ASX:GLN

99.88% LCE -HMW Project’s Proof of Concept Lab Test Achieves Battery Grade Quality

Galan Lithium Limited (ASX: GLN) (Galan or the Company) is very pleased to announce these exciting proof of concept test work results for the precipitation of battery grade lithium carbonate product at its flagship Hombre Muerto West (HMW) project located in the South American Lithium Triangle in Catamarca, Argentina.


Highlights: • Proof of concept laboratory test of HMW Project's Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE) achieves 99.88% of purity (minimum requirement of Battery Grade Quality of >99.5% LCE) • The test feedstock was the high quality brine concentrate, with lithium contents >6%, obtained through the evaporation test done at Antofagasta

• The test also delivered great results for the removal of SO4, B, Ca and Mg, which can be difficult contaminants to remove

• The test was overseen by specialist consultants Ad-infinitum who also identified cost saving opportunities for further improving the results with a higher LCE purity


Galan's Managing Director Juan Pablo (JP) Vargas de la Vega said "Once again, this is a fantastic result and team effort. While this is early days, we are excited to demonstrate this first step as a proof of concept of high purity lithium carbonate while we still have room for improvement >99.88% LCE. Importantly, from our studies, Galan's high grade and low impurities brine has demonstrated that we can produce high purity lithium carbonate at a low cost. The Company continues to add flexibility on the road to production with different added value routes as lithium concentrate and now battery grade lithium carbonate. We keep learning with every test we do and will continue to do so in the future."

Summary of the Test Work Results

The first laboratory test work for producing lithium carbonate was conducted in Antofagasta under the supervision of specialised consultancy firm, Ad-Infinitum. The test used as a feedstock the high quality brine concentrate with >6% of Li contents obtained through the evaporation test work also undertaken in Antofagasta.

The test procedure and test work activities were developed and supervised by Ad-Infinitum. They initially optimised the concentration stage, producing a purer product thus reducing reagent consumption and opex costs. Importantly at the next stage, further reagent cost reductions were identified, as a cleaner concentrate requires less reagents and volume impurities to be removed for the precipitation of lithium carbonate. As a result, the battery grade was obtained with no requirement to do undertake an additional purification step using dissolution with CO2.

The assay of the lithium carbonate sample was completed at an external laboratory located in Santiago. The delivered result achieved 99.88% of lithium carbonate contents exceeding the minimum quality of 99.5% for battery grade products. On the back of the developing test procedures, Ad-Infinitum also identified other opportunities for further improving results. These opportunities will be adopted in the future test work activities at both laboratory and pilot plant levels with the possibility to further improve the quality of the battery grade lithium carbonate product.

This proof of concept milestone adds more flexibility to the adoption of a preferable processing design for the HMW Project. The study team is working on different alternatives to optimise the combined outcome for the pond design and lithium carbonate plant design.


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Galan Lithium

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SQM REPORTS EARNINGS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2024

Highlights


  • SQM reported total revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 of US$3,455.0 million compared to total revenues of  US$6,155.9 million for the same period last year.

  • Net loss (1),(2) for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 of (US$524.5) million or (US$1.84) per share, compared to net income (2) of  US$1,809.5 million or US$6.33 per share for the same period last year.

  • Solid sales volumes in lithium, iodine, and fertilizer businesses.

  • SPN and Potassium businesses posted healthy growth showing market recovery.

  • Slight increase in iodine prices, due to strong market demand and limited supply.

  • First lithium sales from the SQM International lithium division.

SQM will hold a conference call to discuss these results on Wednesday, November 20, 2024 at 10:00am ET (12:00pm Chile time).

Participant Dial-In (Toll Free): 1-844-282-4852

Participant International Dial-In: 1-412-317-5626

Webcast: https://event.choruscall.com/mediaframe/webcast.html?webcastid=xdNdTppQ

SANTIAGO, Chile , Nov. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile S.A. (SQM) (NYSE: SQM; Santiago Stock Exchange: SQM-B, SQM-A) reported today net loss ( [1] ),(2)   for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 , of (US$524.5) million or (US$1.84) per share, compared to US$1,809.5 million or US$6.33 per share reported for the same period last year.

(PRNewsfoto/Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile, S.A. (SQM))

Gross profit (3) reached US$1,033.3 million (29.9% of revenues) for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 , lower than US$2,674.3 million (43.4% of revenues) recorded for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 . Revenues totaled US$3,455.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2024 , representing a decrease of 43.9% compared to US$6,155.9 million reported for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 .

The Company also announced net income for the third quarter of 2024 of US$131.4 million or US$0.46 per share, a decrease of 72.6% compared to US$479.4 million or US$1.68 per share for the third quarter of 2023. Gross profit for the third quarter of 2024 reached US$280.8 million , 62.7% lower than the US$753.6 million reported for the third quarter of 2023. Revenues totaled US$1,076.9 million for the third quarter of 2024, a decrease of 41.5% compared to US$1,840.3 million for the third quarter of 2023.

SQM's Chief Executive Officer, Ricardo Ramos , stated, "We are publishing our third quarter 2024 financial results with positive volume growth in almost all of our business lines compared to last year. Fertilizer markets have shown solid market dynamics with a market size recovery. Our Specialty Plant Nutrition volumes grew more than 20% year-on-year while our revenues in this business line increased close to 12%."

He continued, "Iodine demand continued to be strong, leading to an increase in our sales volumes and revenues compared to last year. Prices continued to move up slightly quarter over quarter since the beginning of this year and we have used part of our inventories to answer market needs."

Mr. Ramos further stated, "In lithium, we reported sales volumes of more than 51 thousand metric tons of lithium products, an 18% growth year-on-year, demonstrating strong demand in the market. As anticipated, prices during the third quarter continued their downward trend, with average realized prices 24% lower than the second quarter this year. Although demand continues to grow at a strong pace, mainly driven by strong EV sales growth in China , we continue to see the prices pressured by an oversupply that persists despite the curtailment announcement we have seen over the past few weeks."

Mr. Ramos closed by saying, "Our more than 30-year track record in the lithium market has proved that we have a long-term view in this business. Despite current market prices, we strongly believe in the lithium market and its fundamentals which are highly related to the clean energy transition. SQM is in a strong competitive position and well prepared to continue developing our projects in Chile and abroad to harvest the benefits of this transition."

About SQM

SQM is a global company that is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and the Santiago Stock Exchange (NYSE: SQM; Santiago Stock Exchange: SQM-B, SQM-A). SQM develops and produces diverse products for several industries essential for human progress, such as health, nutrition, renewable energy and technology through innovation and technological development. We aim to maintain our leading world position in the lithium, potassium nitrate, iodine and thermo-solar salts markets.

For further information, contact:

Gerardo Illanes / gerardo.illanes@sqm.com
Isabel Bendeck / isabel.bendeck@sqm.com

For media inquiries, contact:

Maria Ignacia Lopez / ignacia.lopez@sqm.com
Pablo Pisani / pablo.pisani@sqm.com

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: "anticipate," "plan," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "strategy," "should," "will" and similar references to future periods. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements we make concerning the completion and implementation of the proposed partnership with Codelco, the development of Salar Futuro Project, Company's capital expenditures, financing sources, Sustainable Development Plan, business and demand outlook, future economic performance, anticipated sales volumes and sales prices, profitability, revenues, expenses, or other financial items, anticipated cost synergies and product or service line growth.

Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, they are estimates that reflect the best judgment of SQM management based on currently available information. Because forward-looking statements relate to the future, they involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that are outside of our control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those stated in such statements, including our ability to successfully implement the Sustainable Development Plan. Therefore, you should not rely on any of these forward-looking statements. Readers are referred to the documents filed by SQM with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including the most recent annual report on Form 20-F, which identifies other important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based on information available to SQM on the date hereof and SQM assumes no obligation to update such statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law.

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