Rock Stock Channel
The Age of Electricity is creating enormous opportunities in the critical minerals investment thematic. Howard, Rodney and Matt provide in-depth discussions with major developers and analysts covering lithium battery metals, rare earths, and many other specialty commodities.
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Lithium Supply Uncertainty, Analyst Misses, Inventory Trends | Ben Steinberg on DC Strategy
<p>In this Rock Stock Recap, Howard, Matt and Rodney dig into the state of the lithium market, energy storage demand, and the broader critical minerals landscape against a rapidly changing macro and geopolitical backdrop. They unpack why there is still no agreed historical lithium supply dataset, how a 20% spread in 2024 supply estimates can distort every long-term forecast, and why Chinese and China-controlled supply (especially in Africa) is likely being underestimated by many Western brokers. In the second part of the video, Howard speaks with Washington, DC lobbyist Ben Steinberg of Venn Strategies and the Battery Materials & Technology Coalition about...
TMC on U.S. Permitting, Funding Outlook & 2027 Production Path | Craig Shesky
<p>In this episode we sit down with Craig Shesky, CFO of The Metals Company (TMC), following his participation at Benchmark Minerals Week in Los Angeles. With growing global interest in critical minerals, deep-sea resources, and U.S. strategic supply chains, we discuss what investors should understand about the evolving regulatory landscape, funding outlook, and TMC's path toward its target of commercial production in Q4 2027.</p> <p><br> Chapters</p> <p><br> (00:00) Introduction<br> (02:26) TMC Update Overview<br> (03:25) Benchmark Week Insights<br> (06:29) NOAA Rule & Permitting<br> (08:37) US-Japan Rare Earth Partnership<br> (09:58) Copper Added to US Mineral List<br> (11:08) Cash Position...
Lithium 2026: Producer Outlook & Supply, Policy & China
<p>A major focus of this week's Rock Stock Recap is the shifting supply-demand outlook for lithium. We examine commentary from Albemarle, SQM, Pilbara Minerals, Lithium Argentina, and others speaking at the Deutsche Bank conference. Themes include: accelerating ESS demand, underinvestment outside China, tightening carbonate/hydroxide inventories, and updated price forecasts from analysts now acknowledging materially stronger near-term fundamentals. We also unpack the implications of Ganfeng's chairman suggesting lithium prices could rise back toward RMB 150,000-200,000/ton if battery demand grows above 30%.</p> <p><br> Chapters</p> <p><br> (00:00) Intro<br> (02:56) IperionX Update<br> (03:39) Sigma Lithium Overview<br> (06:06) CATL & Price...
Critical Minerals at Warp Speed: Where Cesium Fits In | Grid Metals
<p>In this episode of our "Getting to Know You" series, we sit down with Grid Metals' CEO Robin Dunbar and cesium market veteran Austin Devaney to explore one of the rarest and least understood critical minerals: cesium. Grid Metals (TSXV: GRDM) is advancing its newly financed cesium-lithium project in southeast Manitoba, alongside ongoing nickel-copper-PGM exploration in partnership with Teck Resources.</p> <p><br> Chapters</p> <p><br> (00:00) Intro<br> (03:13) Robin's Background<br> (03:57) Austin's Background<br> (05:32) How Cesium Is Mined<br> (07:48) Rarity of Cesium<br> (08:27) Cesium Demand & Uses<br> (10:40) Fast-Growing Applications<br> (11:50) Global Supply & Critical Status<br> (13:46) Evaluating Cesium Resources<...
POSCO-MinRes JV, ESS Boom, Lithium Forecast, US Policy | Surge Battery Metals Update
<p>In this Rock Stock Recap, we (Howard, Matt and Rodney) break down POSCO's joint venture with Mineral Resources at Wodgina and Mt Marion, and what that valuation is telling us about where lithium equities may be mispriced.</p> <p><br> Chapters</p> <p><br> (00:00) Intro<br> (02:59) POSCO-Mineral Resources JV<br> (05:46) POSCO's Conversion & Upstream Strategy<br> (07:44) POSCO's Global Lithium Buying Spree<br> (09:49) ESS Outlook & Benchmark Debate<br> (12:04) Solar Growth & Lithium Demand<br> (14:00) ESS to the rESScue - New Lithium Forecast<br> (17:39) Midstream Funding, Policy & Project Cancellations<br> (20:13) Batteries, National Security & the AI Race<br> (24:26) Lithium Price Rally & Seasonality<br> (27:27) China...
Building America’s Geothermal Lithium Supply | Controlled Thermal Resources’ Rod Colwell
<p>Here's our (Howard, Matt, and Rodney) summary of today's conversation with Rod Colwell, CEO of Controlled Thermal Resources (CTR), about the new subsidiary American Critical Resources (ACR) and the path to U.S. lithium and critical-minerals supply from California's Salton Sea (aka "Lithium Valley").</p> <p><br> Chapters</p> <p><br> (00:00) CTR Salton Sea News & Listing<br> (02:26) Rod's Background & Project History<br> (04:51) Salton Sea vs. Other Brine Plays<br> (07:03) Handling Complex Brine & DLE Setup<br> (11:45) Why Spin Out American Critical Resources<br> (13:41) Market Shift, Lithium & AI Demand<br> (16:11) CapEx, Multi-Mineral Potential<br> (18:12) FID, Equipment & 2027-2029 Timeline<br> (20:07) Studies, Permitting...
Iola Hughes: ESS, EVs & Policy: Benchmark’s Battery Outlook
<p>Battery economics are changing fast - and with them, the balance of power across EVs, storage, and supply chains.</p> <p><br> In this episode, we (Howard, Matt, and Rodney) sit down with Iola Hughes (Benchmark Minerals Intelligence) to unpack what matters most for investors across batteries, energy storage, and EVs.</p> <p><br> Chapters</p> <p><br> (00:00) Intro<br> (05:01) ESS Demand to ~20%+ Share<br> (07:19) Giga-Scale Projects Driving Growth<br> (10:09) Iterative Storage Tech, LFP Prices<br> (12:38) Sodium-Ion's Limited Role<br> (15:43) Global EV Update (China, EU, U.S.)<br> (18:15) Policy Headwinds, U.S. EV Reset<br> (21:16) China EVs Led by...
America’s Uninterruptible Battery Storage Boom | Jigar Shah
<p>What does America's new "warp speed" push on critical minerals and batteries actually mean for investors trying to pick winners?</p> <p>In this episode, we (Howard and Matt) sit down again with Jigar Shah - former head of the U.S. Department of Energy's Loan Programs Office, co-founder of Generate Capital, and one of the clearest voices on how policy, capital and technology come together in clean energy - to unpack what we're calling America's "Belt and Road" moment for critical minerals and energy infrastructure.<br> <br> </p> <p>Chapters</p> <p><br> (00:00:00) Intro<br> (00:02:39) U.S. "Warp...
Lithium Royalty Corp & Libra Energy Materials: Outlook for 2026
<p>We (Howard, Matt & Rodney) sit down with Lithium Royalty Corp (TSX: LIRC) CEO Ernie Ortiz and Libra Energy Materials (CSE: LIBR) CEO Koby Kushner for an update on lithium royalties and early-stage exploration.</p> <p>Chapters 📖</p> <p>(00:00) Introduction<br> (03:45) Zijin Production & LRC Impact<br> (06:27) Cesium Upside (Power Metals)<br> (08:37) Finniss Restart: Site Visit<br> (12:02) BP33 Underground Focus<br> (13:10) WA: Capex Pullback & Ramps<br> (14:42) Share Buybacks Overview<br> (17:10) Valuing Royalties (P/NAV, IRR)<br> (21:06) Pipeline: Cash-Flowing Deals<br> (23:27) Thacker Pass Litigation<br> (25:29) Supply, Inventories, Prices<br> (28:12) ESS Demand Surge<br> (30:49) Policy Tailwinds (US/AU/AR/CA/BR)<br> (33:26) Price Flo...
TSXV Cycle Recovery, Lithium Supply vs Demand, Gold & Silver Valuations, BESS Growth | Q2 Metals
<p>In this episode, we (Howard, Matt & Rodney) sit down with former Canaccord metals & mining analyst turned operator Eric Zaunscherb - now Chair of Critical Elements Lithium and Executive Chair at GR Silver Mining (GRSL) - to assess where we are in the cycle for TSX/TSXV juniors, gold, silver, and lithium, and what that means for retail investors.</p> <p>What we cover (for investors) 🔍:</p> <p>Cycle context: Eric’s slide deck tracks seven prior junior-mining recoveries over 43 years. The average up-cycle ran ~38 months with ~+180% magnitude; by his math, today’s move (which started in Q4-2023) still screens...
