Pure Energy Minerals Signs MOU to Develop Lithium Pilot Plant

Pure Energy Minerals Ltd. (TSXV:PE) announced that it has executed a non-binding memorandum of understanding (MOU) to design, build and operate a pilot plant to demonstrate the viability of the lithium brine extraction and processing technologies developed and patented by Tenova Advanced Technologies Ltd. (TAT).
The MOU is with TAT, TAKRAF USA Inc. (together known as Tenova) and their technology partners.
As quoted in the press release:

After the recent positive preliminary economic assessment (“PEA”), the pilot plant is the next major step along the path to develop Pure Energy’s Clayton Valley lithium brine project (the “CV Project”) in Nevada, USA as the world’s most efficient and environmentally friendly lithium production facility.

The MOU contemplates the construction of a test facility in Nevada that would be built at a significantly larger scale than the Company’s successful mini-pilot plant that ran various tests at TAT’s facility in Israel in 2016. The plant will be designed, engineered and built with the combined expertise, technology, and equipment of Tenova and its Technology Partners: SUEZ Water Technologies & Solutions, a business unit of SUEZ Group, NORAM Engineering and Constructors Ltd., and Solvay S.A. The parties to the MOU have agreed that Tenova and its Technology Partners intend to contribute value in various forms to the successful construction and operation of the pilot plant that may include in-kind services, in-kind supply of equipment, financial contributions (cash, deferred payment arrangements or discounts) and other contributions.

Patrick Highsmith, president and CEO of Pure Energy, commented:

We are delighted to move forward with Tenova and its leading-edge partners to develop a first-of-its-kind pilot plant for modern lithium production. Without the long production cycles and environmental impact of evaporation ponds and with recovery rates far exceeding conventional brine operations, the Tenova Process could become a better, faster, and greener path to battery-grade lithium hydroxide production. The commitment to success and value contributions of these great organizations to the CV Project has already been evident in the recently released PEA and preliminary engineering work on the pilot plant. Their willingness to work together as a team and to have their own skin-in-the-game to progress our project to the pilot plant stage is exciting and confidence-building.

Click here to read the full Pure Energy Minerals Ltd. (TSXV:PE) press release.