Lithium and Cobalt Markets are Expected to Grow

NEW YORK, January 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ --

According to a report published by Grand View Research, Inc. the global lithium-ion battery market is expected to reach $93.1 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 17.0%. The report explains that lithium-ion batteries are used in applications that require lightweight and high-energy density solutions. These batteries are widely used in consumer electronics, portable devices, electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, including energy storage systems are expected to witness the fastest growth over the forecast period at a CAGR of 21% from 2017 to 2025 due to the developments in wind and solar PV in countries including Germany, China and U.S. First Cobalt Corp. (OTC: FTSSF), Lundin Mining Corporation (OTC: LUNMF), eCobalt Solutions Inc. (OTC: ECSIF), Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F), General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM)

The Grand View Research report also points out that lithium cobalt oxide (LCO) was the dominant product segment of the lithium-ion battery market and was valued at USD 7.15 billion in 2016. LCOs have high usage in mobile phones, tablets, laptops, cameras as it offers high energy density and high safety level. As a result, Cobalt is expected to play an important role in the market. According to S&P Global Platts, BMO Capital Markets said the price of cobalt is likely to increase significantly in the next two years due to rising demand for lithium ion batteries. BMO predicted that the annual average cobalt price could reach $40.50/lb in 2019. The bank said: "Cobalt has a history of spikes higher following a period of underperformance, which is mainly related to the structure of the supply side. Without a primary mine supply side to speak of, cobalt has less of an elastic supply buffer than peers."

First Cobalt Corp. (OTCQB: FTSSF) is also listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the ticker symbol 'FCC'. Last week the company announced breaking news that, "the purchase of five unpatented claims located in the North Cobalt region of the Cobalt Camp in Ontario near First Cobalt's past producing Silver Banner and Ophir mines.

Highlights: - Three of the claims are contiguous to First Cobalt properties to the east of the Silver Banner and Ophir mines - As limited exploration has been conducted on these claims, First Cobalt intends to conduct mapping as well as soil and till geochemical surveys as part of a grassroots exploration program in 2018 - Claims include ground containing Huronian Supergroup conglomerate in contact with Nipissing diabase; a favorable geological setting for cobalt-silver mineralization

Trent Mell, President & Chief Executive Officer, commented: "This area of North Cobalt is of particular interest as some of the more significant past-producing cobalt mines are nearby, including the Silver Banner mine where we reported high grade cobalt samples."

The claims, located in Northern part of the Cobalt Camp, cover 750 hectares to the east of the historic Silver Banner and Ophirmines. Assay results from muckpile grab samples taken from Silver Banner included 1.14% Co, 0.69% Co and 0.47% Co.

Silver Banner was among the smaller historic silver mines, yet the veins contain a cobalt-silver-nickel relationship comparable to some of the larger mineralized vein systems in the Cobalt Camp, such as the Nipissing, Crown Reserve, Kerr Lake and Silverfields mines. High grade cobalt would not have been the focus of past exploration, so similar systems could have been overlooked in the new claim areas.

These claims further consolidate highly prospective properties within the North Cobalt area. Limited exploration has been conducted on these claims and work contemplated for the summer of 2018 will include soil and till geochemical surveys as well as field mapping."

Lundin Mining Corporation (OTC: LUNMF) is a diversified Canadian base metals mining company with operations in Chile, the United States of America, Portugal, and Sweden, primarily producing copper, nickel and zinc. In addition, Lundin Mining holds an indirect 24 percent equity stake in the Freeport Cobalt Oy business, which includes a cobalt refinery located in Kokkola, Finland. The refinery, located on the Baltic Sea in Finland, processes unrefined cobalt and related metals and manufactures advanced inorganic products for use in a variety of applications in fast-growing end use markets. Freeport Cobalt is one of the world's largest suppliers of cobalt chemicals and powders for use in batteries, pigments and ceramics and powder metallurgy. On November 30, 2017, the company announced that it has filed an updated Technical Report for the Candelaria Copper Mining Complex in Chile, and an updated Technical Report for the Zinkgruvan Mine in Sweden.

eCobalt Solutions Inc. (OTCQX: ECSIF) committed to providing ethically produced, environmentally sound, battery grade cobalt products, essential for the rapidly growing rechargeable battery and renewable energy sectors, made safely, responsibly, and transparently in the United States. Recently, the company reported that positive progress continues to be made on optimization of the Idaho Cobalt Project ("ICP"). Successful laboratory scale testing has demonstrated arsenic removal from ICP ore concentrates by conventional roasting methods. These successful results support the Company's new direction to produce a clean (low arsenic content) cobalt concentrate product, an upstream precursor material for battery cathode production, that may result in material reduction of capital and operating cost at the Cobalt Production Facility. This product change and other project optimization efforts, as announced by the Company on December 7, 2017, have the potential to result in a significant improvement in economics for the ICP. This new opportunity is being pursued in response to changes in battery supply chain dynamics and in-depth discussions with potential offtake partners.

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is a global company based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of Ford cars, trucks, SUVs, electrified vehicles and Lincoln luxury vehicles, provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company and is pursuing leadership positions in electrification, autonomous vehicles and mobility solutions. On December 5, 2017, the company outlined the next phase of its China expansion strategy, focused on SUVs, electric and connected vehicles, a streamlined business structure and closer connections to Chinese customers. The company plans to offer more than 50 new Ford and Lincoln vehicles in China by 2025. The expanded product portfolio will reflect an even stronger emphasis on SUVs - with eight all-new utilities, along with more electric vehicles. The company will launch at least 15 new electrified vehicles from Ford and Lincoln.  And the new Zotye-Ford joint venture will deliver a separate range of affordable all-electric under a new brand, pending regulatory approvals.

General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM) has leadership positions in the world's largest and fastest-growing automotive markets. Recently, the company and its joint ventures announced that they sold more than 4 million vehicles in China for the first time in 2017. Retail sales totaled 4,040,789 units, which was up 4.4 percent from the previous high in 2016. China was GM's largest retail market for the sixth consecutive year. The company benefited from record domestic sales by the Cadillac, Buick and Baojun brands. GM accelerated its drive to zero emissions with the launch of the Buick Velite 5 extended-range electric vehicle and Baojun E100 electric vehicle in 2017. These products fortified the company's unmatched lineup of domestically built electrified passenger vehicles.

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