Critical Metals Corp., a leading mining development company focused on critical metals and minerals and producing strategic products essential to electrification and next generation technologies for Europe and its western world partners, announced that Critical Metals Corp has accepted assignment of the European Lithium-Obeikan Group Investment Company (Obeikan Group) joint venture, following Independent Committee review.
With acceptance, Critical Metals Corp and the Obeikan Group have executed the Shareholders Agreement. The Obeikan Group has agreed to ratify the Shareholders Agreement to form a joint venture with Critical Metals Corp to construct and commission a large-scale lithium hydroxide processing plant in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to process spodumene concentrate produced from the Wolfsberg Lithium Project located in Austria.
- The 50%/50% JV will be geared towards developing, constructing and commissioning a lithium hydroxide processing plant, and operating the plant for the conversion of lithium spodumene concentrate from Wolfsberg.
- Under the Shareholders agreement, the newly established Arabian New Energy Company (Arabian New Energy) will seek to have the exclusive right to purchase spodumene mined from the current resource at Wolfsberg (Zone 1), and the facility is expected to be developed to meet the minimum initial capacity and product specifications based on the Company’s binding Long Term Supply Agreement with BMW.
- Under the Shareholders agreement, and subject to the successful commissioning of the Plant, the Wolfsberg Project Zone 1 will sell the lithium spodumene concentrate to the JV company over the life of the current resources of the Wolfsberg mine at a reduced rate, with a floor and ceiling price subject to final agreement of the Parties.
- The parties will establish a Development Committee for the purpose of jointly collaborating on all key decisions in relation to the development of the Plant.
- A Deed of Assignment has been executed by European Lithium Ltd and Obeikan Group to assign all rights under the 31 May 2023 binding agreement to Critical Metals Corp.
“The assignment of this JV to Critical Metals Corp represents another huge milestone for the Wolfsberg project,” said Tony Sage, CEO and Chairman of Critical Metals Corp. “Critical Metals Corp has two dedicated partners to ensure we fulfil our ambition to become the first European producer of both spodumene and hydroxide. With these key milestones having been achieved, we expect the next steps will become a lot easier. Over the next several quarters, we plan to update and finalize the DFS on these projects, and to secure the necessary funding to commence construction. The Board of the newly formed Arabian New Energy will oversee the construction of the hydroxide plant, with funding for the project sourced from within Saudi Arabia.”
“We are pleased to have reached this agreement with Critical Metals Corp,” said Abdallah Obeikan, CEO of the Obeikan Investment Group. “We are convinced that our partnership will be beneficial for all stakeholders. This partnership will combine the solid technical expertise of Critical Metals Corp with the industrial knowledge of Obeikan while leveraging the strength of Saudi Arabian financial markets. It is a strategic global collaboration to achieve the goals of Vision 2030 and to advance the development of the new industry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”
