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The Future of Energy Storage: Liquid-Metal Batteries and the Role of Antimony

As the global community intensifies its efforts towards a sustainable energy future, the significance of energy storage cannot be overstated. Batteries that are both efficient and cost-effective are central to these efforts, and antimony, a critical mineral, is emerging as a potential game-changer in this arena.

Antimony is a chemical element with the symbol Sb and atomic number 51. Recognized for its lustrous gray metalloid appearance, its primary natural form is the sulfide mineral known as stibnite (Sb2S3). This element has a rich history, dating back to ancient times where its compounds were employed in medicine and cosmetics. Today, China, with its vast Xikuangshan Mine in Hunan, dominates the antimony production landscape. From an industrial perspective, antimony plays a crucial role in alloys with lead and tin, improving their properties for varied applications like solders, bullets, and bearings. Additionally, it enhances lead-alloy plates in lead-acid batteries and is integral in the production of flame retardants and semiconductor devices.

MIT researchers have underscored the importance of cost in the quest for renewable energy storage on the grid. Their analysis indicates that to fully harness the potential of wind and solar energy, storage costs need to plummet to a mere $20 per kilowatt-hour. The liquid-metal battery, slated for deployment in 2024, is a potential solution to this challenge.

Donald Sadoway, professor emeritus at MIT, has been a pivotal figure in battery innovation, always emphasizing affordability. Among his inventions is the liquid metal battery, which incorporates molten metal electrodes and a molten salt electrolyte. Sadoway’s ambitions led to the creation of Ambri in 2010, a startup focused on commercializing this technology. Ambri’s current battery offerings fall in the price range of $180/kWh to $250/kWh. However, there’s an optimistic projection of this cost dropping to approximately $21/kWh by 2030. Furthermore, in a landmark collaboration with utility company Xcel Energy, Ambri aims to have a 300-kWh system operational in Aurora, Colorado, by the end of 2024.

One of the standout attributes of the liquid-metal battery is its competitive edge over lithium-ion batteries. Not only is it more affordable, but its design simplicity, superior chemistry, and impressive durability make it particularly appealing. As Sadoway notes, the battery’s non-flammable nature, resistance to capacity fade, and data suggesting an operational life of two decades retaining 95% of its capacity make it a formidable contender in the energy storage sector.

However, there are concerns. As Lara Smith, CEO of Molten Metals Corp. (CSE: MOLT) and a global authority on critical minerals through Core Consultants and a Critical Minerals Institute Director, articulates, the looming question is the source of antimony essential for these batteries. While Ambri’s intentions might be to source from Pepetua, the grades from this source might be inadequate to meet their ambitious plans. Smith’s interactions with the company and her insights into the antimony market suggest that a significant challenge lies ahead in aligning antimony supply with the projected demand from the likes of Ambri.

Further compounding this issue is the fact that antimony is among the fourteen minerals labeled as “critical” by governments across the USA, Canada, Australia, the UK, and Europe. This designation underscores the importance of these minerals in modern applications and the potential risks associated with their supply.

In conclusion, while the liquid-metal battery promises to revolutionize the energy storage landscape, its future is inextricably linked to the antimony supply chain. It’s an exciting juncture where innovation meets real-world challenges, and the solutions we devise will determine the trajectory of sustainable energy for the coming decades.




Critical Minerals Expert Lara Smith on the Increasing Demand for Antimony

In a recent InvestorIntel interview, Tracy Weslosky spoke with Lara Smith, a global critical minerals expert and the Executive Director and CEO of Molten Metals Corp. (CSE: MOLT), an antimony exploration and development company.

Antimony, which is now identified on the current critical mineral hit lists in the USA, Canada, Australia, Europe, and the UK, is traditionally used as a flame retardant and for hardening bullets. And today, antimony is increasingly being used in antimony molten salt batteries for renewable energy storage.

With just 17 million shares outstanding, Molten Metals aims to transition from exploration to production. The company’s objective is to capitalize on small, highly de-risked antimony opportunities that can be put into production quickly and cheaply.

Lara, also a member of the CMI board of directors and an internationally recognized expert, revealed the company’s current priority is their Trojarova asset in Europe. Once operational, Trojarova has the potential to be the fourth or fifth largest antimony producer globally. To access the full interview, click here

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About Molten Metals Corp.

Molten Metals Corp. is a mining company exploring for and developing antimony projects. Antimony is a critical element with many industrial applications. For further information, please refer to the Company’s disclosure record on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) or contact the Company by email at [email protected] or by telephone at 778.918.2261.

To know more about Molten Metals Corp., click here

Disclaimer: Molten Metals Corp. is an advertorial member of InvestorIntel Corp.

This interview, which was produced by InvestorIntel Corp., (IIC), does not contain, nor does it purport to contain, a summary of all the material information concerning the “Company” being interviewed. IIC offers no representations or warranties that any of the information contained in this interview is accurate or complete.

This presentation may contain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and assumptions of the management of the Company as of the date made. They are inherently susceptible to uncertainty and other factors that could cause actual events/results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements. Additional risks and uncertainties, including those that the Company does not know about now or that it currently deems immaterial, may also adversely affect the Company’s business or any investment therein.

Any projections given are principally intended for use as objectives and are not intended, and should not be taken, as assurances that the projected results will be obtained by the Company. The assumptions used may not prove to be accurate and a potential decline in the Company’s financial condition or results of operations may negatively impact the value of its securities. Prospective investors are urged to review the Company’s profile on Sedar.com and to carry out independent investigations in order to determine their interest in investing in the Company.

If you have any questions surrounding the content of this interview, please contact us at +1 416 792 8228 and/or email us direct at [email protected].




Ian Chalmers Joins The Critical Minerals Institute As New Co-Chair

Toronto, February 28, 2023 – The Critical Minerals Institute (CMI), which was founded for education, collaboration, and to provide professional opportunities to meet the critical minerals supply chain challenges, is pleased to announce that it has appointed renowned rare earths executive Ian Chalmers as its Co-Chair, and industry expert Lara Smith as a new director.

Ian Chalmers is a geologist and graduate of the Western Australia Institute of Technology (Curtin University) and has a Master of Science degree from the University of Leicester in the United Kingdom. He has worked in the mining and exploration industry for over 50 years. Ian has a 35-year involvement with ASX listed company Alkane Resources Ltd. (ASX: ALK) as both Technical Director and Managing Director, and has steered Alkane through discovery, feasibility, construction and development of gold and gold-copper projects in New South Wales, Australia.

With a 30-year involvement in the rare metal and rare earth industry, Ian was involved with the discovery and evaluation of the Brockman rare metal and rare earth project in northern Western Australia, and has managed the geology, process development and global marketing effort for the Dubbo rare metal and rare earth project in New South Wales, advancing it to the threshold of development.

“I am delighted that Ian has joined the Critical Minerals Institute as a director and Co-Chair,” said CMI Founder Tracy Weslosky. “No one knows better how to actually develop a critical minerals resource or its importance to battery materials and electric vehicles, as well as future green technologies and energy production. We all look forward to working with Ian to make the Critical Minerals Institute the leading international organization for critical mineral companies and professionals designed to address relevant issues relating to the establishment of secure supply chains from mine to manufacturing.”

“I am also pleased to welcome Lara Smith as a new director of the Critical Minerals Institute,” Tracy continued. “Lara is COO and President of Molten Metals Corp. (CSE: MOLT) (formerly “Battery Elements”), and Founder and Managing Director of Core Consultants Pty (Guernsey) Ltd, an internationally recognized name in the natural resources industry.” Lara is a renowned industry writer and speaker in the field of business and economics, commodity analysis, and forecasting. “Lara has been a keynote speaker at international mining and business conferences in over 20 countries,” Tracy said, “and brings a wealth of practical rare earths experience to the CMI.”

The Critical Minerals Institute held its sold out inaugural summit in November, 2022 in Toronto, Canada, with over a hundred international experts, investors and critical minerals companies gathered to hear over 20 speakers and world-renown panelists. This year’s expanded summit, “Driving To The Near Future – Critical Minerals For the EV Transformation”, is scheduled for June 14-15, 2023, in Toronto. Keynote speakers such as Constantine Karayannopoulos from Neo Performance Materials Inc. (TSX: NEO) and Mark Chalmers of Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSE American: UUUU | TSX: EFR) have already confirmed and early registration is now open at https://criticalmineralsinstitute.com/the-critical-minerals-institute-summit/ .

The Critical Minerals Institute website at www.criticalmineralsinstitute.com was created to offer education, collaboration and an online resource to learn about critical mineral projects, emerging technologies, legislative initiatives, government funding, human capital needs, and capital market investment opportunities.

There is no charge or sign-up required for access to the Critical Minerals Institute website. A range of enhanced benefits are available to individual and corporate members of the CMI, including attendance at the CMI Summit, virtual events and additional resources. For details see: www.criticalmineralsinstitute.com/cmi-membership/.

For more information, please visit the Critical Minerals Institute website at www.criticalmineralsinstitute.com or to secure a CMI Corporate Membership, please contact CMI Director Tracy Weslosky at [email protected]. For CMI inquiries, please contact Director, Membership Services Tom Park at +1 416 792 8228 or email [email protected].

About the Critical Minerals Institute: The Critical Mineral Institute (CMI) is an international organization for companies and professionals focused on battery materials, technology metals, defense metals, ESG technologies and practices, the general EV market, and the use of critical minerals for energy and alternative energy production. Offering an online site that features job opportunities that range from consulting roles to Advisory Board positions, the CMI offers a wide range of B2B service solutions. Also offering online and in-person events, the CMI is designed for education, collaboration, and to provide professional opportunities to meet the critical minerals supply chain challenges.

Special Thanks to the Critical Minerals Institute Corporate Sponsors, which include the following companies: ACME Lithium Inc., American Rare Earths Limited, Appia Rare Earths & Uranium Corp., Auxico Resources Canada Inc., Avalon Advanced Materials Inc., Clean Air Metals Inc., Critical Metals PLC, Critical Minerals Americas Inc., Defense Metals Corp., dynaCERT Inc., Elcora Advanced Materials Corp., Energy Fuels Inc., F3 Uranium Corp., Geophysx Jamaica Ltd., Grant Thornton LLP, Imperial Mining Group Ltd., Kraken Energy Corp., Lithium Ionic Corp., Nano One Materials Corp., Neo Performance Materials Inc., Panther Metals PLC, Power Nickel Inc., Save Canadian Mining, Search Minerals Inc., Silver Bullet Mines Corp., Texas Mineral Resources Corp., Ucore Rare Metals Inc., and WCPD Inc.

For more information, go to CriticalMineralsInstitute.com or email [email protected] for more information. You may also call +1 416 792 8228.

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