaker will discuss how mining is the pathway to sustainability and one will be questioning whether we need stop and find an alternative way.
Javier Silva, Head of Sustainability, SQM
Andrew Best, Manager, Indigenous Relations, Libra Lithium
Galina Angarova, Executive Director, SIRGE Coalition
15:35
Indigenous Communities and Strategies for Sustainable Mining and Sourcing
Panel discussion
- How can raw materials be extracted and sourced sustainably?
- Addressing the C02 footprint, water and land management and international standards
- ESG vs Costs: with the paramount need for affordability, who will pay for ESG?
- How do OEMs go about sourcing materials?
- How can we engage better with local communities? How can we preserve land better?
- Recent advances in carbon capture storage and re-injection of materials
- Is battery recycling actually “greener” than mining?
Steve Feldgus, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals, U.S Dep of the Interior
Galina Angarova, Executive Director, SIRGE Coalition
Rebecca Paisley, Ph.D, Senior Geochemist, WSP
Adan Olivares Castro, Regional Lead for the Americas and the Caribbean, Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA)
Bruce Richardson, Executive Chairman & CEO, Anson Resources
Javier Silva, Head of Sustainability, SQM
16:15
Announcing Fastmarkets Future Talent Hackathon – Building a brighter and more sustainable future
Raju Daswani, CEO, Fastmarkets
Raju will be available at the press hub for questions following this exciting announcement.
16:25
Scaling up CAM & pCAM production quickly and cost-effectively
A thought-provoking debate, after which the audience votes on the perspective they find most compelling
- How much is needed for the US market, and how much can US companies manufacture?
- How much will need to be imported? What are the risks of doing this?
- Can all these materials be produced cost-effectively and compete with supply from China?
- What can we learn from the Chinese producers?
- Will foreign cell makers like LG and CATL rely on locally produced pCAM and CAM? Also what about electrolytes, separators and other cell components?
- Reducing costs and improving efficiency. Additives, chemical processes, and machine learning.
- Improving efficiency with lower OPEX, using less water/energy, and becoming more environmentally friendly
- Overcoming the sodium sulphate dilemma
Ken Hoffman, Head of Battery Materials Value Chain, McKinsey & Company
Vivas Kumar, CEO, Mitra Chem
Dan Blondal, CEO, NanoOne
Panellist tbc
16:55
Closing Remarks
17:00
Networking Cocktail Reception sponsored by ExxonMobil Power Play
Voltas Awards and Gala Dinner
19:30
Voltas Awards & Gala Dinner
Voltas Awards 2024 & Gala Dinner celebrates the pinnacle of the industry, showcasing outstanding achievements and excellence in categories ranging from CEO of the Year and Innovation of the Year to Industry Woman of the Year.
Day 2, Wednesday, 25 June
06:30
Sunrise Yoga
An early morning serene session to awaken senses and invigorate the spirit. Open to all attendees, please sign up in advance to secure your place. Limited availability.
07:30
Investor Connect Breakfast
Kickstart the investor themed day with an engaging and informative fireside chat. This is your change to quiz our investment expert and get the inside track on what’s hot and what’s not in deal making. Howard Klein will be the host and interviewer. Places are limited and pre-registration is required.
Investor TBC
07:30
Networking Breakfast
Battery Raw Materials Policy and Investment
08:45
Conference Chair Welcome
Chair Welcome
Amy McWhirter, Conference Chair
08:50
Austrade Welcome Address: Australian Policy and Breakthroughs in Battery Raw Materials
Keynote Address
Josh Riley, Consul General & Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner, Resources and Circular Economy – USA & Canada, Austrade
09:00
Pilbara Keynote Address
Keynote Address
Dale Henderson, CEO, Pilbara Minerals
09:15
BRM Shark Tank
Funding pitch battle
- Selected mining, anode, cathode companies and aspiring entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to a panel of successful investors ("sharks") in hopes of securing funding and mentorship
- The investors use valuation techniques to debunk or concur with the owner's valuation and decide whether to grant them funding in return for an ownership stake
- The audience and investors pick a winner and the winner will be featured exclusively in Fastmarkets in an interview with Andrea Hotter The winner will also report back on their progress one year on at the 2025 event.
Moderator: Amy McWhirter, Conference Chair
Moderator 2: David Deckelbaum, Managing Director, Sustainability & Energy Transition – Next Generation Materials and Energy, Cowen
Koby Kushner, P.Eng., CFA, Chief Executive Officer, Libra Lithium
Sheeba Dawood, CEO and Co-founder, Minerva Lithium
Investor Panel:
Jacqui Murray, Partner, Investment Team Leader, Resource Capital Funds
Jimmy Gavilan, Principal, Gavilan Commodities
Ernie Ortiz, President & CEO, Lithium Royalty Corp
09:45
Keynote JB Straubel, Tesla co-founder, CEO of Redwood Materials
Fireside chat
JB Straubel, CEO, Redwood Materials
10:00
The Future of Demand: Are we in EV Winter?
After a multifaceted discussion, the attendees will be invited to vote for the perspective they find most convincing
- Is the future EV, hybrid or hydrogen? Has this been decided?
- How are the OEMs rethinking future strategy; how will they stay competitive?
- How can we accelerate the adoption of EVs worldwide and avoid pitfalls?
- What is the state of infrastructure, and how is that holding us back?
- Will intermediate hybrids last longer while the infrastructure is being built?
- Reliable, fast charging - is that something that the commercial or government should be handling? What we think is the sustainable number for charging points?
Moderator: Andrea Hotter, Special Correspondent, Fastmarkets
Steve LeVine, Editor, The Electric
Phoebe O’Hara, Energy Transition Analyst, Fastmarkets
Michael Dunne, CEO, Dunne Insights
11:00
Networking & Refreshments Break
11:30
Investor Insights: In the long run, will lithium be a winning game?
A thought-provoking discourse followed by a Q&A brings together investors to explore future scenarios
- In the long run, will lithium be a winning game?
- How could price volatility impact investment decisions and deter investors from committing to long-term localised supply chain projects?
- Wining part of the supply chain to invest in? Is it Upstream or downstream? Where is the best long-term bet? What are the winning projects going to be?
- What does the high-interest rate environment mean for liquidity?
Moderator: David Deckelbaum, Managing Director, Sustainability & Energy Transition – Next Generation Materials and Energy, Cowen
Jonathan Beigle, President and CEO, Ridgeline Royalties
Rob Gray, Chief Economist and Commodity Strategist, Resource Capital Funds
Andy Leyland, Co-Founder, Managing Director, Supply Chain Solutions
Jonathan Beigle, President and CEO, Ridgeline Royalties
Ernie Ortiz, President & CEO, Lithium Royalty Corp
12:00
Building North American recycling and refining capacity – fact or fallacy?
A stimulating discussion, after which the attendees will be invited to cast their vote for the perspective they find most convincing
- What are the roadmaps for running a profitable hydrometallurgical refinement facility? How hard is it? How expensive is it?
- What are the prospects for end-of-life batteries in terms of time and volume?
- Access to feedstock, capital and improving operational efficiency
- How long will it take to achieve operational efficiency that could be achieved on a smaller scale?
- What are the ways for a recycling company to be profitable whilst overcoming the temporary challenge of access to feedstock?
- What are the global trade flows of black mass, and why do HS codes make it hard to track?
- How is the IRA impacting recycling?
Lee Allen, Strategic Markets Editor, Fastmarkets
Ryan Melsert, CEO/CTO, American Battery Technology Company (ABTC)
Dirk Harbecke, Chairman, Rock Tech Lithium
Hans Eric Melin, Managing Director, Circular Energy Solutions
Mahesh Konduru, CEO, Momentum Technologies
Sheeba Dawood, CEO and Co-founder, Minerva Lithium
12:45
Networking & Refreshments Break
Innovation & Technology
14:00
Sodium-ion vs Lithium-ion: Are we entering a New Era?
15min presentation followed by a Fireside chat A deep dive into the fascinating realm of energy storage, exploring the rivalry between Sodium-ion and Lithium-ion technologies.
- Does sodium-ion have a place given fall in lithium prices?
- What are the opportunities and benefits of sodium-ion batteries?
- Will it change the calculus for everybody?
- How large will it be its market share?
Moderator: Cormac O'Laoire, Managing Director, Electrios, Head of strategy, Green Li-ion
Adrian Yao, Founder & Team Lead, The STEER Group
14:30
Strategies for Hedging Price Risk in a Volatile Market
Panel discussion
- What options are available for managing volatility and price risk in battery raw materials markets?
- What does a robust price risk management strategy look like in the battery supply chain, and how can you implement one?
- How will risk management tools continue to develop in the battery raw materials markets?
Moderator: Przemek Koralewski, Global Head of Market Development, Fastmarkets
Eva Abend, Commodity Derivatives Trader, Macquarie
Andreas Munz, Battery Materials, BASF
Katheryne Pyfer PhD., Global Pricing & Financial Value Optimization, Senior Director Energy Storage, Albemarle
Gregor Spilker, Director Metals/Energy Research & Product Development, CME Group
Martim Facada, Managing Director, Lithium Trading, TRAXYS
15:00
Networking & Refreshments Break
15:30
Afternoon Campfire Session
1. Battery Recycling & Black Mass: Unlocking the secrets to battery lifetimes and battery recycling
Lee Allen, Strategic Markets Editor, Fastmarkets
2. The Future of DLE
Corinne Blanchard, Director, Lithium, Solar & Clean Tech Equity Analyst, Deutsche Bank
3. The Future of Lithium Pricing
Zihao Li, Price Reporter, Fastmarkets
4. Graphite: potential development of a two-tiered market amid protectionist measures in the US, Europe and China
Georgi Georgiev, Research Analyst Battery Production, Fastmarkets
5. Global EV/ESS Demand 2025 and Beyond
Phoebe O’Hara, Energy Transition Analyst, Fastmarkets
6. The Future of Nickel, Cobalt and Manganese
Callum Perry, Battery Metals (Ni/Li/Mn) at Fastmarkets
Justin Yang, Strategic Markets Editor, Fastmarkets
Olivier Masson, Metals and Mining Analyst, Fastmarkets
7. Social Licence Deep Dive: Accelerating mining projects by putting communities and the environment first
Andrew Best, Manager, Indigenous Relations, Libra Lithium
Galina Angarova, Executive Director, SIRGE Coalition
8. Project Funding Deep Dive – How it works, Type of Loans & Essentials for Securing Capital
Rob Gray, Chief Economist and Commodity Strategist, Resource Capital Funds
Jonathan Beigle, President and CEO, Ridgeline Royalties
Ernie Ortiz, President & CEO, Lithium Royalty Corp
This moderated and hosted campfire session will allow the audience to discuss a topic in small groups in a more informal setting. They will be able to immerse themselves in a topic and network in a more intimate setting within their groups. After spending two days in the conference room we will shift location for this session to the xxxxx room to relax and feel invigorated. Each group will then feedback their main findings at the end of the session to te whole group.
16:40
Motivational speaker
End the day by unwinding with a refreshing drink, sit back and relax and enjoy a ted-talk style session from a motivational speaker.
17:00
Networking Drinks Reception Hosted by Exxon Mobil
Day 3, Thursday, 27 June
07:30
Networking Breakfast
08:50
Welcome Address
Welcome Remarks
Anita Gorny-Moloney, Global Content Director - BRM Events, Fastmarkets
Innovation & Technology
09:00
From Solid-state to Anode-free Batteries: Alternative chemistries long-term view
A deep dive into the latest advancements in battery technology followed by a Q&A
- An overview of the next-gen technologies, including solid state, lithium sulphur, silicon anodes and anode-free batteries
- Is lithium still worth focusing on, or can other metals disrupt lithium's position as a critical material? If Solid State is winning, do we need all that refining?
- Hydrogen and future potential
- How will that impact recycling?
Moderator: Muthu Krishna, Battery Manufacturing Cost Modeler, Fastmarkets, Former Lead Cell Engineer at Jaguar Land Rover
Adrian Tylim, Global Business Development, Blue Solutions
Emilie Bodoin, CEO, Pure Lithium
09:20
Can the US forge a path to anode self-sufficiency?
A thought-provoking discourse followed by a Q&A brings together investors to explore future scenarios
- How long will it take for the US to build a self-reliant anode supply chain?
- How far in the process are we, and how scalable is the building of the anode supply ecosystem?
- To what extent silicon could replace graphite?
- Is the US betting more on alternative anode technology with funding the same number of silicon projects versus graphite?
- Will we see a bigger difference in pricing in the US, Europe and China
- Will the increasing competition with China put further pressure on prices?
Georgi Georgiev, Research Analyst Battery Production, Fastmarkets
Sunit Kapur, CEO, Epsilon Advanced Materials
Mark Thompson, Managing director, Talga
Chris Burns, CEO, Novonix
Posco
09:50
“Do I Fit in?” Bridging the Skills Gap and Securing Talent
An engaging dialogue on shaping the future of talent in the EV battery sector
- Solving the skills gap by diversifying not just the cathode but also the workforce
- The growing role of women and diverse representation coming from different sectors to bring in new ideas
- How can the EV battery value chain businesses attract new talent? How can it promote itself as vital for the future?
Moderator: Phoebe O’Hara, Energy Transition Analyst, Fastmarkets
Barry Jackson, Sourcing & Origination (Base, Battery, PGM's, Precious, Recycling), Anglo-American
Wayne Palmer, Executive Vice President, Essential Minerals Association (EMA)
Panellist
Panellist
10:30
Networking & Refreshments Break
Global Perspectives
11:00
Global Market Snapshot: Asia, Africa, Canada, South America, Australia, and Europe
A whirlwind of concise PechaKucha style presentations 20 slides – 20 seconds each, followed by a Q&A
- An overview of regional developments, supply and demand, economic growth and technological advancements
- Is the West missing out on investment opportunities in Africa? African lithium projects progress and cost analysis
- What is the true inventory capacity in China?
- What are the latest developments in Argentina, Chile, Brazil and Bolivia?
- Why has Quebec decided to invest so heavily to create the entire battery infrastructure?
- Will China export its way out of that overcapacity?
- Chinese lithium lepidolite projects cost and capacity analysis
- Will Lithium conversion oversupply in China continue to be the bottleneck for an IRA world?
- How does the Indonesian nickel fit into the IRA?
Moderator: TBC
Javier Martinez de Olcoz Cerdan, Managing Director, Morgan Stanley
Rachel Zhang, Managing Director, Morgan Stanley
Roland Chavasse
Panellist - Canada
Panellist - Australia
Panellist – Europe
12:00
Global Legislative Landscape: The future of incentives, regulations, and subsidies
A thought-provoking discourse brings together industry experts and thought leaders to explore future scenarios while actively encouraging audience participation
- The Future of battery laws in the EV-producing countries
- European Critical Raw Materials Act and future economic incentives: What will the EU do to compete with the IRA?
- Geopolitical risks and nationalization in Mexico and Chile - are other countries moving in that direction? What does Milei's presidency mean to the future of Argentina's lithium?
- The future of critical mineral policy in Canada and Australia
Moderator: Paul Lusty, Head of Battery Raw Materials, Fastmarkets
Daniel Jimenez, Managing Partner, iLiMarkets
Roland Chavasse, Secretary General, International Lithium Association (ILiA)
Zihao Li, Price Reporter, Fastmarkets
Panellist
Panellist
13:00
Lunch & Networking Break
14:00
Deep Sea mining: Can it help power the energy transition?
A deep dive into the latest advancements in deep sea mining technology and opportunities followed by a Q&A
- What is deep-sea mining, and how is it connected to the future of electrification?
- Can deep-sea mining be a viable alternative to the often problematic extraction of critical battery raw materials on land?
- What is the environmental impact of extracting resources from the ocean floor?
- When could we see harvesting those materials at an industrial scale?
Speaker TBC
15:00
Chill & Goodbye
“It’s one of the premium lithium events.”
Executive chairman and CEO – Anson