Byron King, editor at Paradigm Press, shares his thoughts on a wide array of hot topics, including gold’s historic price rise, inflation and the ongoing tariff situation
In his view, it’s more important than ever for investors to have hard assets in their portfolio.
Securities Disclosure: I, Charlotte McLeod, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Highlights
– Rigorous testing protocol of individual cells
– Safety and operational robustness confirmed
– Long term cycling
– Over discharge, all safety mechanisms work, no damage
– Over Charge tests – high voltage, no damage
– C Rate Tests – no performance degradation, no cell damage
– High Temperature Tests – stable, no damage
– CERENERGY(R) batteries proven safe under extreme conditions
On 1 October 2024, the Company announced that the first CERENERGY(R) ABS60 battery prototype was successfully brought online and is operating as intended.
During the production of the first prototype, additional individual cells were set aside for a rigorous testing protocol designed to evaluate performance under abnormal or stressed conditions, beyond standard operating parameters. These tests aimed to verify the performance, integrity, and resilience of the individual CERENERGY(R) battery cells-and have delivered excellent results, as detailed below.
Long Term Cycling
Daily charge and discharge cycling at 300 degC with a state of charge (SoC) range of 20-100% is ongoing, demonstrating that individual cells are performing consistently across the full capacity range, in line with the expected scientific forecasts.
Over-discharge Test
While the battery system includes protective mechanisms against overcharging, the test program is designed to evaluate performance under extreme conditions, including scenarios where these protections may fail. One such test-the over-discharge test-assesses the durability of CERENERGY(R) batteries at low voltage levels (
Over Charge Test
The overcharge test evaluates the performance of CERENERGY(R) batteries under high-voltage conditions (>10 V for 15 hours-four times higher than the nominal voltage), simulating worst-case scenarios in which protection mechanisms may fail. All tested cells successfully passed, demonstrating the battery’s robustness, effective integrated safety features, and strong resistance to damage caused by overcharging.
C Rate Test
The C-rate is a measure used in CERENERGY(R) batteries to indicate the rate of charge or discharge relative to the battery’s nominal capacity, expressed as a multiple of its ampere-hour (Ah) rating. It is a key parameter for evaluating battery performance across various applications. While high C-rates are typically employed in fast charge/discharge scenarios, they can often lead to performance degradation, cell damage, heat buildup, or efficiency losses. However, CERENERGY(R) battery cells have shown none of these negative effects and have proven to be as resilient as anticipated. Conversely, low C-rates are used to extend battery life and maintain optimal efficiency. The cells were tested across a range of C-rate regimes, including C/8, C/5, C/4, and C/3. The results demonstrated strong C-rate flexibility, enabling a wide range of potential use cases.
Critical Operating Temperatures
Thermal stability testing under overheating conditions has been conducted to evaluate the upper limits of the CERENERGY(R) battery’s operating temperature range. Cells were cycled at a C/8 rate up to 400 degC- 50 degC above the maximum expected operational temperature. Additional cells are currently undergoing cycling at C/8 and 350 degC, showing stable and consistent performance. These tests are ongoing to further assess the battery’s thermal behaviour and overall robustness under elevated temperature conditions.
Full Thermal Cycle Tests
Thermal cycle testing is ongoing, with cells being cycled at C/8 between 20-100% state of charge (SoC) at 300 degC. The testing protocol includes cells starting at 100% SoC (fully charged anode) and others at 20% SoC (nearly empty anode). Each thermal cycle comprises three electrical cycles, followed by a temperature transition between 300 degC and room temperature (hot-cold cycles). To date, the cells have successfully completed a significant number of thermal cycles, highlighting the durability of the CERENERGY(R) battery technology. The results confirm that the cells remain both mechanically and electrically stable throughout the process.
C-Rate Test at high temperature
The cells were tested across a range of C-rate regimes, including C/8, C/5, C/4, and C/3, under extreme temperature conditions-specifically at 400 degC, significantly above the typical operating temperature of below 300 degC. No failures were recorded during these tests, demonstrating the robustness of the CERENERGY(R) battery cells even under severe conditions. Higher C-rate testing, including C/2 and beyond, is planned as part of the ongoing test regime to further evaluate and define the physical performance limits of the cells.
Cell Failure Test
Individual cell failure testing was conducted to assess whether electrical current flow would be disrupted in the event of one or more cell failures. This test is critical to evaluating the real-world performance and reliability of the ABS60 BatteryPack. The results demonstrated that cell failure does not negatively impact the overall system performance. The CERENERGY(R) BatteryPack continues to operate safely and reliably, maintaining functionality and continuous operation without significant risk or performance degradation, even when individual cells fail.
Cell Circuit Test
IKTS performed a cell short-circuit test, which included a subsequent short circuit at 100% SoC with a discharge to 0.2 V. During the test, the current reached up to 120 A. The results indicated no leakage, gassing, or fracturing of the cell casing, demonstrating the cell’s stability and safety under extreme conditions. Additional evaluations will be conducted to ensure ongoing reliability.
Conclusion
Group Managing Director Iggy Tan said ‘These tests are crucial for evaluating potential risks, mismanagement, or external factors. Expert testing conducted by Fraunhofer IKTS, in accordance with international standards, has validated the robustness of CERENERGY(R) technology, showing no critical behaviour. The cells continued to operate for days or even weeks under extreme conditions that would cause typical lithium-ion cells to fail and require safety interventions. CERENERGY(R) batteries have proven to be safe under all conditions, ensuring uninterrupted operation without risk or performance degradation, even in the event of individual cell failure.’
About Altech Batteries Ltd:
Altech Batteries Limited (ASX:ATC) (FRA:A3Y) is a specialty battery technology company that has a joint venture agreement with world leading German battery institute Fraunhofer IKTS (‘Fraunhofer’) to commercialise the revolutionary CERENERGY(R) Sodium Alumina Solid State (SAS) Battery. CERENERGY(R) batteries are the game-changing alternative to lithium-ion batteries. CERENERGY(R) batteries are fire and explosion-proof; have a life span of more than 15 years and operate in extreme cold and desert climates. The battery technology uses table salt and is lithium-free; cobalt-free; graphite-free; and copper-free, eliminating exposure to critical metal price rises and supply chain concerns.
The joint venture is commercialising its CERENERGY(R) battery, with plans to construct a 100MWh production facility on Altech’s land in Saxony, Germany. The facility intends to produce CERENERGY(R) battery modules to provide grid storage solutions to the market.
Source:
Altech Batteries Ltd
Contact:
Corporate
Iggy Tan
Managing Director
Altech Batteries Limited
Tel: +61-8-6168-1555
Email: info@altechgroup.com
Martin Stein
Chief Financial Officer
Altech Batteries Limited
Tel: +61-8-6168-1555
Email: info@altechgroup.com
News Provided by ABN Newswire via QuoteMedia
Galan Lithium (GLN:AU) has announced Secondary Trading Notice
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Blackstone Minerals (BSX:AU) has announced Blackstone Unlocks High Grade Copper-Gold at Mankayan
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Altech Batteries (ATC:AU) has announced Altech – CERENERGY Cells Test Safe Under Extreme Conditions
Download the PDF here.
As Canada prepares for a federal election, the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) is pressing political parties to commit to long-term support for the Mineral Exploration Tax Credit (METC), emphasizing its crucial role in sustaining the country’s resource exploration industry.
While the Liberal government announced a two year METC extension earlier this month, PDAC is urging the next government to put a 10 year extension in place once Parliament returns. It believes this will provide the stability needed to attract investment in mineral exploration, particularly in remote and Indigenous communities.
“Since its introduction in 2000, the METC has been indispensable to mineral exploration across the country — helping to generate billions in equity, creating jobs, supporting remote and Indigenous communities, and enabling major discoveries that feed into Canada’s broader mining ecosystem,” said PDAC President Karen Rees on Monday (March 31).
“For every dollar the government forgoes, multiple dollars flow back into Canada’s economy, with rural, remote, and Indigenous communities seeing substantial benefits,’ she added.
PDAC has included this recommendation in its broader election platform roadmap, which also calls for regulatory reforms to accelerate project approvals and enhance Canada’s competitiveness in the global critical minerals market.
Conservative Party Leader Pierre Poilievre has positioned mining and resource development as a cornerstone of his economic plan, pledging to fast-track permitting for major mining projects.
Poilievre has committed to setting a six month deadline for approving all federal permits in Ontario’s Ring of Fire region, along with a C$1 billion investment over three years to develop essential road infrastructure that will connect mining sites to Ontario’s highway network and First Nations communities.
“Unlocking the Ring of Fire will be life-changing for Northern Ontario towns and First Nation communities, galvanized by thousands of paycheques and modern infrastructure,” he said in a press release. “We could boost our economy with billions of dollars, allowing us to become less dependent on the Americans, while our allies overseas would no longer have to rely on Beijing for these metals, turning dollars for dictators into paycheques for our people.’
Beyond the Ring of Fire, Poilievre has proposed a ‘shovel-ready zones’ initiative, which is aimed at establishing pre-approved permits for large-scale resource and energy projects.
The Conservative platform also includes broader efforts to reduce regulatory barriers, promising a pre-approved national energy corridor to streamline infrastructure development across the country.
On the financial side, Poilievre has announced plans to defer capital gains taxes for investors who reinvest in Canadian projects, a move he says will serve as ‘rocket fuel’ for domestic investment, including in mining and critical minerals.
The Liberal Party, under leader Mark Carney, has focused on expanding Canada’s role in the global critical minerals supply chain while balancing environmental and Indigenous concerns.
Carney has emphasized trade diversification and infrastructure investments, including a C$5 billion Trade Diversification Corridor Fund aimed at supporting industries like mining that are essential for Canada’s export economy.
‘Canada must diversify and expand its trading relationships by becoming an essential partner for like-minded countries, drawing on our vast resources of conventional and clean energy, critical metals and minerals, leadership in [artificial intelligence] and deep human capital,’ Carney states in his campaign material.
While the Liberals have not proposed the same level of permitting acceleration as the Conservatives, they have pledged to maintain existing federal tax credits for clean technology and critical mineral production.
Carney’s platform also includes funding for workforce training and economic partnerships with Indigenous communities to ensure they benefit from resource development projects.
With both major parties acknowledging the importance of mining to Canada’s economy, the 2025 election will be critical in shaping the future of mineral exploration and development.
Regardless of which party wins, industry experts believe that mining will be a central pillar of Canada’s economic strategy. The urgency to secure domestic mineral supply chains, exacerbated by US tariffs and shifting global trade dynamics, has made support for mining a rare point of agreement.
With the election shaping up to be a close race, mining sector stakeholders will be watching closely to see how political promises translate into actionable policies.
Canadians will head to the polls on April 28.
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
AngloGold Ashanti (NYSE:AU,JSE:ANG)said on Monday (March 31) that with the completion of its Tropicana renewables project it has created the largest hybrid power system in Australia’s mining sector.
First introduced by AngloGold in June 2023, the renewables project is a partnership with Pacific Energy (ASX:PEA), which will integrate 61 megawatts of wind and solar generation capacity at the Tropicana development.
Tropicana is located in Western Australia roughly 1,000 kilometres east of Perth and is a joint venture between AngloGold and fellow gold producer Regis Resources (ASX:RRL,OTC Pink:RGRNF).
The former holds a 70 percent interest in the project, while the latter owns the remaining 30 percent.
The renewables project is expected to reduce the Tropicana development’s natural gas consumption by approximately 50 percent and decrease carbon emissions by an average of 65,000 tonnes annually over the next decade. The project was completed on time, as construction began toward the end of 2023 and was expected to finish during Q1 2025.
“This project will enable a significant reduction in emissions while reducing both diesel and natural gas consumption and improving our overall security of energy supply,” said AngloGold CEO Alberto Calderon.
The project’s energy capacity is equivalent to powering between 40,000 and 50,000 average Australian homes annually. AngloGold believes Tropicana enhances its net asset value, underlining its status as a valuable investment.
In the long run, the renewables initiative will play a crucial role in AngloGold’s 2030 decarbonisation goal, which calls for a 30 percent reduction in Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions based on its 2021 carbon emissions baseline.
Outlining the project’s environmental impact in a fact sheet, AngloGold compares it to planting 33 million trees annually, removing 23,000 cars from the road each year or eliminating 2.8 million long-haul flights per year.
Additionally, the plant is expected to reduce the Tropicana operation’s diesel consumption by 5.6 million litres annually and cut natural gas usage by 1.1 million gigajoules per year.
Pacific Energy was responsible for designing and constructing the expansion. The company also owns and operates the hybrid renewables-natural gas power station under a 10 year power purchase agreement.
Combined, the thermal and renewable power systems will provide a total capacity of 115 megawatts.
Securities Disclosure: I, Gabrielle de la Cruz, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
The White House is reportedly considering an executive order aimed at expediting the process for deep-sea mining in international waters, according to a Reuters exclusive.
The potential order could allow US companies to bypass the United Nations-backed review system currently in place and seek faster approval from US regulatory agencies for the extraction of key critical minerals.
These minerals, including nickel and copper, are essential for industries ranging from technology to energy, and the push is part of a broader US strategy to reduce dependence on foreign supply chains, especially China.
The order could pave the way for companies to apply for permits through the US Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) instead of the International Seabed Authority (ISA).
The ISA has been working for years to develop a regulatory framework for deep-sea mining in international waters, but has faced delays due to ongoing debates over environmental and operational guidelines.
The Trump administration’s proposed move to fast-track mining permits is part of a broader “America First” agenda that prioritizes boosting domestic production of minerals critical for national security and technological infrastructure.
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump invoked emergency powers to accelerate domestic mineral production.
This new executive order would extend that push to international waters, reinforcing the US commitment to reducing reliance on foreign sources, particularly China. China has strong control over supply of many key minerals, especially those vital for the defense and high-tech sectors. Recent steps from the US to secure alternative sources include the pursuit of potential partnerships with nations like Greenland and Ukraine for mineral extraction.
The executive order under consideration would allow American companies to extract seabed resources while following US regulations, sidestepping the slow-moving ISA process.
Under current international law, deep-sea mining in international waters is governed by the ISA, which was established by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
However, the ISA has yet to finalize its mining regulations, largely due to disputes over environmental issues, such as the impact of mining on marine ecosystems and biodiversity.
One major company, the Metals Company (TMC) (NASDAQ:TMC), which has been involved in deep-sea mining for over a decade, has expressed frustration over the ISA’s delays.
In a recent statement, TMC CEO Gerard Barron said while the company has invested heavily in developing environmentally responsible mining techniques, it has been unable to move forward due to the ISA’s lack of action.
“We believe we have sufficient knowledge to get started and prove we can manage environmental risks. What we need is a regulator with a robust regulatory regime, and who is willing to give our application a fair hearing,” he said.
TMC has already taken steps to apply for mining permits under existing US laws, and intends to submit its application for exploration licenses and recovery permits in the second quarter of 2025.
The ISA, which is composed of 36 member nations, recently held a council meeting in Kingston, Jamaica, where it once again failed to resolve critical regulatory issues surrounding deep-sea mining.
The meeting, which took place earlier this month, ended without an agreement on key amendments to the draft mining code that has been under discussion for years.
Delays from the ISA have led some companies, such as TMC, to seek alternatives. Barron has voiced support for a US-led permitting process, arguing that the US already has a robust framework under the Deep Seabed Hard Mineral Resources Act of 1980, which gives NOAA the authority to regulate deep-sea mining activities in international waters.
“Despite collaborating in good faith with the ISA for over a decade, it has not yet adopted the Regulations on the Exploitation of Mineral Resources in the Area in breach of its express treaty obligations under UNCLOS and the 1994 Agreement,” Barron continued, adding that the company is confident it can manage risks.
The ISA’s failure to resolve these issues has raised concerns among nations and companies that have staked claims in international waters. Bypassing the ISA could strain relations with countries that support its oversight role, especially those advocating for a global regulatory approach to ensure fair and sustainable resource extraction.
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Tesla reported 336,000 vehicle deliveries in the first quarter of 2025, a 13% decline from a year ago, two days after the electric vehicle company’s stock wrapped up its worst quarter since 2022.
Here are the key numbers:
Investors were expecting Tesla to report deliveries of between 360,000 and 370,000 vehicles, according to StreetAccount. Tesla’s investor relations team sends a company-compiled consensus to select analysts, and said the average estimate was for around 377,590 deliveries. Prediction market company Kalshi on Tuesday released a forecast for Tesla deliveries of 352,000.
In the first quarter of 2024, Tesla reported 386,810 deliveries, and production of 433,371 vehicles.
Deliveries are the closest approximation of vehicle sales reported by Tesla but are not precisely defined in the company’s shareholder communications.
Tesla doesn’t break out sales and production by model or region. However, the company said that it produced 345,454 of its most popular Model 3 and Model Y cars and delivered 323,800 of them in the three months ending March 31.
The company reported 12,881 deliveries of its other models, including its angular steel Cybertruck.
During the quarter, Tesla faced planned, partial shutdowns in some of its factories that allowed the company to upgrade manufacturing lines to start producing a redesigned version of its popular Model Y SUV.
CEO Elon Musk recently said during an all-hands session with Tesla employees that he expects the Model Y to be the “best-selling car on Earth again this year.”
But Tesla has to contend with an onslaught of EV competition and reputational damage. In the first quarter, the company was hit with waves of protests, boycotts and some criminal activity that targeted Tesla vehicles and facilities in response to Musk’s political rhetoric and his work as part of President Donald Trump’s second administration.
After spending $290 million to help return President Donald Trump to the White House, Musk is leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), where he’s slashing costs, eliminating regulations and cutting tens of thousands of federal jobs.
Musk, the world’s wealthiest person, has also involved himself in European politics, promoting the anti-immigrant AfD party in Germany in February’s elections. Tesla’s business on the continent is struggling.
Across 15 European countries, Tesla’s market share declined to 9.3% in the first quarter from 17.9% in the same period a year earlier, according to data tracked by EU-EVs.com. In Germany, Tesla’s market share in battery electric vehicles plummeted to 4% from about 16% over that stretch.
Sales of Tesla’s electric vehicles made in China came in at 78,828 in March, slumping 11.5% year-on-year, according to data from the China Passenger Car Association released Wednesday. The company is facing rising competition in the region from EV makers such as BYD.
Tesla shares sank 36% in the first quarter, their steepest drop since the fourth quarter of 2022 and third-biggest decline in the company’s 15 years on the public market. The drop wiped out $460 billion in market cap.
United Airlines plans to add daily flights to Vietnam and Thailand in October, further expanding the network for the U.S. carrier that already has the most Asia service.
In the expansion, United is using a tactic that’s unusual in its network: Its airplanes from Los Angeles and San Francisco that are headed for Hong Kong will then go on to the two new destinations. The Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, service is set to begin on Oct. 26.
On Oct. 25, United plans to add a second daily nonstop flight from San Francisco to Manila, Philippines, and on Dec. 11, it will launch nonstops from San Francisco to Adelaide, Australia, which will operate three days a week.
The carrier has aggressively been adding far-flung destinations not served by rivals to its routes, like Nuuk, Greenland, and Bilbao, Spain, which start later this year. Getting the mix right is especially important as carriers seek to grow their lucrative loyalty programs and need attractive destinations to keep customers spending.
Bangkok, in particular, “is in even more demand now given the popularity of ‘White Lotus,’” Patrick Quayle, United’s senior vice president of network and global alliances, said of the HBO show.
He said the carrier isn’t planning on cutting any international routes for its upcoming winter schedule.