Episode 149: Peter Oliver

Peter Oliver has been one of the most influential people in the lithium industry over the past two decades. He spent 18 years at Talison – 12 years as CEO/Managing Director and later was a Non-Executive Director. 

Peter guided Talison through the acquisition by Tianqi Lithium in 2013 and then served as an advisor to Tianqi when they sold 49% of Talison to Rockwood (now Albemarle) and later acquired 24% of SQM. He was a founding director of Tianqi Lithium Australia, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tianqi that was established to build the first hydroxide conversion facility in Australia. Peter remained a director until June 2021.

Few have the breadth of experience and understanding of the global lithium markets. Peter has recently returned to the lithium world as a Non-Executive Director of Latin Resources.

Topics:

The history of Greenbushes and the transition from tantalum producer to dominant hard rock lithium mine.

The lithium industry before the lithium ion battery

China’s rise as a lithium chemical converter based on Greenbushes spodumene.

Competing with brine based lithium in China

Lithium industry structure and why it needs to evolve to supply the energy transition

The reason China continues to lead the world in lithium chemicals production

Lithium geopolitics

Developing talent

Lepidolite – why development has been limited and its potential in the future

Staying under the radar

Coming back to the industry / joining the Latin Resources board

The lithium opportunity in Brazil

Price

Rapid fire