Critical minerals are back in focus as Washington weighs new policy moves, battery storage demand accelerates, and lithium market fundamentals tighten.

In this week’s Rock Stock Recap, Howard Klein and Matt Fernley are joined by Steve LeVine to discuss the US-China battery supply chain race, why grid storage and AI power demand could reshape lithium markets, and what investors may be missing in lithium equities. The episode also covers Albemarle’s bullish lithium commentary, BESS demand, Lithium Argentina vs Lithium Americas, Mariana Minerals, The Metals Company, and the role of Silicon Valley capital in mining.

Stay tuned for a follow-up interview with First Phosphate CEO John Passalacqua on new Canadian government funding, Quebec fast-track status, and the race to build a Western LFP battery supply chain.

Council on Foreign Relations Article: https://www.cfr.org/articles/the-shareholder-state-washingtons-improvised-bet-on-critical-minerals

Follow Steve LeVine: The Electric - https://www.theinformation.com/features/the-electric LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-levine-1901926/ X/Twitter - https://x.com/stevelevine

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Chapters

(00:00:00) Critical Minerals Return To Washington (00:03:50) Washington Turns Hawkish On China (00:05:49) Batteries Gain Strategic Importance (00:08:19) Value Creation Beats Supply Control (00:14:14) Can Chinese Battery Makers Build In America (00:19:48) Copy Proven Batteries, Then Innovate (00:29:38) Grid Rebuild Is The Bullish Catalyst (00:36:27) BESS Demand Outruns Lithium Equities (00:39:24) Albemarle Confirms A Tight Lithium Market (00:43:39) New Lithium Supply Needs Higher Prices (00:47:35) Lithium Argentina Avoids The Dilution Trap (00:50:11) Cash-Rich Lithium Names Stand Out (00:52:43) Mariana Attracts Silicon Valley Capital (00:56:26) Can Software Lower Mining Costs

(01:02:44) PHOS: Federal Funding Announcement (01:04:27) Critical Project Infrastructure (01:07:11) Quebec Fast-Track Status (01:09:03) Funding And Development Timeline (01:09:49) Closing Remarks

Links

Sign up for the Lithium-Ion Bull newsletter / Matt’s blogs: https://rkequity.com/

Questions: rockstockchannel@rkequity.com

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/rockstockchannel

Podcast Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lithium-ion-rocks/id1457969172 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0KiMIZOPaDg8ENfPJMSINq

Follow us on X (Twitter): Howard: https://x.com/LithiumIonBull Matt: https://x.com/matt_fernley Rodney: https://x.com/RodneyHooper13 Ben: https://x.com/benjihammond _________________________________________________

DISCLAIMER

NOT INVESTMENT ADVICE. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH.

Howard, Matt, and Rodney are not financial advisors or broker-dealers. This video is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered investment or financial advice. Please conduct your own independent research and read the disclaimer at the end of the video or on RK Equity’s website: https://www.rkequity.com

Intro and outro audio credit: Jamie Klein

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