Lithium X Energy Corp Is Today's Lithium Focus

There is perhaps no better story than lithium right now among small caps. We've been covering the lithium sector here at Insider Financial and have already profiled Oroplata Resources Inc (OTCMKTS:ORRP) and Lithium Corporation (OTCMKTS:LTUM). Now we're going to turn our attention to Lithium X Energy Corp, which trades under the symbols LIX in Canada, LIXXF on the OTC Markets, and RUT in Germany.There are countless reasons to be excited about lithium. Lithium is right now the one commodity everyone can agree upon that will continue rising in price. This comes as the lithium-ion battery is the battery of choice for cell phones, laptops, tablets, cameras, and power tools. Consumer electronics will need 4 to 5% more lithium each year for the rest of the decade.Further driving the demand for lithium is the electric car market. In a report from Goldman Sachs called “What if I told you” Goldman refers to lithium as the “new gasoline”. Goldman Sachs expects electric vehicles will make up 22% of the auto market by 2025, up from just 3% now. For every 1% increase in electric vehicle market share, Goldman Sachs expects lithium demand to rise by 70,000 tonnes per year. With the current lithium market at just 160,000 tonnes, demand from electric vehicles alone could triple the size of the entire lithium market by 2025, taking it from 160,000 tonnes today to 470,000 tonnes.We also have the Tesla Motors Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) Gigafactory, which will produce advanced lithium batteries for Tesla. Elon Musk has stated that Tesla will need to consume the entire lithium market to meet its demands of 500,000 Model 3’s by 2018. Chinese demand of lithium has been another factor behind the surge of the lithium market which is driven by the country’s desire for electric cars and buses.In addition, you have industry leaders like Pilbara Minerals MD and CEO Ken Brinsden who sees many parallels between the iron ore boom that started in the early 2000s and the lithium market today. He told CNBC that he sees China driving lithium demand as the country becomes a powerhouse in lithium-ion battery production. Just as China drove demand for iron ore and the price of iron ore for its steel industry, he expects China to do the same for the lithium market. All of this means only one thing in our opinion - much higher lithium prices and which brings us to today's lithium focus - Lithium X Energy Corp.Lithium X Energy Corp. is a lithium exploration and development company with a goal of becoming a low-cost supplier for the burgeoning lithium battery industry. Lithium X owns 50%, and has the option to acquire up to 80% of the Sal de los Angeles lithium brine project in the prolific "Lithium Triangle" in mining friendly Salta province, Argentina, a well-known salar with positive historical economics, grade and size. Lithium X is also exploring a large land package in Nevada's Clayton Valley, contiguous to the only producing lithium operation in North America – Silver Peak, owned and operated by Albemarle, the world's largest lithium producer.At the Clayton Valley North Lithium Project in Nevada, Lithium X has commenced drilling. Lithium X is permitted to drill four new exploration holes at two Clayton Valley drill sites, initially. The targets include the five known lithium-bearing aquifers under Clayton Valley and a lower basal gravel aquifer in the deepest area of the Valley basin. The company believes this lower basal gravel aquifer has strong potential for positive lithium concentrations and production rates.

Lithium X expects to drill these holes to a depth that will intersect the gravel aquifer in the lower part of the basin, which is expected to be approximately 350 metres. Each drill site is expected to consist of two closely spaced holes (one diamond core hole and another rotary) to maximize data collection. This system helps the company capture accurate lithological and brine samples, as well as allowing more thorough pump tests to be completed on relevant horizons. The current spacing between these drill sites is approximately 800 metres.

At the Sal de los Angeles lithium brine project in Salta province Argentina, pump tests have been initiated, including two airlift pump tests and one long-term multi-day pump test on existing wells in the northern portion of the Project, where previous drilling intersected higher-grade lithium brine in predominantly sand and gravel aquifers. The results of these pump tests will be incorporated into the upcoming Resource Estimate, which is on schedule to be released prior to August 30, 2016. The long-term pump test is being conducted at a prototype production well drilled near the anticipated well field. The pump tests are being conducted by SRK Consulting, which has been retained to update the Resource Estimate.

An Environmental Impact Assessment has been submitted to Salta's Ministry of Mines detailing the pilot ponding facility to be constructed as part of the Salta Exploraciones S.A. joint venture. The permitting process typically takes up to 60 days. Subject to approval of the EIA, construction is scheduled to commence on the pilot ponding facility. In anticipation of final receipt of construction permits, the SESA joint venture is negotiating the purchase of longer lead items and working on further advanced engineering details.

Besides the potential of the lithium market, what we like about Lithium X is the management team behind the company. As any junior mining investor knows, it's the management team that can make or break a deal. Key is looking at their history of successes and failures to know which horse (management) to back. With Lithium X, we have billionaire mining titan and Bill and Hillary Clinton pal Frank Giustra, founder and CEO Brian Paes-Braga, Executive Chairman Paul Matysek, and COO Eduardo Morales. Eduardo Morales is especially key because of his experience with lithium. He was President of Rockwood Lithium Latin America, where he successfully led the development, commissioning and operation of Rockwood's Salar de Atacama project. His tenure with Rockwood Lithium ended with the company's sale to Albemarle Corporation for US$6.2 billion in 2014.

We feel that Lithium X is one of the best plays on lithium today. The company is well positioned with its projects in Nevada and Argentina. With over $18 million in cash on hand, Lithium X is fully funded for Phase 1 exploration in Nevada and all current planned development activities in Argentina. The bull run for Lithium X Energy Corp could just be getting started. For the latest updates on Lithium X Energy Corp, sign up for our free small cap newsletter today!

Disclosure: We have no position in Lithium X Energy Corp and have not been compensated for this article.