The Company is progressing the Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) at its major Laguna Verde project which will incorporate the results from extensive test work over six months using the lab scale multivalve DLE system. In addition, the DLE Pilot Plant and downstream process plant to produce battery grade lithium carbonate will enable the Company to advance discussions with potential strategic partners who can support the development and financing of the Company's projects.
Highlights:
Aldo Boitano, Chief Executive Officer, CleanTech Lithium said:"The recent visit to China has shown me the great opportunity DLE offers to produce lithium with an ESG led approach. It is clear in my mind that DLE is the way forward for lithium production if we are to meet EV production targets.
The companies we visited in China are forging ahead with lithium extraction from brine with no evaporation ponds and this has provided further certainty in our projects as we progress with the PFS for Laguna Verde. This important phase of CTL's growth will help with the discussions we are planning to have with strategic partners in 2024.
The next six months is going to be a busy period for CTL, with the combination of the PFS and the analysis of results from the DLE Pilot Plant making this an exciting period in the Company's journey."
Maha Daoudi, Independent Non-Executive Director, CleanTech Lithium said:"It has been fantastic to return to China and see the pace of technological advancement. With the support of a local specialist consultant with whom I have worked before for many years, we have been able to meet the Chairmen and CEOs of some of the world's leading DLE developers to discuss how we can apply their technical expertise to CTL's projects. It has been overall a very constructive visit and gives positive perspectives for the development of CTL's projects."
DLE Pilot Plant
The pilot plant is designed for process optimisation and to produce a purified concentrated eluate that will feed the downstream process to deliver 1 tonne per month of LCE for product qualification by potential offtakers and strategic partners.
The US$2 million plant has been fabricated in Belgium by Puritech, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company's DLE partner, Sunresin, who are the leading provider of operational DLE facilities in the world.
The final shipment for the DLE Pilot Plant has arrived in Chile and will be transported to CTL's warehouse facility in Copiapó where it will be assembled. Technicians from Sunresin are scheduled to visit at the end of November 2023 for the final testing and commissioning phase.
The DLE pilot plant will process feed brine to produce an eluate in which lithium has been selectively extracted and concentrated, while other elements in the brine are greatly reduced (see figure 1). The eluate will then undergo several stages of concentration and impurity removal before carbonation into battery grade lithium.
Figure 1: CleanTech Lithium's simplified DLE processing flowsheet
China Visit by Senior Management
CEO, Aldo Boitano, Non-Executive Director Maha Daoudi and DLE Processes Manager, Rodrigo Rivas, recently visited China where they met with several DLE operators and developers. Ms Daoudi has significant experience in China from her time at world leading trading company, Trafigura, where she helped develop strategic partnerships and significant offtake agreements over a number of years. A key objective of the trip was to share learnings and developments of CTL's projects, meet the leadership teams of DLE companies and see the facilities of existing operators.
Figure 2: Sunresin's senior leadership team welcoming CleanTech Lithium to their facilities
Figure 3: Lanshen's senior leadership team welcoming CleanTech Lithium to their facilities
CTL visited Sunresin New Materials Co. Ltd. and Lanshen Technology which included seeing facilities similar to the Company's DLE pilot plant being assembled in Copiapó. This included a trip to Geermu, Golmud to see a resin manufacturing process which is used for their three operating DLE plants.
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Executing a well-defined project development strategy for its lithium assets and successfully progressing its DLE pilot plant, CleanTech Lithium is poised to become a key player in an expanding batteries market.
CleanTech Lithium (AIM:CTL,FWB:T2N,OTC:CTLHF) is a resource exploration and development company with four lithium assets with an estimated 2.72 million tons (Mt) of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) in Chile, a world-renowned mining-friendly jurisdiction. The company aims to be a leading supplier of ‘green lithium’ to the electric vehicle (EV) market, leveraging direct lithium extraction (DLE) – a low-impact, low-carbon and low-water method of extracting lithium from brine.
Lithium demand is soaring as a result of a rapidly expanding EV market. One study estimates the world needs 2 billion EVs on the road to meet global net-zero goals. Yet, the gap between supply and demand continues to widen. As the world races to secure new supplies of the critical mineral, Chile has emerged as an ideal investment jurisdiction with mining-friendly regulations and a skilled local workforce to drive towards a clean green economy. Chile is already the biggest supplier of copper and second largest supplier of lithium.
With an experienced team in natural resources, CleanTech Lithium holds itself accountable to a responsible ESG-led approach, a critical advantage for governments and major car manufacturers looking to secure a cleaner supply chain.
Laguna Verde is at pre-feasibility study stage, which is due to be delivered by Q4 2024. The project is targeted to be in ramp up production from 2027. Laguna Verde has a JORC resource estimate of 1.8 Mt of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) while Viento Andino boasts 0.92 Mt LCE, each supporting 20,000 tons per annum (tpa) production with a 30-year and 12-year mine life, respectively. The latest drilling programme at Laguna Verde finished in June 2024, results from which will be used to convert resources into reserves.
The lead project, Laguna Verde, will be developed first, after which Veinto Andino will follow suit using the design and experience gained from Laguna Verde, as the company works towards its goal of becoming a significant green lithium producer serving the EV market.
CleanTech Lithium’spilot DLE plantin Copiapó was commissioned in the first quarter of 2024. To date, the company has completed the first stage of production from the DLE pilot plant producing an initial volume of 88 cubic metres of concentrated eluate – the lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) of approximately one tonne over an operating period of 384 hours with 14 cycles. Results show the DLE adsorbent achieved a lithium recovery rate of approximately 95 percent from the brine, with total recovery (adsorption plus desorption) achieving approximately 88 percent.
The company is carrying out the necessary environmental impact assessments in partnership with the local communities. The indigenous communities will provide valuable data that will be included in the assessments. The company also has two prospective exploration assets - the Llamara project and Salar de Atacama/Arenas Blancas project.
Llamara project is a greenfield asset in the Antofagasta region and is around 600 kilometers north of Laguna Verde and Veinto Andino. The project is located in the Pampa del Tamarugal basin, one of the largest basins in the Lithium Triangle.
Salar de Atacama/Arenas Blancas comprises 140 licenses covering 377 sq km in the Salar de Atacama basin, one of the leading lithium-producing regions in the world with proven mineable deposits of 9.2 Mt.
CleanTech Lithium is committed to an ESG-led approach to its strategy and supporting its downstream partners looking to secure a cleaner supply chain. In line with this, the company plans to use renewable energy and the eco-friendly DLE process across its projects. DLE is considered an efficient option for lithium brine extraction that makes the least environmental impact, with no use of evaporation ponds, no carbon-intensive processes and reduced levels of water consumption. In recognition, Chile’s government plans to prioritize DLE for all new lithium projects in the country.
CTL’s experienced management team, with expertise throughout the natural resources industry, leads the company towards its goal of producing green lithium for the EV market. Expertise includes geology, lithium extraction engineering and corporate administration. 
The 217 sq km Laguna Verde project features a sq km hypersaline lake at the low point of the basin with a large sub-surface aquifer ideal for DLE. Laguna Verde is the company’s most advanced asset,
CleanTech Lithium’s second-most advanced asset covers 127 square kilometers and is located within 100 km of Laguna Verde, with a current resource estimate of 0.92 Mt of LCE, including an indicated resource of 0.44 Mt LCE. The company’s planned second drill campaign aims to extend known deposits further.
The Llamara project is one of the largest greenfield basins in the Lithium Triangle, covering 605 square kilometers in the Pampa del Tamarugal, one of the largest basins in the Lithium Triangle. Historical exploration results indicate blue-sky potential, prompting the company to pursue additional exploration.
The project comprises 140 licences covering 377 sq km in the Salar de Atacama basin, a known lithium region with proven mineable deposits of 9.2 Mt and home to two of the world’s leading battery-grade lithium producers SQM and Albermarle. Following the granting of the exploration licences in 2024, the Cleantech Lithium is designing a work programme for the project
Steve Kesler has 45 years of executive and board roles experience in the mining sector across all major capital markets including AIM. Direct lithium experience as CEO/director of European Lithium and Chile experience with Escondida and as the first CEO of Collahuasi, previously held senior roles at Rio Tinto and BHP.
Gordon Stein is a commercial CFO with over 30 years of expertise in the energy, natural resources and other sectors in both executive and non-executive director roles. As a chartered accountant, he has worked with start-ups to major companies, including board roles of six LSE companies.
Maha Daoudi has more than 20 years of experience holding several Board and senior-level positions across commodities, energy transition, finance and tech-related industries, including a senior role with leading commodity trader, Trafigura. Daoudi holds expertise in offtake agreements, developing international alliances and forming strategic partnerships.
Tommy McKeith is an experienced public company director and geologist with over 30 years of mining company leadership, corporate development, project development and exploration experience. He's held roles in an international mining company and across several ASX-listed mining companies. McKeith currently serves as non-executive director of Evolution Mining and as non-executive chairman of Arrow Minerals. Having worked in bulk, base and precious metals across numerous jurisdictions, including operations in Canada, Africa, South America and Australia, McKeith brings strategic insights to CTL with a strong focus on value creation.
Jonathan Morley-Kirk brings 30 years of experience, including 17 years in non-executive director roles with expertise in financial controls, audit, remuneration, capital raisings and taxation/structuring.
CleanTech Lithium PLC Notice of Annual General Meeting
CleanTech Lithium PLC (AIM:CTL)(Frankfurt:T2N)(OTCQX:CTLHF) ("CleanTech Lithium" or the "Company"), an exploration and development company advancing sustainable lithium projects in Chile, will hold its Annual General Meeting ("AGM") at the offices of the Company at de Carteret House, 7 Castle Street, St Helier JE2 3BT on 26 November 2024 at 11:00AM GMT
As well as the normal business conducted at the AGM, the Board is proposing to:
renew the share authorities previously granted in connection with the ASX Listing;
amend the articles of association in connection with the ASX Listing; and
consolidate the Company's ordinary share capital so that every two existing Ordinary Shares of £0.01 each are consolidated into one Ordinary Shares of £0.02 each (the "New Ordinary Shares") to meet ASX listing requirements.
The detailed reasons for and background to the resolutions are set out in a Circular which contains the notice of AGM. The Circular will shortly be available on the Company's website https://ctlithium.com/investors/circulars-documents/. A letter notifying Shareholders of the availability of the Circular on the Company's website will be dispatched to Shareholders later today.
Recommendation
The Directors consider all of the proposals to be considered at the AGM (including the share consolidation) to be in the best interests of the Company and its Shareholders as a whole and accordingly unanimously recommend that Shareholders vote in favour of the resolutions to be proposed at the AGM, as they together with senior management intend to do in respect of their aggregate holdings of 13,141,932 existing Ordinary Shares representing 7.83 per cent. of the Company's existing share capital.
EXPECTED TIMETABLE OF PRINCIPAL EVENTS
2024 | ||||
Publication of the Circular and the Form of Proxy | 30 October | |||
Latest time and date for receipt of Forms of Proxy and CREST voting instructions | 11.00 a.m. on 24 November | |||
Time and date of the Annual General Meeting | 11.00 a.m. on 26 November | |||
Result of Annual General Meeting announced | 26 November | |||
Record Date in respect of the Share Consolidation | 6.00 p.m. on 26 November | |||
Admission expected to become effective and dealings expected to commence in the New Ordinary Shares on AIM | 8.00 a.m. on 27 November | |||
Where applicable, expected date for CREST accounts to be credited in respect of New Ordinary Shares in uncertificated form | 27 November | |||
Where applicable, expected date for despatch of definitive certificates for New Ordinary Shares in certificated form | 3 December | |||
For further information contact: | ||||
Steve Kesler/Gordon Stein/Nick Baxter | Jersey office: +44 (0) 1534 668 321 Chile office: +562-32239222 | |||
Or via Celicourt | ||||
Celicourt Communications Felicity Winkles/Philip Dennis/Ali AlQahtani | +44 (0) 20 7770 6424 | |||
Beaumont Cornish Limited (Nominated Adviser) Roland Cornish/Asia Szusciak | +44 (0) 20 7628 3396 | |||
Fox-Davies Capital Limited (Joint Broker) Daniel Fox-Davies | +44 (0) 20 3884 8450 | |||
Canaccord Genuity (Joint Broker) James Asensio | +44 (0) 20 7523 4680 | |||
Beaumont Cornish Limited ("Beaumont Cornish") is the Company's Nominated Adviser and is authorised and regulated by the FCA. Beaumont Cornish's responsibilities as the Company's Nominated Adviser, including a responsibility to advise and guide the Company on its responsibilities under the AIM Rules for Companies and AIM Rules for Nominated Advisers, are owed solely to the London Stock Exchange. Beaumont Cornish is not acting for and will not be responsible to any other persons for providing protections afforded to customers of Beaumont Cornish nor for advising them in relation to the proposed arrangements described in this announcement or any matter referred to in it.
Notes
CleanTech Lithium (AIM:CTL, Frankfurt:T2N, OTCQX:CTLHF) is an exploration and development company advancing lithium projects in Chile for the clean energy transition. Committed to net-zero, CleanTech Lithium's mission is to become a new supplier of battery grade lithium using Direct Lithium Extraction technology powered by renewable energy.
CleanTech Lithium has two key lithium projects in Chile, Laguna Verde and Viento Andino, and exploration stage projects in Llamara and Arenas Blancas (Salar de Atacama), located in the lithium triangle, a leading centre for battery grade lithium production. The two most advanced projects: Laguna Verde and Viento Andino are situated within basins controlled by the Company, which affords significant potential development and operational advantages. All four projects have good access to existing infrastructure.
CleanTech Lithium is committed to utilising Direct Lithium Extraction with reinjection of spent brine resulting in no aquifer depletion. Direct Lithium Extraction is a transformative technology which removes lithium from brine with higher recoveries, short development lead times and no extensive evaporation pond construction. www.ctlithium.com
**ENDS**
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SOURCE:CleanTech Lithium plc
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Interim Results for six-month period ending 30 June 2024
CleanTech Lithium PLC (AIM:CTL)(Frankfurt:T2N)(OTCQX:CTLHF), an exploration and development companyadvancing sustainable lithium projects in Chile for the clean energy transition, is pleased to announce its unaudited Interim Results for the six-month period ended 30 June 2024 ("1H 2024" or "the Period").
The Company has made significant progress with the Pre-Feasibility Study ("PFS") at the flagship project, Laguna Verde, and seen encouraging results from the Direct Lithium Extraction ("DLE") pilot plant in Chile and will be producing battery-grade lithium carbonate for potential strategic partners to evaluate. The Company is also pursuing a dual listing on the Australian Stock Exchange ("ASX") and aims to be trading on the ASX in Q4 2024.
Highlights of the Period:
Operational:
Health & Safety:
Zero-harm safety culture focused on continuous improvement to achieve an injury free and healthy work environment - no LTIs, major incidents or near misses recorded in 1H 2024.
Laguna Verde Drilling Programme:
Five-well resource drilling programme commenced. Work designed in collaboration with Montgomery & Associates, a leading hydrogeology and resource evaluation consultancy.
Programme aims to produce a maiden reserves estimate using modifying factors from the Pre-Feasibility Study ("PFS") which is underway and targeted for completion by the end of 2024.
DLE Pilot Plant:
Operational and producing high quality lithium chloride eluate with low impurities.
Eluate is being converted to produce batches of battery-grade lithium carbonate which will be made available to potential strategic partners in Q4 2024 to start product qualification.
Inauguration event was held in May 2024 where local communities and government officials were in attendance.
Project Licences:
CTL entered into a sale and purchase agreement ("SPA"), now taking full ownership of certain Laguna Verde licences that were previously held by way of an option agreement
The licences held in the Salar de Atacama basin, which we understand are located outside the salar area defined as strategic by the Government and have been re-named the 'Arenas Blancas' project, are a potentially very promising opportunity.
CEOL Contracts:
Expressions of Interest ("RFIs") for a total of five lithium projects have been submitted to the Chilean Government. CTL is very well positioned as the most advanced exploration stage company progressing DLE based projects in Chile.
Francisco Basin project has been renamed Viento Andino, in line with the RFI submission, to highlight the project area is outside a national park of a similar name located in the basin.
Corporate:
Board changes:
Executive Chairman Steve Kesler assumed the duties of CEO on an interim basis, following the resignation of CEO, Aldo Boitano in April.
The search for a new CEO is well underway and the chosen candidate will be announced in due course.
·Cash position:
The Company's cash position at the period end, including proceeds received from Loan Notes shortly after period end, was £2.1 million.
Post-period Highlights:
Operational:
Pump tests and a reinjection well at Laguna Verde, planned to be undertaken in Q4 2024, will help define the brine extraction and reinjection wellfield design and the sustainable production rate required for the PFS.
A plant location study was completed by Worley for the Laguna Verde project and concluded that the DLE and eluate concentration should be undertaken at project site and the purification and carbonation close to Copiapo which is at a lower elevation with good technical support locally available. This latter plant would be expanded in the future to also process concentrated eluate from the Viento Andino project.
Completion of the first stage of production of concentrated eluate from the Company´s DLE pilot plant which has been shipped for conversion to battery-grade lithium carbonate by process partners in North America.
Corporate:
ASX Listing:
The Company is seeking to dual-list on the Australian Securities Exchange ("ASX"). Although the Company announced an extension to the ASX IPO timetable on 20 September 2024, to allow it to address some procedural matters raised by ASX, the intention remains to complete the IPO before the year end. An associated capital raise is planned to enable completion of the PFS and continuance of other work programmes. Notwithstanding, the Company continues to consider its funding options on an ongoing basis as a part of its normal practice.
·CEOL Process:
The Government has streamlined the CEOL process, announcing an update at the end of Septemberprioritising six salt flats for lithium development including Laguna Verde, the Company's flagship project, as having the most favourable conditions to advance lithium exploration and extraction. CEOL applications to be submitted by 31st December 2024.
Local stakeholders:
CTL attended a seminar organised by CESCO alongside local indigenous communities. The President of the Colla Pai-Ote community publicly endorsed CTL's Laguna Verde project as the way forward for the lithium industry in Chile, which was widely reported in the Chilean media.
CTL's DLE carousel equipment is now installed at the University of Atacama as part of an ongoing partnership. The DLE equipment will be available for research programmes. The long-term collaboration between the University and CTL will help nurture the skills required for fostering the lithium industry in the Atacama region.
Steve Kesler, Executive Chairman and Interim CEO, CleanTech Lithium said:
"The first half of 2024 has seen significant operational and strategic progress on our lithium projects in Chile. This includes the production of high quality lithium chloride eluate with low impurities from our DLE pilot plant, which has a capacity to produce one tonne per month of lithium carbonate equivalent. A drilling, pump testing and reinjection programme was started at Laguna Verde aimed at updating the JORC resource estimate, providing data for the PFS and developing of a maiden reserve estimate.
"The Company is also in the process of listing on the ASX exchange, which will support its future development, as it enters potential strategic partner discussions and progresses towards production. Whilst this process has been delayed, the ASX market is well versed in the lithium sector and a meaningful number of the Company's existing shareholders have Australian links.
"With the PFS well underway and project development ongoing, backed by the strong support from local indigenous communities and aligned with the objectives of Government's National Lithium Strategy, we look forward to the future with confidence."
CHAIRMAN AND INTERIM CEO REVIEW
The following review is a look back at the highlights from the first half of 2024:
Business Strategy
CleanTech Lithium continues to make great strides in meeting the objective of becoming a leading supplier of battery-grade lithium carbonate to support the world's transition to clean energy. The progress made towards building sustainable lithium projects in Chile where the Company is planning to use Direct Lithium Extraction ("DLE") powered by renewable energy directly addresses the Chilean Government's ambition to drive positive change in sustainability and social and economic development.
The 'National Lithium Strategy', proposed by the President of Chile in late April 2023, aims to ensure Chile remains a top producer and supplier of lithium - a critical component for batteries in Electric Vehicles and energy storage systems ("ESS"). The established mining jurisdiction is currently the largest supplier of copper in the world and one of the largest suppliers of battery grade lithium. To move to a world run on clean energy, new lithium projects are needed, and Chile has the established infrastructure, industry expertise and workforce to bring projects like CleanTech Lithium's into production in the next few years.
New projects must be built in the right way and the Government has prescribed the use of DLE (or similar sustainable technologies) for all new lithium development projects going forward. CleanTech Lithium's strategy is to play a significant role in assisting the Chilean government to achieve this ambition. The Company believes it is most the advanced development stage DLE company operating in Chile and the achievements made in the first half of 2024 is evidence of this. It is very encouraging to see the Company's DLE Pilot Plant producing samples of battery-grade lithium carbonate which will soon be tested by potential strategic partners.
The Company's business strategy is focused on delivering long-term sustainable growth and returns for all stakeholders, built on four pillars:
develop the Company's advanced lithium projects (Laguna Verde, Viento Andino) and progress the early-stage exploration projects (Arenas Blancas and Llamara) in Chile;
utilise innovative technologies, including DLE and, where possible, renewable energy to sustainably produce lithium carbonate;
produce commercial battery-grade lithium carbonate with high lithium recoveries and short production time; and
supply directly into the EV and battery storage market via strategic partners and offtake agreements.
To this end, the Company's immediate objectives are as follows:
update the JORC resource estimate for Laguna Verde on completion of the 2024 drilling campaigns and declare a maiden reserves estimate;
complete planned hydrogeological studies and metallurgical tests at Laguna Verde, including completing a new reinjection well and pump tests to provide the data required to further advance modelling of the sub-surface aquifer and design the extraction and reinjection wellfields;
deliver a Pre-Feasibility Study ("PFS") at the Laguna Verde Project and commence the Definitive Feasibility Study ("DFS") soon afterwards;
complete the process test work at the DLE Pilot Plant and make battery grade lithium carbonate available for supply to potential offtake and strategic partners to start product qualification;
continue the required work to complete the environmental baseline studies that commenced in 2022 and undertake the studies required to enable submission of the EIA in 1H 2025;
enter into a Special Lithium Operation Contract (CEOL) with the Chilean State in relation to the Laguna Verde and Viento Andino Projects to commercially sell lithium;
continue to collaborate with the local indigenous communities, universities and other local stakeholders to ensure long-term support for the projects, and
enter into substantive discussions with potential offtake and strategic partners with a view to reaching agreement on a future business relationship, including establishing a funding package for the construction phases of the Laguna Verde Project, including equity participation, debt and other structures, to bring the project on stream and start selling lithium carbonate at the earliest possible opportunity.
Summary of Company Activity
In the first six months of the year, CleanTech Lithium made further progress toward delivering its PFS. This included commencing a five-well drilling programme at Laguna Verde, the commissioning of its DLE pilot plant and first production of highly concentrated eluate for further processing to make battery-grade lithium carbonate. The PFS is instrumental to support discussions with potential strategic partners. The Company is also seeking to dual-list on the Australian Securities Exchange ("ASX"). Although the Company announced an extension to the ASX IPO timetable on 20 September 2024, to allow it to address some procedural matters raised by ASX, the intention remains to complete the IPO before the year end. Notwithstanding, the Company continues to consider its funding options on an ongoing basis as a part of its normal practice.
Operations
Health and Safety
The Company maintains a zero-harm safety culture focused on continuous improvement to achieve an injury free and healthy work environment, with no lost time incidents ("LTIs"), major incidents, or near misses reported in the first half of 2024.
Five-Well Drilling Programme at Laguna Verde
The Company commenced a five well drilling programme at Laguna Verde largely aimed at converting Inferred resource to additional Measured & Indicated resource which will then have technical and economic modifying factors applied from the PFS to determine a maiden reserve. The programme was designed in collaboration with Montgomery & Associates, a leading international hydrogeology and resource evaluation consultancy.
The drill programme began in Q1 2024, with the commencement of wells LV07 and LV11 and suspended in May on the onset of the winter shut-down period, with the plan to recommence in October. The programme will also include additional pump testing and reinjection testing in Q4 2024 with results helping to calibrate the hydrogeological model of the basin. This model will help further define the brine extraction and reinjection wellfield design and the sustainable production rate from Laguna Verde. Montgomery & Associates have been engaged to manage the drill programme, JORC resource and reserves reporting and design of the extraction and reinjection wellfields.
Laguna Verde is the Company's most advanced project and has a total JORC resource of 1.8 million tonnes LCE, of which 1.1 million is in the Measured and Indicated category. Laguna Verde's Scoping Study, announced in January 2023, highlighted robust economics, with an NPV8 of US$1.8bn, an IRR of 45.1%, net cashflows of US$6.3 billion and a low operating costs of US$3,875/t for 30 years of production at 20,000 tpa LCE.
Drilling programmes at Laguna Verde since 2022
DLE Pilot Plant Commissioning and Production
The Company´s one-tonne per month DLE pilot plant (supplied by Sunresin) is located in Copiapó, Chile, approximately 250km from Laguna Verde, and finished commissioning in late March. At the R&D centre where the pilot plant is located, brine from the Laguna Verde project is stored in a large 243,000 litre vessel outside the pilot plant and then fed into an indoor tank having passed through filtration to remove suspended solids. It is then fed into the DLE columns shown in the image below, which are filled with adsorbent designed to be selective for lithium molecules. Lithium, as lithium chloride, is adsorbed from the brine, before desorption with water to create a purified lithium chloride eluate.
DLE Pilot Plant at R&D Centre in Copiapó, Chile (30 x approx. 3m columns to produce up to 1 tonne per month of LCE)
Testing of a wide range of commercially available adsorbents identified that the adsorbent supplied by Lanshen performed the best on the Laguna Verde brine resulting in the selection of this adsorbent. The DLE Pilot Plant commenced operation in Q2 2024, producing high quality concentrated eluate. In May, the Company reported the key DLE performance metrics for the first batch of 24m3 of concentrated eluate produced at the pilot plant. The recovery of lithium from the brine was 94% in the adsorption stage and 88% into the eluate. The lithium grade in the feed brine of 197mg/L was concentrated to 710mg/L in the eluate, or a 3.6X concentration factor. These results exceeded the Company's expectations. The eluate was further concentrated by reverse osmosis to 2,194mg/l.
For the first stage of production, a total volume of 1,196m3 of brine from the Laguna Verde Project was processed at the DLE pilot plant with a total of 14 cycles completed. Each cycle represents a volume of brine being fed first through filtration to remove suspended solids, then into DLE columns which are filled with adsorbent designed to be selective for lithium molecules. Lithium, as lithium chloride, is adsorbed from the brine, before desorption with water to create a purified lithium eluate.
Averaged across the 14 cycles, the recovery rate achieved by adsorption of lithium from the brine was 95% and the recovery rate of desorption from the adsorbent was 93%. The total recovery rate into eluate averaged 88% and was highly consistent as shown in the figure below. The temperature of the brine and desorption water, using the average ambient temperature in Copiapó during the March to June period of operation, was in the range of 20oC to 25oC indicating that good performance was achieved without the need to heat solutions in either adsorption or desorption.
Pilot Plant Total Recovery Rate
The eluate production rate was relatively stable after the initial ramp up period achieving an average of 2.8 kg LCE per hour demonstrating that the design capacity of the pilot plant of 1 tonne LCE per month was comfortably achieved. Selectivity of the adsorbent is another key performance parameter for a DLE operation. DLE primarily acts as a purification stage, recovering lithium chloride from the brine whilst rejecting other impurities. For all the major ions in the brine, apart from boron, the rejection rate was very high, exceeding 99%.
DLE Performance - Rejection of Major Impurities
The downstream conversion of lithium chloride solution to battery grade lithium carbonate is well established in the lithium industry. Rather than spending capital on constructing a lithium carbonate conversion plant, the Company decided to partner with Conductive Energy, an Alberta, Canada company to undertake this conversion at its existing facility in Chicago.
An initial 200L batch of concentrated eluate, was shipped to Conductive Energy in May. This batch was used as a trial before setting up the conversion process that would be used for processing larger volumes of eluate produced by our DLE pilot plant into battery grade lithium carbonate. Conductive Energy completed the set-up test-work producing lithium carbonate of 99.75% purity which is battery grade. This process comprises concentration of the concentrated eluate to 18,000mg/l Li by forward osmosis followed by ion exchange to remove the trace impurities of calcium, magnesium and boron and then carbonation with sodium carbonate to produce battery grade lithium carbonate.
On completion of this trial, the Company subsequently shipped batches of concentrated eluate from the pilot plant, with a total of 88m3 shipped by late July, which is equivalent to approximately one tonne of lithium carbonate.
The downstream plant is being commissioned with lithium carbonate production expected in October 2024. This will provide the Company with the capacity to supply significant quantities of battery-grade lithium carbonate samples to potential strategic partners and offtakers to commence product qualification.
Pilot Plant Inauguration
In May, the DLE pilot plant was officially inaugurated in Copiapó with a ceremony attended by various regional authorities, indigenous community leaders, academics, and business representatives. Attendees at the ceremony included the Presidential Delegate of the Atacama Region, Luis Pino, Regional Councillor Javier Castillo; CORFO Director Rosa Roman, CORPROA President Andres Rubilar; miners' union president Joel Carrizo; indigenous community representatives Christian Milla and Ercillia Araya.
DLE Pilot Plant Inauguration May 2024
DLE inauguration event May 2024 with Steve Kesler, Executive Chairman and Interim CEO and Ercilia Araya, President of the Colla-Ote community
Pre-Feasibility Study at Laguna Verde
The PFS will define the optimal configuration for the Laguna Verde project, paving the way for a DFS and discussions with strategic partners. Data from the DLE pilot plant and the drilling and field programmes are being incorporated into the PFS which is being led by Worley, an international engineering services company, from their Santiago office.
As part of that process, in July, Worley completed a plant location study, and CTL has engaged various consultants to conduct studies on port access, water supply, power access and lithium market dynamics. The plant location study identified the ideal configuration for a production facility capable of generating 20,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium carbonate per annum. This provided a trade-off analysis between locating the entire plant at Laguna Verde versus splitting plant facilities between Laguna Verde and the nearby mining centre of Copiapó. The option of locating the DLE plant and eluate concentration stages at the Laguna Verde site, and the carbonation plant at Copiapó was highly favourable, resulting in the decision to proceed with this option. A concentrated eluate with 6% lithium, the maximum concentration before lithium salts begin to precipitate, will be transported to Copiapó for impurity removal and carbonation stages. This configuration results in a minor increase in volumes transported while taking advantage of Copiapó's well-developed infrastructure and better access to a skilled workforce. According to the plant design, approximately 70% of the operational workforce will be employed at the carbonation plant, therefore locating it in Copiapó provides major advantages in hiring a local work force including diversity outcomes such as greater female participation, while contributing to the local economy. The footprint at the project site, which is at 4,300m above sea level, will be greatly reduced, from power supply, storage, camp and plant facilities, construction phase impacts, and environmental impacts.
The carbonation plant in Copiapó would eventually be expanded to also treat concentrated eluate from the Viento Andino project.
Corporate Developments
Special Lithium Operating Contracts (CEOLs)
Following the declaration of the National Lithium Strategy in April 2023, the Government clarified that it would seek majority control of strategic lithium assets in the Salar de Atacama and Salar de Maricunga but that non-strategic salars could be developed by private sector interests without the need for state company participation. As a result, the Chilean Government requested that the Company withdraw its initial application for CEOLs for Laguna Verde and Viento Andino (formerly Francisco Basin) and apply through the new formal process. CTL´s project areas were defined as non-strategic and the Company entered the process in June 2024 on a 100% ownership basis for Laguna Verde and Viento Andino. Applications for RFIs has also been made for three other lithium prospects in joint ventures with other parties which are currently subject to confidentiality.
The Government provided a further update to the CEOL application process at the end of September, prioritising six salt flats for lithium development including Laguna Verde, the Company's flagship project, as having the most favourable conditions to advance lithium exploration and extraction. The Government is expected to announce a further update later this year on additional salt flats for lithium development. The Ministry of Mining will award one CEOL per salt flat with companies only considered if they meet certain criteria. CTL´s Expressions of Interest ("RFI") application directly addressed each of these key criteria and as the Company has a dominant licence position in the Laguna Verde basin it is the only Company that meets the mining concession area requirement. The criteria set out by the Government recognises the status of the Company´s progress at the Laguna Verde project and puts in place a clear path to award a CEOL and the project's development into production, which is targeted for 2027.
The Chilean Government will now commence indigenous community consultations related to these six salars. Additional to other criteria, CTL has developed a strong relationship with indigenous communities located in the surroundings areas, based on early engagement including a collaborative alliance signed in December 2023 to co-design the project´s EIA. The Company is also working with the regional University to promote local opportunities for future projects. The next stage of the CEOL process is for companies to submit CEOL applications by December 31st 2024.
Acquisition of Laguna Verde LicencesIn April 2024, the Company completed the acquisition of 23 Laguna Verde licences, previously subject to an option agreement. This now gives the Company full ownership and control over all 108 mining licences within Laguna Verde. The Board believes this acquisition enhances potential returns to shareholders and de-risks the project as it advances. Full ownership of these licences has also facilitated the planned ASX listing.
Renaming of Francisco Basin and Salar de Atacama
In June the Company announced it had renamed the Francisco Basin project as Viento Andino. This was to clarify the project is located outside a nearby national park of a similar name. During the period, the Company also announced the Salar de Atacama licences have been renamed the 'Arenas Blancas' project to recognise that these fall outside of the Salar de Atacama area considered by Government as ´strategic´ to be controlled by the State entity Codelco. These Arena Blanca licences are shown here.
Map of licence areas in Arenas Blancas
ESG and Community Engagement:
In January, the Company hosted an international seminar at the Universidad de Atacama titled "Lithium: Global Challenges. Local Issues, Decarbonization, Sustainability and Participation" brought together renowned international academics and industry leaders to explore the crucial role lithium plays in global decarbonization and the transition to a green economy.
The Company has also partnered with the University of Atacama, which has seen the installation of the Company's laboratory DLE carousel on the campus. This initiative allows students to conduct their own testing and research, supporting the development of a workforce for the future and regional economic development.
Post-period end, CTL participated in the Centre for Copper and Mining Studies ("CESCO") seminar in Santiago, a prominent annual seminar for the mining sector in Chile and received public support from the local indigenous community for its Laguna Verde project. Local and national media covered the endorsement made by the President of Colla-Ote Communities, Ercilia Araya, as seen in the press cutting below. At the seminar the Company stated if the Government want to see three to four new lithium projects in construction by 2026, Laguna Verde can be one of these projects. To achieve this, the Company continues it engagement with the Chilean Government as part of the CEOLs applications and in a timely manner for the EIA permitting process.
President of the Colla-Ote Community publicly endorses CleanTech Lithium's Laguna Verde project at CESCO Seminar, August 2024
The Company remained a signatory of the UN Global Compact aligning with the 10 guiding principles. The annual 'Communication of Progress' report was submitted in May 2024.
ASX dual-listing:
On 20 September the Company announced an extension to the Australian Securities Exchange ("ASX") IPO timetable to allow it to address certain procedural matters raised by ASX. Although it is expected the ASX IPO will complete prior to the year-end, there can be no certainty over the timing. Consequently, as a part of normal practice, the Board continues to consider other available funding options to provide the necessary ongoing working capital and to maintain progress on the Company's various capital programmes as described above.
The ASX is a natural fit as a dual-listing for CTL given the high proportion of its shareholder base designated as Australian domiciled; that base includes Regal Funds as a significant sharesholder which holds approximately 15% of the Company's shares in issue.
It is clear that an Australian listing will broaden the shareholder base, increase the Company's profile in Australia and expose the Company to a deep pool of capital from investors with a good knowledge of investing in resource, and lithium, companies.
The Company will continue to keep the market informed of progress as appropriate.
Board Changes:
In addition to my duties as Executive Chairman, I assumed the role of Interim CEO in April following Aldo Boitano's resignation. The search for a new CEO is ongoing, and we look forward to announcing the selected candidate in due course.
Lithium Market:
While the international lithium market remains subdued with current oversupply and low prices, there is clear expectation that market conditions will have improved significantly by the time the Company comes into first production in 2027. Some current high-cost production is suspending production, new projects are being deferred whilst demand for lithium for use in batteries, for Electric Vehicles and ESS continues to grow. The expectation is that lithium prices will start to recalibrate to a medium and longer-term price that allows new projects to be financed. Cannacord Genuity forecasts that pricing to be in excess of US$22,500/t lithium carbonate from 2028 onwards. The scoping studies for Laguna Verde and Viento Andino indicate that these projects will be in the lowest quartile of costs and economic even at today´s low prices and highly attractive at forecast long-term prices.
The Company has specific advantages in operating in Chile which has a free trade agreement ("FTA") with the USA and preferential trade arrangements with the EU for critical minerals such as lithium. The ability to supply battery grade lithium carbonate directly into these markets without intermediate processing in China will be important for the Company in those markets. Meanwhile Chinese companies are investing in battery supply chain production in FTA countries to maintain access to the US market and will increasingly seek lithium carbonate from FTA compliant countries for those projects. The Company is well placed to take advantage of this dynamic.
Financials:
The Company's cash position at the period end, including proceeds received from Loan Notes shortly after period end, was £2.1 million.
In the six months to 30 June 2024, CleanTech continued to prioritise expenditure on its capital programmes with the following progress noted:
Laguna Verde: Drilling: five well programme; PFS: engineering and feasibility studies by Worley, Montgomery have been progressed; Hydrogeological modelling: further evolution of both the modelling and as has the planning for pump-test and reinjection programmes; EIA: evaluation of and development of the baseline studies remains continues and remains a key facet of CleanTech's programmes in Chile
DLE: pilot plant construction, testing and commissioning and initial operation costs
Community Relations: programme and other ESG initiatives.
In addition, the acquisition of 100% of the legal and beneficial interest in the licences in Laguna Verde licences previously held under an option agreement was announced in April 2024. Refer Note 12 to the financial statements for further details.
Administration cash costs of approximately £1.9 million were incurred during the period (1H 2023: £2.0m million). Those cash costs, largely reflect £0.5 million for staff costs (1H 2023: £0.5 million), £0.4 million for promotion public and investor relations and travel (1H 2023: £0.7 million), £0.8 million for legal and professional support including listing and compliance and insurance costs (1H 2023: £0.7 million), the balance of £0.2 million comprises a variety of other and general administrative costs (1H 2023: £0.1 million).
On 30 June 2024, the Company executed a GBP loan note instrument and an AUD loan note instrument pursuant to which it issued loan notes ("Loan Notes") to subscribers to raise A$3.995 million, approximately £2.1 million, to finance working capital and costs associated with ASX admission. Refer Note 11 to the financial statements for further details. Prior to entering into the loan note instruments the Company also terminated an agreement to issue a convertible loan note to a high net worth who failed to pay the subscription monies to the Company despite on-going assurances to the contrary.
To support CleanTech's plans which target initial production from Laguna Verde in 2027 the Board has developed a financial strategy to raise the capital needed. The Company routinely receives approaches from third parties and continues to consider as a part its overall funding strategy. An important tenant of that strategy is the participation and support of strategic partnerships. Although strategic partnership discussions are currently taking pace under non-disclosure agreements, they are expected to progress further once the Laguna Verde PFS is completed and once the initial quantities of battery grade lithium from the DLE pilot plant and downstream processes are available for review.
Outlook:
The Company remains well placed to demonstrate the efficacy of DLE to produce battery grade lithium carbonate from Laguna Verde brine and to deliver the PFS later this year. This is a critical step for securing strategic partnerships and future project funding. The aim to deliver battery-grade lithium carbonate through sustainable, low environmental impact production, utilising the DLE process and renewable energy, aligns the Company with the Chilean Government's National Lithium Strategy and criteria outlined in the CEOL applications. We are well positioned to be prioritised amongst the private sector potential projects.
Post the period end, the Company filed applications for its admission to the ASX. Alongside the dual-listing, CleanTech Lithium is seeking to raise funds to support the next stage of its development, including the delivery of a strategic partner, as it progresses towards production.
The Board is excited about the opportunities ahead and remain committed to delivering value for our shareholders, partners, and the communities in which we operate.
Steve Kesler, Executive Chairman and Interim CEO
CleanTech Lithium plc
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
Note | Unaudited | Unaudited | |||
£ | £ | ||||
Income | - | - | |||
Administrative costs | 3 | (2,861,194) | (3,263,200) | ||
Operating loss | (2,861,194) | (3,263,200) | |||
Finance costs | - | (9,806) | |||
Loss before tax | (2,861,194) | (3,273,006) | |||
Income tax | 5 | - | - | ||
Loss for the period after tax | (2,861,194) | (3,273,006) | |||
Other comprehensive income/(loss): | |||||
Exchange differences arising on translation of functional currencies | (906,194) | 9,128 | |||
Total comprehensive loss for the period | (3,767,388) | (3,263,878) | |||
Loss per share basic | 6 | (0.020) | (0.031) | ||
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements.
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Financial Position
Unaudited 30-Jun-24 | Audited 31-Dec-23 | ||
Note | £ | £ | |
Exploration and evaluation assets | 7 | 32,558,090 | 13,710,413 |
Non-current assets | 32,558,090 | 13,710,413 | |
Proceeds from Loan Notes issued | 11 | 2,109,986 | - |
Cash and cash equivalents | 35,976 | 6,202,028 | |
Trade and other receivables | 8 | 179,989 | 610,898 |
Current assets | 2,325,951 | 6,812,926 | |
Trade and other payables | 10 | (906,550) | (351,637) |
Provisions and accruals | 10 | (587,646) | (378,713) |
Loans notes | 11 | (2,109,986) | - |
Deferred consideration | 12 | (984,408) | - |
Current liabilities | (4,588,590) | (730,350) | |
Deferred consideration | 12 | (13,565,301) | - |
Non-current liabilities | (13,565,301) | - | |
Net assets | 16,730,150 | 19,792,990 | |
Share capital | 26,310,625 | 26,310,625 | |
Capital reserve | (77,237) | (77,237) | |
Share based payment reserve | 9 | 6,417,807 | 5,713,259 |
Foreign exchange reserve | (1,611,569) | (705,375) | |
Accumulated losses | (14,309,476) | (11,448,282) | |
Equity and reserves | 16,730,150 | 19,792,990 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity
Share capital | Capital reserve | Share based payment reserve | Foreign exchange reserve | Accumulated losses | Total | |
£ | £ | £ | £ | £ | £ | |
At 1 January 2023 | 21,076,155 | (77,237) | 1,578,340 | 315,695 | (5,562,683) | 17,330,270 |
Loss for the period | - | - | - | - | (3,273,006) | (3,273,006) |
Other comprehensive income | - | - | - | 9,128 | - | 9,128 |
Total comprehensive loss | 9,128 | (3,273,006) | (3,263,878) | |||
Share options and warrants | - | - | 778,935 | - | - | 778,935 |
Shares issued | 396,000 | 396,000 | ||||
30 June 2023 | 21,472,155 | (77,237) | 2,357,275 | 324,823 | (8,835,689) | 15,241,327 |
At 1 January 2024 | 26,310,625 | (77,237) | 5,713,259 | (705,375) | (11,448,283) | 19,792,990 |
Loss for the period | (2,861,194) | (2,861,194) | ||||
Other comprehensive income | (906,194) | - | (906,194) | |||
26,310,625 | (77,237) | 5,713,259 | (1,611,569) | (14,309,476) | 16,025,602 | |
Share options and warrants | - | - | 704,548 | - | - | 704,548 |
30 June 2024 | 26,310,625 | (77,237) | 6,417,807 | (1,611,569) | (14,309,476) | 16,730,150 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Consolidated Cash Flows
Unaudited | Unaudited | ||
Note | £ | £ | |
Loss after tax for the period | (2,861,194) | (3,273,006) | |
Non-cash items: | |||
Fair value of Loan Note warrants | 592,633 | ||
Fair value recognition of share options and warrants | 556,896 | ||
Equity settled transactions or services | - | ||
Movement in trade and other receivables | 397,320 | 159,605 | |
Movement in payables, provisions and accruals | 835,849 | 22,964 | |
Finance costs | (9,806) | ||
Net cash used in operating activities | (1,035,392) | (2,543,347) | |
Expenditure on exploration and evaluation assets | (4,800,040) | (5,481,243) | |
Net cash used in investing activities | (4,800,040) | (5,481,243) | |
Proceeds from issue of ordinary shares | - | 396,000 | |
Finance costs | - | (9,806) | |
Net cash generated from financing activities | - | 386,194 | |
Net cash flow | (3,725,446) | (7,638,396) | |
Cash and cash equivalents brought forward | 6,202,028 | 12,368,265 | |
Net cash flow | (3,725,446) | (7,638,396) | |
Effect of exchange rate changes | (330,620) | (91,120) | |
Cash and cash equivalents carried forward | 35,976 | 4,638,749 |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
Notes to the Financial Statements
1. GENERAL INFORMATION
CleanTech Lithium Plc ("CTL Plc", or the "Company")
The condensed consolidated interim financial statements of CleanTech Lithium Plc for the first six months ended 30 June 2024 were authorised for issue in accordance with a resolution of the Board on 29 September 2024.
CleanTech Lithium Plc was incorporated and registered as a private company, initially with the name CleanTech Lithium (Jersey) Ltd, in Jersey on 1 December 2021 with registered number 139640. It was subsequently reregistered as a public limited company on 20 January 2022 and on 2 February 2022 it changed its name to CleanTech Lithium Plc.
On 14 February 2022, a share-for-share exchange between the shareholders of CleanTech Lithium Ltd (CTL Ltd, or the U.K. entity) and CTL Plc completed, resulting in CTL Plc acquiring and becoming the parent company of CTL Ltd and its wholly owned subsidiaries, together "CleanTech Lithium Group" or the "Group".
During the six months to 30 June 2024, there have been no changes to the structure of the CleanTech Lithium Group.
2. BASIS OF PREPARATION
The condensed consolidated interim financial statements for the Group have been prepared in accordance IAS 34 'Interim Financial Reporting' per the U.K.-adopted international accounting standards. They are unaudited and do not include all the information required for the preparation of the annual consolidated financial statements and should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023 of CleanTech Lithium Plc, that can be found on the website: https://www.ctlithium.com. The auditor's report on those accounts was unmodified but it did make reference to material uncertainties related to going concern.
The amounts in this document are presented in British Pounds (GBP), unless noted otherwise. Due to rounding, numbers presented throughout these condensed consolidated Interim financial statements may not add up precisely to the totals provided and percentages may not precisely reflect the absolute figures
A summary of the significant accounting policies can be found in the Company's consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023, on pages 50 to 53. The accounting policies used to prepare these condensed consolidated interim financial statements are consistent with those. Furthermore, there are no new standards or interpretations applicable from 1 January 2024 which have a significant impact on these condensed consolidated interim financial statements.
Significant accounting judgments, estimates and assumptions
In preparing this interim financial report, it has been necessary to make judgments, estimates and assumptions to form the basis of presentation, recognition and measurement of the Group's assets, liabilities, items of income statements, accompanying disclosures and the disclosure of contingent liabilities. Uncertainty about these assumptions and estimates could result in outcomes that require a material adjustment to the carrying amount of assets or liabilities affected in future periods.
The significant judgments, estimates and assumptions made when applying the Group's accounting policies are the same as those applied to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2023. The significant judgment in assessing the exploration and evaluation assets for the existence of indicators of impairment at the reporting date, which are set out in note 7.
Going Concern
The Group is in a pre-revenue phase of development and until its transition to revenue generation and profitability the Group will be required to rely on externally sourced funding to continue as a going concern, the Board recognises this condition may indicate the existence of material uncertainties, which may cast significant doubt regarding the Group's ability to continue as a going concern. Notwithstanding, the Directors have a demonstrated record of successfully raising capital raising for projects and ventures of this nature and are confident in being able to secure the funding needed for the Group to deliver on its commitments and continue as a going concern.
3. ADMINISTRATION EXPENES
Administration expenses in the six months to 30 June 2024 totaled £2.8 million, of which approximately £0.9 million reflects non-cash items (2023: £1.2 million). More specifically, approximately £0.6 million reflects a provision made against VAT in Chile which ought to be recoverable once production starts (Note 8 provides further detail) (2023: £0.6 million). In addition to the non-cash VAT provision, approximately £0.6 million has been recorded as a share-based payment for options historically issued and for warrants issued as a part of the Loan Notes issued in the period (further detail is set out in Note 9) (2023: nil), these two items were off-set by the unrealised gain on translation of the deferred consideration of 0.3 million (2023: nil).
Of the £1.9 million in cash costs, approximately £0.5 million relates to staff costs (2023: £0.5 million), £0.4 million relates to promotion, public and investor relations and travel (2023: £0.7 million), £0.8 million relates to legal and professional (2023: £0.7million ) support including listing and compliance and insurance costs, the balance of £0.2 million comprises a variety of other and general administrative costs (2023: £0.1 million).
4. SEGMENTAL INFORMATION
The Group operates in a single business segment, being the exploration and evaluation of mineral properties, activities which are undertaken in Chile where all the Group's non-current assets are held.
5. INCOME TAX
The accrued income tax expense continues to be £nil as the Group remains in a loss-making position. No deferred tax asset is recognised on these losses due to the uncertainty over the timing of future profits and gains.
6. LOSS PER SHARE
The calculation of basic loss per ordinary share is based on the loss after tax and on the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the period.
A diluted loss per share assumes conversion of all potentially dilutive Ordinary Shares arising from the share schemes. Potential ordinary shares resulting from the exercise of warrants and options have an anti-dilutive effect due to the Group being in a loss position. As a result, diluted loss per share is disclosed as the same value as basic loss per share.
Unaudited ix months to 30-Jun-2024 | Reviewed six months to 30-Jun-2023 | ||
Basic and diluted loss per share | £ | £ | |
Loss after taxation | (2,861,194) | (3,273,006) | |
Basic weighted average number of ordinary shares (millions) | 145.16 | 105.66 | |
Basic loss per share (GBP £) | (0.020) | (0.031) |
7. EXPLORATION AND EVALUATION ASSETS
Expenses incurred to date by the Chilean entities on feasibility studies, mineral exploration and delineation were capitalised as "exploration and evaluation assets" within "non-current assets" in accordance with the Group's accounting policy.
Exploration and evaluation assets | Unaudited six months ended 30-Jun-2024 | Audited Year ended 31-Dec-23 |
£ | £ | |
Opening balance | 13,710,413 | 5,317,412 |
Additions | 19,795,670 | 9,383,902 |
Effect of foreign exchange translations | (947,994) | (990,901) |
Closing balance | 32,558,090 | 13,710,413 |
Of the £19.8 million in additions, approximately £15.9 million relates to the fair value of deferred consideration for licences acquired under the LV Purchase Agreement (refer Note 12), of which approximately £1.0 million was paid during the period. A further £0.1 million reflects non-cash share-based payments made to staff and contractors, about which further detail is set out in Note 9. Other additions reflect the additions associated with the capital programmes being undertaken during the period. These additions have been off-set by unrealised foreign exchange gains of £0.9 million.
Impairment assessments
The Directors assess for impairment when facts and circumstances suggest that the carrying amount of an exploration & evaluation asset (E&E) may exceed its recoverable amount. In making this assessment, the Directors have regard to the facts and circumstances noted in IFRS 6 paragraph 20. In performing their assessment of each of these factors, at 30 June 2024, the Directors have:
reviewed the time period that the Group has the right to explore the area and noted no instances of expiration, or licences that are expected to expire in the near future and not be renewed;
determined that further E&E expenditure is either budgeted or planned for all licences;
not decided to discontinue exploration activity due to there being a lack of quantifiable mineral resource; and
not identified any instances where sufficient data exists to indicate that there are licences where the E&E spend is unlikely to be recovered from successful development or sale.
Based on the above assessment, the Directors are not aware of any facts or circumstances that would suggest the carrying amount of the E&E asset may exceed its recoverable amount.
8. TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES
Unaudited as at 30-Jun-24 | Audited as at 31-Dec-23 | |
£ | £ | |
Prepayments and deposits | 144,586 | 570,936 |
VAT | 17,651 | 13,385 |
Other receivables | 17,752 | 26,557 |
Total | 179,989 | 610,898 |
Prepayments and deposits largely reflect prepaid insurance and other commercial subscriptions which renew variously and annually as well as office rental deposit amounts paid.
Although VAT shows a balance of approximately £18k at 30 June 2024, at that date approximately £2.4 million in Chilean VAT recoverable is not shown in the table above. Although the Chilean VAT is expected to be eligible for refund in future, due to the uncertainty over the timing of future production and revenues, which would trigger the Group's eligibility to recover that VAT, the Directors have made full provision against this same amount. Accordingly, approximately £0.6 million provision has been reflected in the income statement for the period ended 30 June 2024 (refer Note 3).
Other receivables comprise multiple smaller working capital balances in Chile.
9. SHARE BASED PAYMENTS
On 30 June 2024, a total of 4,380,181 warrants attaching to Loan Notes issued (refer Note 11) were granted. No other warrants or options were granted, exercised, forfeited or allowed to lapse during the six months to 30 June 2024.
Unaudited Six months ended | Audited Year ended | |
30-Jun-24 | 31-Dec-23 | |
# | # | |
Outstanding at start of period | 34,362,750 | 10,984,745 |
Share options granted | - | 3,283,000 |
Warrant shares granted | 4,380,181 | 21,876,005 |
Share options exercised | - | (1,100,000) |
Share options revoked or forfeited | - | (681,000) |
Outstanding at end of period | 38,742,931 | 34,362,750 |
All options and warrants are granted in Company's name. Share options granted have a weighted average exercise price of 47 pence and warrant shares granted have a weighted average exercise price of 34 pence.
The fair value of each option granted in the period was estimated on the grant date using the Black Scholes option pricing model. The following assumptions have been used:
Fair value of call option per share | £0.12 - 0.38 |
Share price at grant dates | £0.39 - 0.55 |
Exercise price | £0.01 - 0.57 |
Expected volatility | 98% |
Vesting period | 4.7-5.0 years from vesting |
Risk-free interest rate (based on government bonds) | 4.16% |
The total share option fair value charge during the six months to 30 June 2024 is £198k (2023 £779k), of which approximately £86k has been recorded in the income statement as a non-cash employee expense; the balance has been recorded within E&E. The total warrant shares fair value charge during the six months to 30 June 2024 was approximately £506k (2023: £27k).
As noted, these fair value estimates derived thorough Black-Scholes modelling and Monte Carlo simulations are non-cash accounting entries.
10. PAYABLES, PROVISIONS AND ACCRUALS
Unaudited at | Audited at | |
at 30-Jun-2024 | At 31-Dec-23 | |
£ | £ | |
Trade and other payables | (863,526) | (291,369) |
Other taxes and social security | (43,024) | (60,268) |
Provisions | (99,067) | (106,451) |
Accruals | (488,579) | (272,262) |
Total | (1,494,196) | (730,350) |
Trade and other payables include routine trade creditors.
Other taxes and social security balances largely relate to people-related costs and taxes balances at the period end. Accruals include routine accruals for professional services rendered not invoiced at period end.
11. LOAN NOTES
Shortly after the period end, CleanTech received the cash generated from issuing Loan Notes prior to 30 June 2024.
On 30 June 2024 the Company executed a GBP loan note instrument and an AUD loan note instrument pursuant to which it issued loan notes to subscribers to raise A$3.995 million, approximately £2.1 million, to finance working capital and costs associated with ASX admission. In addition, the Loan Note holders were granted with a total of 4,380,181 warrants valued at approximately GBP £506,000 at the date of grant. As there are no vesting conditions attached to the warrants, the total value has been expensed as a non-cash fair value accounting adjustment (refer Note 9)
Although the Loan Notes have a maturity date of 30 June 2025, the Company shall redeem the Loan Notes at par together with the applicable premium on the earlier of the Maturity Date or 10 days following completion of any equity fundraising by the Company of at least AUD $5.0 million. The premium payable on redemption depends on when redemption occurs as follows: the Loan Notes carry a premium of 15% if the Loan Notes are repaid within three calendar months; or a premium of 25% if the Loan Notes are redeemed between four and six calendar months; or a premium of 40% if the Loan Notes are redeemed between seven and nine calendar months; or a premium of 50% if the Loan Notes are redeemed between ten and twelve calendar months. The Loan Notes are unsecured, however if they are not redeemed on or prior to three months from their date of issue, the Company has agreed to use best endeavours to grant or procure to grant the note holders a first ranking charge over both all the assets and undertakings of the Company and the entire issued share capital of CTL UK.
12. DEFERRED CONSIDERATION
Laguna Verde Option buy-out
On 19 April 2024, CleanTech Laguna Verde SpA, a wholly owned Chilean subsidiary of CleanTech Lithium Plc, entered into a sale and purchase agreement (LV Purchase Agreement) to acquire 100% legal and beneficial interest in the mining licences historically held by CleanTech under option under the terms of the LV Option Agreement. The LV Purchase Agreement had the effect of terminating the LV Option Agreement.
Pursuant to the LV Purchase Agreement the consideration payable comprises fixed payments totaling US$10.5 million, which are scheduled to occur a various annual and semi-annual millstone periods over a period of up to 5 years from the date of the LV Purchase Agreement, and two deferred payments, totaling US$24.5 million, scheduled to occur upon sold production reaching 10k tonnes of LCE and 35k tonnes of LCE respectively or on the 10th anniversary of the date of the LV Purchase Agreement, whichever is the earlier.
The carrying value for the LV licences acquired pursuant to the LV Purchase Agreement, has been designated as an asset acquisition in accordance with the Group accounting policy and assigned a fair value in accordance with the principles of the UK IASs. Similarly, the Group has assigned a fair value to the deferred consideration associated with the acquisition which is allocated between current and non-current liabilities.
In assessing the appropriate basis on which to determine the fair value of the non-current component of the deferred consideration, the Directors have used a discount rate of 8% which they believe is reflective of the factors that market participants would consider in the pricing of such a liability as well as the currency in which the cashflows are denominated. This is consistent with the requirements of IFRS 13 - Fair Value Measurement.
As described above, the two final payments of the deferred consideration, totaling USD$24.5m, are required to be made upon achieving certain production milestones, but in any event, are required to be made within 10 years of execution of the LV Purchase Agreement. Due to the uncertainties surrounding the timing of achieving the production milestones, the Directors have assumed that the remaining two payments will be made on the 10th anniversary of signing the LV Purchase Agreement.
Unaudited at 30-Jun-24 | |
£ | |
Deferred consideration, current | 988,784 |
Effect of foreign exchange differences on current deferred consideration | (4,376) |
Deferred consideration, current | 984,408 |
Deferred consideration, non-current | 13,894,931 |
Effect of foreign exchange differences on non-current deferred consideration | (329,630) |
Deferred consideration, current | 13,565,301 |
Total | 14,549,709 |
13. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
Matters relating to events occurring since Period end are reported on in the section entitled Chairman and Chief Executive Officer's Statement.
**ENDS**
For further information contact: | |
Steve Kesler/Gordon Stein/Nick Baxter | Jersey office: +44 (0) 1534 668 321 Chile office: +562-32239222 |
Or via Celicourt | |
Celicourt Communications | +44 (0) 20 7770 6424 |
Beaumont Cornish Limited (Nominated Adviser) | +44 (0) 20 7628 3396 |
Canaccord Genuity (Joint Broker) | +44 (0) 20 7523 4680 |
Fox-Davies Capital Limited (Joint Broker) | +44 (0) 20 3884 8450 |
Daniel Fox-Davies |
Notes
About CleanTech Lithium
CleanTech Lithium (AIM:CTL, Frankfurt:T2N, OTCQX:CTLHF) is an exploration and development company advancing lithium projects in Chile for the clean energy transition. Committed to net-zero, CleanTech Lithium's mission is to become a new supplier of battery grade lithium using Direct Lithium Extraction technology powered by renewable energy.
CleanTech Lithium has two key lithium projects in Chile, Laguna Verde and Viento Andino, and exploration stage projects in Llamara and Arenas Blancas (Salar de Atacama), located in the lithium triangle, a leading centre for battery grade lithium production. The two most advanced projects: Laguna Verde and Viento Andino are situated within basins controlled by the Company, which affords significant potential development and operational advantages. All four projects have good access to existing infrastructure.
CleanTech Lithium is committed to utilising Direct Lithium Extraction with reinjection of spent brine resulting in no aquifer depletion. Direct Lithium Extraction is a transformative technology which removes lithium from brine with higher recoveries, short development lead times and no extensive evaporation pond construction. www.ctlithium.com
Glossary
CLS Pty | Chilean Lithium Salars Pty Limited (Australian overhead company now wound-up and deregistered) |
CLSH | Chilean Lithium Salars Holdings Limited (Australian holding company now wound-up and deregistered) |
CTL Ltd | CleanTech Lithium Ltd; U.K. registered and tax domiciled company |
CTL Plc | CleanTech Lithium Plc; Jersey registered and tax domiciled company |
DLE | Direct lithium extraction |
EIA | Environmental Impact Assessment |
ESG | Environmental, Social and Governance |
Group | CleanTech Lithium statutory group |
IPO | Initial public offering |
JORC | The JORC Code provides a mandatory system for the classification of minerals Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves according to the levels of confidence in geological knowledge and technical and economic considerations in public reports |
LCE | Lithium carbonate equivalent, industry standard terminology used to compare different forms of lithium compounds |
LSE | London Stock Exchange |
MoU | Memorandum of Understanding |
mg/L | micrograms per litre |
Pro forma Group | Non-statutory pro forma group as defined in the notes to the financial statement |
This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.
SOURCE: CleanTech Lithium plc
News Provided by ACCESSWIRE via QuoteMedia
Chilean Government prioritises Laguna Verde for CEOL
CleanTech Lithium PLC (AIM:CTL)(Frankfurt:T2N)(OTCQX:CTLHF), an exploration and development company advancing lithium projects in Chile for the clean energy transition, reports an announcement by the Chilean Government on the Expressions of Interest ("RFIs") process under which the Company made submissions in June 2024. This is part of the process for the awarding of a Special Lithium Operating Contract ("CEOL") to enter production
The Government has prioritised six salt flats for lithium development, including Laguna Verde the Company's flagship project, as having the most favourable conditions to advance lithium exploration and extraction. The Ministry of Mining will award one CEOL per salt flat with companies only considered if they meet certain criteria.
Highlights:
Laguna Verde prioritised by the Chilean Government as one of six salt flats for which the CEOL awarding process will start.
CTL submitted RFIs to the Chilean Government in June 2024 in line with the updated CEOL application procedure as part of the National Lithium Strategy.
For a CEOL to be awarded companies must have experience in any stage of the lithium industry value chain, which includes exploration and development, the financial capacity to develop the project and, additionally, hold mining concessions equivalent to or greater than 80% of the applicable CEOL area within any of the six prioritised salar basins.
CTL´s RFI application directly addressed each of these key criteria and as the Company has a dominant licence position in the Laguna Verde basin it is the only Company that meets the mining concession area requirement.
The Chilean Government will now commence indigenous community consultations related to these six salars.
Additional to other criteria, CTL has developed a strong relationship with indigenous communities located in the surroundings areas, based on early engagement including a collaborative alliance signed in December 2023 to co-design the project´s Environmental Impact Assessment ("EIA"). The Company is also working with the regional University to promote local opportunities for future projects.
The next stage of the process is for companies to submit the CEOL application by December 31st 2024.
The RFI process has been transparent, and recognises the importance of progress made by applicants, with CTL being a leader in developing its projects based on using Direct Lithium Extraction ("DLE"), early and groundbreaking community engagement in the Atacama region, and full alignment with Chile´s National Lithium Strategy.
Steve Kesler, Executive Chairman and Interim CEO, of CleanTech Lithium PLC, said:
"We are pleased the Chilean Government has provided an update on the CEOL process to support the lithium industry in Chile. It is very positive to see Laguna Verde has been prioritised as one of the salt flats that has the most favourable conditions to develop lithium production. We submitted our RFI highlighting the significant investment we have already made, the positive progress with DLE and our established engagement with local indigenous communities. The criteria set out by the Government recognises the status of the Company´s progress at the Laguna Verde project and puts in place a clear path to award a CEOL and the project's development into production, which is targeted for 2027."
For further information contact: | |
Steve Kesler/Gordon Stein/Nick Baxter | Jersey office: +44 (0) 1534 668 321 Chile office: +562-32239222 |
Or via Celicourt | |
Celicourt Communications Felicity Winkles/Philip Dennis/Ali AlQahtani | +44 (0) 20 7770 6424 |
Beaumont Cornish Limited (Nominated Adviser) Roland Cornish/Asia Szusciak | +44 (0) 20 7628 3396 |
Canaccord Genuity (Joint Broker) James Asensio | +44 (0) 20 7523 4680 |
Fox-Davies Capital Limited (Joint Broker) | +44 (0) 20 3884 8450 |
Daniel Fox-Davies |
Beaumont Cornish Limited ("Beaumont Cornish") is the Company's Nominated Adviser and is authorised and regulated by the FCA. Beaumont Cornish's responsibilities as the Company's Nominated Adviser, including a responsibility to advise and guide the Company on its responsibilities under the AIM Rules for Companies and AIM Rules for Nominated Advisers, are owed solely to the London Stock Exchange. Beaumont Cornish is not acting for and will not be responsible to any other persons for providing protections afforded to customers of Beaumont Cornish nor for advising them in relation to the proposed arrangements described in this announcement or any matter referred to in it.
Notes
CleanTech Lithium (AIM:CTL, Frankfurt:T2N, OTCQX:CTLHF) is an exploration and development company advancing sustainable lithium projects in Chile for the clean energy transition. Committed to net-zero, CleanTech Lithium's mission is to produce material quantities of sustainable battery grade lithium products using Direct Lithium Extraction technology powered by renewable energy. The Company plans to be a leading supplier of 'green' lithium to the EV and battery manufacturing market.
CleanTech Lithium has two key lithium projects in Chile, Laguna Verde and Francisco Basin, and hold licences in Llamara and Salar de Atacama, located in the lithium triangle, a leading centre for battery grade lithium production. The two major projects: Laguna Verde and Francisco Basin are situated within basins controlled by the Company, which affords significant potential development and operational advantages. All four projects have direct access to existing infrastructure and renewable power.
CleanTech Lithium is committed to using renewable power for processing and reducing the environmental impact of its lithium production by utilising Direct Lithium Extraction with reinjection of spent brine. Direct Lithium Extraction is a transformative technology which removes lithium from brine, with higher recoveries than conventional extraction processes. The method offers short development lead times with no extensive site construction or evaporation pond development so there is minimal water depletion from the aquifer. https://ctlithium.com/
**ENDS**
This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.
SOURCE:CleanTech Lithium plc
News Provided by ACCESSWIRE via QuoteMedia
Indigenous community leader publicly endorses Laguna Verde project at key mining seminar in Santiago, Chile
CleanTech Lithium PLC (AIM:CTL)(Frankfurt:T2N)(OTCQX:CTLHF), an exploration and development company advancing sustainable lithium projects in Chile, participated in the Centre for Copper and Mining Studies ("CESCO") seminar in Santiago, a prominent annual seminar for the mining sector in Chile, and received public support from the local indigenous community for its Laguna Verde project. Executive Chairman and Interim CEO, Steve Kesler, presented and reinforced the Company is ready to begin project construction by 2026 upon the granting of a Special Lithium Operating Contract ("CEOL") by the Chilean Government
Highlights:
CESCO seminar brought together key industry stakeholders including government and local community representatives to discuss the development of the lithium sector in Chile
Ercilia Araya, President of the Colla Pai-Ote indigenous community expressed support for lithium project development depending on companies building solid community relationships and agreements, as achieved by CTL, and advocating for such projects to move forward.
Industry experts discussed the main challenges facing the sector and how to advance projects faster in line with the National Lithium Strategy, with implementing sustainable extraction technologies such as Direct Lithium Extraction being critical to that.
CTL has a co-signed agreement with the nearby local communities which will initially focus on the Laguna Verde project and aligns with the priorities set by the Chilean Government to advance the objectives of the National Lithium Strategy
Steve Kesler, Executive Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer, CleanTech Lithium PLC, said:
"We are very well placed to be one of the projects that the Government aims to have operational by 2026. We believe the Laguna Verde project is the best-positioned new lithium project to commence operations in Chile within the earliest timeframe. We highly value the support of the indigenous community which we think provides a rare and valuable partnership in facilitating mutually beneficial project development."
Ercilia Araya, President of the Colla Pai-Ote indigenous community, said:
"We want the State to respect us in our territories and recognise our right to determine to whom the CEOLs are granted through proper indigenous consultations. It is a matter of dignity. I have a dream for the Atacama region. When CleanTech arrived, they explained how they would carry out the process, building together with us the information collection for submission of the EIA. That is our dream. The dream of being able to participate, to be consulted."
 |  |
Image 1: Ercilia Araya, President Pai-Ote Colla Community speaking at the CESCO Seminar in Santiago, Chile | Image 2: Marcela Sepúlveda, Community Relations Manager CleanTech Lithium, Cristián Quinzio, Quinzio Abogados, Alina Bendersky, Partner Bofil Mir, Ercilia Araya, President Pai-Ote Colla Community and Juan Ignacio Guzmán, Executive Director, GEM |
 | |
Image 3: Steve Kesler, Executive Chairman and Interim CEO, presenting at the CESCO Seminar in Santiago, Chile | |
The seminar, organised by CESCO, brought together industry spokespeople to provide a comprehensive view of the current situation of the lithium industry in Chile, considering the progress of the National Lithium Strategy.
Juan Esteban Fuentes, Associate Director at Benchmark Minerals, attended and further commented: "From 2030, the current surplus [of lithium] is expected to diminish, requiring a significant number of projects to double production over the next 10 years globally (to around 2.6 million tonnes), which implies the incorporation of 70 to 80 more operations and US$188 billion in capital by 2040."
Arlene Ebensperger, advisor to the Ministry of Mining, also highlighted the need to harmonise the role of indigenous communities with the development of the industry through governance models which builds a shared vision and agreed objectives.
CleanTech Lithium co-signed an agreement with the local indigenous communities in 2023. The alliance will ensure that the extraction processes conducted in the region by the Company comply with the highest international standards, including a process of early consultation with the communities to see their direct participation by providing data for the environmental baselines required for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
For further information contact: | |
Steve Kesler/Gordon Stein/Nick Baxter | Jersey office: +44 (0) 1534 668 321 Chile office: +562-32239222 |
Or via Celicourt | |
Celicourt Communications Felicity Winkles/Philip Dennis/Ali AlQahtani | +44 (0) 20 7770 6424 |
Beaumont Cornish Limited (Nominated Adviser) Roland Cornish/Asia Szusciak | +44 (0) 20 7628 3396 |
Fox-Davies Capital Limited (Joint Broker) Daniel Fox-Davies | +44 (0) 20 3884 8450 |
Canaccord Genuity (Joint Broker) James Asensio | +44 (0) 20 7523 4680 |
Beaumont Cornish Limited ("Beaumont Cornish") is the Company's Nominated Adviser and is authorised and regulated by the FCA. Beaumont Cornish's responsibilities as the Company's Nominated Adviser, including a responsibility to advise and guide the Company on its responsibilities under the AIM Rules for Companies and AIM Rules for Nominated Advisers, are owed solely to the London Stock Exchange. Beaumont Cornish is not acting for and will not be responsible to any other persons for providing protections afforded to customers of Beaumont Cornish nor for advising them in relation to the proposed arrangements described in this announcement or any matter referred to in it.
About Reach announcements
This is a Reach announcement. Reach is an investor communication service aimed at assisting listed and unlisted (including AIM quoted) companies to distribute media only / non-regulatory news releases into the public domain. Information required to be notified under the AIM Rules for Companies, Market Abuse Regulation or other regulation would be disseminated as an RNS regulatory announcement and not on Reach.
Notes
CleanTech Lithium (AIM:CTL, Frankfurt:T2N, OTCQX:CTLHF) is an exploration and development company advancing lithium projects in Chile for the clean energy transition. Committed to net-zero, CleanTech Lithium's mission is to become a new supplier of battery grade lithium using Direct Lithium Extraction technology powered by renewable energy.
CleanTech Lithium has two key lithium projects in Chile, Laguna Verde and Viento Andino, and exploration stage projects in Llamara and Arenas Blancas (Salar de Atacama), located in the lithium triangle, a leading centre for battery grade lithium production. The two most advanced projects: Laguna Verde and Viento Andino are situated within basins controlled by the Company, which affords significant potential development and operational advantages. All four projects have good access to existing infrastructure.
CleanTech Lithium is committed to utilising Direct Lithium Extraction with reinjection of spent brine resulting in no aquifer depletion. Direct Lithium Extraction is a transformative technology which removes lithium from brine with higher recoveries, short development lead times and no extensive evaporation pond construction. www.ctlithium.com
**ENDS**
This information is provided by Reach, the non-regulatory press release distribution service of RNS, part of the London Stock Exchange. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.
SOURCE:CleanTech Lithium plc
News Provided by ACCESSWIRE via QuoteMedia
CleanTech Lithium PLC (AIM:CTL)(Frankfurt:T2N)(OTCQX:CTLHF), an exploration and development company advancing sustainable lithium projects in Chile, announces the transfer of AUD Loan Notes (Loan Notes) from one Regal Funds1 associate to another Regal Funds associate
On 1 July 2024, the Company announced that Regal Tactical Credit Fund (RTCF), of which Regal Funds Management Pty Ltd (RFM) is a trustee, subscribed for A$3,000,000 of the Loan Notes. The Company has recently received a request by RFM to transfer the beneficial ownership of the Loan Notes and Warrants held by RTCF to Regal Emerging Companies Opportunities Fund Pty Ltd (RECOF), of which RFM is also a trustee, to which it has consented
There are no other changes to the terms of the Loan Notes and/or any other matters referred to in the announcement on 1 July 2024.
1Regal Funds comprise Regal Funds Management Pty Limited and its associates (including Regal Partners Limited, of which Regal Funds Management Pty Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary) which act as trustee and investment advisor for certain funds including Regal Tactical Credit Fund and Regal Emerging Companies Opportunities Fund Pty Ltd
For further information contact: | |
Steve Kesler/Gordon Stein/Nick Baxter | Jersey office: +44 (0) 1534 668 321 |
Or via Celicourt | |
Celicourt Communications | +44 (0) 20 7770 6424 |
Beaumont Cornish Limited (Nominated Adviser) | +44 (0) 20 7628 3396 |
Fox-Davies Capital Limited (Joint Broker) | +44 (0) 20 3884 8450 |
Canaccord Genuity (Joint Broker) | +44 (0) 20 7523 4680 |
Beaumont Cornish Limited ("Beaumont Cornish") is the Company's Nominated Adviser and is authorised and regulated by the FCA. Beaumont Cornish's responsibilities as the Company's Nominated Adviser, including a responsibility to advise and guide the Company on its responsibilities under the AIM Rules for Companies and AIM Rules for Nominated Advisers, are owed solely to the London Stock Exchange. Beaumont Cornish is not acting for and will not be responsible to any other persons for providing protections afforded to customers of Beaumont Cornish nor for advising them in relation to the proposed arrangements described in this announcement or any matter referred to in it.
Notes
CleanTech Lithium (AIM:CTL)(Frankfurt:T2N)(OTCQX:CTLHF) is an exploration and development company advancing sustainable lithium projects in Chile for the clean energy transition. Committed to net-zero, CleanTech Lithium's mission is to produce material quantities of sustainable battery grade lithium products using Direct Lithium Extraction technology powered by renewable energy. The Company plans to be a leading supplier of 'green' lithium to the EV and battery manufacturing market.
CleanTech Lithium has two key lithium projects in Chile, Laguna Verde and Viento Andino, and hold licences in Llamara and Arenas Blancas (Salar de Atacama), located in the lithium triangle, a leading centre for battery grade lithium production. The two major projects: Laguna Verde and Viento Andino are situated within basins controlled by the Company, which affords significant potential development and operational advantages. All four projects have direct access to existing infrastructure and renewable power.
CleanTech Lithium is committed to using renewable power for processing and reducing the environmental impact of its lithium production by utilising Direct Lithium Extraction with reinjection of spent brine. Direct Lithium Extraction is a transformative technology which removes lithium from brine, with higher recoveries than conventional extraction processes. The method offers short development lead times with no extensive site construction or evaporation pond development so there is minimal water depletion from the aquifer. www.ctlithium.com.
This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.
SOURCE:CleanTech Lithium
News Provided by ACCESSWIRE via QuoteMedia
In a mid-2023 Tesla earnings call, Musk seemed relieved to see prices for the battery metal had declined. “Lithium prices went absolutely insane there for a while,” he said. Lower battery prices will bring EVs closer to cost parity with internal combustion engines vehicles, leading to wider adoption and increased demand.
During the 2024 US presidential election, Musk threw his support behind Republican candidate and former president Donald Trump, who has been historically critical on electric vehicles and subsidies. Following Trump's election win on November 5, AP News reported that these stances could support Tesla as they would be more likely to harm smaller competitors who were less established than the EV giant. Tesla's share price shot upwards in response to the election outcome.
This spring, Musk invited Argentine President Javier Milei to the Tesla factory in Austin, Texas, where the two reportedly discussed the investment opportunities in Argentina's lithium sector. As a prominent member of the prolific Lithium Triangle, the South American nation is the fourth leading lithium producer by country.
Australia's hard-rock deposits and Chile's brines are also top sources for the world's lithium supply. But lithium refining is dominated by China, which accounted for 72 percent of global lithium processing capacity in 2022.
With the limelight on Musk and Tesla in 2024, investors should know where the electric car company sources its lithium.
Read on to learn more about where Tesla gets its lithium, how much lithium is in a Tesla battery and what the EV maker is doing to better secure its lithium supply chain.
Tesla has deals with multiple lithium suppliers, some that are already producers and some that are juniors developing lithium projects.
At the end of 2021, Tesla inked a three-year lithium supply deal with top lithium producer Ganfeng Lithium (OTC Pink:GNENF,SZSE:002460), and the Chinese company began providing products to Tesla starting in 2022. Major miner Arcadium Lithium (NYSE:ALTM,ASX:LTM), which is set to be acquired by Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO,NYSE:RIO,LSE:RIO) also has supply contracts in place with the EV maker.
China’s Sichuan Yahua Industrial Group (SZSE:002497) agreed to supply battery-grade lithium hydroxide to Tesla through 2030. Under a new, separate agreement finalized in June 2024, Yahua is set to supply Tesla with an unspecified amount of lithium carbonate between 2025 and 2027, with the option to extend the contract by another year.
Tesla also holds deals with junior miners for production that is yet to come on stream. Liontown Resources (ASX:LTR,OTC Pink:LINRF) is set to supply Tesla with lithium spodumene concentrate from its AU$473 million Kathleen Valley project. The deal is for an initial five year period set to begin this year, and production began in July 2024.The company expects to reach nameplate capacity in calendar Q1 2025.
In January 2023, Tesla amended its agreement with Piedmont Lithium (ASX:PLL,NASDAQ:PLL), which now supplies the US automaker with spodumene concentrate from its North American Lithium operation, a joint venture with Sayona Mining (ASX:SYA,OTCQB:SYAXF). The deal is in place through the end of 2025.
Even though Tesla has secured lithium from all these companies, the EV supply chain is a bit more complex than just buying lithium directly from miners. Tesla also works with battery makers, such as Panasonic (OTC Pink:PCRFF,TSE:6752) and CATL (SZSE:300750), which themselves work with other chemical companies that secure their own lithium deals.
Tesla vehicles use several different battery cathodes, including nickel-cobalt-aluminum (NCA) cathodes and lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) cathodes.
Tesla is known for using NCA cathodes developed by Japanese company Panasonic. This type of cathode has higher energy density and is a low-cobalt option, but has been less adopted by the industry compared to the widely used nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) cathodes. Aside from that, South Korea's LG Energy Solutions (KRX:373220) supplies Tesla with batteries using nickel-cobalt-manganese-aluminum (NCMA) cathodes.
As mentioned, it wasn’t just lithium that saw prices climb in 2021 — cobalt doubled in price that same year, and although it has declined since then, the battery metal remains essential for many EV batteries. Most cobalt mining takes place in the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is often associated with child labor and human rights abuses, fueling concerns over long-term supply.
That said, not all Tesla’s batteries contain cobalt. In 2021, Tesla said that for its standard-range vehicles it would be changing to lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) cathodes, which are cobalt- and nickel-free. At the time, the company was already making vehicles with LFP chemistry at its factory in Shanghai, which supplies markets in China, the Asia-Pacific region and Europe.
In April 2023, Tesla announced that it planned to use this type of cathode chemistry for its short-range heavy electric trucks, which it calls "semi light." The company is also looking to use LFP batteries in its mid-sized vehicles.
At the top of this year, Tesla made moves to produce LFP batteries at its Sparks, Nevada, battery facility in reaction to the Biden Administration's new regulations on battery materials sourcing, especially on those sourced from China. Reuters reports Tesla battery supplier CATL will sell idle equipment to the car maker for use at the plant, which will have an initial capacity of about 10 gigawatt hours.
Tesla works with multiple battery suppliers, including Panasonic, its longtime partner, as well as LG Energy Solutions, the second largest battery supplier in the world. They supply the EV maker with cells containing nickel and cobalt.
China's CATL has been supplying LFP batteries to Tesla for cars made at its Shanghai plant since 2020. It’s also been reported that BYD Company (OTC Pink:BYDDF,SZSE:002594) is supplying Tesla with the Blade battery — a less bulky LFP battery — which the car manufacturer has used in some of its models in Europe. Additionally, BYD is set to work with Tesla on its battery energy storage systems (BESS) in China, with a plan to supply 20 percent of Tesla's anticipated BESS manufacturing capacity, with CATL expected to cover 80 percent. The factory will use the companies' LFP batteries.
How much lithium do Tesla batteries actually contain? That question is tricky because many factors are at play. Typically, it depends on battery chemistry, as demonstrated by the chart below, as well as battery size.
For example, the standard Tesla Model S contains about 138 pounds, or 62.6 kilograms, of lithium. It is powered by a NCA battery, which has a weight of 1,200 pounds or 544 kilograms.
The amount of lithium in a Tesla battery can also vary based on model and year as the battery chemistries and weights are often changing with each new iteration.
Back in 2016, Musk said batteries don't require as much lithium as they do nickel or graphite — he described lithium as "the salt in your salad." As the chart below shows, the metal only makes up about a 10th of the materials in each battery.
Metal content of battery chemistries by weight.
Chart via BloombergNEF.
But a key factor to remember is volume — given the amount of batteries Tesla needs to meet its ambitious goals, it could hit a bottleneck if it can’t secure a steady supply of raw materials. Of course, this is true not just for Tesla, but for every carmaker producing EVs today and setting targets for decades to come.
For that reason, demand for lithium-ion batteries is expected to soar in the coming years. By 2030, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence forecasts that demand will grow by 400 percent to reach 3.9 terawatt-hours. Over the same forecast period, the firm sees the current surplus in the lithium supply coming to end.
For carmakers, securing lithium supply to meet their electrification goals is becoming a challenge, which is why the question of whether they will become miners in the future continues to come up.
But mining lithium is not easy, and despite speculation, it's hard to imagine an automaker being involved in it, SQM’s (NYSE:SQM) Felipe Smith said. “You have to build a learning curve — the resources are all different, there are many challenges in terms of technology — to reach a consistent quality at a reasonable cost,” he noted. “So it's difficult to see that an original equipment manufacturer (OEM), which has a completely different focus, will really engage into these challenges of producing.”
Even so, OEMs are coming to the realization that they might need to build up EV supply chains from scratch after the capital markets' failure to step up, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence’s Simon Moores believes. Furthermore, automotive OEMs that are making EVs will in effect have to become miners.
“I don't mean actual miners, but they are going to have to start buying 25 percent of these mines if they want to guarantee supply — paper contracts won't be enough,” he said.
However, last year Musk made it clear to investors that Tesla is more focused on developing its lithium refining capabilities, rather than getting into the mining game.
Tesla broke ground on its in-house Texas lithium refinery in the greater Corpos Christi area of the state last year. Tesla's lithium refinery capacity is expected to produce 50 GWh of battery-grade lithium per year. Musk said in late 2023 that construction of the lithium refinery would be completed in 2024, followed by full production in 2025.
This is an updated version of an article first published by the Investing News Network in 2022.
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Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Editorial Disclosure: The Investing News Network does not guarantee the accuracy or thoroughness of the information reported in the interviews it conducts. The opinions expressed in these interviews do not reflect the opinions of the Investing News Network and do not constitute investment advice. All readers are encouraged to perform their own due diligence.
CleanTech Lithium PLC (AIM: CTL, Frankfurt:T2N, OTCQX:CTLHF), an exploration and development company advancing sustainable lithium projects in Chile, provides an operational update on progress with the Laguna Verde pre-feasibility study ("PFS"), the 2024 exploration programme and Direct Lithium Extraction ("DLE") pilot plant process work to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate.
Highlights:
Laguna Verde PFS Update
Exploration Programme and Pilot Plant Updates
Investor webinar
Steve Kesler, Executive Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer, CleanTech Lithium PLC, said:
"With the recent announcement by the Chilean Government to prioritise six salt flats, including Laguna Verde, to start the process of awarding Special Operating Lithium Contracts (CEOLs), we are focused on the key aspects to advance the project, being permitting, completion of the PFS and production of battery grade lithium carbonate from our pilot plant.
Progress has continued on central elements of the PFS with evaluation of plant location, power supply and transport options. As a leader in developing DLE based projects in Chile, we aim to enter production in 2027 when the lithium market is expected to rebalance, providing a strong long term growth outlook."
Further Information
Sites Selected for Carbonation Plant and Port for Export of Final Product
As part of the ongoing PFS for the Laguna Verde project, a trade-off analysis was completed which determined the DLE plant and eluate concentration stages should be located at the Laguna Verde site, and the carbonation plant at the nearby mining centre of Copiapó. This was reported to the market on July 2, 2024. The re-configuration required a change in pre-engineering design provided by Lanshen Technology, the Company selected to provide the lithium processing plant design and equipment. This has extended the expected PFS completion, which was originally targeted for Q4 2024, into Q1 2025.
The Company has since undertaken studies to determine the ideal location of the carbonation plant in Copiapó and selected a site. After evaluating several options, a site in an industrial zone which by-passes to the south-east of Copiapó was chosen, as shown in Figure 1. This location has existing power and water supply options and provides a direct route to port.
Figure 1: Carbonation Plant Location Map
Figure 2: Carbonation Plant Design Layout
A trade-off analysis was undertaken to evaluate transport corridors and port facilities providing four different options for export of final lithium product. The study indicated that the nearby Caldera Port provides the most suitable option either utilising existing infrastructure which is currently utilised for seasonal shipment of agricultural products, shown in Figure 3. Other port options are also available and may come into consideration however Caldera Port is the current preference.
Figure 3: Caldera Port Existing Facilities
Power Supply Alternative of Onsite Renewable Generation
The Company engaged Chilean consultant Clean Power Hunters to undertake a power supply study to evaluate the option of using renewable power generated at the project site as an alternative to the base case of a transmission line and grid connection. Laguna Verde is located in the region with the highest solar irradiance in the world, as shown in Figure 4. Analysis of estimated Capex and Opex was provided based on different configurations of onsite renewables, either solar plus a battery energy storage system (BESS) or solar plus wind plus BESS. Figure 5 shows the lowest Capex corresponds to combining solar with three wind turbines plus BESS.
Figure 4: Solar Irradiance Map
Figure. 5: Solar + Wind + BESS Scenarios Capex Split
The Company has received proposals including from major global solar plus BESS suppliers, consistent with the costs estimated in the study and competitive with the grid connection option. The financing model for both the grid connection model or the alternative of onsite renewables is expected to be based on a power purchase agreement and a build own operate basis by established suppliers. These proposals will be built into the PFS and the commercial analysis of the project.
Truck Transport Study
Based on the outcome of the plant location study the Company will transport 6% Li in solution post the DLE and concentration stages at Laguna Verde to the carbonation plant. Use of standard and electric trucks is being compared with the latter providing several potential benefits in addition to cutting CO2 emissions. Electric trucks are well suited to hauling loads from high to low altitudes by taking advantage of regenerative charging to reduce power consumption and required battery capacity. Minimal noise and elimination of tailpipe emissions is particularly attractive considering the transport route traverses an indigenous community settlement approximately 100km from the project site, a community the company has been working with closely.
The Company has gathered insight from several potential suppliers. Chinese company XCMG is a leader in electric trucks and is actively expanding its offering in Chile, with its E7-49T model which has a haulage load of 49 tonnes potentially providing a suitable option. The technology is evolving rapidly and is expected to provide a strongly cost competitive option in line with the project development timeline.
Figure. 6: XCMG´s range of electric transport trucks
Figure. 7: Paved Highway to Laguna Verde
2024 Exploration Programme Update
CleanTech Lithium´s 2024 drilling programme anticipated to drill five new resource wells, as shown in Figure 8, with the aim of upgrading the existing Measured and Indicated resource into maiden Reserves for the Laguna Verde project. The existing JORC compliant resource estimate of 1.8 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) is based on six wells completed in 2022 and 2023. The Company engaged Montgomery & Associates Consultores Limitada ("Montgomery" or "M&A"), a leading hydrogeological consultant, for the programme. During 1H 2024, two of the five resource wells were completed being LV07 and LV11, along with three observation wells drilled to support observations during pumping tests, before winter conditions curtailed the programme in June 2024. The full 2024 programme is paused until further funding is available following the Company´s planned ASX fund raising and as a result Montgomery has produced an interim report on work completed.
Figure 8: Laguna Verde Drilling Wells Map - Show original figure
Drilling activities for exploration borehole LV07 reached a final depth of 650m below land surface. This well was drilled with PQ3 diameter from land surface to 300m, and with HQ3 diameter from 300m to 650m. Packer samples were obtained during drilling for 2-meter packer intervals and the volume of the well was purged at least one time before obtaining the sample. Assuming a lithium cut-off grade of 100 mg/L, the average lithium grade of the packer samples corresponds to 139 mg/L with the well encountering lower density water in the upper 150m.
In contrast to LV07, drilling at LV11 did not reach the anticipated depth due to the presence of hydrothermal waters (under pressure) which were encountered during drilling, with a final depth of 412.8m below land surface. Assuming a lithium cut-off grade of 100 mg/L, the average lithium grade of the packer results would correspond to 131 mg/L. In general, it is believed that lithium grades decrease below 220m at LV11 due to the presence of dilute hydrothermal waters which were encountered during drilling. The presence of hydrothermal waters in the eastern portion of the Project are more dilute than the average lithium grade measured in other exploration wells.
Figure 9: Drilling at LV07 in 1H 2024
Lithology and Drainable Porosity
Based on core retrieved from drilling, the most predominant lithology encountered corresponds to a volcanic tuff with variable levels of consolidation and welding based on the depth and location. As determined by relative brine release testing at Geosystems Analysis (GSA) laboratory in Tuscon, USA, drainable porosity values of collected core samples from LV07 and LV11 range from 0.3% to 9.2%, with an arithmetic average of approximately 4%; this is considered by Montgomery to be reasonable for the encountered lithologic units based on visual inspection of the core.
Figure 10: Example of Drill Core from Exploration Borehole LV11 (132 to 136m)
Hydrogeological Evaluation
In addition to resource drilling, the 2024 campaign aimed to complete pump tests to evaluate the feasibility of lithium brine extraction for the Project and to also estimate aquifer parameters. Prior to the winter break, three observation wells were completed and initial variable rate step tests and a constant rate flow test undertaken. The intended long duration pump tests at well LV05 was not able to be completed, however a 7-day pumping test was successfully completed at LV06. With data obtained to date, Montgomery is able to continue refining the hydrogeological modelling that will feed into the design of the extraction and reinjection well fields for the PFS. A key aspect is to ensure no impact on surface water bodies.
Recommendations and Next Steps
Based on the obtained results from the 2024 exploration programme, recommended priorities for continued exploration include additional drilling and testing in the western portion of the Project concessions. A long-term pump test at LV05 (as part of the planned reinjection test) will also aid in demonstrating feasible extraction and reinjection to the west of the basin. A long-term test at LV05 will also allow for a better understanding of the hydraulic connection between the deep and shallow aquifers in that area.
On the completion of the 5 well programme as originally planned for 2024, the existing JORC compliant resource estimate of 1.8 million tonnes will be updated and a Reserve estimate will be calculated for the project. The Reserve calculation is the economically mineable part of the Measured and/or Indicated resource and this will be defined by the PFS data demonstrating that extraction could reasonably be justified. Progress continues on the PFS and the remaining planned wells will be completed as funds are available following completion of the planned ASX capital raising.
Pilot Plant Update
Downstream conversion of concentrated eluate from the Company´s pilot plant into battery grade lithium commenced last week at the facilities of Conductive Energy in Chicago, USA. The initial volume of 88m3 of concentrated eluate from Laguna Verde, equal to approximately one tonne of lithium carbonate equivalent ("LCE"), will be processed in four batches with the first batch expected to produce a volume of battery-grade sample product in November. With this product, the Company plans to engage with strategic partners for product qualification.
For further information contact: | |
CleanTech Lithium PLC | |
Steve Kesler/Gordon Stein/Nick Baxter | Jersey office: +44 (0) 1534 668 321 Chile office: +562-32239222 |
Or via Celicourt | |
Celicourt Communications Felicity Winkles/Philip Dennis/Ali AlQahtani | +44 (0) 20 7770 6424 |
Beaumont Cornish Limited (Nominated Adviser) Roland Cornish/Asia Szusciak | +44 (0) 20 7628 3396 |
Fox-Davies Capital Limited (Joint Broker) Daniel Fox-Davies | +44 (0) 20 3884 8450 |
Canaccord Genuity (Joint Broker) James Asensio | +44 (0) 20 7523 4680 |
Competent Persons
The following professionals act as Competent Persons (CPs), as defined in the AIM Note for Mining, Oil and Gas Companies (June 2009) and JORC Code (2012):
Mike Rosko and Brandon Schneider of M&A are Registered Members of the Society of Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration and have functioned as CPs for lithium brine projects under Canadian, Australian, and United States technical reporting standards. Their relevant experience includes:
· Mike Rosko has been estimated lithium brine resources since 2010, and has functioned as a CP for Lithium One's Sal de Vida project, Millennial Lithium's Pastos Grandes project, Lithium Chile's Salar de Arizaro project, NOA Lithium's Rio Grande project, Lithium America's Cauchari project, Wealth Minerals' Salar de Ollague project, Gangfeng's Mariana project, Eramine's Centenario/Ratones project, Posco Lithium's Sal de Oro project, Pepennini's Salar de Pular project, and others, and has prepared numerous third party due diligence and independent geologist reports in Argentina, Chile, and the United States.
· Brandon Schneider specializes in lithium brine reserve estimates, variable density flow modeling, and optimization of brine pumping in salt flats of Argentina and Chile. He has functioned as a CP for the Sal de Vida Project of Arcadium Lithium and Salar de Arizaro Project of Lithium Chile and was responsible for the reserve estimate and projected wellfield design. He also collaborates on the lithium brine exploration phases, resource estimation, and due diligence reviews for lithium brine projects.
Beaumont Cornish Limited ("Beaumont Cornish") is the Company's Nominated Adviser and is authorised and regulated by the FCA. Beaumont Cornish's responsibilities as the Company's Nominated Adviser, including a responsibility to advise and guide the Company on its responsibilities under the AIM Rules for Companies and AIM Rules for Nominated Advisers, are owed solely to the London Stock Exchange. Beaumont Cornish is not acting for and will not be responsible to any other persons for providing protections afforded to customers of Beaumont Cornish nor for advising them in relation to the proposed arrangements described in this announcement or any matter referred to in it.
Notes
CleanTech Lithium (AIM:CTL, Frankfurt:T2N, OTCQX:CTLHF) is an exploration and development company advancing lithium projects in Chile for the clean energy transition. Committed to net-zero, CleanTech Lithium's mission is to become a new supplier of battery grade lithium using Direct Lithium Extraction technology powered by renewable energy.
CleanTech Lithium has two key lithium projects in Chile, Laguna Verde and Viento Andino, and exploration stage projects in Llamara and Arenas Blancas (Salar de Atacama), located in the lithium triangle, a leading centre for battery grade lithium production. The two most advanced projects: Laguna Verde and Viento Andino are situated within basins controlled by the Company, which affords significant potential development and operational advantages. All four projects have good access to existing infrastructure.
CleanTech Lithium is committed to utilising Direct Lithium Extraction with reinjection of spent brine resulting in no aquifer depletion. Direct Lithium Extraction is a transformative technology which removes lithium from brine with higher recoveries, short development lead times and no extensive evaporation pond construction. www.ctlithium.com
