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- After testing, Lake Resources’ (LKE) technical partner, Lilac Solutions, has constructed and delivered a demonstration plant from California, USA, to the Kachi Project.
- The modular design allows for a “plug and play” approach, once brine feed, power and reagents are connected
- The demonstration plant will operate for around three to four months to produce lithium chloride (eluate) representing 2.5 tonnes of lithium carbonate
- This will be converted into high purity battery quality lithium carbonate for potential offtakers and battery qualification later in the year
- Lake Resources NL (LKE) is up 2.05 per cent, trading at 99.5 cents
Lake Resources NL (LKE) confirms that the modular demonstration plant planned and manufactured by the engineering team at Lilac Solutions has been sent from California, USA, to the Kachi Project in Argentina.
Lilac Solutions, Lake’s technical partner, has assembled the ion exchange modules and supporting equipment for the demonstration plant within five 40 ft (12m) shipping containers.
The modular design allows for a “plug and play” approach, once brine feed, power and reagents are connected.
The demonstration plant will operate for around three to four months to produce lithium chloride (eluate) representing 2.5 tonnes of lithium carbonate.
This will be converted into high purity battery quality lithium carbonate for potential off-takers and battery qualification later in the year.
The demonstration plant operations on-site will also inform the final engineering design prior to the construction of the commercial-scale project.
“[Our technology]…a unique technology for lithium extraction which we strongly believe will reduce operating costs and boost lithium recovery for production of lithium chemicals from the Kachi brines,” said Lilac Chief Executive Officer Dave Snydacker.
“Relative to conventional technology, our production process is lower cost and offers higher lithium recovery rates of 80-90 percent to produce battery quality lithium carbonate, while also protecting the local environment, including water resources,” added Mr Snydacker.
Meanwhile, test work at Lilac Solutions’ facility in California continues to produce the data required for the Definitive Feasibility Study and lithium carbonation test work continues at Hazen Research in Colorado.
“Lake is well-positioned to deliver a major project with a consistently high-quality product with substantial ESG benefits”, concluded Lake’s Managing Director, Steve Promnit.
Lake Resources NL is a clean lithium developer utilizing direct extraction technology for the production of sustainable, high purity lithium from its flagship Kachi Project in Catamarca Province within the Lithium Triangle in Argentina among three other projects covering 220,000 ha.
This direct extraction method delivers a solution for two rising demands – high purity battery materials to avoid performance issues and more sustainable, responsibly sourced materials with low carbon footprint and significant ESG benefits.
Lake’s other projects include the Olaroz and Cauchari brine projects, including Orocobre’s Olaroz lithium production and adjoins the impending production of Ganfeng Lithium/Lithium Americas’ Cauchari project.
Its Cauchari project has shown lithium brines over 506m intervals with high grades averaging 493 mg/L lithium (117-460m) with up to 540 mg/L lithium.
These results are similar to lithium brines in adjoining leases and infer an extension and continuity of these brines into Lake’s leases.
Lake Resources NL was up 2.05 per cent, trading at 99.5 cents at 10:44 am AEDT.
