10月12日 - 锂初创公司EnergyX周一表示，已签署一份价值20亿美元的有效离取协议，向大宗商品贸易商Trafigura供应来自智利和美国的电池金属锂，这是有史以来规模最大的与直接锂提取技术相关的交易之一。
Oct 12 - Lithium startup EnergyX said on Monday it has signed a $2 billion binding offtake to supply commodities trader Trafigura with the battery metal from Chile and the US, one of the largest deals ever tied to direct lithium extraction technology.
路透社首次报道的这份为期10年的协议是在快速增长的固定式电池储能系统市场对锂的强劲需求抵消了全球电动汽车市场销售不均的情况下达成的，而全球电动汽车市场多年来一直是这种超轻金属的主要用户。
The 10-year agreement, which Reuters is first to report, comes as strong demand for lithium from the fast-growing stationary battery storage system market has offset uneven sales in the global electric vehicle market, which had been the primary user of the ultralight metal for years.
Trafigura同意在10年期内以买断或付费合同的形式从EnergyX购买10万吨锂。该协议的价值与目前每公吨约2万美元的锂价挂钩。
Trafigura has agreed to buy 100,000 metric tons of lithium from EnergyX over a 10-year period as part of a take-or-pay contract. The deal's value is tied to current lithium prices near $20,000 per metric ton.
“此协议反映了我们帮助战略性关键矿产项目落地并建立安全、多元化供应链的能力，”Trafigura电池金属部门负责人Daniel von Arx表示。
"This agreement reflects our ability to help bring strategic critical minerals projects online and build secure, diversified supply chains," said Daniel von Arx, Trafigura's head of battery metals.
作为协议的一部分，Trafigura将每年从EnergyX购买5000公吨氢氧化锂和同样数量的碳酸锂。电池制造商通常根据电池为何种设备供电而偏好其中一种形式。
As part of the agreement, Trafigura will buy 5,000 metric tons per year of lithium hydroxide and the same amount of lithium carbonate from EnergyX. Battery manufacturers typically prefer one version over the other, depending on what device the battery is powering.
成立于2018年、得到通用汽车和意大利能源公司Eni支持的EnergyX计划于2028年开始锂生产。
EnergyX, which was formed in 2018 and is backed by General Motors and Italian energy company Eni, aims to start lithium production in 2028.
Trafigura瞄准美国长期市场该公司计划从2029年起在德克萨斯州初始年生产1.5万吨氢氧化锂，这意味着Trafigura将购买该产量的33%。
TRAFIGURA TARGETS US MARKET LONG TERM The company plans to initially produce 15,000 metric tons per year of lithium hydroxide in Texas starting in 2029, meaning that Trafigura will buy 33% of that output.
在智利，EnergyX计划于2028年开始每年生产7500公吨碳酸锂，Trafigura的份额将反映该南美国家产量的66%。
In Chile, EnergyX plans to start producing 7,500 metric tons per year of lithium carbonate in 2028, with Trafigura's share reflecting 66% of the output in the South American nation.
总部位于瑞士的Trafigura计划最初将锂卖给中国客户，长期目标是在该国电池供应链发展完善后成为美国市场的主要供应商之一。
Switzerland-based Trafigura plans to initially sell the lithium to Chinese customers, with the long-term goal of being a large supplier to US markets once the country's battery supply chain is developed.
EnergyX 是正在开展直接锂提取（DLE）技术的公司之一，DLE 是一种与家用软水器相当的过滤技术的广义分类。埃克森美孚、火山能源资源公司和紫杉溶液公司也是正在开展 DLE 的公司之一。
EnergyX is among the companies pursuing direct lithium extraction (DLE), a broad classification of filtration technology comparable to household water softeners. Exxon Mobil, Vulcan Energy Resources and Lilac Solutions are among the others pursuing DLE.
虽然有些公司正在开发自己的 DLE 系统，但 EnergyX 将几种已知的过滤技术结合起来，并使用现成的设备进行构建，这一策略吸引了 Trafigura。
While some are developing their own DLE systems, EnergyX has combined several known filtration technologies and built them with readily available equipment, a strategy that attracted Trafigura.
EnergyX 正在其位于得克萨斯州奥斯汀的实验室测试其工艺。它需要获得额外资金以建设智利和得克萨斯州的设施。
EnergyX has been testing its processes at its lab in Austin, Texas. It needs to obtain additional funds to build the Chile and Texas facilities.
该交易有助于推进 EnergyX 向美国进出口银行申请 6.9 亿美元贷款的进展。
The deal helps advance EnergyX's application with the US Export-Import Bank for a $690 million loan.
虽然私人持有的 EnergyX 在过去曾讨论过可能的公开上市，但首席执行官兼公司创始人 Teague Egan 表示，他目前专注于向首个客户供应锂。
While privately held EnergyX has discussed a possible public listing in the past, CEO and company founder Teague Egan said he is now focused on supplying lithium to his first customer.
“我们需要建设并开始生产商业锂，才能甚至考虑进行公开发行，”Egan 说。
"We need to build and start producing commercial lithium in order to even think about having a public offering," said Egan.
当被问及最近锂市场的波动时，Egan 表示他预计需求将继续增长，并在未来几年可能超过供应。
When asked about the recent lithium market volatility, Egan said he expects demand to continue to rise and potentially outstrip supply in coming years.
“基本面很强劲，”Egan 说。“年复一年，全球总需求持续增长。”除了锂，Egan 表示 EnergyX 计划扩展到铀领域，计划开采和浓缩核燃料。
"The fundamentals are strong," Egan said. "Year in and year out, the total global demand continues to rise." Beyond lithium, Egan said EnergyX aims to expand into the uranium sector, with plans to mine and enrich the nuclear fuel.
“我们看到今天的铀需求曲线与十年前的锂需求曲线相似，”他说。
"We see the demand curve for uranium today similar to what lithium was 10 years ago," he said.
Trafigura 还与标准锂公司签订了锂离取协议，后者正在开展阿肯色州的 DLE 项目。
Trafigura also has a lithium offtake with Standard Lithium, which is developing an Arkansas DLE project.
Trafigura 的竞争对手嘉能可已与 DLE 开发商 Eramet 和回收初创公司 Nth Cycle 等签订了锂协议。
Trafigura rival Glencore has inked lithium deals with DLE developer Eramet and recycling startup Nth Cycle, among others.