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ALBAlbemarle Corporation

Materials · Plastics & Resins · NYSE

Albemarle Corporation was incorporated in Virginia in 1993. 10-K, Item 1

Employees
7,800
Headquarters
Charlotte, NC
CEO
J. Kent Masters
Next results
around Feb 10, 2027
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When the SEC's staff reviews a filing, it writes to the company with numbered questions, and the company answers each one in a letter. SEC publishes the exchange once the review is over, at least 20 business days later. Below: what the staff asked ALB, and the company's answer to each question, quoted from the letters. A question is not an accusation; most reviews end with the company adding detail to its next filing.

Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021

2022-09-14 to 2023-02-06 · 45 questions · 3 letters from the SEC, 4 from the company
Review closed 2023-02-06
Reserves and insuranceControlsLiquidity and cashRevenueResults discussion (MD&A)Income taxesInventoryRisk factors
After reviewing your response to these comments, we may have additional comments. Mineral Properties, page 24
SEC asked (1)
Please revise to report each individual property’s production by product such as salt, Sulfate of Potassium (SOP), lithium, or bromine, etc. as required by Item 1303(B)(2)(i) of Regulation S-K.
ALB answered
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and has included below an updated version of the table set forth on page 26 of the 2021 Form 10-K (page 5 of the 2021 Form 10-K/A), which includes each individual property’s production by product, as well as a revised version of the paragraph that preceded the table in the 2021 Form 10-K (with revisions underlined and in bold).
Rest of the answer

The Company will include the additional information substantially in the form of the paragraph and table below in subsequent Annual Reports on Form 10-K, as applicable, beginning with its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2022 (the “2022 Form 10-K”).

Aggregate annual production from our mineral extraction facilities is shown in the below table. Amounts represent Albemarle’s attributable portion based on ownership percentages noted above and are shown in

Ms. Parikh, Ms. Connell, Mr. Schuler and Mr. Arakawa thousands of metric tons (“MT”) of lithium carbonate equivalent (“LCE”) lithium metal and bromine production. Lithium and bromine is extracted as brine or hard rock concentrate at the extraction facilities. These are then further converted into various compounds and products at on-site processing facilities or other conversion facilities owned by Albemarle around the world. In addition, the brine or concentrate can be used by tolling entities for further processing.

Aggregate Annual Production (MT in thousands)

Year Ended December 31,

2021 2020 2019

Lithium

Australia(a)

Greenbushes(b)

13 8 11

Chile

Salar de Atacama(c)

8 8 7

United States

Silver Peak, NV 2 2 1

Bromine

Jordan

Safi(d)(e)

57 56 56

Magnolia, AR(f)

71 74 73

(a) Wodgina had no production during the periods presented in the table.

(b) Production from Greenbushes represents the 49% of production of the Greenbushes mine which is attributable to the Company’s interest in the Talison Lithium Australia Pty Ltd joint venture.

(c) The Salar de Atacama operation also produces potash (potassium chloride), bichofite, halite and sylvinite as byproducts. However, the Company does not consider production of these byproducts as material to the economics of the operation.

(d) Production from Safi represents the 50% of production by the Jordan Bromine Project which is attributable to the Company’s interest in the Jordan Bromine Company Limited (“JBC”) joint venture.

(e) The Safi operation also produces potassium hydroxide ("KOH") as a byproduct. However, the Company does not consider production of this byproduct as material to the economics of the operation.

(f) In addition, elemental sulfur and sodium hydrosulfide solution (“NaHS”) are manufactured from sour gas produced by the Magnolia operation. However, the Company does not consider these products as material to the economics of the operation.

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After reviewing your response to these comments, we may have additional comments. Mineral Properties, page 24
SEC asked (2)
We note your reference to resource base in this section. Resource base is not a resource category defined or allowed under S-K 1300 for disclosure of quantities or grades. Please modify your disclosures to conform to the resource/reserve categories defined by Item 1300 of Regulation S-K.
ALB answered
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and will comply with this comment in future Form 10-K filings by not using the term “resource base” in connection with disclosure of quantities or grades and otherwise conforming disclosures to the resource/reserve categories defined by Item 1300 of Regulation S-K, beginning with the 2022 Form 10-K.

For example, in future Form 10-K filings, the disclosure that appeared on pages 26-27 of the 2021 Form 10-K (page 6 of the 2021 Form 10-K/A) would be revised to read as follows (new language underlined and in bold):

The feedstock for the Safi, Jordan
Rest of the answer

site, owned 50% by Albemarle through its JBC joint venture, is drawn from the Dead Sea, a nonconventional reservoir owned by the nations of Israel and Jordan. As such, there are no specific resources owned by JBC, but Albemarle’s joint venture partner, Arab Potash Company (“APC”) has exclusive rights granted by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to withdraw brine from the Dead Sea and process it to extract minerals. The measured resource base of bromide ion estimated to be allocated to Jordan’s share of the Dead Sea is estimated at attributable to Albemarle’s 50% interest in its JBC joint venture is estimated to be approximately 354.9 177.5 million MT. JBC is extracting approximately 1 percent of the bromine available in Jordan’s share of the Dead Sea. Bromide concentration in the Dead Sea is estimated to average approximately 5,000 mg/L.

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After reviewing your response to these comments, we may have additional comments. Mineral Properties, page 24
SEC asked (3)
We note you report your Wodgina and Sanfi properties resources and reserves on a 100% percent basis due to exclusive marketing of the salable products and not on your attributable ownership. Please revise to report your resources and reserves based on your attributable ownership as required by Item 1303(b)(3)(iii) of Regulation S-K.
ALB answered
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and will comply with this comment in future Form 10-K filings, beginning with the 2022 Form 10-K, by reporting its Wodgina and Safi properties resources and reserves based on its attributable ownership. Specifically, in future Form 10-K filings, the Company would present the row of the table that appeared on page 26 of the 2021 Form 10-K (page 6 of the 2021 Form 10-K/A) reporting Wodgina’s property resources and the corresponding footnote in substantially the following form:

Measured Mineral Resources Indicated Mineral Resources Measured and
Rest of the answer

Indicated Mineral Resources Inferred Mineral Resources

Amount (MT)

Grade

(Li2O%)

Lithium – Hard Rock:

Australia

Wodgina(a)

— — 13,380 1.39% 13,380 1.39% 98,400 1.15%

(a) Through our MARBL joint venture, we own a 60% interest in the Wodgina project. We are therefore reporting 60% of Wodgina’s mineral resources.

Additionally, with respect to attributable ownership of Safi property resources, in future Form 10-K filings, the Company intends to revise the disclosure that appeared on pages 26-27 of the 2021 Form 10-K (page 6 of the 2021 Form 10-K/A) as shown above in response to comment no. 2 of the Comment Letter. With respect to attributable ownership of Safi property reserves, in future Form 10-K filings the Company would revise the disclosure that appeared on pages 26-27 of the 2021 Form 10-K (page 6 of the 2021 Form 10-K/A) in the following manner (new language underlined and in bold):

The mineral reserve estimate for the Safi, Jordan bromine site attributable to Albemarle’s 50% interest in its JBC joint venture is 4.89 approximately 2.45 million MT of bromine from the Dead Sea. This estimate is based on the time available under the concession agreement with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the processing capability of the JBC plant. As only approximately one percent of the available resource is consumed from the Dead Sea, as noted above, the reserve estimate is based on the amount the JBC plant can produce over until the end of 2058, when the APC concession agreement ends. Bromine concentration used to calculate the reserve estimate from the Dead Sea was approximately 8,890 mg/L based on historical pumping.

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After reviewing your response to these comments, we may have additional comments. Mineral Properties, page 24
SEC asked (4)
We note your Salar de Atacama resources are reported as Million metric tonne (MT) units instead of the thousand metric tonne (000 mt) units found in the respective technical reports. Please correct your resource and reserve estimates to conform to the estimates reported in the technical reports.
ALB answered
In response to the Staff’s comment, we respectfully note that the 2021 Form 10-K defines “MT” to mean “metric tons” and describes the table providing a summary of mineral resources as presented in “thousands of MT.” The table on page 6 of the 2021 Form 10-K/A showing our Salar de Atacama resources (e.g., 717 thousands of MT of Measured Mineral Resources) corresponds to Table 1-1 in the technical report.
Rest of the answer

The Company acknowledges some variation of the use of, and definition of, millions of metric tonnes (e.g., defined as “MMt” or “Mt”) and will minimize any such variation in future reports to avoid confusion.

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Greenbushes, Australia, page 30
SEC asked (5)
We are unable to verify the LoM sustaining capital calculation, based on the information available within the technical report summary and elsewhere in your filing. Please provide additional documentation in your filing and technical report that supports this cost estimate, your cutoff grade calculation, and metallurgical recovery. Safi, Jordan, page 41
ALB answered
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and is providing below additional information regarding its cost estimate, cut-off grade calculation and metallurgical recovery. The Company will include certain of this information in future Form 10-K filings and Greenbushes technical reports filed therewith to support verification of the LoM sustaining capital calculation contained therein.

Sustaining Capital Calculation for Pit Optimization and Cut-Off Grade Calculation

The LoM sustaining capital allowance of US$2.66 per tonne of ore that is shown on pages 30 and 31 of the 2021 Form 10-K
Rest of the answer

(pages 10 and 11 of the 2021 Form 10-K/A) was used only for the purposes of pit optimization and cut-off grade calculation. It was not used for the technical economic model (“TEM”) presented in Section 19 of the Greenbushes technical report. Because pit optimization is performed as a first step in the mine planning process, SRK Consulting (U.S.) Inc. (“SRK”) typically relies on the most recent information that is available at the time when the pit optimization process commences. In this instance, SRK used the estimate of LoM annual sustaining capital costs for Greenbushes that was included in the 2021 budget provided by the Company. The budgetary estimate of average annual sustaining capital costs for Greenbushes in such budget was AU$14.33M/y, or AU$3.50 per tonne of ore based on the 4.1Mt/y annual processing rate. This cost was then converted to US$2.66 per tonne of ore based on an assumed exchange rate of 0.76 USD:AUD. SRK reviewed the budgetary projection of the sustaining capital costs for Greenbushes and determined that it was reasonable to rely thereon for the purposes of pit optimization and cut-off grade calculation.

Subsequent to pit optimization, design and scheduling, a detailed estimate of LoM sustaining capital costs was prepared as discussed in Section 18 of the Greenbushes technical report. The detailed estimate based on the final reserves was used in the TEM in Section 19 of the Greenbushes technical report.

Economic Cut-Off Grade Calculation

The economic cut-off grade calculation is discussed in Section 12.2.3 of the Greenbushes technical report. It is important to note that the pit optimization process determines the economic potential of the reserves pit, given the costs involved in moving every block inside the optimized pit shell to some location, either a waste dump in the case of a waste block or an ore stockpile in the case of an ore block. For this reason, the mining cost used in the cut-off grade calculation is an incremental ore mining cost rather than the full mining cost. This is explained in the text preceding Table 12-3 of the Greenbushes technical report as follows “Drilling, blasting, loading and hauling and mining overhead costs are excluded from the CoG calculation for in situ material because the pit design was guided by economic pit optimization. I.e., only incremental ore mining costs (RoM loader, rehandle from long-term stockpiles, grade control assays, and rockbreaking) were considered in the decision whether to send material to the waste dump or to the processing plant”. Because an incremental ore mining cost is used in the cut-off grade calculation, the value in Table 12-3 (US$4.75 per tonne of ore) is different from the average full mining cost shown in Table 12-1 (US$5.57 per tonne of ore and waste mined).

The processing recovery is discussed in Section 14 of the Greenbushes technical report and is summarized in Section 12.2.2 of the technical report in the text that precedes Table 12-3 thereof. The mass yield equation used in the cut-off grade calculation is dependent on the LiO2% grade as follows:

Mass yield % =IF(LiO2%>5.5,LiO2%/6*97%,9.362*LiO2%^1.319/100)

Pursuant to this equation, where the lithium oxide grade is greater than 5.5%, a maximum recovery of 97% is applied

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Greenbushes, Australia, page 30
SEC asked (6)
We note your reserve disclosure for the Jordan Bromine operation in this section. Please clarify whether these reserves are classified as proven and or probable and only report those quantities and grades based on your ownership.
ALB answered
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and will comply with this comment in future Form 10-K filings, beginning with the 2022 Form 10-K. Specifically, in future Form 10-K filings, the Company would revise the disclosure that appeared on page 41 of the 2021 Form 10-K (page 20 of the 2021 Form 10-K/A) to read as follows (new language underlined and in bold):

The feedstock is drawn from the Dead Sea, a nonconventional reservoir owned by the nations of Israel and Jordan.
Rest of the answer

As such, there are no specific resources owned by JBC, but Albemarle’s joint venture partner, APC has exclusive rights granted by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to withdraw brine from the Dead Sea and process it to extract minerals. The measured resource base of bromide ion estimated to be allocated to Jordan’s share of the Dead Sea is estimated at attributable to Albemarle’s 50% interest in its JBC joint venture is approximately 354.9 177.5 million MT. JBC is extracting approximately 1 percent of the bromine available in Jordan’s share of the Dead Sea. Bromide concentration in the Dead Sea is estimated to average approximately 5,000 mg/L.

All bromine reserves reported by Albemarle for the JBC project are classified as proven mineral reserves. The mineral reserve estimate attributable to Albemarle’s 50% interest in its JBC joint venture is 4.89 approximately 2.45 million MT of bromine from the Dead Sea. This estimate is based on the time available under the concession agreement with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the processing capability of the JBC plant. As only approximately one percent of the available resource is consumed, as noted above, the reserve estimate is based on the amount the JBC plant can produce over until the end of 2058, when the APC concession agreement ends. Revenues are based on a forecast bromine price ranging from $4,570 to $8,300 per MT. At the plant process recovery of 83.4 percent (bromine from bromide), product bromine is estimated at approximately 122,100 tonnes per year. Bromine concentration used to calculate the reserve estimate from the Dead Sea was approximately 8,890 mg/L based on historical pumping.

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Greenbushes, Australia, page 30
SEC asked (7)
We note your reference to sections of the technical report for details regarding key assumptions and other details, such as cutoff grade, price, and operating costs. This information is required filing disclosure and may not be incorporated by reference to an exhibit, especially if that information is also missing from the technical report. Please modify your filing to include all required disclosure.
Rest of the question

See Item 1304(d)(1) of Regulation S-K.

ALB answered
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and will comply with this comment in future Form 10-K filings, beginning with the 2022 Form 10-K. Specifically, with respect to any Jordan Bromine technical report filed with future Form 10-K filings, the disclosure that appeared on page 49 of the technical report filed with the 2021 Form 10-K would be revised as follows (new language underlined and in bold), and such information that is responsive to Item 1304(d)(1) of Regulation S-K would be included in the Form 10-K rather than incorporated by reference to the exhibit:

The overall average
Rest of the answer

production for the time period of 2022 through 2058 is 132,000 tonnes per year of elemental bromine.

The considered sales price ranges between USD 4,565 and USD 8,300 per tonne and the operating cost ranges between USD 355 and USD 532 per tonne, as detailed in Section 18 of this report.

The cut-off grade of the Albemarle bromine operations has been estimated to be at 1,000 ppm. The bromide ion concentration in the brine extracted pond C-7, which feeds the bromine plants, significantly exceeds the selected cut-off grade.

Because the The reserves are constrained by plant capacity and the duration of the concession, the total Bromine reserves controlled by JBC as of December of 2021 are estimated at approximately 4.89 MMt of bromine (average of 132,000 tonnes/year over 37.0 years). Consequently, as of December 2021, an estimated 17.66 MMt of brine proven reserves with an average grade of 7,476 ppm, and a cut-off grade of 1,000 ppm are controlled and will be processed by JBC. This is equivalent to 4.89 MMt of contained elemental bromine. This reserve estimate represents only a fraction of the total resource contained in the Dead Sea and accessible by APC/JBC and therefore, the estimate provides reasonable assurance that the project will not be affected by shortages of raw material over its life.

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Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations · Results of Operations, page 50
SEC asked (8)
We noted the current period and prior period adjustments related to inventory foreign exchange values, deferred tax liability, and capitalized interest values recognized in the periods ended March 31, 2021, December 31, 2021 and March 31, 2022, as applicable.
Rest of the question

Although you have determined that the adjustments were not material, in light of the adjustments made over a relatively short period of time, please tell us your consideration regarding your conclusion of the effectiveness of your internal control over financial reporting as of the end of the reporting period ended December 31, 2021.

ALB answered
To evaluate the severity of the identified deficiencies as of the end of the reporting period ended December 31, 2021, the Company considered the root cause of the actual errors as well as the magnitude of potential misstatement that could result from the deficiencies, both individually and in the aggregate.
Rest of the answer

In doing so, the Company determined the individual control deficiencies were discrete to the inventory, income taxes and capitalized interest business processes, were not pervasive in nature within those respective business processes, and were not indicative of a broader deficiency in internal control over financial reporting.

Inventory and Income Taxes

Upon evaluation of the deficiencies that resulted in the errors in deferred tax liabilities and inventory in the periods ended March 31, 2021 and September 30, 2021, respectively, it was concluded at the relevant times that the deficiencies did not rise to the level of a material weakness, individually or in the aggregate. The control deficiencies related to the income tax adjustment in the period ended March 31, 2021, and the inventory foreign exchange adjustment in the period ended September 30, 2021, were detected by management in those respective periods, and management then made enhancements to the design of the deficient control activities. In conjunction with its annual assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, management concluded the re-designed and enhanced control activities were appropriately designed and were operating effectively as of December 31, 2021. Accordingly, the deficiencies were determined to be remediated as of that date.

Capitalized Interest

As it relates to capitalized interest, the error was detected by management in the period ended March 31, 2022. Specifically, the Company identified an error related to the recording of capitalized interest for Albemarle’s 60% ownership of the Kemerton manufacturing facility in connection with the MARBL joint venture agreement. Instead of 100% of the related interest being included in the project cost for capitalization, the Company should have capitalized only 60% of the interest cost since this is the percentage owned pursuant to the joint venture agreement. As a result, the Company recorded a $17.5 million expense in interest and financing expenses during the three months ended March 31, 2022 to adjust for the interest that should have been expensed during prior periods. In evaluating the root cause of the error, management determined there was a deficiency in the design of the control related to reviewing the exclusion of capitalized interest from the 60/40 accounting split of the proportionate consolidation. The severity of the control deficiency was assessed and, considering the actual error that resulted from the deficiency as well as magnitude of the potential misstatement that could result from the deficiency, management determined it did not rise to the level of a material weakness.

Given the deficiency relates to the design of the control activity, management determined the deficiency also existed as of December 31, 2021 and was unremediated as of that date. Accordingly, management evaluated the impact of the deficiency on its internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021. Based on that evaluation, as the individual control deficiency did not rise to the level of a material weakness, and as there were no other unremediated control deficiencies as of December 31, 2021 that aggregated with the capitalized interest deficiency, management concluded the control deficiency identified during the period ended March 31, 2021 did not have an impact on the original conclusion that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2021.

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Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements · Note 10- Investments, page 93
SEC asked (9)
Regarding your 49% equity interest in Windfield, please tell us your consideration of Rule 3-09 of Regulation S-X to provide their separate annual financial statements.
ALB answered
On an annual basis, the Company performs the significant subsidiary tests required by Rule 3-09 of Regulation S-X for each of its 50 percent or less owned subsidiaries accounted for under the equity method to determine whether separate financial statements of the subsidiaries will need to be filed. Windfield Holdings Pty. Ltd. (“Windfield”) is our most significant equity method investment, with a book value of $462.3 million as of December 31, 2021.
Rest of the answer

As of December 31, 2021, the Company’s investment in Windfield represented approximately 4% of the Company’s total assets, and the Company’s interest in Windfield’s revenue represented approximately 8% of the Company’s total net sales for the year ended December 31, 2021, both below the significant subsidiary test threshold as defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X as referenced by Rule 3-09 of Regulation S-X. As a result, the Company did not file separate financial statements for Windfield for the year ended December 31, 2021. The Company will continue to perform the significant subsidiary tests required by Rule 3-09 of Regulation S-X for each annual period going forward and will file audited financial statements for any of its 50 percent or less owned subsidiaries accounted for under the equity method if one is determined to be required by the rule.

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Exhibit 96.1 Greenbush · Pit Optimization, page 115
SEC asked (10)
We note the mining cost found on this page varies from your resource and reserve section and is not found in your operating cost estimates. Please explain.
ALB answered
As noted in the sentence following Table 12-1, the preliminary cost parameters used for pit optimization differ slightly from the final estimated costs used in the TEM discussed in Section 19 of the technical report. The mine planning process begins with pit optimization using preliminary estimates of costs, recoveries, and other input parameters. At the conclusion of the pit optimization, an economic pit shell is selected to guide the design of the final reserves pit (in this case, the revenue factor 0.85 pit shell was selected).
Rest of the answer

The mining schedule for the final reserves pit is then generated. Detailed mining costs (both operating expenditures and capital expenditures) are then calculated from the reserves mining schedule. Provided that the detailed mining costs are not materially different from the preliminary costs used for pit optimization, the pit optimization results are typically considered to be valid.

In this instance, the average preliminary mining cost used for pit optimization was US$5.57/t mined. We note that the mining cost applied to each block in the block model is different depending on the depth of the block (i.e., deep blocks have longer haul pathways than shallow blocks and therefore the haulage cost for deep blocks is higher).

The average mining cost used in the TEM (which was calculated from the final mining schedule) is shown as AU$7.32/t-mined (Table 18-5). Based on the modeled exchange rate profile (Table 19-2), this equates to US$5.03/t-mined (Table 19-5). In SRK’s opinion, the average preliminary mining cost of US$5.57/t-mined used for pit optimization is sufficiently close to the average final mining cost used in the TEM of US$5.03/t-mined. We note that the preliminary average mining cost will never exactly match the final average mining cost used in the TEM because the mining planning process is iterative (i.e., changing the input parameters changes the pit shells, which changes the final pit design, which changes the schedule, which changes the detailed cost estimate).

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Expansionary Capital Costs, page 208
SEC asked (11)
The expansionary capital appears to be in error and does not correspond clearly to the total capital estimate. Please review this section to insure the expansionary capital and sustaining capital are segregated and include your reclamation cost and timing.
ALB answered
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and has identified an error in the Tables 18-2 and 18-3 on pages 208 and 209 of the Greenbushes technical report filed with the 2021 Form 10-K. The Total Expansionary Capital in Table 18-2 should be AU$220.3 million instead of AU$207.3 million. This corresponds to the sum of the first two rows of Table 18-1. Additionally, Table 18-3 inadvertently omits TSF 1 capital costs of AU$43.7 million. Adjusting for these items yields the approximate total LoM capital costs utilized for the evaluation of the reserves.
Rest of the answer

The table below reconciles the updated numbers with the total LoM capital costs shown in the Greenbushes technical report filed with the 2021 Form 10-K.

Explanation of Difference AU$ Million

Table 18-2 Total in Technical Report 207.30

Table 18-2 Correction 13.00

Table 18-3 Total in Technical Report 650.30

Table 18-3 TSF 1 Capital Costs 43.70

Sum of Corrected Tables 18-2 and 18-3 (four rows above) 914.30

Table 18-1 Total in Technical Report 914.05

Difference between Sum of Corrected Tables and

Table 18-1 in Technical Report

0.25

Tables 18-1, 18-2 and 18-3, as corrected, are presented below (new figures underlined and in bold). Table 18-1 has been rounded to a single decimal point to align with the formatting in Tables 18-2 and 18-3. The total for Table 18-2 has been corrected. The TSF 1 cost has been included in Table 18-3 and the total has been updated. Remaining differences in totals between the tables are attributable to rounding.

Table 18-1: Life-of-Mine Capital Costs

Category LoM Cost(AU$ million) Distribution(%)

Expansionary Development

68.85 68.9

8%

Plant & Equipment Sustaining

151.28 151.3

17%

Sustaining Development

33.04 33.0

4%

Tailings Addition

43.70 43.7

5%

Exploration

11.15 11.2

1%

Plant & Equipment

557.28 557.3

61%

Closure

48.76 48.8

Total

914.05 914.2

100%

Table 18-2: Life-of-Mine Expansionary Capital Costs

Category LoM Cost (AU$ million)

Development

Water Capacity

4.2

Capacity Increase and Approved Capital

8.7

TSF 4

56.0

132kV Power Line

15.3

Mine Services Area (MSA)

88.8

Mine Access Road

7.2

Explosives Facility

0.3

Clearing Offsets

20.0

Greenbushes Housing

0.5

TSF Pumping & Distribution

7.4

Warehouse Workshop Expansion

7.0

Lab Expansion

4.9

Total Expansionary Capital

207.3 220.3

Table 18-3: Life-of-Mine Sustaining Capital Costs

Category LoM Cost (AU$ Million)

Cutback Preparation Works

2.4

TSF1

43.7

TSF2

13.8

Floyds Preparation Works

14.4

Floyds Catchment System

2.5

Drilling

11.2

Fleet Management System

2.2

CGP2 CAPEX Adder

75.0

LIBS Online Analyzer

2.0

CGP1 Sinks Iron Removal

5.0

TGP Thickener

6.0

Technical Team Office

Moisture Reduction Systems

1.6

Other Sustaining (LoM)

463.4

48.8

Total Sustaining Capital

650.3 694.0

Closure costs are included in Tables 18-1 and 18-3. Timing for closure costs is shown in Figure 19-6 of the Greenbushes technical report filed with the 2021 Form 10-K.

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Exhibit 96.2 Wodgina · Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve Estimates, page 10
SEC asked (12)
We note your Wodgina resources are reported on a 100% percent basis due to exclusive marketing of the salable products and not on your attributable ownership of the property. Please revise to report your resources based on your attributable ownership, as required by Item 1303(b)(3)(iii) of Regulation S-K.
ALB answered
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and will comply with this comment by ensuring that any technical report for Wodgina filed with future Form 10-K filings reports our resources based on our attributable ownership. For example, Table 1-1 of the Wodgina technical report as filed with the 2021 Form 10-K would be revised as follows (new figures underlined and in bold):

Category 100% Li2O (%) Cut-Off (% Li2O) Mass Yield (%)

Tonnes

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Exhibit 96.5 Jordan Bromine · Mineral Resource Estimates, page 8
SEC asked (13)
We note your report your resources and reserves on a 100% percent basis and not based on your attributable ownership. Please revise to report your classified resources and reserves based on your attributable ownership, as required by Item 1303(b)(3)(iii) of Resource Estimation, page 47
ALB answered
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and will comply with this comment by ensuring that any technical report for Jordan Bromine filed with future Form 10-K filings reports our resources based on our attributable ownership. For example, the third paragraph in Section 1.6 on page 8 of the Jordan Bromine technical report as filed with the 2021 Form 10-K would be revised as follows (new figures underlined and in bold):

The measured resources resource base of bromide ion estimated to be allocated to Jordan’s share of the Dead Sea is estimated at attributable to Albemarle’s 50% interest in
Rest of the answer

its JBC joint venture is estimated to be approximately 354.90 177.5 MMt. From this large resource base these large resources, JBC is extracting approximately 1 percent of the bromine available.

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Exhibit 96.5 Jordan Bromine · Mineral Resource Estimates, page 8
SEC asked (14)
Please define your resources as measured, indicated, and/or inferred as required by Item 1302(d)(1)(B)(iii) of Regulation S-K. In addition, please report your resources specifying the volume, concentration, and contained bromine based on initial evaporation pond intake.
ALB answered
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and will comply with this comment by ensuring that any technical report for Jordan Bromine filed with future Form 10-K filings will report Jordan Bromine resources as measured, indicated and/or inferred mineral resources and report resources specifying the volume, concentration and contained bromine based on initial evaporation pond intake.
Rest of the answer

For example, in any such technical report filed with future Form 10-K filings, the disclosure that appeared on page 47 of the Jordan Bromine technical report as filed with the 2021 Form 10-K would be revised as follows (new language underlined and in bold):

… an estimated 52.26 percent of the bromide ion brine resources identified in the Dead Sea are controlled by Jordan (as of the effective date of this report) and, therefore, correspond to APC under the terms of its concession. Consequently, as of December 2021, an estimated 354.90 135,824 MMt of bromide ion brine measured resources with an average bromine ion concentration of 5,000 ppm, and a cut-off grade of 1,000 ppm (135,824 MMt × 52.26 percent = 70,982 MMt) (679.10 MMt ×52.26 percent) is controlled by JBC. This estimate includes Reserves. For perspective purposes, this estimate is a very large resource of which APC is accessing only a small portion—APC is extracting approximately 1 percent of the bromine available in the Dead Sea.

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Exhibit 96.5 Jordan Bromine · Mineral Resource Estimates, page 8
SEC asked (15)
Please include your cutoff grade estimate for your resources with the appropriate parameters, prices, and costs, as required by Item 601(b)(96)(iii)(b)(11) of Regulation S- K.
ALB answered
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and will comply with this comment by ensuring that any technical report for Jordan Bromine filed with future Form 10-K filings, beginning with the 2022 Form 10-K, will provide the cut-off grade estimate for our resources with details about parameters prices, and costs, as required by Item 601(b)(96)(iii)(B)(11) of Regulation S-K.
Rest of the answer

For example, in any such technical report filed with future Form 10-K filings, disclosure in substantially the following form would be added to page 47 of the Jordan Bromine technical report as filed with the 2021 Form 10-K:

The cut-off grade is an industry-accepted standard expression used to determine what part of a mineral deposit can be considered a mineral resource. It is the grade at which the cost of mining and processing the ore is equal to the desired selling price of the commodity extracted from the ore.

The considered sales price ranges between USD 4,565 and USD 8,300 per tonne and the operating cost ranges between USD 355 and USD 532 per tonne, as detailed in Section 18 of this report.

The cut-off grade of the Albemarle bromine operations has been estimated to be at 1,000 ppm. The bromide ion concentration in the brine extracted from the Dead Sea significantly exceeds the selected cut-off grade.

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Mineral Reserves Estimates, page 49
SEC asked (16)
Please define your reserves as proven and/or probable as required by Item 1302(e)(2) of Regulation S-K. In addition, please report your reserves specifying the volume, concentration, and contained bromine based on process plant intake.
ALB answered
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and will comply with this comment by ensuring that any technical report for Jordan Bromine filed with future Form 10-K filings will report that all Jordan Bromine reserves are classified as proven and/or probable mineral reserves and report reserves specifying the volume, concentration and contained bromine based on process plant intake.
Rest of the answer

For example, in any such technical report filed with future Form 10-K filings, the disclosure that appeared on page 49 of the Jordan Bromine technical report as filed with the 2021 Form 10-K would be revised as set forth in the response to comment no. 7 of the Comment Letter.

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Mineral Reserves Estimates, page 49
SEC asked (17)
Please include your cutoff grade estimate for your reserves with the appropriate parameters, prices, and costs, as required by Item 601(b)(96)(iii)(b)(12) of Regulation S-
ALB answered
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and will comply with this comment by ensuring that any technical report for Jordan Bromine filed with future Form 10-K filings includes the cut-off grade estimate for our reserves with details about parameters, prices and costs, as required by Item 601(b)(96)(iii)(B)(12) of Regulation S-K. For example, in any such technical report filed with future Form 10-K filings, the disclosure that appeared on page 49 of the Jordan Bromine technical report as filed with the 2021 Form 10-K would be revised as set forth in the response to comment no.
Rest of the answer

7 of the Comment Letter.

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Mineral Reserves Estimates, page 49
SEC asked (18)
Please define the accuracy of your capital and operating costs estimates. See Item 601(b)(96)(iii)(b)(18) of Regulation S-K.
ALB answered
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and will comply with this comment by filing a technical report for Jordan Bromine with future Form 10-K filings, beginning with the 2022 Form 10-K, that includes additional disclosure regarding capital and operating costs estimates. Specifically, disclosure in substantially the following form would be added to page 68 of the Jordan Bromine technical report filed with the 2021 Form 10-K:

The Jordan Bromine operation is a mature project which has been in commercial production for many years.
Rest of the answer

The accuracy of the capital and operating cost estimates used in the technical report are based on best industry practices and detailed historical information from the operation; therefore, they correspond to an AACE International Class 1 Estimate (AACE International Recommended Practice No. 18R-97).

As indicated by AACE, “Class 1 estimates are typically prepared to form a current control estimate to be used as the final control baseline against which all actual costs and resources will now be monitored for variations to the budget, and form a part of the change/variation control program. They may be used to evaluate bid checking, to support vendor/contractor negotiations, or for claim evaluations and dispute resolution.”

Typical accuracy ranges for Class 1 estimates are -3% to -10% on the low side, and +3% to +15% on the high side, depending on the technological complexity of the project, appropriate reference information, and the inclusion of an appropriate contingency determination. The Company’s capital and operating cost estimates have an accuracy of -10% to +10%.

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Exhibit 96.6 Magnolia · Mineral Reserve Estimates, page 43
SEC asked (19)
Please include your cutoff grade estimate for your reserves with the appropriate
ALB answered
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and will comply with this comment by ensuring that any technical report for Magnolia filed with future Form 10-K filings will include the cut-off grade estimate for our reserves with details about parameters, prices and costs, as required by Item 601(b)(96)(iii)(B)(12) of Regulation S-K.
Rest of the answer

For example, in any such technical report filed with future Form 10-K filings, disclosure in substantially the following form would be added to page 43 of the Magnolia technical report as filed with the 2021 Form 10-K:

The cut-off grade is an industry-accepted standard expression used to determine what part of a mineral deposit can be considered a mineral resource. It is the grade at which the cost of mining and processing the ore is equal to the desired selling price of the commodity extracted from the ore.

The considered sales price ranges between USD 4,565 and USD 8,300 per tonne and the operating cost ranges between USD 850 and USD 1150 per tonne, as detailed in Section 18 of this report.

The cut-off grade of the Magnolia operation has been estimated to be at 1,000 ppm. The bromide ion concentration in the brine extracted from the Smackover Formation, which feeds the bromine plants, significantly exceeds the selected cut-off grade.

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Environmental Studies, Permitting, And Plans, page 67
SEC asked (20)
Please provide the qualified person’s opinion on your plans for environmental compliance. See Item 601(b)(96)(iii)(b)(17) of Regulation S-K.
ALB answered
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and will comply with this comment by ensuring that any technical report for Magnolia filed with future Form 10-K filings will include the qualified person’s opinion on our plans for environmental compliance. For example, in any such technical report filed with future Form 10-K filings, a new Section 17.3 in substantially the following form would be added to the Magnolia technical report as filed with the 2021 Form 10-K:

17.3 Qualified Person’s Opinion

The QP opines that the Magnolia facility is operating in conformance with high industrial
Rest of the answer

standards and is comparable with other similar facilities worldwide.

Albemarle’s robust Corporate Social Responsibility strategy is targeted at supporting sustainable community development projects and creating and funding sustainable social, cultural, and economic initiatives that service to local and national needs.

An example of good environmental practices in Magnolia is the initiative to convert stormwater captured in an artificial marsh to freshwater for the Albemarle operations, reducing the burden on the local underground aquifer. Albemarle’s plants in Magnolia utilize aquatic plants to treat non-contact water and storm water runoff from within the main plant and adjacent areas. This is an innovative and economical solution to treating industrial water using a naturally occurring biological process that does not harm the environment or consume vast amounts of valuable energy resources.

The QP found that the environmental policies implemented by Albemarle at the Magnolia operation met or exceeded the requirements of local and international industry standards.

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Capital and Operating Costs, page 68
SEC asked (21)
Please define the accuracy of your capital and operating costs estimates. See Item Exhibits 96.1, 96.2, 96.3, 96.4, 96.5 and 96.6
ALB answered
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and will comply with this comment by ensuring that any technical report for Magnolia filed with future Form 10-K filings will include additional disclosure regarding capital and operating costs estimates. For example, in any such technical report filed with future Form 10-K filings, disclosure in substantially the following form would be added to page 68 of the Magnolia technical report as filed with the 2021 Form 10-K:

The Magnolia operation is a mature project which has been in commercial production for many years.
Rest of the answer

The accuracy of the capital and operating cost estimates used in the technical report are based on best industry practices and detailed historical information from the operation; therefore, they correspond to an AACE International Class 1 Estimate (AACE International Recommended Practice No. 18R-97).

As indicated by AACE, “Class 1 estimates are typically prepared to form a current control estimate to be used as the final control baseline against which all actual costs and resources will now be monitored for variations to the budget, and form a part of the change/variation control program. They may be used to evaluate bid checking, to support vendor/contractor negotiations, or for claim evaluations and dispute resolution.”

Typical accuracy ranges for Class 1 estimates are -3% to -10% on the low side, and +3% to +15% on the high side, depending on the technological complexity of the project, appropriate reference information, and the inclusion of an appropriate contingency determination. Albemarle’s capital and operating cost estimates have an accuracy of -10% to +10%.

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General, page S-1
SEC asked (22)
We note you have provided disclaimers in several of your technical reports. Qualified Persons are not allowed to disclaim responsibility except as allowed by Item 1302(f) of Regulation S-K. Please remove all disclaimers from your technical report summaries.
ALB answered
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and will comply with this comment by ensuring that any technical reports filed with future Form 10-K filings do not include any disclaimers except as allowed by Item 1302(f) of Regulation S-K. For example, in any such technical report filed with future Form 10-K filings, the third paragraph under the “Independent Consultant’s Consent and Waiver of Liability” section of the Jordan Bromine and Magnolia technical reports as filed with the 2021 Form 10-K would be deleted.
Rest of the answer

The Company does not believe that any other disallowed disclaimers were included in the technical reports filed with the 2021 Form 10-K.

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Geological Setting, Mineralization, and Deposit, page S-6
SEC asked (23)
Please ensure all your technical reports include a geologic cross-section and stratigraphic column. See Item 601(b)(96)(iii)(b)(6) of Regulation S-K.
ALB answered
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and will comply with this comment in any technical reports filed with future Form 10-K filings, beginning with the 2022 Form 10-K. For example, in any technical report with respect to Greenbushes filed with future Form 10-K filings, disclosure in substantially the following form would be added to page 34 of the Greenbushes technical report filed with the 2021 Form 10-K:

The predominant rock units on the Greenbushes property are a package of Archean amphibolite and metasediments above the basement Bridgetown Gneiss.
Rest of the answer

Locally, this is present as the Hanging Wall Amphibolite and Footwall Granofels. Numerous Archean granitoid intrusions are present, all of which are cut by the Donnybrook-Bridgetown Shear zone represented onsite as the roughly N – S trending shear-zone gneiss. Pegmatite intrusions which host Li mineralization have intruded this package of Archean rocks. Post-mineralization dolerite dykes intrude older units, dated at approximately 1.1 Ga. Lastly, recent cover material of lateritic conglomerates, older alluvium, and recent alluvium are present as shallow cover. A simplified stratigraphic column is presented in Figure 6-2.

Additionally, in any technical report with respect to Silver Peak filed with future Form 10-K filings, a stratigraphic column in substantially the following form would be added to page 41 of the Silver Peak technical report as filed with the 2021 Form 10-K:

Source: WSP, 2022

Figure 6-3: Stratigraphic Column for the Silver Peak Site

The Company respectfully submits that geologic cross-section and stratigraphic columns required by Item 601(b)(96)(iii)(B)(6) of Regulation S-K were included in Figures 6-2 of the Jordan Bromine technical report, Figure 6-3 of the Magnolia technical report, Figures 6-6 and 6-7 of the Wodgina technical report, and Figures 6-4 and 6-6 of the Salar de Atacama technical report filed with the 2021 Form 10-K. Geologic cross-sections required by Item 601(b)(96)(iii)(B)(6) of Regulation S-K were included in Figure 6-4 of the Greenbushes technical report filed with the 2021 Form 10-K.

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Sample Preparation, Analysis, and Security, page S-8
SEC asked (24)
Please provide the qualified person’s opinion on the adequacy of sample preparation, security, and analytical procedures. See Item 601(b)(96)(iii)(b)(8) of Regulation S-K.
ALB answered
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and will comply with this comment in any technical reports filed with future Form 10-K filings, beginning with the 2022 Form 10-K, by including therein the qualified person’s opinion on the adequacy of sample preparation, security, and analytical procedures.
Rest of the answer

For example, in any such technical report filed with future Form 10-K filings, disclosure in substantially the following form would be added to page 36 of the Jordan Bromine technical report as filed with the 2021 Form 10-K:

It is the QP’s opinion that Albemarle’s laboratory facilities meet or exceed the industry standard requirements for such facilities and that the implemented practices for the collection and preparation of samples, as well as the methodology followed to carry out the analytical work (including the sample security protocols) are based on industry best practices and, therefore, are adequate for their intended purposes.

Additionally, disclosure in substantially the following form would be added to page 40 of the Magnolia technical report as filed with the 2021 Form 10-K:

It is the QP’s opinion that Albemarle’s laboratory facilities meet or exceed the industry standard requirements for such facilities and that the implemented practices for the collection and preparation of samples, as well as the methodology followed to carry out the analytical work (including the sample security protocols) are based on industry best practices and, therefore, are adequate for their intended purposes.

The Company respectfully submits that the technical reports filed with the 2021 Form 10-K with respect to Salar de Atacama and Silver Peak contained the qualified person’s opinion on adequacy of the sample preparation, security, and analytical procedures in Section 8 of each such report. Section 8.6 of each of the technical reports filed with the 2021 Form 10-K with respect to Greenbushes and Wodgina contained the qualified person’s opinion on adequacy of sampling regarding Mineral Resource-related sample preparation, security, and analytical procedures.

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Mineral Processing and Metallurgical Testing, page S-10
SEC asked (25)
Please provide a declaration of estimated metallurgical recoveries and the qualified person’s opinion on the adequacy of the information. See Item 601(b)(96)(iii)(b)(10) of
ALB answered
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and is providing below additional information regarding estimated metallurgical recoveries and the qualified person’s opinion on the adequacy of information.

Magnolia and Jordan Bromine

In the context of bromine processing, the Company understands the term “metallurgical recovery” to refer to the efficiency with which the employed process is applied to produce elemental bromine from the bromide ion contained in the feedbrine. For the Jordan Bromine and Magnolia operations, this value is 85-90%.
Rest of the answer

These reported recoveries are based on the operation’s historical production data, which RPS Energy Canada Ltd (“RPS”) considers to be adequate information, reflect efficiency of the process that has been developed over the years and correspond to the expected recovery of comparable industrial facilities.

Greenbushes

Greenbushes operates three processing plants identified as Technical Grade Plant (“TGP”), Chemical Grade Plant 1 (“CGP1”) and Chemical Grade Plant 2 (“CGP2”). TGP recovery is presented on pages 156 and 157 of the Greenbushes technical report and summarized in Table 14-2 therein. Lithium recovery is estimated based on a recovery model developed from actual production, which predicts lithium recovery versus lithium ore grade. As shown in Table 14-2, there is good agreement between actual and modeled lithium recoveries. The TGP lithium recovery model is not shown in the technical report for proprietary reasons, but is expressed in the following relationship:

Li2O Recovery % = 24.658 x Plant Feed Li2O% -22.504

CGP1 lithium recovery is discussed on page 157 of the Greenbushes technical report and summarized in Table 14-3 therein. Lithium recovery is estimated based on a recovery model developed from actual production, which predicts lithium recovery versus ore grade. As shown in Table 14-3, there is good agreement between actual and modeled lithium recoveries. The CGP1 lithium recovery model is not shown in the Technical Report for proprietary reasons, but is expressed in the following relationships:

Yield % = 9.362 x (Plant Feed LI2O%)^1.319

Li2O Recovery % = ((9.362 x (Plant Feed Li2O%)^1.319)*Concentrate Li20%)/Plant Feed Li2O%

CGP2 is a new plant that incorporates a process flowsheet similar to CGP1. As discussed on page 159 of the technical report and summarized in Table 14-5 therein, CGP2 has been going through commissioning and has not yet performed as expected, as discussed in the technical report. Greenbushes developed an updated yield equation based on actual plant performance during the initial commissioning period, which is defined by the following relationship:

Yield % = 13.512 * Li2O% - 10.748

As discussed on page 159 of the Greenbushes technical report, for purposes of financial modeling, SRK assumed that Greenbushes’ updated yield equation will represent CGP2 production during the period 2023 to 2024 while Greenbushes works to resolve process issues related to CGP2. SRK assumed that:

•These process issues will be resolved by Q1 2025 and from that point on CGP2 yield will be represented by the yield equation that has been established for CGP1. As stated on page 159 of the technical report, SRK comments that CGP2 and CGP1 flowsheets for are similar and both plants process ore from the same mining operation, as such, SRK believes that it is reasonable to expect that CGP2 will eventually achieve design production targets but cautions that at this point design performance of CGP2 remains to be demonstrated and has not yet been confirmed.

The resulting metallurgical recoveries in the form of calculated mass yields are presented in Exhibit A hereto under the heading "Production Profile."

It is SRK’s opinion that the metallurgical testwork is sufficient to declare reserves, as reflected through its use of the resulting parameters in the reserves analysis. Technical reports for Greenbushes filed with future Form 10-K filings, beginning with the 2022 Form 10-K, will explicitly contain the qualified person’s opinion on the adequacy of the information in substantially the following form:

Greenbushes Chemical Grade Plant -1 (CGP1) is a mature operation and was used as basis for design of Greenbushes new Chemical Grade Plant-2 (CGP2), which would process ore from the same orebody using essentially the same flowsheet as CGP1. As a result, the design for CGP2 was based largely on the operating experience of Greenbushes with CGP1 and incorporation of process improvements identified by Greenbushes during operation of CGP1 rather than on new fundamental metallurgical testing. SRK is of the opinion that this is an adequate basis for CGP2 design given that the CGP2 process flowsheet is based on the CGP1 flowsheet and that CGP2 would process ore from the same orebody as CGP1. SRK notes that Greenbushes did conduct metallurgical testwork to support a change to the comminution circuit that incorporates high pressure grinding rolls (HPGR) in CGP2, instead of the ball mill grinding circuit used in CGP1.

Wodgina

The applied metallurgical recovery used for the purposes of the Wodgina technical report is stated as 65% on page 60 thereof. It is SRK’s opinion that the metallurgical testwork is sufficient to declare resources, as reflected through its use of the resulting parameters in the resources analysis. Technical reports for Wodgina filed with future Form 10-K filings, beginning with the 2022 Form 10-K, will explicitly contain the qualified person’s opinion on the adequacy of the information in substantially the following form:

It is SRK’s opinion that utilizing historic metallurgical recovery data from production is adequate for the disclosure of Mineral Resources in the Mt. Cassiterite area. However, the lack of metallurgical testing, mineralogy, and analyses on the property increases the risk of predictive recovery, which is key for Mineral Reserve estimation. Further work is required before confidence in this modifying factor is adequate for disclosure of Mineral Reserves.

Salar de Atacama

The applied metallurgical recovery maximum is stated on page 92 of the Salar de Atacama technical report. SRK has stated that the 65% recovery is, in its opinion, reasonable.

Silver Peak

Section 14.3 on page 124 of the Silver Peak technical report outlines the pond yield equation and the processing plant performance. The pond yield and plant yield are provided in Exhibit C under the heading "Processing." It is SRK’s opinion that the metallurgical testwork is sufficient to declare reserves, which may be inferred through its use of the resulting parameters in the reserves analysis. Technical reports for Silver Peak filed with future Form 10-K filings, beginning with the 2022 Form 10-K, will expressly contain the qualified person’s opinion on the adequacy of the information.

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Mineral Resource Estimates, page S-11
SEC asked (26)
Please provide the qualified person’s opinion in regard to whether issues related to all relevant technical and economic factors likely to influence the prospect of economic extraction can be resolved with further study and work. See Item 601(b)(96)(iii)(b)(11) of
ALB answered
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and will comply with this comment in any technical reports filed with future Form 10-K filings, beginning with the 2022 Form 10-K, by including therein the qualified person’s opinion in regard to whether issues related to all relevant technical and economic factors likely to influence the prospect of economic extraction can be resolved with further study and work.

Jordan Bromine and Magnolia

For example, in any such technical report filed with future Form 10-K filings, disclosure in substantially the following form would be added to page 41 of
Rest of the answer

the Jordan Bromine technical report as filed with the 2021 Form 10-K:

The Jordan Bromine facility has a proven track record of commercial production and, therefore, the reliability of the economic forecast operation is high. From the technical point of view, the quality of the feed, the expected recoveries and other key factors are well understood, by virtue of many years of operation.

The capital and operational costs correspond to a Class 1 estimate and therefore are also significantly accurate (between -10% and +10%), which minimizes the potential impact of those elements on the prospect of economic recovery. Economic factors have also been discussed at length in various sections of this technical report and it is the QP’s opinion that they do not present any significant risk that could jeopardize the expected economic recovery of the operations. Moreover, it is the QP’s opinion that no additional studies are required.

Additionally, disclosure in substantially the following form would be added to page 41 of the Magnolia technical report as filed with the 2021 Form 10-K:

The Magnolia facility has an established record of commercial production and, therefore, the reliability of the economic forecast for its operations is high. From the technical point of view, the quality of the feed, the expected recoveries and other key factors are well understood, by virtue of many years of operation.

The capital and operational costs correspond to a Class 1 estimate and therefore are also significantly accurate (between -10% and +10%), which minimizes the potential impact of those elements on the prospect of economic recovery. Economic factors have also been discussed at length in various sections of this technical report and it is the QP’s opinion that they do not present any significant risk that could jeopardize the expected economic recovery of the operations. Moreover, it is the QP’s opinion that no additional studies are required.

Greenbushes, Wodgina, Salar de Atacama and Silver Peak

The Company respectfully submits that the qualified person’s opinion required by Item 601(b)(96)(iii)(B)(11)(vii) of Regulation S-K is contained in the Greenbushes technical report on page 113 in Section 11.8, in the Wodgina technical report on page 82 in Section 11.10, in the Salar de Atacama technical report on page 124 in Section 11.8, and in the Silver Peak technical report on page 90 in Section 11.8.

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Mineral Reserve Estimates, page S-12
SEC asked (27)
Please provide the qualified person’s opinion on how your mineral reserve estimates could be materially affected by risk factors associated with or changes to any aspects of the modifying factors. See Item 601(b)(96)(iii)(b)(12) of Regulation S-K.
ALB answered
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and is providing below additional information regarding the qualified person’s opinion on how its mineral reserve estimates could be materially affected by risk factors associated with or changes to any aspects of the modifying factors.

With respect to the Magnolia and Jordan Bromine projects, it is the opinion of RPS that the material factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the conclusions, estimates, designs, forecasts or projections, including recovery factors, processing assumptions, cut-off grades, etc., are well
Rest of the answer

understood and, due to the nature of the deposit and the extraction and processing operations, they are unlikely to significantly impact the mineral reserve estimates.

Accordingly, in any technical report for Magnolia filed with future Form 10-K reports, beginning with the 2022 Form 10-K, disclosure in substantially the following form would be added to page 44 at the end of Section 12 of the technical report as filed with the 2021 Form 10-K:

Being a mature project with significant historical production information, the reliability of the modifying factors for Magnolia are considerably high and therefore the risks associated with those modifying factors are relatively low.

It is the QP’s opinion that the material factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the conclusions, estimates, designs, forecasts or projections, including recovery factors, processing assumptions, cut off grades, etc., are well understood and, due to the nature of the deposit and the established extraction and processing operations, they are unlikely to significantly impact the mineral reserve estimates.

Additionally, in any technical report for Jordan Bromine filed with future Form 10-K reports, beginning with the 2022 Form 10-K, disclosure in substantially the following form would be added to page 49 at the end of Section 12 of the technical report as filed with the 2021 Form 10-K:

Being a mature project with significant historical production information, the reliability of the modifying factors for JBC are considerably high and therefore the risks associated with those modifying factors are relatively low.

It is the QP’s opinion that the material factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the conclusions, estimates, designs, forecasts or projections, including recovery factors, processing assumptions, cut off grades, etc., are well understood and, due to the nature of the deposit and the established extraction and processing operations, they are unlikely to significantly impact the mineral reserve estimates.

The Company respectfully submits that the qualified person’s opinion required by Item 601(b)(96)(iii)(B)(12) of Regulation S-K is contained in the Greenbushes technical report in Section 12.2.4 by the following statements on pages 123-124 thereof:

The reserve estimate is sensitive to the potential significant changes in revenue associated with changes in spodumene concentrate prices.

If the AU$ strengthens, the cash cost to produce concentrate would increase in US$ terms and this could potentially reduce the mineral reserves estimates.

Local slope failures could force the operation to adapt to a lower slope angle which would cause the strip ratio to increase and the economics of the pit to change.

If the targeted mass yield is not achieved, concentrate production will be lower. Both of these outcomes would adversely impact the mineral reserves.

The Company respectfully submits that no mineral reserves were stated in the Wodgina technical report and therefore Item 601(b)(96)(iii)(B)(12) of Regulation S-K is not applicable thereto.

The Company respectfully submits that the qualified person’s opinion required by Item 601(b)(96)(iii)(B)(12) of Regulation S-K is contained in the Salar de Atacama technical report in Section 12.5, starting on page 161, which includes the qualifying person’s opinion statement on key uncertainty within the modifying factors.

The Company respectfully submits that the qualified person’s opinion required by Item 601(b)(96)(iii)(B)(12) of Regulation S-K is contained in the Silver Peak technical report in Section 12.3, starting on page 109, which includes the qualifying person’s opinion statement on key uncertainty within the modifying factors.

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Mining Methods, page S-13
SEC asked (28)
Please provide annual numerical values for your life of mine production schedule to support the graphs provided in this section. This would include annual waste stripping, mined and processed ore with associated grades for the life of mine.
Rest of the question

For solution mining applications this would include initial quantities pumped with solution grade or quality with expected recovery after evaporation, followed by processing plant input of quantities pumped with solution grade and expected recovery. See Item 601(b)(96)(iii)(b)(13) of

ALB answered
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and is providing below additional information regarding annual numerical values for its life of mine production schedule to support the graphs provided in the Mining Methods sections of the technical reports filed with the 2021 Form 10-K.

Tables providing the numerical values of the life of mine production schedules for both Magnolia and Jordan projects, substantially in the forms set forth below, will be included in any technical reports for Magnolia and Jordan Bromine filed with future Form 10-K filings, beginning with the 2022 Form 10-K:

Life
Rest of the answer

of mine production schedule for Magnolia:

Life of mine production schedule for Jordan Bromine:

Annual numerical values for the life of mine production schedule supporting the graphs provided in the Mining Methods section of the Greenbushes, Salar de Atacama and Silver Peak technical reports can be found in Exhibit A, Exhibit B, and Exhibit C hereto, respectively.

Information substantially in the form found in the exhibits listed above will be incorporated into any technical reports for Greenbushes, Salar de Atacama and Silver Peak filed with future Form 10-K filings, beginning with the 2022 Form 10-K.

The Company notes that, due to the stage of the Wodgina project, the Wodgina technical report filed with the 2021 Form 10-K did not include a Section 13 (Mining Methods), but will include information responsive to comment no. 28 to the Comment Letter if such section is included in any future Wodgina technical report.

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Market Studies, page S-16
SEC asked (29)
Please provide a five year historical review of the commodity price and your price projection. Please provide sufficient detail to support this price projection and include all your material considerations See Item 601(b)(96)(iii)(b)(16) of Regulation S-K.
ALB answered
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and is providing below a five year historical review of the commodity price and its price projection and related detail and material considerations.

In any technical report for Magnolia filed with future Form 10-K reports, beginning with the 2022 Form 10-K, disclosure in substantially the following form would be added to page 62 in Section 16.4 of the Magnolia technical report as filed with the 2021 Form 10-K:

The price of bromine gradually increased during the period 2014-2021.
Rest of the answer

The price in January 2014 was approximately $2,800 per tonne and in January 2021 it had increased to approximately $5,200 per tonne.

In 2021, the price of bromine significantly increased, reaching a peak of $10,700 per tonne in November. The bromine spot price on the effective date of this report, December 31, 2021, was US$ 8,362 per tonne and the overall trend is towards a progressive decrease. Analysts forecast a price stabilization between $6,000-$7,000 in 2022.

The above-described behavior of the market is the product of a combination of factors, including China’s decrease in bromine production from brine due to the country’s electricity curtailment policy.

Because the market for bromine is expected to grow and oversupply is not foreseen, the price of bromine is expected to stay strong in the near future.

Figure 16.1 illustrates the behavior of bromine prices in the period January 2014-December 2021.

Figure 16.1: Bromine Price Trend as per China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation (Price is in US$). Available at: http://www.sunsirs.com/uk/prodetail-643.html.

The Company notes that information substantially similar to that set forth above is contained on pages 62-63 of the technical report for Jordan Bromine filed with the 2021 Form 10-K.

The Company will comply with this comment in technical reports with respect to Greenbushes, Salar de Atacama and Silver Peak filed with future Form 10-K filings, beginning with the 2022 Form 10-K, by including therein information in substantially the following form regarding historical lithium commodity price profile. The Company notes that, due to the stage of the Wodgina project, the Wodgina technical report does not include a Section 16 (Market Study), but will include information responsive to comment no. 29 to the Comment Letter if such section is included in any future Wodgina technical report.

Source: S&P Global Market Intelligence, 2022. Note - Chart date range from 1/31/2010 to 12/31/2021.

Source: Asian Metal, 2022. Note - Chart date range from 1/18/2018 to 12/31/2021.

Regarding price projections for lithium as required by Item 601(b)(96)(iii)(b)(16) Regulation S-K, the Company respectfully submits that such information is contained in Section 16.3 of the Greenbushes technical report filed with the 2021 Form 10-K, Section 16.1.4 of the Salar de Atacama technical report filed with the 2021 Form 10-K, and Section 16.1.4 of the Silver Peak technical report filed with the 2021 Form 10-K.

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Capital and Operating Costs, page S-18
SEC asked (30)
Please disclose your annual capital by major components and operating costs by major cost centers for each year along with your totals and reclamation costs. See Item
ALB answered
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and will comply with this comment in technical reports filed with future Form 10-K filings, beginning with the 2022 Form 10-K, by including additional details regarding capital and operating costs by major components, including operational costs disclosed by major cost center and annual reclamation costs.

In any technical report for Magnolia filed with future Form 10-K filings, disclosure in substantially the following form would be added to Section 18 of the Magnolia technical report as filed with the 2021 Form 10-K:

Similarly, disclosure in
Rest of the answer

substantially the following form would be added to Section 18 of the Jordan Bromine technical report as filed with the 2021 Form 10-K:

The Company respectfully submits that annual capital by major components and operating costs by major cost centers required by Item 601(b)(96)(iii)(B)(18) of Regulation S-K were included in Section 18 of each of the Greenbushes technical report, Salar de Atacama technical report, and the Silver Peak technical report filed with the

2021 Form 10-K. The Company notes that, due to the stage of the Wodgina project, the Wodgina technical report does not include a Section 18 (Capital and Operating Costs), but will include information responsive to comment no. 30 to the Comment Letter if such section is included in any future Wodgina technical report.

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Economic Analysis, page S-19
SEC asked (31)
Please provide annual numerical values to support all the graphs provided in this section. Please provide numerical values for your annual cash flow, including your annual production, salable product quantities, revenues, major cost centers, taxes & royalties, capital, and final closure costs. See Item 601(b)(96)(iii)(b)(19) of Regulation S-K.
Rest of the question

Please provide supplementally a functioning excel file of your cash flow analysis. In closing, we remind you that the company and its management are responsible for the accuracy and adequacy of their disclosures, notwithstanding any review, comments, action or absence of action by the staff.

ALB answered
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and will comply with this comment in any technical reports filed with future Form 10-K filings, beginning with the 2022 Form 10-K, by providing numerical values for our annual cash flow, including its annual production, salable product quantities, revenues, major cost centers, taxes & royalties, capital, and final closure costs.

Magnolia

In any technical report for Magnolia filed with future Form 10-K filings, tables in substantially the following forms would replace Tables 19-6 through 19-13 of the Magnolia technical report as filed with the
Rest of the answer

2021 Form 10-K:

Table 19.6 Annual Cash Flow Summary – Proved Reserves – Spot Prices

Table 19.7 Annual Cash Flow Summary – Proved Reserves – Spot Prices less 15%

Table 19.8 Annual Cash Flow Summary – Proved Reserves – Spot Prices less 30%

Table 19.9 Annual Cash Flow Summary – Proved Reserves – Spot Prices less 45%

Table 19.10 Annual Cash Flow Summary – Proved + Probable Reserves – Spot Prices

Table 19.11 Annual Cash Flow Summary – Proved + Probable Reserves – Spot Prices less 15%

Table 19.12 Annual Cash Flow Summary – Proved + Probable Reserves – Spot Prices less 30%

Table 19.13 Annual Cash Flow Summary – Proved + Probable Reserves – Spot Prices less 45%

Jordan Bromine

In any technical report for Jordan Bromine filed with future Form 10-K filings, tables in substantially the following forms would replace Tables 19-1 through 19-4 of the Jordan Bromine technical report as filed with the 2021 Form 10-K:

Table 19.1 Annual Cash Flow Summary – Proved Reserves – Spot Prices

Table 19.2 Annual Cash Flow Summary – Proved Reserves – Spot Prices less 15%

Table 19.3 Annual Cash Flow Summary – Proved Reserves – Spot Prices less 30%

Table 19.4 Annual Cash Flow Summary – Proved Reserves – Spot Prices less 45%

Annual numerical values to support graphs provided in the Economic Analysis sections of the Greenbushes, Salar de Atacama and Silver Peak technical reports and numerical values for annual cash flow, including annual production, salable product quantities, revenues, major cost centers, taxes & royalties, capital, and final closure costs can be found in Exhibit A, Exhibit B, and Exhibit C hereto, respectively.

Information substantially in the form found in the exhibits listed above will be incorporated into any technical reports for Greenbushes, Salar de Atacama and Silver Peak filed with future Form 10-K filings, beginning with the 2022 Form 10-K.

The Company notes that, due to the stage of the Wodgina project, the Wodgina technical report filed with the 2021 Form 10-K did not include a Section 19 (Economic Analysis), but will include information responsive to comment no. 31 to the Comment Letter if such section is included in any future Wodgina technical report.

***

The Company appreciates the efforts of the Staff in reviewing our response to the Comment Letter. We are fully committed to working with the Commission to respond to your comments and to provide you with all the information you require. Accordingly, should you have any questions regarding the Company’s response to your comments, please contact Scott Tozier at (980) 299-5596.

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FORM 10-K · Mineral Properties, page 24
SEC asked (1)
We note your responses to comments 1 through 4, 6 and 7 indicating you will revise your disclosures in your Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and associated exhibits to comply with these comments. Due to the number of modifications to bring your filing to minimal compliance with Item 1300 of Regulation S-K, please amend your Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 to include your proposed
Rest of the question

revisions. Please revise to provide the: • production disclosure proposed in your response to comment 1, • resources disclosure proposed in your response to comment 2, • resource and reserve disclosure proposed in your response to comment 3, • metric tonne disclosure proposed in your response to comment 4, • attributable resources and reserves disclosure proposed in your response to comment 6, and • disclosure of key assumptions such as cutoff grade, price, and operating costs proposed in your response to comment 7. For each of the revisions made in response to the aforementioned prior comments, please also identify for us the location of the respective revisions made in your amended filing. Greenbushes, Australia, page 30

ALB answered
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and will file, no later than December 19, 2022, an amendment to the 2021 Form 10-K (the “Form 10-K/A”) that includes the revisions proposed in the Company’s October 12, 2022 letter to the Staff (the “October Response Letter”) that are referenced in the first comment of the November Comment Letter. Concurrently with filing the Form 10-K/A, the Company will file a supplementary response to the November Comment Letter identifying the location of the revisions made in the Form 10-K/A.
Rest of the answer

The Company considered these matters in preparing its original disclosures, but based on its initial interpretation of Item 601(b)(96) and subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K (the “Mining Disclosure Rules”), the Company determined that this information was not material and did not appear relevant to the Company’s business (e.g., since several of its larger extraction sites, such as the Dead Sea, are not traditional mines). However, the Company acknowledges the Staff’s interpretation of the Mining Disclosure Rules during the first year of their application and will file the Form 10-K/A to make the revisions.

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FORM 10-K · Mineral Properties, page 24
SEC asked (2)
We note your response to comment 5 stating in future filings you will include some of the information presented. Please amend your Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 and associated exhibits to include this explanation, disclose your cutoff grade calculation as an incremental or marginal cutoff grade and discuss the variance in sustaining capital as used in the cutoff grade compared to the resultant
Rest of the question

sustaining capital estimate found in Section 18.

ALB answered
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and will file, no later than December 19, 2022, the Form 10-K/A and a revised technical report for the Company’s Greenbushes property that disclose the cutoff grade calculation as an incremental or marginal cutoff grade and discuss the variance in sustaining capital as used in the cutoff grade compared to the resultant sustaining capital estimate found in Section 18 of such technical report.
Rest of the answer

These revisions reflect information that the Company did not include in its original disclosures based on its initial interpretation of the Mining Disclosure Rules and that does not materially change the Company’s overall disclosures; however, the Company acknowledges the SEC’s interpretation of the Mining Disclosure Rules during the first year of their application and will file the Form 10-K/A and revise the technical report to make the revisions.

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9A. Controls and Procedures, page 127
SEC asked (3)
In light of the revisions to your S-K 1300 disclosures and related technical reports, please reassess your conclusion that your disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2021.
ALB answered
The Company advises the Staff that it has reassessed its conclusion that its disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2021. As part of this reassessment, the Company’s management carefully considered a number of factors, including established Commission guidance on such controls and procedures, the overall design of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, and the information contained in the 2021 Form 10-K and related technical reports in relation to the comments raised by the Staff.
Rest of the answer

Following this reassessment and as further described below, the Company’s management concluded that the Staff comments were reflective of conscious decisions made within the framework of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures during the first year of compliance with the Mining Disclosure Rules rather than material errors or substantive omissions. The Company’s disclosure decisions were based upon its interpretations of the Mining Disclosure Rules and resulted from, among other things, consultation with two third-party experts which were each assisting numerous other companies in complying with the Mining Disclosure Rules during their first year of application as well as the Company’s participation in roundtable discussions with other registrants with mining operations. Additionally, the Company’s management believes that the additional information to be included in the Form 10-K/A and revised technical reports requested by the Staff on the whole constitutes useful information, but that such information does not materially change the Company’s overall disclosures. As a result, the Company’s management again reached the conclusion that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2021.

Rule 13a-15 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), requires issuers to maintain disclosure controls and procedures and requires each issuer’s management to evaluate the effectiveness of the issuer’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of each fiscal quarter. In the Adopting Release for Rule 13a-15 (Certification of Disclosure, SEC Release No. 33-8124; 34-46427, August 29, 2002), the Commission noted that Rule 13a-15 “require[s] an issuer to maintain disclosure controls and procedures to provide reasonable assurance that the issuer is able to record, process, summarize and report the information required in the issuer’s Exchange Act reports.” The Commission stated that these disclosure controls and procedures should: (i) “ensure timely collection and evaluation of information potentially subject to disclosure” under the requirements of Regulation S-K and other Exchange Act rules; (ii) “capture information that is relevant to an assessment of the need to disclose developments and risks that pertain to the issuer’s businesses”; and (iii) “cover information that must be evaluated in the context of the disclosure requirement of Exchange Act Rule 12b-20.” Further, the Staff has recognized that the effectiveness of internal control systems is subject to inherent limitations, including the exercise of judgment (Commission Guidance Regarding Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting Under Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,

SEC Release No. 33-8810, 34-55929, June 27, 2007). In reassessing its disclosure controls and procedures, which are described further below, the Company did not find any failure in the timely collection and evaluation of information subject to disclosure under the Exchange Act, the capture of information relevant to assessing the need to disclose business developments and risks, or covering information that must be evaluated in the context of Rule 12b-20. Instead, the Company found that the Staff’s comments were generally reflective of conscious decisions and the exercise of judgment by the Company in preparing its disclosures called for by the Mining Disclosure Rules during their first year of application. The Company believes these decisions and judgments are an inherent part of all disclosure controls and procedures and are not evidence of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures failing to provide reasonable assurance in meeting their objectives.

The Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are designed with numerous protocols and features the Company believes provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed is reported accurately and in a timely fashion:

•The Company’s SEC reporting team is responsible for gathering information for and preparing Exchange Act reports. The SEC reporting team utilizes disclosure checklists to ensure the appropriate information is included in such reports and regularly meets internally and with third-party experts, including the Company’s outside legal counsel and the qualified persons described below, to discuss the Exchange Act reports, ensure that the Exchange Act reports include all required information, and update the Exchange Act reports based on discussion and input from the Company’s Disclosure Committee and third-party experts.

•The Company’s Disclosure Committee, which includes the Company’s Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer, as well as members of the Company’s Finance, Legal and Tax teams and representatives of each global business unit, meets on a quarterly basis and more frequently as appropriate to review the information included in the Company’s Exchange Act reports and discuss particular items and disclosure topics. The variety of expertise represented on the Disclosure Committee is in recognition of the wide variety of subject matters that are addressed in Exchange Act reports. Additionally, the Disclosure Committee’s process is reviewed by the Company’s Director of Controls and Audit.

•Material disclosure items noted by the Disclosure Committee are discussed with the Company’s Board of Directors and/or Audit and Finance Committee, as appropriate.

The Company believes its preparation for compliance with the Mining Disclosure Rules was thorough and appropriately conducted within the framework of its disclosure controls and procedures. The process of preparing the 2021 Form 10-K and related technical reports included, among other things, the following:

•Engaging SRK Consulting (U.S.), Inc. (“SRK”) and RPS Energy Canada Ltd. and RESPEC Consulting Inc. (together, “RPS”) in early 2020 to begin preparing the technical reports. The

Company selected SRK and RPS as qualified persons (“QPs”) on the basis of their experience with hard rock and solution mining, their experience with lithium, their experience working with U.S. public companies on Exchange Act disclosures, their experience with compliance under other CRIRSCO-based mining codes (including Australia, Chile, and Canada), and their internal controls and processes to support sufficient and appropriate disclosures. Additionally, SRK and RPS were already familiar with the Company’s operations from prior engagements.

•Meeting with representatives of SRK and RPS hundreds of times over approximately two years in developing disclosures under the Mining Disclosure Rules. The Company’s participants in such meetings included representatives from its various business units, Lithium and Bromine Resource Development teams, SEC reporting team, internal audit team and in-house legal department. With respect to disclosure controls and procedures, these meetings addressed oversight of the QPs to ensure their processes and procedures were appropriately applied, review of proposed disclosures, review of the QPs’ Mining Disclosure Rules checklists, discussion regarding the QPs’ recommendations on disclosures, and ensuring that information that was included in the 2021 Form 10-K and related technical reports was both material and relevant to the Company’s business.

•Discussing with the QPs as to how their other clients were responding to the new Mining Disclosure Rules to ensure that the Company’s disclosures would be consistent with industry practice. The Company’s management also participated in several industry roundtables in which the Mining Disclosure Rules and the underlying disclosure controls and procedures were discussed.

In light of its reassessment of its disclosure controls and procedures, including their application to the Mining Disclosure Rules, the Company does not believe that the Staff’s comments are indicative of ineffective disclosure controls and procedures. The Company is committed to best practices in its public disclosures and, as a result, will defer to and accommodate the Staff’s positions, but the Company does not believe that any such deference or accommodation indicates a failure of its disclosure controls and procedures in preparing the original disclosures or an acknowledgment that the additional information to be included in the Form 10-K/A or revised technical reports constitutes material information that was omitted by the Company.

In reviewing the Staff’s comment letter of September 14, 2022 (the “September Comment Letter”), the Company found it helpful to categorize the Staff’s comments regarding the Mining Disclosure Rules into roughly four categories as described further below: (i) matters of interpretation of the new rules in their first year of application, (ii) the deliberate exclusion of information the Company did not consider to be material and did not appear relevant to its business, (iii) requests for additional explanation or information that the Company did not include in its original disclosures based on its initial interpretation of the Mining Disclosure Rules, and (iv) minor deviations from the Mining Disclosure Rules made in the exercise of the Company’s judgment as to disclosure most fitting for its particular business and which do not render the related disclosures inadequate or misleading.

(i)The following issues were evaluated by the Company in preparing its original disclosures and reflect its initial interpretation of the Mining Disclosure Rules:

othe Company interpreted the requirement to disclose aggregate annual production to mean all properties’ production of a product rather than the aggregate production of each individual site (comment 1 in the September Comment Letter);

othe Company provided information regarding its attributable ownership in footnotes and narrative disclosure rather than in tables reporting resources and reserves (comments 3, 6, 12, and 13 in the September Comment Letter);

ocertain QP opinions were not explicitly included in technical reports where the Company believed that the QP’s satisfactory view of the subject matter could have been inferred from the report (comments 20, 24, 25, 26, and 27 in the September Comment Letter); and othe Company did not interpret the rule regarding market studies in a technical report to require a particular amount of information, including a five-year historical review of commodity price (comment 29 in the September Comment Letter).

These items were duly considered by the Company in preparing its disclosures and reflect the Company’s initial interpretation of the Mining Disclosure Rules in the first year of their application and are being amended based on further guidance and clarification of interpretation form the Staff. The Company therefore believes these issues reflect differing interpretations of the Mining Disclosure Rules and are not indicative of deficiencies in the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures.

(ii)The following information identified by certain comments in the September Comment Letter was not included in the 2021 Form 10-K and related technical reports because the Company, in consultation with its QPs, determined that the information was not material and did not appear relevant to the Company’s particular business:

oadditional detail regarding key assumptions and other information, such as cutoff grade, price, and operating costs, which information was otherwise available in the technical reports or did not materially affect the information presented (comment 7 in the September Comment Letter);

ocutoff grade estimates for the Company’s bromine properties, which were not considered material because the concentration of the brine significantly exceeded the applicable cutoff grade and since several of the Company’s larger extraction sites, such as the Dead Sea, are not traditional mines (comments 15, 17, and 19 in the September Comment Letter);

odefinitions of accuracy of capital and operating cost estimates with respect to the Company’s bromine operations, which do not alter the related economic analysis presented in the corresponding technical reports (comments 18 and 21 in the September Comment Letter);

ostratigraphic columns for deposits that are not stratigraphic in nature (comment 23 in the September Comment Letter); and okey assumptions and material assumptions regarding capital and operating costs and economic analysis in technical reports, which do not affect the conclusions or disclosure with respect to such costs and economic analysis (comments 30 and 31 in the September Comment Letter).

Since the above items reflect judgments made by the Company after due consideration in preparing disclosures under the Mining Disclosure Rules for the first time, the Company does not believe that they are indicative of deficiencies in the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures.

(iii)The following comments in the September Comment Letter reflect requests for additional explanation or information that the Company did not include in its original disclosures based on its initial interpretation of the Mining Disclosure Rules:

othe request for additional documentation supporting certain components of the Company’s life of mine sustaining capital calculation (comment 5 in the September Comment Letter);

othe request for an explanation as to the difference in the mining cost presented in the Greenbushes technical report in the context of pit optimization compared to in the resource and reserve section (comment 10 in the September Comment Letter); and othe request for annual numerical values for the Company’s life of mine production schedule to support the graphs provided in the corresponding sections of the technical reports (comment 28 in the September Comment Letter).

Since the above items do not represent information necessarily required by the Mining Disclosure Rules, based on the Company’s initial interpretation of such rules, the Company does not believe these items are indicative of deficiencies in its disclosure controls and procedures.

(iv)The following issues raised in the September Comment Letter identify minor deviations from the Mining Disclosure Rules that were made in the exercise of the Company’s judgment as to disclosure most fitting for the particular nature of its mining operations:

oin some cases, specific terminology prescribed by a rule was not used (e.g., proven or probable, or measured, indicated and/or inferred), although the Company nonetheless believes that the terminology used in the technical reports was effective in conveying the required information to investors given the nature of its extraction sites (comments 2, 6, 14, and 16 in the September Comment Letter); and othe inclusion in certain technical reports of disclaimers by the QP, which the QP considered to be standard industry practice and which the Company does not believe caused a substantive change to the reports (comment 22 in the September Comment Letter).

Since the Company duly considered the above issues in preparing its original disclosures, it does not believe that they are indicative of deficiencies in its disclosure controls and procedures.

Aside from the comments categorized above, which topics were consciously reviewed and considered by the Company in its preparation of its original disclosures, the September Comment Letter also: (i) identified an error in the presentation of expansionary capital, which the Company considers to have been immaterial in amount and which did not impact the related net economics and reserve statement (comment 11 in the September Comment Letter), and (ii) requested that the Company be consistent in reporting resources as million metric tonne units versus thousand metric tonne units across certain of its disclosures (comment 4 in the September Comment Letter). The Company does not consider either of these items to be material such that they may be indicative of deficiencies in its disclosure controls and procedures.

The Company respectfully notes that, given that in some cases multiple comments in the September Comment Letter pertain to a single issue, we believe that the actual number of comments in the September Comment Letter is not, in and of itself, indicative of significant disclosure deficiencies with respect to the 2021 Form 10-K and related technical reports.

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Exhibits 96.1 Greenbush · Pit Optimization, page ET-115
SEC asked (4)
We note your response to comment 10 providing an explanation to the variance between the cutoff estimation costs and the operating costs found in your technical report. Please amend your exhibit to include this explanation with your cutoff grade estimation costs.
ALB answered
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and will file, no later than December 19, 2022, a revised technical report that includes the revisions proposed in the October Response Letter that are referenced in the fourth comment of the November Comment Letter. The Company believes these revisions provide additional background relating to the Company’s disclosures that the Company did not include in its original disclosures based on its initial interpretation of the Mining Disclosure Rules and does not materially change the Company’s overall disclosures; however, the Company acknowledges the
Rest of the answer

Staff’s interpretation of the Mining Disclosure Rules during the first year of their application and will file the Form 10-K/A and revise the technical report to make the revisions.

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Tickdelta does not hold the text of both reports, so they are not compared here.

Expansionary Capital Costs, page ET-208
SEC asked (5)
We note your response to comment 11 stating you identified the errors in Tables 18-2 and 18-3. Please amend your exhibit and correct these tables.
ALB answered
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and will file, no later than December 19, 2022, a revised technical report that includes the corrections proposed in the October Response Letter that are referenced in the fifth comment of the November Comment Letter. The Company acknowledges that this comment relates to erroneous disclosure, but believes that the errors were immaterial since they did not relate to the summary presentation of life of mine capital costs or impact the related net economics or reserve statement. Read in the reply ↗
In its next report

First report after the company's reply of 2022-12-01: 10-K filed 2023-02-15 ↗, against the 10-K filed 2022-02-22 ↗.

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Exhibit 96.2 Wodgina · Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve Estimates, page EU-10
SEC asked (6)
We note your response to comment 12 stating in future filings you will disclose your resources and reserves based on your attributable ownership. Please amend your exhibits to report your resources and reserves based on your attributable ownership.
ALB answered
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and will file, no later than December 19, 2022, a revised technical report that includes the revisions proposed in the October Response Letter that are referenced in the sixth comment of the November Comment Letter. The Company believes these revisions reflect differing interpretations of the Mining Disclosure Rules, as the Company described its percentage ownership of these sites in the 2021 Form 10-K and noted that the presentation of the resources and reserves were shown at 100%; however, the Company acknowledges the Staff’s interpretation of
Rest of the answer

the Mining Disclosure Rules during the first year of their application and will revise the technical report to make the revisions.

Read in the reply ↗
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First report after the company's reply of 2022-12-01: 10-K filed 2023-02-15 ↗, against the 10-K filed 2022-02-22 ↗.

Tickdelta does not hold the text of both reports, so they are not compared here.

Exhibit 96.5 Jordan Bromine · Mineral Resource Estimates, page EX-8
SEC asked (7)
We note your responses to comments 13 through 18 stating in future filings you will provide revised disclose in your technical report to comply with Item 1300 of Regulation S-K. Please amend your exhibit to: • report your resources and reserves based on your attributable ownership in response to comment 13, • report your measured, indicated and/or inferred mineral resources, specifying the volume, concentration, and
Rest of the question

contained bromine based on initial evaporation pond intake in response to comment 14, • report your cut-off grade estimate for your resources with details about parameters, prices, and costs, similar to your example in response to comment 15, • report the volume, concentration, and contained bromine of your reserves, similar to your example in response to comment 16, • report your cut-off grade estimate for your reserves with details about parameters, prices, and costs in response to comment 17, and • provide the additional disclosure regarding capital, operating costs estimates, and accuracy in response to comment 18. Please also identify for us the location of the respective revisions made to your amended exhibit.

ALB answered
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and will file, no later than December 19, 2022, a revised technical report that includes the revisions proposed in the October Response Letter that are referenced in the seventh comment of the November Comment Letter. Concurrently with filing the revised technical report, the Company will file a supplementary response to the November Comment Letter identifying the location of the revisions made in the technical report.
Rest of the answer

As noted previously, the Company believes that these revisions reflect differing interpretations of the Mining Disclosure Rules, information that is not material and did not appear relevant to the Company’s business, or minor deviations from the rules made in the exercise of the Company’s judgment, and do not materially change the Company’s overall disclosures; however, the Company acknowledges the Staff’s interpretation of the Mining Disclosure Rules during the first year of their application and will file a revised technical report to make the revisions.

Read in the reply ↗
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First report after the company's reply of 2022-12-01: 10-K filed 2023-02-15 ↗, against the 10-K filed 2022-02-22 ↗.

Tickdelta does not hold the text of both reports, so they are not compared here.

Exhibit 96.6 Magnolia · Mineral Reserve Estimates, page EY-43
SEC asked (8)
We note your responses to comments 19 through 21 stating in future filings you will provide revised disclose in your technical report to comply with Item 1300 of Regulation S-K. Please amend your exhibit to disclose: • the cut-off grade estimate for your reserves with details about parameters, prices, and costs, similar to your example in response to comment 19, • your qualified person’s opinion on your
Rest of the question

environmental compliance plans, similar to your example in response to comment 2, and • your capital and operating costs estimates with the associated estimate of accuracy, similar to your example provided in response to comment 21

ALB answered
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and will file, no later than December 19, 2022, a revised technical report that includes the revisions proposed in the October Response Letter that are referenced in the eighth comment of the November Comment Letter. Concurrently with filing the revised technical report, the Company will file a supplementary response to the November Comment Letter identifying the location of the revisions made in the technical report.
Rest of the answer

The Company believes that these revisions reflect differing interpretations of the Mining Disclosure Rules or information that is not material and did not appear relevant to the Company’s business (i.e., mineral extraction at Magnolia is not done through a traditional mining site), and therefore do not materially change the Company’s overall disclosures; however, the Company acknowledges the Staff’s interpretation of the Mining Disclosure Rules during the first year of their application and will file a revised technical report to make the revisions.

Read in the reply ↗
In its next report

First report after the company's reply of 2022-12-01: 10-K filed 2023-02-15 ↗, against the 10-K filed 2022-02-22 ↗.

Tickdelta does not hold the text of both reports, so they are not compared here.

Exhibits 96.1, 96.2, 96.3, 96.4, 96.5 and 96.6 · General, page EZ-0
SEC asked (9)
We note your responses to comments 22 through 29 stating in future filings you will provide revised disclose in your technical reports to comply with Item 1300 of Regulation S-K. Please amend your exhibits to: • exclude all non-compliant disclaimers in response to comment 22, • include a geologic cross-section and stratigraphic column for each property in response to comment 23, • include the qualified person’s
Rest of the question

opinion on the adequacy of sample preparation, security, and analytical procedures, similar to your example in your response to comment 24, • include the estimated metallurgical recoveries and the qualified person’s opinion on the adequacy of information, similar to your examples in your response to comment 25, • include the qualified person’s opinion, similar to your examples in your response to comment 26, • include the qualified person’s opinion in regards to modifying factors affecting your reserves, similar to your examples in your response to comment 27, • include the annual numerical values for your life of mine production schedules, similar to your examples provided in Exhibits A, B and C in your response to comment 28, and • include the five-year historical review of the commodity price with your price projection, similar to your examples in your response to comment 29.

ALB answered
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and will file, no later than December 19, 2022, revised technical reports that include the revisions proposed in the October Response Letter that are referenced in the ninth comment of the November Comment Letter. Concurrently with filing the revised technical reports, the Company will file a supplementary response to the November Comment Letter identifying the location of the revisions made in the technical reports.
Rest of the answer

The Company believes that these revisions reflect differing interpretations of the Mining Disclosure Rules, information that is not material and did not appear relevant to the Company’s business, requests for additional information that the Company did not include in its original disclosures based on its initial interpretation of the Mining Disclosure Rules, or minor deviations from the rules made in the exercise of the Company’s judgment, and do not materially change the Company’s overall disclosures; however, the Company acknowledges the Staff’s interpretation of the Mining Disclosure Rules during the first year of their application and will file revised technical reports to make the revisions.

Read in the reply ↗
In its next report

First report after the company's reply of 2022-12-01: 10-K filed 2023-02-15 ↗, against the 10-K filed 2022-02-22 ↗.

Tickdelta does not hold the text of both reports, so they are not compared here.

Exhibits 96.1, 96.2, 96.3, 96.4, 96.5 and 96.6A · Capital and Operating Cost, page EZ-8
SEC asked (10)
We note your response to comment 30 stating in future filings you will provide additional details regarding capital and operating costs by major line items, including operational costs disclosed by major cost centers and annual reclamation costs.
Rest of the question

Please amend your exhibits to include the details regarding capital and operating costs by line items, including operational costs disclosed by major cost center and annual reclamation costs. Please note combining columns is acceptable, provided all numeric values are identical for the combined columns and a statement regarding this practice is included with your presentation.

ALB answered
The Company has updated its tables of operating and capital costs included in its technical reports for its Magnolia and Jordan bromine operations to provide detail regarding operating costs with respect to field and plant expenses, G&A, and abandonment and reclamation and detail regarding capital costs with respect to plant, facilities, and other expenses, as set forth in Exhibit A hereto. The Company will include these tables in the revised technical reports that it will file no later than December 19, 2022.
Rest of the answer

The Company believes that the information contained in the updated tables reflect information that is not material to the Company’s overall disclosures; however, the Company acknowledges the Staff’s interpretation of the Mining Disclosure Rules during the first year of their application and will file revised technical reports that include the updated tables.

Read in the reply ↗
In its next report

First report after the company's reply of 2022-12-01: 10-K filed 2023-02-15 ↗, against the 10-K filed 2022-02-22 ↗.

Tickdelta does not hold the text of both reports, so they are not compared here.

Economic Analysis, page EZ-9
SEC asked (11)
We note your response to comment 31 stating in future filings you will provide numerical values for your annual cash flow, including annual production, salable product quantities, revenues, major cost centers, taxes & royalties, capital, and final closure costs.
Rest of the question

Please amend your exhibits to include numerical values for our annual cash flow, including your annual production, salable product quantities, revenues, major cost centers, taxes & royalties, capital, and final closure costs. Please note combining columns is acceptable, provided all numeric values are identical for the combined columns and a statement regarding this practice is included with your presentation.

ALB answered
As discussed on its telephone call with the Staff on November 16, 2022, the Company has updated its tables presenting annual cash flow to provide detail regarding royalties, taxes and other government levies, as set forth in Exhibit B hereto. The Company will include these tables in the revised technical reports it will file no later than December 19, 2022.
Rest of the answer

The Company believes that the information contained in the updated tables reflect information that is not material to the Company’s overall disclosures; however, the Company acknowledges the Staff’s interpretation of the Mining Disclosure Rules during the first year of their application and will file revised technical reports that include the updated tables.

***

The Company appreciates the efforts of the Staff in reviewing its response to the November Comment Letter. We are fully committed to working with the Commission to respond to your comments and to provide you with all the information you require. Accordingly, should you have any questions regarding the Company’s response to your comments, please contact Scott Tozier at (980) 299-5596.

Read in the reply ↗
In its next report

First report after the company's reply of 2022-12-01: 10-K filed 2023-02-15 ↗, against the 10-K filed 2022-02-22 ↗.

Tickdelta does not hold the text of both reports, so they are not compared here.

Form 10-K · Controls and Procedures, page 127
SEC asked (1)
We have read your response to comment 3 noting that you have re-assessed your conclusion on the effectiveness of your disclosure controls and procedures and that you believe that they were effective as of December 31, 2021.
Rest of the question

Based on the number and nature of the deficiencies noted, we continue to consider the omitted disclosures and information required to comply with SK 1300 to be material and do not agree with the conclusion of your re-assessment. Please revise to state that your disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of December 31, 2021 in your amended Form 20-F. Exhibits 96.1, 96.2, 96.3, 96.4, 96.5 and 96.6

ALB answered
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and will file an amendment to the 2021 Form 10-K (the “Form 10-K/A”) that includes an updated Item 9A. Controls and Procedures referenced in the first comment of the December Comment Letter in addition to the revisions proposed in the Company’s October 12, 2022 letter to the Staff (the “October Response Letter”) and December 1, 2022 letter to the Staff (the “December Response Letter”).

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures of the 2021 Form 10-K will be revised in the Form 10-K/A to read as follows (new language underlined and in bold):

Mr.
Rest of the answer

Schuler and Mr. Arakawa

Item 9A. Controls and Procedures.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, we conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act), as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded in the Original Filing that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

In connection with the preparation and filing of this Amendment No. 2, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer re-evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, taking into account the updated disclosures in the “Properties” section of, and the SEC Technical Report Summary exhibits filed with, this Amendment No. 2 responding to Item 601(b)(96) and subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K (the "Mining Disclosures"). Based on this re-evaluation and solely as a result of the updated Mining Disclosures included in this Amendment No. 2, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.

Because the Company has determined that it is not reasonably possible that the revision of the above-mentioned disclosures could result in a material misstatement of the financial statements, the Company has determined that its internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2021 as set forth in the Original Filing.

Management’s report on internal control over financial reporting and the independent registered public accounting firm’s report are included in Item 8 under the captions entitled “Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting” and “Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” and are incorporated herein by reference.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

No changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f)) occurred during the fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2021 that materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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In its next report

First report after the company's reply of 2023-01-09: 10-K filed 2023-02-15 ↗, against the 10-K filed 2022-02-22 ↗.

Tickdelta does not hold the text of both reports, so they are not compared here.

Capital and Operating Cost, page EZ-8
SEC asked (2)
We note your response to comment 10 and our review found a variance between your Magnolia operating costs as presented in Exhibit A and the Proved and Probable operating costs from Exhibit B. Please correct as necessary or provide an additional operating expense table with associated text in your report summary explaining the variance in operating costs.
Rest of the question

In addition, please provide complete column and row totals for all line items along with LOM totals. Please note combining columns is acceptable, provided all numeric values are identical for all the combined columns and a description regarding this practice is included in the text of the technical report summary.

ALB answered
The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and notes that the costs that were presented in Exhibit A of the December Response Letter correspond to the operational expenditures under the Proved Reserves Scenario (“1P Scenario”) while the figures included in Exhibit B correspond to the operational expenditures under both the 1P Scenario and the Proved + Probable Scenario (“2P Scenario”).
Rest of the answer

These are distinct scenarios and the operational expenditures associated with each one of them are different.

The unit values associated with the Field & Plant and G&A components of the Operational Expenditures vary between the 1P Scenario and the 2P Scenario.

1P Scenario:

Average Field & Plant: $932.64/tonne of product

Average G&A: $460.31/tonne of product

2P Scenario:

Average Field & Plant: $870.02/tonne of product

Average G&A: $411.21/tonne of product

The Bromine production forecast for each year also varies between the 1P Scenario and the 2P Scenario as can be observed in the individual tables for each scenario. The annual production forecast for the 2P Scenario is always greater than the value forecasted under the 1P Scenario.

The difference between the individual costs for the 1P Scenario and the 2P Scenario is caused by the economies of scale of producing more saleable product under 2P Scenario, which generates a proportionate saving in costs gained by the increased level of production.

Table 18-1 Summary of Operating and Capital Expenses has been updated by adding a column for the consolidated final years and the LOM figures and was renamed Table 18-1 Summary of Operating and Capital Expenses (1P Scenario). A similar table named Table 18-2 Summary of Operating and Capital Expenses (2P Scenario) showing the operating costs and capital costs under the 2P Scenario will be added to Section 18 of the Magnolia Technical Report Summary in Exhibit 96.6 of the Form 10-K/A. The additional language and tables to be added or revised will read as follows:

The following tables contain details on Albemarle’s annual capital by major components and operating costs by major cost centers for the 1P (Proved Reserves) and 2P (Proved + Probable Reserves) scenarios. Columns beyond year 2031 have been combined and the values under 2032+ correspond to the sum of the individual figures through year 2069. When applicable, like in the case of well counts, the reported number corresponds to the annual average number of wells between the years 2032 and 2069.

Table 18-1 Summary of Operating and Capital Expenses (1P Scenario)

Table 18-2 Summary of Operating and Capital Expenses (2P Scenario)

Economic Analysis, page EZ-9

3 We note your response to comment 11 and our review found the plant feed flow, plant feed grade, and plant recovery are missing from your Magnolia and Jordan property cash flow analysis. In addition, the Jordan property minority interest costs do not reflect the ownership and an explanation may be necessary in the text. As noted above, please provide complete column and row totals for all line items along with LOM totals. Please note combining columns is acceptable, provided all numeric values are identical for all the combined columns and a description regarding this practice is included in the text of the technical report summary.

Response

The Company acknowledges the Staff’s comment and will comply with this comment to add the plant feed flow, plant feed grade and plant recovery to the Magnolia and Jordan property cash flow analysis. In addition, the Company will add complete column and row totals for all line items along with LOM totals to these tables.

With regard to the comment on the Jordan property minority interest costs, the Company would point the Staff to Section 19 Economic Analysis of the filed Jordan property technical report summary where the following is disclosed regarding the minority interest in the cash flow analysis:

Minority Interest: Calculated as 18.20 percent starting in Year 2022 through Year 2058 and is the amount of profit shared with APC; the remaining 82 percent is allocated to Albemarle.

The Minority Interest presented in the cash flow to calculate the net operating profit of the operation is based on the profit shared with Arab Potash Company pursuant to the joint venture agreement. The percentage of profit shared with Arab Potash Company varies based on the products sold during the period. The 18.2% of Minority Interest used in the cash flow is based on an average of recent historical minority interest paid.

The additional language and cash flow analysis tables to be added or revised in Section 19 Economic Analysis of the Jordan and Magnolia technical report summaries will read as follows:

Jordan

The QP has generated cash flow forecasts in real 2022$ terms. The results are summarized in the following tables. Columns beyond year 2031 have been combined and the values under 2032+ correspond to the sum of the individual figures through year 2058.

Table 19-1: Annual Cash Flow Summary – Proved Reserves – Spot Prices

Table 19-2: Annual Cash Flow Summary – Proved Reserves – Spot Prices less 15%

Table 19-3: Annual Cash Flow Summary – Proved Reserves – Spot Prices less 30%

Table 19-4: Annual Cash Flow Summary – Proved Reserves – Spot Prices less 45%

Magnolia

Summaries of the cash flow analysis on an annual basis are shown in the following tables. Columns beyond year 2031 have been combined and the values under 2032+ correspond to the sum of the individual figures through year 2069. When applicable, like in the case of well counts, the reported number corresponds to the annual average number of wells between the years 2032 and 2069.

Table 19-6: Annual Cash Flow Summary – Proved Reserves – Spot Prices

Table 19-7: Annual Cash Flow Summary – Proved Reserves – Spot Prices less 15%

Table 19-8: Annual Cash Flow Summary – Proved Reserves – Spot Prices less 30%

Table 19-9: Annual Cash Flow Summary – Proved Reserves – Spot Prices less 45%

Table 19-10: Annual Cash Flow Summary – Proved + Probable Reserves – Spot Prices

Table 19-11: Annual Cash Flow Summary – Proved + Probable Reserves – Spot Prices less 15%

Table 19-12: Annual Cash Flow Summary – Proved + Probable Reserves – Spot Prices less 30%

Table 19-13: Annual Cash Flow Summary – Proved + Probable Reserves – Spot Prices less 45%

***

The Company appreciates the efforts of the Staff in reviewing our response to the Comment Letter. We are fully committed to working with the Commission to respond to your comments and to provide you with all the information you require. Accordingly, should you have any questions regarding the Company’s response to your comments, please contact Scott Tozier at (980) 299-5596.

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In its next report

First report after the company's reply of 2023-01-09: 10-K filed 2023-02-15 ↗, against the 10-K filed 2022-02-22 ↗.

Tickdelta does not hold the text of both reports, so they are not compared here.

Economic Analysis, page EZ-9
SEC asked (3)
We note your response to comment 11 and our review found the plant feed flow, plant feed grade, and plant recovery are missing from your Magnolia and Jordan property cash flow analysis. In addition, the Jordan property minority interest costs do not reflect the ownership and an explanation may be necessary in the text.
Rest of the question

As noted above, please provide complete column and row totals for all line items along with LOM totals. Please note combining columns is acceptable, provided all numeric values are identical for all the combined columns and a description regarding this practice is included in the text of the technical report summary.

ALB answered

No numbered answer found in the reply. Read the reply ↗

In its next report

First report after the company's reply of 2023-01-09: 10-K filed 2023-02-15 ↗, against the 10-K filed 2022-02-22 ↗.

Tickdelta does not hold the text of both reports, so they are not compared here.

Also in this review: request for more time, 2022-09-22, request for more time, 2022-11-16, request for more time, 2022-12-27, company letter, 2023-01-26, closing letter, 2023-02-06

3 other letters: notices that a filing will not be reviewed, requests to declare a registration effective, and the like

From the SEC's correspondence on EDGAR: staff letters (form UPLOAD) and company letters (form CORRESP), 27 letters filed since 2016-04-07. Questions and answers are matched by their numbers; topics come from words in each question. The reports are compared word for word (same form, before the first SEC letter against the first report after the company's reply). No AI.

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