NetworkNewsWire
Editorial Coverage: The impressive increase of electric
vehicles (EV) is creating a significant increase in demand battery
minerals, a demand that is fueling growth for mining companies,
especially for those with operations in Indonesia, one of the
world’s top producers of battery minerals.
Bolt Metals Corporation (CSE: BOLT) (OTCQB: PCRCF)
(XFRA: NXFE) (BOLT
Profile), one of the companies working in Indonesia,
recently announced a name change as it rebrands itself a leading
resource developer in this growing market. Several leading auto
makers are contributing to the surging EV market as they focus on
manufacturing quality electric vehicles. For the third year in a
row, Honda Motor Company Ltd. (NYSE: HMC) has
earned the Kelley Blue Book Plug-in Hybrid Car Best Buy with its
Honda Clarity model. Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA) has
seen impressive success with its Tesla Model 3, which is one of the
best-selling cars in Europe. Toyota Motor Corporation
(NYSE: TM) just announced plans to build a new electric
vehicle plant in China. And Toyota is partnering with
Panasonic Corp ADR (OTC: PCRFY) to establish Prime
Planet Energy & Solutions, Inc., a joint venture specializing
in automotive prismatic batteries.
- Growth of EV industry expected to create two- or three-fold
increases in demand for battery minerals over the next decade.
- Home to 25% of the world’s nickel resources, Indonesia is
essential source of key minerals.
- China leads world EV-battery production; critical market for
battery minerals.
- Indonesia recognizes opportunity, focused on developing own EV
industry.
To view an infographic of this editorial, click here.
Electric Vehicles Drive Battery Metal
Market
The last decade saw significant trends in technology; some of
the most significant interest and growth was focused on the EV
industry. Once a pipe dream of green technologists, electric
vehicles enjoyed tremendous growth in the past decade. By 2018,
global EV sales had reached 2 million units, and that number is
expected to double to 4 million in 2020. In addition, the
once-lofty price of these vehicles is falling, and their battery
packs could be cheaper than equivalent combustion-engine models as
early as 2022.
This momentum is causing huge growth in the market for the
metals used in EV batteries. Industry experts
predict that the EV market will need around 1.3 million tons of
nickel each year by 2030, compared with 600,000 tons in 2018.
Cobalt is facing a similar rise in demand, with experts predicting
a 332% increase in global supply from its 2017 levels, to 314,000
tons per annum.
Changing Brands for a Changing Market
This growing market is driving changes in companies working in
the industry, a movement reflected in the changing strategies and
branding of business-savvy mining companies such as
Bolt Metals
Corp. (CSE: BOLT) (OTCQB: PCRCF) (XFRA: NXFE). Bolt
Metals recently announced a name change from Pacific Rim Cobalt
Corp., which is part of the company’s rebranding campaign.
To outsiders, name changes like this can look like little more
than window dressing. But for observant investors, and for those on
the inside of these changes, they often represent significant
shifts in focus. While Bolt Metals isn’t dividing or merging with
another company, its name change reflects a steady shift in line
with global markets.
“Rebranding the company is an important step in our emergence as
a resource developer in Asia’s expanding electric vehicle supply
chain,” said Bolt Metals CEO Ranjeet Sundher. “The company remains
focused on acquiring and developing production-grade, battery-metal
projects within the Asia Pacific region, while employing a
vertically integrated ‘mineral‐to‐market’ strategy to leverage
these assets to their fullest.”
Bolt Metals has been transitioning from its initial position as
a cobalt producer and moving into a broader position as a
battery-cathode material supplier. BOLT’s Cyclops mining project in northern Indonesia, a rich
source of cobalt and nickel, plays a significant part in this
transition.
But it’s the mine’s location, as much as its resources, that is
creates potential for the Cyclops project, a new direction for
Bolts Metals and a reflection of bigger changes in the EV
market.
Indonesia: The New Electric Vehicle Hub?
Indonesia boasts a rich supply of the mineral resources that the
EV industry needs. The country provides 25% of the world’s nickel
reserves as well as other metals such as cobalt. These are crucial
metals in the production of EV batteries and, therefore, in the
entire supply chain for these vehicles.
Bolt Metals’ Cyclops mining operation is designed to tap into
these valuable resources. Throughout 2019, the company has been
involved in surveys and test drilling, in addition to assessing
existing records on the mineral resources at a site in Papua
Province, on the north coast of Indonesia. This concentrated
research has confirmed the
presence of significant high-quality deposits near ground
surface at the site. TAs Bolt Metals moves forward with plans for
extraction, testing and processing, the company does so secure in
the knowledge that the minerals are not only present but easily
accessible.
The richness of Indonesia’s mineral deposits isn’t the only
reason for the country’s growing prominence in the EV supply chain.
Indonesia’s location on the rim of the Pacific gives the country a
straight nautical transport route to Japan, a major player in
developing new technology, and China. China is developing its own
battery industry, focused on becoming a leader in the production of
power cells to be used in all sorts of products. Both countries
represent significant markets for EV minerals, markets to which
Indonesia can easily cater because of its favorable geographic
location.
The Indonesian government is leveraging its advantages as it
actively works to strengthen its EV industry. Last year, Indonesian
president Joko Widodo signed a decree outlining
the government’s support for Indonesian EV production. The plan
includes reduced tariffs for companies importing equipment for EV
production, thereby making it easier for the industry to grow. New
regulations are creating a profitable space for companies such as
Bolt Metals.
Feeding the Chinese Battery Market
While domestic EV plays a critical part in Indonesia’s strategy,
the country is still open and welcoming to other markets. In fact,
several major Chinese companies are following a similar path to
Bolts Metal, investing in the Indonesian mineral industry to ensure
the supplies they need for battery production.
The significance of China in the global battery market cannot be
overstated. According to
research by Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, 88 out of 115
lithium-ion-battery megafactories around the world are located in
China. The country has carefully positioned itself as the center of
the global technology supply chain. Previously China’s power has
been most obvious in consumer electronics, but it is becoming
increasingly evident that the country is playing an important role
in the rise of EV, as reflected in deals such as
the that between Tesla and Chinese battery maker Contemporary
Amperex Technology Co Ltd.
For companies operating in Indonesia, such as Bolt Metals, this
represents a double opportunity. First, companies can become
involved in the foundation of an integrated EV market within
Indonesia, in which minerals can be delivered quickly and easily to
a fast-growing market. Second, companies can become involved in
exporting to China, perhaps the largest market for these minerals
in the world.
With rich mineral deposits and two substantial markets, Bolt
Metals and other battery-mineral companies in Indonesia are
anticipating a bright future.
A Critical Industry
The burgeoning EV industry is at the center of this bright
future, with the top auto makers around the world rising to the
challenge of producing high-quality, eco-friendly vehicles.
Honda Motor Company Ltd.’s (NYSE: HMC) Honda
Clarity has been available for three years — and has earned the
Kelley Blue Book Plug-in Hybrid Car Best Buy all three years
(http://nnw.fm/9uZGz). “Launched new for the
2018 model year, the Honda Clarity is offered in three very
distinct variants: pure electric, fuel cell, and PHEV,” Kelley
noted when announcing the honor. “While this jack-of-all-trades
assortment of powertrains may sound like Honda has made
compromises, just the opposite is true — the Clarity was engineered
as a clean-sheet design with each of those unique models in mind.
As a result, driving dynamics are excellent, cargo space and
interior utility impressive, and passenger concessions are few and
far between.”
Tesla Inc. (NASDAQ: TSLA) has seen impressive
success with its Tesla Model 3, which is one of the best-selling
cars in Europe. “Until recently European auto executives regarded
Tesla with something like bemusement,” a recent New York
Times article reported (http://nnw.fm/6duIU). “The electric car upstart from
California was burning cash, struggling with production problems,
and hedge funds were betting it would fail. The car executives are
not laughing anymore. Almost overnight, the Tesla Model 3 has
become one of the best-selling cars in Europe. In December, only
the Volkswagen Golf and Renault Clio sold more, according to data
compiled by JATO Dynamics, a market research firm.”
Recognizing the EV wave of the future, Toyota Motor
Corporation (NYSE: TM) recently announced plans to partner
with First Automobile Works (FAW) to build an electric vehicle
plant in Tianjin, China (http://nnw.fm/i9cHu). The two companies will invest
about $1.22 billion in the plant, which is expected to produce
200,000 battery-only, plug-in hybrid and fuel-cell vehicles
annually. This news follows the launch of care maker’s C-HR and
IZOA models, the first battery-electric vehicles to launch in China
under the Toyota brand.
Toyota is also partnering with Panasonic Corp.
ADR (OTC: PCRFY) to establish Prime
Planet Energy & Solutions Inc., a joint venture specializing in
automotive prismatic batteries (http://nnw.fm/buM6E). The joint venture will focus on
developing highly competitive, cost-effective batteries that offer
excellent quality and performance in terms of capacity, output and
durability. The joint venture will supply batteries not only to
Toyota but also to all customers.
With the demand for electric vehicles increasing significantly,
mineral producers are seizing the opportunities found in a growing
battery industry.
For more information on Pacific Rim Cobalt Corp., visit Pacific Rim
Cobalt Corp. (CSE:BOLT) (OTCQB:PCRCF) (XFRA:NXFE)
About NetworkNewsWire
NetworkNewsWire
(“NNW”) is a financial news and content distribution company, one
of 40+ brands within the InvestorBrandNetwork (“IBN”), that
provides: (1) access to a network of wire
solutions via NetworkWire to
reach all target markets, industries and demographics in the most
effective manner possible; (2) article and
editorial syndication to 5,000+ news outlets; (3)
enhanced press release solutions to ensure maximum
impact; (4) social media distribution via IBN
millions of social media followers; and (5) a full
array of corporate communications solutions. As a multifaceted
organization with an extensive team of contributing journalists and
writers, NNW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and
public companies that desire to reach a wide audience comprising
investors, consumers, journalists and the general public. By
cutting through the overload of information in today’s market, NNW
brings its clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand
awareness. NNW is where news, content and information converge.
To receive SMS text alerts from NetworkNewsWire, text
“STOCKS” to 77948 (U.S. Mobile Phones Only)
For more information, please visit https://www.NetworkNewsWire.com
Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the
NetworkNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by NNW,
wherever published or re-published: http://NNW.fm/Disclaimer
NetworkNewsWire (NNW)
New York, New York
www.NetworkNewsWire.com
212.418.1217 Office
Editor@NetworkNewsWire.com
NetworkNewsWire is part of the InvestorBrandNetwork
DISCLAIMER: NetworkNewsWire (NNW) is the source of the Article
and content set forth above. References to any issuer other than
the profiled issuer are intended solely to identify industry
participants and do not constitute an endorsement of any issuer and
do not constitute a comparison to the profiled issuer. The
commentary, views and opinions expressed in this release by NNW are
solely those of NNW. Readers of this Article and content agree that
they cannot and will not seek to hold liable NNW for any investment
decisions by their readers or subscribers. NNW is a news
dissemination and financial marketing solutions provider and are
NOT registered broker-dealers/analysts/investment advisers, hold no
investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy
any security.
The Article and content related to the profiled company
represent the personal and subjective views of the Author, and are
subject to change at any time without notice. The information
provided in the Article and the content has been obtained from
sources which the Author believes to be reliable. However, the
Author has not independently verified or otherwise investigated all
such information. None of the Author, NNW, or any of their
respective affiliates, guarantee the accuracy or completeness of
any such information. This Article and content are not, and should
not be regarded as investment advice or as a recommendation
regarding any particular security or course of action; readers are
strongly urged to speak with their own investment advisor and
review all of the profiled issuer’s filings made with the
Securities and Exchange Commission before making any investment
decisions and should understand the risks associated with an
investment in the profiled issuer’s securities, including, but not
limited to, the complete loss of your investment.
NNW HOLDS NO SHARES OF ANY COMPANY NAMED IN THIS RELEASE.
This release contains “forward-looking statements” within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and
such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe
harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995. “Forward-looking statements” describe future expectations,
plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words
such as “may”, “future”, “plan” or “planned”, “will” or “should”,
“expected,” “anticipates”, “draft”, “eventually” or “projected”.
You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude
of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances,
events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the
forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results
may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking
statements as a result of various factors, and other risks
identified in a company’s annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and
other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the
forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue
reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this
release are made as of the date hereof and NNW undertakes no
obligation to update such statements.
Source:
NetworkNewsWire
Contact:
NetworkNewsWire (NNW)
New York, New York
www.NetworkNewsWire.com
212.418.1217 Office
Editor@NetworkNewsWire.com
Bolt Metals (QB) (USOTC:PCRCF)
Historical Stock Chart
From Nov 2024 to Dec 2024
Bolt Metals (QB) (USOTC:PCRCF)
Historical Stock Chart
From Dec 2023 to Dec 2024
