Anson Resources Ltd (ASX: ASN) shares are avoiding the market sell-off on Wednesday.
In morning trade, the ASX lithium stock is up 19% to 12.5 cents.
Why is this ASX lithium stock surging?
Investors have been fighting to get hold of the company's shares this morning after it announced a cornerstone binding offtake term sheet for the 100% owned Paradox Basin Lithium Project in the United States.
According to the release, Anson has completed negotiations with LG Energy Solutions and executed the first offtake term sheet for the supply of battery-grade lithium carbonate.
The release reveals that the offtake term sheet provides for the supply of up to 4,000 dry metric tonnes per annum (tpa) of battery grade lithium carbonate produced at the project. This is expected to commence in 2027 and represents approximately 40% of the project's start-up production capacity of ~10,000tpa.
LG Energy Solution is a global leader in delivering advanced lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles, mobility and IT applications, and energy storage systems.
Management believes it is an ideal partner for the ASX lithium stock with its diversified customer base of tier one OEMs and strong investment in expanding production in North America. It highlights that LG Energy Solution has eight facilities currently operating or under construction in North America.
What's next?
The offtake term sheet will become effective subject to Anson Resources making a final investment decision, the commencement of commercial production, and offtake product qualification with LG Energy Solution.
But it may not just be LG Energy Solution buying the company's lithium. Management advised that it continues to progress negotiations with other potential tier one global customers, which would complement its offtake strategy of supplying 80% to 90% of initial production under long-term agreements.
The ASX lithium stock's executive chairman and managing director, Bruce Richardson, commented:
Anson has recognized the unstoppable paradigm shift in the US supply chain for electric vehicle battery materials and the key role that Korean and Japanese battery manufacturers are playing. The Inflation Reduction Act and other US policy initiatives have resulted in significant investment in new battery manufacturing in North America to meet the continued growth in demand for electric vehicles in the US.
This shift in manufacturing investment has led to an increased demand for lithium produced in the US, not only to shorten supply chains geographically but also increase US content of electric vehicle batteries and electric vehicles, to meet IRA incentive requirements. Anson identified this change, targeted its offtake marketing activities to the companies that have made these investments into North America and in particular, the US where Anson's development work in the Paradox Basin in Southern Utah is strategically positioned.
