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NORTHBUD $NBUD.ca – #Cannabis #edibles preview: What to expect come mid-December $CGC $ACB $APH $CRON.ca $HEXO.ca $OGI.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 5:04 PM on Tuesday, November 26th, 2019

SPONSOR: NORTHBUD (NBUD:CSE) Sustainable low cost, high quality cannabinoid production and procurement focusing on both bio-pharmaceutical development and Cannabinoid Infused Products. Learn More.

Cannabis edibles preview: What to expect come mid-December

  • June 2019 report by Deloitte titled “Nurturing new growth: Canada gets ready for Cannabis 2.0” estimated the size of the edible and alternative cannabis product market could be “worth more than $2.5 billion a year and generate higher profits for retailers than cannabis products that are already legal.”

Edibles are on the way.

The 60-day Health Canada review period for cannabis edibles, extracts and topical products began counting down after the second wave of cannabis legalization across Canada came into effect Oct. 17.

With that review period set to end in mid-December, it won’t be long now before consumers can purchase and try all the new cannabis products licensed retailers are set to offer.

The Toronto Sun spoke with Sarah Gillin, COO of Etobicoke-based cannabis producer Olli Brands about what they have in store for customers.

“Olli is planning on launching with a strawberry real fruit chew, a butter cookie, a hemp crunch chocolate and five specialty tea blends — melo green, vanilla black, misty mint, sweet chamomile and my personal favourite, the berry bliss,” Gillin said, adding, “They will be offered in a variety of dosing options with CBD being featured prominently in almost all of them.”

This combo photo (top) shows Olli brands Butter Cookie edible and (bottom) their Misty Mint cannabis tea. Supplied

Gillin explained Olli partnered with Adrian Niman, a Michelin trained executive chef from The Food Dudes, to help develop and hand prepare the company’s edible products.

Olli will also be providing specialty cannabis teas. Gillin says Richard Guzauskas, Olli’s in-house “tea sommelier,” helps to internationally source the ingredients.

The “Sweet Chamomile Herbal Tea” is described on Olli’s website as a “Sweet and relaxing with an apple-honey aroma, this blend will lull you into calm.”

Canopy Growth Edibles and Beverages ‘Sneak Peek’ Tastings and Tours Beverages. Supplied photo jpg

Canopy Growth’s Tweed Inc. unveiled its line of 13 expected cannabis-infused beverages in late October. The low dosage “distilled cannabis” beverages are geared towards being consumed as a social beverage — with 10 designed to provide you with 2.5 mg of THC (Health Canada permits 10 mg per package).

Aurora Cannabis Inc., a Canadian owned licensed producer of medical and consumer cannabis gave eager edible consumers a sneak peek at a line of vapes they are working on last month as well.

They will come in three formats: a disposable vape pen, premium vape pen pods, and a pen with a universal cartridge system equipped with a rechargeable battery. They will be available for purchase on both the medical and consumer cannabis markets.

It’s worth noting, however, the U.S. Center for Disease Control identified vitamin E acetate as a “chemical of concern” among e-cigarette and vape users.

As of Nov. 20, 2019, the CDC stated there have been “2,290 cases of e-cigarette, or vaping product use” associated with lung injuries. The CDC recommends “people should not use THC-containing e-cigarette or vaping products, particularly from informal sources like friends, or family, or in-person or online dealers.”

Meanwhile, a June 2019 report by Deloitte titled “Nurturing new growth: Canada gets ready for Cannabis 2.0” estimated the size of the edible and alternative cannabis product market could be “worth more than $2.5 billion a year and generate higher profits for retailers than cannabis products that are already legal.”

“The edibles market alone is estimated to be worth at least $1.6 billion a year in Canada, with cannabis-infused beverages adding a further $529 million,” said Jennifer Lee, a partner and Deloitte Canada’s Cannabis National Leader.

Given the estimated size of the market, “It was not an easy choice,” Gillin said of choosing which edibles and alternative cannabis products to produce.

The review period has generally been frustrating for consumers.

Gillin said the 60 days has been “inconvenient” but also “necessary” to ensure ” the safety of consumers.”

Cannabis edibles will be available in mid-December. Chocolate Hemp Crunch, left, and Olli brands Strawberry Fruit Chews are two such products you will be able to get your hands on. Supplied

Source: https://torontosun.com/news/provincial/cannabis-edibles-preview-what-to-expect-come-mid-december

New Age Metals $NAM.ca – Investor demand to create deficit in #platinum market in 2019 $WG.ca $XTM.ca $WM.ca $PDL.ca $GLEN

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 2:55 PM on Tuesday, November 26th, 2019

SPONSOR: New Age Metals Inc. The company owns one of North America’s largest primary platinum group metals deposit in Sudbury, Canada. Updated NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate 2,867,000 PdEq Measured and Indicated Ounces, with an additional 1,059,000 PdEq Ounces in the Inferred. Learn More.

Investor demand to create deficit in platinum market in 2019 – WPIC

  • In its Platinum Quarterly report for the third quarter, the WPIC updated its supply and demand forecast for the year and released its initial estimates for 2020
  • Because of strong demand for exchange-traded products the platinum’s expected surplus of 345,000 ounces is projected to fall into a 30,000 ounce deficit

(Kitco News) – Unprecedented investment demand has helped to transform the platinum market, shifting what was expected to be a surplus market into a small deficit, according to the latest data from the World Platinum Investment Council (WPIC).

In its Platinum Quarterly report for the third quarter, the WPIC updated its supply and demand forecast for the year and released its initial estimates for 2020. Because of strong demand for exchange-traded products the platinum’s expected surplus of 345,000 ounces is projected to fall into a 30,000 ounce deficit.

“The substantial 12% increase in total demand is driven by record ETF buying, which more than offsets expected demand decreases in the automotive (-5%), jewelry (-6%) and industrial (-1%) segments and total supply growth of 2% for full-year 2019,” the WPIC said in a press release.

According to the report, funds investment demand has driven platinum-backed ETF holding to one million ounces so far this year; “the highest seen since physically backed platinum ETFs were launched in 2007,” the report said.

“This ETF buying by large institutional investors, who typically take 2 to 3 year views and positions, reflect the value opportunity they see; driven by future demand growth potential and constrained supply,” the WPIC said.

Looking ahead, the council said that they are forecasting a surplus of 670,000 ounces next year, reflecting a 1% increase in supply and a 10% decrease in demand.

However, Trevor Raymond, director of research with the council, said that the estimates are fairly conservative and it wouldn’t take much to push the market back into neutral territory. Raymond added that he expects investor demand to remain strong.

“You only need two or three funds to increase their platinum holding to see a repeat of this year,” he said. “The fact that investment demand has turned the market around so quickly should not be ignored.”

Along with investment demand, Raymond said that their estimates also don’t include substitute projections and rising diesel vehicle demand.

With palladium expected to see its ninth consecutive year of supply deficits, Raymond said that substitution remains an important topic within the PGM market. He added that he suspects that auto companies are already using cheaper platinum instead of palladium.

“I think we will start to see signs of substitution within the next 12 to 18 months,” he said.

Raymond added that a bottoming in the European diesel auto market would also be a positive sign for platinum.

“Every 4% increase in market share in the European auto market equals roughly 100,000 ounces of platinum,” he said. “Auto companies substituting 4% of the palladium for platinum would equal about 400,000 ounces. If a few factors come together next year the market can easily become balanced again.”

As for platinum jewelry demand, which has declined 6% so far this year, Raymond said that stable higher prices could ignite renewed interest, especially in China and India, as those markets continue to deal with near-record high gold prices.

Source: https://www.kitco.com/news/2019-11-21/Investor-demand-to-create-deficit-in-platinum-market-in-2019-WPIC.html

Empower Clinics $CBDT.ca – Canadian #Cannabis 2.0 is on its way and the U.S. is set to be the “biggest and the best cannabis market in the world” $WEED.ca $CGC $ACB $APH $CRON.ca $HEXO.ca $OGI.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 12:43 PM on Tuesday, November 26th, 2019

SPONSOR:

Why Empower Clinics

  • A leading owner/operator of physician staffed health and pain management clinics
  • Patient database of over 165,000 patients 
  • Platform generating $4MM USD in revenue annually (2019)
  • Proprietary technology platforms including Electronic Health Records portal and e-Commerce for CBD product distribution
  • Launching CBD extraction facility
  • First extraction system capacity = 6,000 Kg per year.

Canadian Cannabis 2.0 is on its way and the U.S. is set to be the “biggest and the best cannabis market in the world”

By: Ruth Saldanha

Ruth Saldanha: Cannabis stocks in Canada have been a bit of a roller coaster recently. After a dramatic drop earlier this month, the stocks have somewhat recovered but are still trading below our fair value estimates. Is now a buying opportunity? Morningstar Analyst, Kristoffer Inton covers cannabis and is here today to talk about his views.

Kris, thank you so much for being here today.

Kristoffer Inton: Thank you for having me.

Saldanha: What’s going on with Canadian cannabis? Is the distribution the main culprit here?

Inton: Yeah, I think that’s one of the primary causes of what’s going on in Canadian distribution. I think also a part of it is investor expectations. So, I think people forget, this is a growth industry. These are all very early stage stocks. And when we look at where we are in terms of the growth cycle, we’ve only just past one year of recreational legalization. On top of that when you look at how Canada has been doing in terms of its rollout, you look at its two biggest provinces, Ontario and Quebec. They’ve really underperformed relative to expectations in terms of opening dispensaries. So, to us, it’s a little combination of slower than expected government rollout limiting demand growth and investor expectations for growth and even more so profitability a little too soon.

Saldanha: So, should Canadians consider investing in established U.S. retail players while we still wait for the market here to develop a bit more.

Inton: Yeah, I would definitely say so. I think that in our view, the U.S. is going to be the biggest and the best cannabis market in the world. And they operate in isolation the U.S. and Canada and so while the Canadian market continues to develop, you can also play and get investment exposure into the U.S. story as well. And because the U.S. distribution rollout has been a little bit smoother, it looks like growth and profitability are coming to American companies before it has come to for the Canadian companies.

Saldanha: After the recent drop in prices is now a buying opportunity for Canadian cannabis.

Inton: Definitely, I think that it definitely warrants a long-term view. In the near term, it’s not going to take overnight to open enough stores to get distribution right and to get the products lined up. So, it won’t happen in the next quarter or so. But if an investor is patient and willing to wait, they’ll be able to get exposure to a long runway of growth.

Saldanha: Finally, Kris, which is your top Canadian cannabis pick and why?

Inton: So, we recommend two Canadian picks. We like Aurora Cannabis (ACB) and we like Canopy Growth (WEED), really for two different reasons. Aurora Cannabis has largely been focused on production. And it shows their gross margins are the highest amongst the Canadian cannabis companies we cover. And we like Canopy Growth because we think that with the partnership with Constellation Brands, they’re really focused on developing downstream infused consumer products. With Cannabis 2.0 hitting Canada later this year and into next year, we think that Canopy is well exposed to being able to enjoy growth from that.

Saldanha: Thank you so much for being with us today, Kris.

Inton: Thank you.

Saldanha: For Morningstar, I’m Ruth Saldanha.

Source: https://www.morningstar.ca/ca/news/197539/time-to-buy-the-dip-on-cannabis.aspx

BREAKING …. CTV News Cites #Datametrex $DM.ca For Proof That Foreign-Controlled Bot Networks Hit Canadian Election

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 10:58 AM on Tuesday, November 26th, 2019
  • Prior to the election, Canada’s electronic spy agency issued a stark warning about the potential for foreign cyber interference.
  • Datametrex (DM:TSXV) believes foreign actors not only attempted to do so — they succeeded.
  • Using Artificial Intelligence designed to follow and analyze online narratives, Datametrex published a report investigating issues related to the election.
  • The report, in collaboration with Defence Research and Development Canada, found evidence of Russian bots meddling in Twitter discussions 
  • intention was focused on boosting extreme viewpoints and creating further polarization among groups with similar political views.
  • The report was presented to NATO in mid-October.
  • Datametrex has been awarded $40,000 contract for United States Air Force (USAF)

Foreign actors tried to influence Canadian election talk, but did they succeed?

Police have revealed new details of a ‘SIM swapping scam’ that could have serious implications for victims. (iStock/Bombuscreative)

  • “It doesn’t seem that there is a political agenda. Whether it’s bots or people, they’re engaging the ‘useful idiots’ who sit around on social media and regurgitate anything that fits their social or political agenda,” Marshall Gunter, CEO of Datametrex, said during a phone interview with CTVNews.ca earlier this month.

Nicole Bogart, CTVNews.ca Writer

Published Monday, November 25, 2019 11:43AM EST

TORONTO — Despite concerns of foreign interference and disinformation, a growing epidemic of toxic political dialogue found in online echo chambers should have been at the top of Canada’s concerns going into the federal election, analysts say.

As the dust settles on Parliament Hill, research suggests that foreign-controlled bot networks tapped into growing partisanship in Canada’s online conversations, taking advantage of those dead set in their political beliefs.

“It doesn’t seem that there is a political agenda. Whether it’s bots or people, they’re engaging the ‘useful idiots’ who sit around on social media and regurgitate anything that fits their social or political agenda,” Marshall Gunter, CEO of Datametrex, said during a phone interview with CTVNews.ca earlier this month.

Prior to the election, Canada’s electronic spy agency issued a stark warning about the potential for foreign cyber interference.

The Communications Security Establishment (CSE) said it was “highly likely” that interference in Canada’s democratic process would be done using tactics similar to those used against other countries, including the amplification of polarizing political issues.

Gunter and his team believe foreign actors not only attempted to do so — they succeeded.

“It starts with a wave and turns into a tsunami,” Gunter said, referencing how foreign bad actors work to disrupt political spheres online. “That’s their way of interfering.”

Using machine-learning based technology called Nexalogy, designed to follow and analyze online narratives, Datametrex recently published a report investigating issues related to the election.

The report, in collaboration with Defence Research and Development Canada, found evidence of Russian bots meddling in Twitter discussions on political wedge issues in Canada, including ethical issues, pipelines, and climate change.

But that meddling did not seem to fit a political agenda, such as having a particular candidate elected over another. Instead researchers say its intention was focused on boosting extreme viewpoints and creating further polarization among groups with similar political views.

“Within Canada, the focus is more about distracting the population,” reads the report obtained by CTVNews.ca.

“Upsetting well-established democracies by increasing the divisions between citizens with opposing views is an effective method; while the people of that country are busy ‘fighting’ each other, Russia is able to move with greater freedom with less scrutiny.”

The report was presented to NATO in mid-October.

Although the data analyzed in the report was gathered between June and August, months before the election was officially called, Datametrex president Jeff Stevens said that his team has continued to collect and analyze Twitter conversations related to Canadian politics, including “Wexit,” flagging similar suspicious activity.

This isn’t the first allegation of foreign actors amplifying Canadian political conversations.

In September, analysis of about 34,000 tweets from approximately 4,896 accounts by researcher Marc Owen Jones revealed that 15 per cent of accounts using the hashtag #TrudeauMustGo were ones that primarily identified with U.S. right-wing politics.

Those accounts also showed evidence of spam or bot-like activity.

Speaking to CTVNews.ca in October, Jones said he continued to see this type of activity on Canadian political hashtags despite Twitter downplaying the concerns, saying its investigations found no “substantial bot activity amplifying the cited hashtag.”

When asked about both reports, a government spokesperson told CTVNews.ca by email that the Critical Election Incident Public Protocol panel — designed to respond to threats to the democratic process — did not observe any activities that “met the threshold for public announcement or affected Canada’s ability to have a free and fair election.”

Not everyone is buying the idea of foreign entities meddling in our political discourse.

“Partisanship is the real pernicious force here in the Canadian online discourse,” Taylor Owen, digital media professor, said during an interview on the Attention Control podcast in October.

“It determines who you follow, it determines the language you use, the type of policy you support. It dissuades you from being able to be fact-checked. It really is the variable that causes a lot of the problems that we’ve flagged.”

Owen, director of the Digital Democracy project, spent the course of the election looking at instances of disinformation and interference.

He says his team did not find any evidence of foreign actors driving conversations on Canadian issues.

“One of the things we really saw in our projects is real echo chambers in online debate where partisans were really just talking to each other,” Owen said.

“We didn’t see a lot of what we call formal disinformation campaigns, foreign or domestic.”

Owen suggests that banning foreign ad spending as part of bill C-76 likely decreased the potential for large-scale foreign interference attempts.

Either way, researchers on both sides agree that Canadians are becoming more divided.

“I don’t think this content affected the vote, what it did is degraded the public discourse. It entrenched partisanship and further confirmed their biases,” said Owen.

Source: https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/foreign-actors-tried-to-influence-canadian-election-talk-but-did-they-succeed-1.4701228

CardioComm Solutions $EKG.ca – #Mhealth Market is Presumed To be Valued at US$118.4 billion by 2025 $ATE.ca $TLT.ca $OGI.ca $ACST.ca $IPA.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 10:07 AM on Tuesday, November 26th, 2019

SPONSOR: CardioComm Solutions (EKG: TSX-V) – The heartbeat of cardiovascular medicine and telemedicine. Patented systems enable medical professionals, patients, and other healthcare professionals, clinics, hospitals and call centres to access and manage patient information in a secure and reliable environment.

Mhealth Market is Presumed To be Valued at US$118.4 billion by 2025

  • According to experts from TMR, the global mHelath market stood at US$23.9 bn in 2017.
  • This revenue is expected to gain an impressive value of US$118.4bn by the end of 2025.
  • Experts project this growth to occur with a meteoric CAGR of 22.1% during the forecast period from 2017 to 2025.

The global mHelath market bears a highly fragmented vendor landscape, says Transparency Market Research (TMR) in a recently published report. This is solely because of the existence of large, medium, and small-scale players in the market. Withings, FitBit, Apple Inc., Jawbone, and Dexcom are the dominant players working in the global mHelath market.

Out of the various strategic alliances adopted by players in the global mHelath market to hold a sizeable stakes, capitalizing on the emerging opportunities and acquiring latest technologies and tools has gained maximum popularity. The level of competition among leading vendors is getting escalated with rising use of technologies and smart devices such as wearables. The global mHelath market is expected to grow steadily due to the presence of highly established players who are concentrating on improving their product quality, facilitating product differentiation, and enhancing geographical reach. These companies are also attempting to introduce advanced and new products into the industry on a daily basis.

According to experts from TMR, the global mHelath market stood at US$23.9 bn in 2017. This revenue is expected to gain an impressive value of US$118.4bn by the end of 2025. Experts project this growth to occur with a meteoric CAGR of 22.1% during the forecast period from 2017 to 2025.

Among various products in the global mHelath market, connected medical devices hold substantial share, which is expected to boost the global mHelath market during the forecast period. This is because of rising focus towards fitness and increasing use of heart rate monitors among people.  Region wise, North America is expected to lead the global mHelath market in the coming years. This is attributed to a strong technological infrastructure along with high healthcare expenditure in the region.

Integration of Wireless Technologies to Fuel mHealth Market’s Growth

Health-related technologies and mobile applications are often known as mHealth, which helps in managing patients’ experiences. Such health mobile technologies and apps utilize advanced data analytics to help medical professionals in providing their patients best care at low cost. These health mobile applications facilitate easy and better health management through simple apps such as diet, exercise trackers, and calorie-counting.

Such USPs are driving the global mHelath market. Along with this, rising penetration of internet connections and smartphones, and rapid technological advancements in healthcare industry are the factors majorly fueling growth in the global mHelath market.

Furthermore, mHelath ensures continuous communication between medical professionals and patients, thereby allow physicians to monitor, and diagnose patients without seeing them in person. Such benefits are also boosting the global mHelath market. Apart from these, rapid adoption of connected devices for monitoring various chronic diseases, and increasing demand for cost-effective medical services are also propelling expansion in the global mHelath market.

Read More: http://newsdescription.com/2019/11/26/mhealth-market-is-presumed-to-be-valued-at-us118-4-billion-by-2025/

INTERVIEW: $HPQ.ca #Silicon and PyroGenesis $PYR.ca Actively Evaluating JV to Manufacture Nanoscale Structure Silicon Powders for Li-ion Batteries $FSLR $SPWR $CSIQ $PYR.ca $XMG.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 5:01 PM on Monday, November 25th, 2019

While Nanoscale Structure Silicon Powders improve Li-ion battery performance, high performance Silicon anodes are not presently commercially feasible due to high manufacturing costs.  Specifically, two major issues have been identified as major impediments to commercial feasibility;

1.      The cost of the high purity Silicon feed material needed

2.      The cost of transforming Silicon into Nanoscale Structure Silicon Powders for Li-ion batteries

HPQ Silicon and Pyrogenesis might have the solution…

Combining the HPQ PUREVAP™ Quartz Reduction Reactor technology with PyroGenesis Plasma Atomization knowhow to manufacture Nanoscale Structure Silicon powders, could potentially resolve these 2 issues and lead the way to full commercialization of Nanoscale Structure Silicon Powders.  If successful, that should subsequently lead to their wide scale adoption in the battery space.  

If this occurs it would go without saying, HPQ and PyroGenesis would be well positioned to assume a market leading role.

Grab your favourite beverage and watch this interview with HPQ CEO Bernard Tourillon.

Tartisan #Nickel $TN.ca – Nickel prices seen driven by Indonesia export ban, auto industry demand $ROX.ca $FF.ca $EDG.ca $AGL.ca $ANZ.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 3:33 PM on Monday, November 25th, 2019

SPONSOR: Tartisan Nickel (TN:CSE)  Kenbridge Property has a measured and indicated resource of 7.14 million tonnes at 0.62% nickel, 0.33% copper. Tartisan also has interests in Peru, including a 20 percent equity stake in Eloro Resources and 2 percent NSR in their La Victoria property. Click her for more information

Tc logo in black

Nickel prices seen driven by Indonesia export ban, auto industry demand — Fitch Solutions

  • NICKEL prices are expected to gradually increase between 2020 and 2022 due to tight supply as a result of the export ban imposed by Indonesia, the mineral’s top producer, and the growing demand from the automotive industry, Fitch Solutions Macro Research said.
  • “While prices could still head lower in the coming weeks, we believe that they will rebound from spot levels as we move into 2020 and remain elevated throughout next year, buoyed by a tight fundamental picture,” Fitch Solutions said in its Commodity Price Forecast published on Nov. 22.

In 2020, it projects average nickel prices of $15,000 per ton, upgrading a previous estimate of $14,500. This is expected to increase to $15,500 in 2021 and 2022, then easing to $15,250 in 2023.

Fitch noted that the increase in price will be influenced by Indonesia’s nickel export ban starting January.

“In the longer term, we believe that prices will continue heading higher up until 2022 as the market will remain in deficit or balanced,” it said, and added that the ban could also limit refining activity in China next year. Chinese refining output is now expected to grow an average of 2.5% year-on-year, down from 3% projected for 2019.

However, supply concerns due to the ban have started to dissolve due to a realization that the Philippines could fill part of the gap as suspended mines resume their operations.

The United States Geological Survey noted in a report published February that Indonesia produced 560,000 tons of nickel last year, making it the top producer, followed by the Philippines with 340,000 tons.

The Philippine Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) said that in the first half of the year, nickel ore production increased 3% to 11.306 million dry metric tons (DMT).

Nickel prices will also be influenced by demand from the automotive industry, a major user of stainless steel, which is the main application for nickel. Automotive demand will come into greater prominence amid an expected slowdown in the Chinese construction industry.

“Vehicle production will continue to record positive average annual growth of 1.0% over 2020-2028, lending some support to nickel demand. Other major nickel-consuming markets such as South Korea and India will also provide an upside to demand due to strong average vehicle production growth of 9.1% and 11.4%, respectively, over the next 10 years,” Fitch Solutions said.

The booming electric vehicle market will also drive demand for nickel, with most of the demand coming from China for the production of lithium-ion batteries. China is expected to expand the minimum range of vehicles eligible for subsidies to 150 kilometers (km) from 100 km. This will increase demand for nickel since longer-range electric vehicles need higher nickel content in their batteries.

“We forecast China to witness average EV sales growth of 10.9% year-on-year over 2019-2028, which will drive global electric vehicle sales growth and lead to an additional nickel demand during the period,” Fitch Solutions said. — Vincent Mariel P. Galang

Source: https://www.bworldonline.com/nickel-prices-seen-driven-by-indonesia-export-ban-auto-industry-demand-fitch-solutions/

Iconic Minerals $ICM.ca – #Lithium Ion #Battery Market Growth Factors, Demand and Trends $LI.ca $MGG.ca $PAC.ca $CYP.ca $NEV.ca $SX.ca Forecast

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 2:00 PM on Monday, November 25th, 2019

SPONSOR: Iconic Minerals Ltd. ICM:TSX-V Bonnie Claire Lithium Property hosts Inferred resource of 11.8 billion pounds of lithium carbonate equivalent and has the potential to be the largest lithium resource globally. Learn More.

Lithium Ion Battery Market Growth Factors, Demand and Trends Forecast

  • In recent years, the growth in the industrial automation has been highly eye-catching
  • This has been particularly beneficial for the development of the global lithium ion battery market for the application of material handling equipment
  • Global lithium ion battery market is driven by the growing penetration of smartphones, tablets, PCs, power tools, and digital cameras
  • Also witnessing an increase from the flourishing automobile industry

By: tmrresearch

Lithium Ion Battery Market – Snapshot

Lithium ion batteries are a type of rechargeable batteries that have high energy density. These batteries have a very wide range of application. However, primarily these lithium ion batteries are used in portable devices and equipment. The global lithium ion battery market is expected to witness a considerable growth over the course of the given forecast period with a considerable rise in the use of tablets, PC, smartphones, digital camera, and other power tools. These batteries have gained immense popularity in recent years, especially in the automobile production sector as they provide a solid alternative to the nickel metal batteries that are primarily used in manufacturing of electric cars. Another reason for their growing use is because of their light weight and small size that make them an ideal fit for a wide range of applications.

In recent years, the growth in the industrial automation has been highly eye-catching. This has been particularly beneficial for the development of the global lithium ion battery market for the application of material handling equipment. Over the years, several technological advancements have brought considerable growth in the material handling equipment sector. Some of the highly popular material handling equipment are automated guided vehicles, intralogistics systems, industrial trucks, and elevating equipment. Interestingly, all of these machine handling equipment are battery operated. With lithium ion’s stronger energy density, long lasting power, compact size, and light weight, these batteries are the most preferred option to be fitted across the equipment. Naturally, this has helped in the development of the global lithium ion battery market.

Lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable batteries that have high energy density and are used extensively in portable equipment. The global lithium ion battery market is driven by the growing penetration of smartphones, tablets, PCs, power tools, and digital cameras. The demand for Li-ion batteries is also witnessing an increase from the flourishing automobile industry. The demand for electric vehicles is increasing and with it, the demand for lithium ion batteries. The popularity of these batteries is increasing among automobile manufacturers as they are small in size and light in weight as compared to nickel metal batteries.

The lithium ion battery market is greatly fragmented with a large number of domestic players. These domestic players are accounting for a high share in the lithium ion battery market. There are small, medium, and large scale players in the industry and this is the reason behind the extreme competitive environment within the global lithium-ion battery market. The introduction of innovative and new technologies will help with the growth of the market. Many players are also investing in research and development and this will trigger increased competition among existing players. Product launches are a key strategy adopted by players in the industry. The lithium ion battery market players are also adopting the strategy of mergers and acquisitions so as to gain competitive edge and increase their customer base.

Global Lithium Ion Battery Market: Overview

Lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable batteries, in which lithium ions move from positive electrode to negative electrode during charging and back when discharging. These batteries are commonly used in consumer electronics. They make use of an intercalated lithium compound as an electrode material, compared to the metallic lithium used in a non-rechargeable lithium battery.  Besides that, their popularity is growing rapidly across sectors such as military, automotive, aerospace, and industrial.

Global Lithium Ion Battery Market: Key Trends

The various advantages offered by lithium ion batteries such as lightweight, rechargeable, environment-friendliness, high energy density, and no memory effect are boosting their adoption in smartphones, tablets, and automobiles. Hence, the proliferation of smartphones and tablets is providing a fillip to the global lithium ion battery market. Moreover, the escalating need for efficient and green solutions for power supply and energy storage is augmenting the market. Traditional batteries such as nickel-metal-hybrid, lead-acid, and sodium-sulfur have hazardous effects on the environment. In addition, the rising production of hybrid electric vehicles and electrical vehicles is creating a staggering volume of demand for these batteries in the automotive sector.

On the flip side, the higher cost of lithium ion batteries as compared to traditional batteries is limiting their widespread adoption. Furthermore, the risk of overheating and a subsequent fire associated with these batteries can pose a major threat to cars and other electronic devices, which in turn is restricting the lithium ion battery market from realizing its utmost potential.

Global Lithium Ion Battery Market: Market Potential

Several players in the global lithium-ion battery market are aiming at expanding their lithium ion battery facilities to enhance their visibility in the market. A case in point is Utility San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) and AES Energy Storage, a subsidiary of Automotive Energy Supply Corporation, which in February 2017, inaugurated their new energy storage facility in Escondido, California, which they claim to be the world’s largest lithium-ion battery energy storage site. The capacity of this system is 30MW/120MWh and has the ability to store energy for the equivalent of 20,000 customers for four hours. Such steps taken by players are likely to scale up energy storage capacity and drive the market over the coming years.

Global Lithium Ion Battery Market: Regional Outlook

The segments covered in the lithium ion battery market report on the basis of geography are Asia Pacific, Latin America, North America, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa. Asia Pacific is expected to represent a sizeable share in the market throughout the review period. The domicile of a large number of key manufacturers is providing an edge to the region over other regions. Countries such as India, China, Singapore, Australia, and Japan will be sights of high growth in APAC. The growth of the lithium ion battery market in these countries can be attributed to the increasing regulations to reduce the carbon footprint and lead pollution.

North America will be a prominent lithium ion battery market during the same period. The increasing sales of electric vehicles along with the burgeoning demand for high-quality consumer electronics products are contributing to the growth of the region.

Global Lithium Ion Battery Market: Competitive Landscape

The global lithium ion battery market is highly consolidated in nature. Strict regulatory framework for the manufacturing of conventional batteries is attracting new players to invest in the market. The influx of new manufacturers is likely to make this market fragmented over the coming years. However, prominent players offer stiff competition to new entrants due to their competitive advantage in their terms of strong foothold and easy access to raw materials.

Research and development activities are expected to be the top priority for the majority of players to increase their shares in the market. Some of the key companies operating in the global lithium ion battery market are LG Chemical Power, Johnson Controls, Hitachi Chemical, Panasonic, Samsung, Toshiba, Sony, and AESC.

Source: https://statsflash.com/lithium-ion-battery-market-growth-factors-demand-and-trends-forecast-to-2025/420030/

PRIMO Nutraceuticals Inc. $PRMO.ca – What’s the difference between #CBD derived from #hemp and #cannabis? $CROP.ca $VP.ca NF.ca $MCOA

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 10:45 AM on Monday, November 25th, 2019

SPONSOR:  PRIMO NUTRACEUTICALS INC. (CSE: PRMO) (OTC: BUGVF) (FSE: 8BV) (DEU: 8BV) (MUN: 8BV) (STU: 8BV) provides strategic capital to the thriving cannabis cultivation sector through ownership and development of commercial real estate properties. The company also offers fully built out turnkey facilities equipped with state-of-the-art growing infrastructure to cannabis growers and processors. Click here for more info.

What’s the difference between CBD derived from hemp and cannabis?

By: Emma Ston

  • What’s in a name? When it comes to CBD products derived from hemp, CBD products derived from cannabis, and what’s considered legal, a lot.
  • Understanding cannabis nomenclature and the chemical difference between the two plants is essential to making informed choices about CBD.

Cannabis refers to a genus of plants which has three species: indica, sativa, and ruderalis. Hemp is not a different species of the cannabis plant. The above classifications have been devised to differentiate intoxicating cannabis from non-intoxicating cannabis. Hemp is a sativa species, while cannabis can be sativa, indica, or ruderalis.

Although hemp and cannabis look (sort of) similar, from a functional and chemical perspective, they are distinctive. Here’s how you can distinguish the two.

(Leafly)

Hemp:

  • In order to be federally legal, it must contain 0.3% THC or less. For the uninitiated, THC is the cannabinoid that causes a high. With so little THC, hemp doesn’t have intoxicating effects.
  • Can be used to create products such as textiles, building materials, industrial products, paper, foods, and body care.
  • Is typically grown outdoors to maximize the size and yield of the plant. Hemp doesn’t require the same rigorous attention to lighting, humidity, and temperature that cannabis requires, and it can be grown in a range of different climates.
  • Tends to be tall and skinny with skimpy foliage, having an appearance similar to bamboo.

Cannabis:

  • Can contain 0.3% THC or more. Some high-THC strains can have 30% THC or more.
  • Is used for recreational or medicinal purposes. You won’t find cannabis plants being used to create hempcrete or denim.
  • Is generally grown in carefully managed and controlled conditions. Photoperiodic cannabis requires precise exposure to light in order to flower—its buds contain the valuable, potent compounds cannabis is famed for.
  • Tends to appear bushy, with large, full foliage.

Here’s the tricky thing: Both cannabis and hemp produce CBD. The CBD molecule is identical regardless of its cannabis source. However, from a legal perspective, CBD products derived from hemp and CBD products derived from cannabis are entirely different.

Hemp-derived CBD and cannabis-derived CBD: A legal perspective

According to federal law, cannabis—with 0.3% THC content or higher—is classified by the DEA as a Schedule I drug with no accepted medical use. CBD products sourced from cannabis, even those with 0% THC, are illegal at a federal level by virtue of their plant origin. Here’s the tricky thing: Both cannabis and hemp produce CBD. The CBD molecule is identical regardless of its cannabis source.

However, at a state level, the law changes. There are 33 US states which have medical cannabis programs, and CBD derived from cannabis is available from a licensed dispensary to eligible patients. The recreational use of cannabis is also legal in 11 states. In these states, cannabis-derived CBD products are available to those of age.

Industrial hemp, on the other hand, is no longer considered a Schedule I controlled drug. Following the 2018 farm bill, hemp was reclassified as an agricultural commodity. Since then, there has been an explosion of CBD products onto the market, prompting the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to issue a statement that a regulatory framework for CBD products is still in the pipeline, and foods containing CBD, dietary supplements, and products making health claims are considered illegal.

CBD products sourced from hemp, such as oils and tinctures, are legal at a federal level, so long as they conform with other applicable laws. That said, certain states have their own legislation and regulations regarding CBD oil.

If you want to purchase CBD and err on the right side of the law, verify the legal status of hemp-derived CBD and cannabis-derived CBD in your state, so you know what you can or can’t purchase. Generally, hemp-derived CBD represents the more legal option.

Other differences between hemp-derived CBD and cannabis-derived CBD

CBD concentration

Cannabis represents a richer source of cannabinoids and terpenes than industrial hemp because it contains significantly more resin. Resin is the sticky, gooey substance found on female cannabis flowers, and to a lesser extent, on its leaves. Hemp contains resin on the flowers and leaves too, but much less. Most industrial hemp cultivators need to grow large quantities of hemp to produce CBD oil, although there are now more CBD-rich hemp strains being cultivated.

Safety

Hemp is a bioaccumulator, so it can absorb toxins such as residual pesticides and heavy metals from soil. When CBD is extracted from large quantities of industrial hemp cultivated in non-organic conditions, there is a possibility that contaminant residue will be passed into the final product. CBD products sourced from tainted hemp can compromise safety and efficacy.

Regulation

The hemp-derived CBD market is not yet subject to a widely enforced regulatory framework. For this reason, it’s essential to do your homework when buying hemp-derived CBD.

Look out for hemp-derived CBD that has been third-party tested. Products that have undergone this have been checked by an independent group outside of the producer using industry-approved techniques. The tester verifies the cannabinoid content of the product, along with heavy metals, pesticides, or microbes. Related

How to read a CBD label

A hemp-derived CBD product that has been third-party tested also guarantees you are getting what you paid for. Leafly’s investigation on CBD tested 47 products and found that almost half of them didn’t come within 20% of the labeled dosage. Third party testing confirms that the promised CBD content is present.

You can also look for hemp-derived CBD products with a USDA organic certification. This affirms that the growing conditions meet official USDA organic standards, and also provides assurance that the hemp extraction process was free of synthetic chemical additives.

In states where cannabis-derived CBD products are available from licensed dispensaries, there is greater regulation of these products. All are subjected to stringent testing from licensed facilities.

Effectiveness

Cannabis tends to have a wider terpene and cannabinoid profile than hemp. Cannabis-derived CBD from whole plant extract contains a range of beneficial terpenes and cannabinoids, including THC. These compounds work in concert with each other to provide additional benefits. This phenomenon is known as the entourage effect, and many cannabis experts assert that whole plant extracts offer greater therapeutic potential.

Hemp also contains some cannabinoids and terpenes, but not the range nor concentration of compounds present in cannabis. Hemp-derived CBD can be made into an full-spectrum extract that offers natural terpenes alongside minor cannabinoids. Broad-spectrum CBD is also available and contains minor cannabinoids and terpenes, but without the THC content.

However, full-spectrum and broad-spectrum hemp-derived CBD products may not have the potency of CBD derived from cannabis because trace amounts of THC appear to be less effective in treating certain symptoms.

CBD isolate

CBD can also be extracted from both hemp and cannabis to become an isolate. Isolates are identical whether derived from hemp or cannabis because they only contain CBD molecules. As there is more CBD in cannabis than hemp, it requires more hemp by dry weight to produce the same amount of CBD isolate.

CBD isolate is most commonly used in clinical trials to prove that results are linked to CBD rather than other compounds from either plant that may be present. Isolates may also be favored by those who wish to avoid THC entirely.

Source: https://www.leafly.com/news/cbd/hemp-vs-cannabis-derived-cbd-whats-the-difference

HPQ Silicon $HPQ.ca and Pyrogenesis $PYR.ca Actively Evaluating Joint Venture to Manufacture #Nanoscale Structure #Silicon Powders for Next Generation #Li-ion Batteries $FSLR $SPWR $CSIQ $PYR.ca $XMG.ca

Posted by AGORACOM-JC at 8:18 AM on Monday, November 25th, 2019
  • Actively evaluating a joint venture to manufacture Nanoscale Structure Silicon (Si) powders for next generation Li-ion Si batteries.
  • While Nanoscale Structure Silicon Powders improve Li-ion battery performance, high performance Silicon (Si) anodes are not presently commercially feasible due to high manufacturing costs. 
  • Specifically, two major issues have been identified as major impediments to commercial feasibility
  • The cost of the high purity Silicon feed material needed, and the cost of transforming Silicon into Nanoscale Structure Silicon Powders for Li-ion batteries.

MONTREAL, Nov. 25, 2019 — HPQ Silicon Resources Inc.(“HPQ” - “The Company”)TSX-V: HPQ; FWB: UGE; Other OTC : URAGF; (“HPQ”) announces that HPQ and PyroGenesis Canada Inc. (TSX-V: PYR) (“PyroGenesis”) are actively evaluating a joint venture to manufacture Nanoscale Structure Silicon (Si) powders for next generation Li-ion Si batteries.

NANOSCALE STRUCTURE SILICON POWDERS SELLING FOR US$ 30,000/Kg1

While Nanoscale Structure Silicon Powders improve Li-ion battery performance, high performance Silicon (Si) anodes are not presently commercially feasible due to high manufacturing costs.  Specifically, two (2) major issues have been identified as major impediments to commercial feasibility.  The cost of the high purity Silicon feed material needed, and the cost of transforming Silicon into Nanoscale Structure Silicon Powders for Li-ion batteries.

Combining the HPQ PUREVAP™ Quartz Reduction Reactor (“QRR”) technology with PyroGenesis Plasma Atomization knowhow to manufacture Nanoscale Structure Silicon (Si) powders, could potentially resolve these 2 issues and lead the way to full commercialization of Nanoscale Structure Silicon Powders.  If successful, that should subsequently lead to their wide scale adoption in the battery space.  If this occurs, HPQ and PyroGenesis would then be well positioned to assume a market leadership position.

THE RACE IS ON TO BUILD A BETTER BATTERY: NANOSCALE STRUCTURE SILICON POWDERS NEEDED

Presently, Silicon powders is used in a blended form with graphite but its content is typically less than 5 wt%, which reflects the infancy of Si anode technology and explains the limited performance improvement achieved to date.  Even at these levels, however, this is estimated to represent an addressable market of US $ 1B by 20222 expanding at a CAGR of 38.9% between 2019 – 2024.

The addressable market growth could be exponentially higher than projected as research suggests that replacing graphite materials with Nanoscale Structure Silicon (Si) powders in next generation Li-ion Batteries promises an almost tenfold (10x) increase in the specific capacity of the anode, inducing a 20-40% gain in the energy density of Li-ion batteries.

“PyroGenesis, the inventor of Plasma Atomization, has more than 20 years of experience manufacturing plasma atomized metal powders, so if anybody has the knowhow to use silicon materials produced from HPQ PUREVAP™QRR and manufacture Nanoscale Structure Silicon (Si) that can be used as high-capacity anode materials for next generations Li-ion batteries, it is them,” said Bernard Tourillon, President and CEO HPQ Silicon. “Silicon’s potential to meet energy storage demand is undeniable and generating massive investments, as well as, serious industry interest, so our timing could not be better.”

“We are taken by the potential of this joint venture as it checks all of the boxes we consider before evaluating a new business line:  It relates to our current activities, the market although niche is potentially massive, our expertise would be game changing, and the risk is low,” said Peter Pascali, President and CEO of PyroGenesis Canada Inc. “We are equally excited about the market drivers for this product.  The potential from the battery and energy storage markets alone is estimated, on first review, to be in the multi-billions of dollars.  I look forward to evaluating this opportunity more closely.”

RENEWABLE AND EV DEMAND INDICATE GLOBAL ENERGY STORAGE MARKET READY TO EXPLODE

At current growth rates of 2% per year, global energy consumption will be an estimated 125,000 Terawatt-hours 2020, which is 800,000 times more than the estimated storage capacity.A recent report by Wood Mackenzie Power projects that energy storage deployments are estimated to grow 1,300% from a 12 Gigawatt-hour market in 2018 to a 158 Gigawatt-hour market in 2024.  An estimated US$71 billion in investments will be made into storage systems where batteries will make up the lion’s share of capital deployment.

As reported by CNBC, private Venture Capital backed firms are also exploring the use of silicon in batteries and are positioning to provide the auto industry with the solutions needed to substantially improve vehicle performance.

About Silicon

Silicon (Si) is one of today’s strategic materials needed to fulfil the renewable energy revolution presently under way. Silicon does not exist in its pure state; it must be extracted from quartz, one of the most abundant minerals of the earth’s crust and other expensive raw materials in a carbothermic process.

About HPQ Silicon

HPQ Silicon Resources Inc. is a TSX-V listed company developing, in collaboration with industry leader PyroGenesis (TSX-V: PYR) the innovative PUREVAPTM “Quartz Reduction Reactors” (QRR), a truly 2.0 Carbothermic process (patent pending), which will permit the transformation and purification of quartz (SiO2) into Metallurgical Grade Silicon (Mg-Si) at prices that will propagate its significant renewable energy potential.

HPQ is also working with industry leader Apollon Solar to develop: Porous silicon wafers manufacturing using PUREVAP™ Silicon (PVAP Si) that can be used as anode for all-solid-state and Li-ion batteries; and a metallurgical pathway of producing Solar Grade Silicon Metal (SoG Si) that will take full advantage of the PUREVAPTM QRR one-step production of high purity silicon (Si) and significantly reduce the Capex and Opex associated with the transformation of quartz (SiO2) into SoG-Si.

HPQ focus is becoming the lowest cost producer of Silicon (Si), High Purity Silicon (Si), Porous Silicon Wafers and Solar Grade Silicon Metal (SoG-Si). The pilot plant equipment that will validate the commercial potential of the process is on schedule to start in 2019.

This News Release is available on the company’s CEO Verified Discussion Forum, a moderated social media platform that enables civilized discussion and Q&A between Management and Shareholders. 

Disclaimers:

The Corporation’s interest in developing the PUREVAP™ QRR and any projected capital or operating cost savings associated with its development should not be construed as being related to the establishing the economic viability or technical feasibility of the Company’s Roncevaux Quartz Project, Matapedia Area, in the Gaspe Region, Province of Quebec.

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements containing the words “may”, “plan”, “will”, “estimate”, “continue”, “anticipate”, “intend”, “expect”, “in the process” and other similar expressions which constitute “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s current expectation and assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, our expectations regarding the acceptance of our products by the market, our strategy to develop new products and enhance the capabilities of existing products, our strategy with respect to research and development, the impact of competitive products and pricing, new product development, and uncertainties related to the regulatory approval process. Such statements reflect the current views of the Company with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and other risks detailed from time-to-time in the Company’s on-going filings with the security’s regulatory authorities, which filings can be found at www.sedar.com. Actual results, events, and performance may differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements either as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information contact
Bernard J. Tourillon, Chairman, President and CEO Tel (514) 907-1011
Patrick Levasseur, Vice-President and COO Tel: (514) 262-9239
http://www.hpqsilicon.com Email: [email protected]

____________________
1 Source: Quotation from a producer (Confidential), Media article
2 Source Marketandmakerts.com