Copper pops and Lithium America closes $2.2 billion financing from the US government

Copper gained nearly 6% this week to trade above $4 pound, noted mining audiences manager Michael McCrae. On Saturday McCrae recorded Kitco Roundtable. Copper got a boost with news that potentially less metal will be available. According to Reuters, China announced that it was cutting production at some loss-making copper smelters. Copper bulls see years of low prices along with diminishing production as a good sign for the metal when the energy transition theme fully kicks in. The lithium sector looked bullish with big financings announced. Lithium Americas received a record $2.2 billion loan from the US Department of Energy (DOE) to finance the construction of processing facilities at Thacker Pass in Nevada. Liontown Resources (ASX:LTER) announced this week a A$550 million debt facility to fund the company's Kathleen Valley lithium project through first production and ramp-up to the 3Mtpa base case.