Century Lithium Corp. (TSX-V:LCE, OTCQX:CYDVF) announced that it has successfully implemented process enhancements at its Lithium Extraction Facility in Amargosa Valley, Nevada, marking a key milestone for its wholly owned Angel Island project near Silver Peak.
The company said these advancements, developed in collaboration with Amalgamated Research (ARi), have improved the efficiency of its Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) system.
Century Lithium’s recent testing program incorporated ARi’s proprietary adsorption-based DLE technology, with trials conducted both at ARi’s Twin Falls facility and the company’s Pilot Plant.
The results indicate that Century Lithium can eliminate recycle loops in its lithium extraction process, leading to higher eluate grades. This improvement is expected to substantially reduce costs at Angel Island.
Investors reacted favorably, sending shares 42.1% higher by midday in Toronto.
"The initial results from ARi are very encouraging, indicating greater efficiency can be achieved that could result in positive reductions in the estimated capital and operating costs at Angel Island," Century Lithium CEO Bill Willoughby said in a statement.
"Century Lithium remains committed to delivering value to our shareholders through Angel Island, one of the few advanced lithium projects in the United States. We are optimistic about the long-term fundamentals of the lithium market and the strategic importance of Angel Island to the future mineral supply in the United States."
With these process upgrades in place, the company is now transitioning the Pilot Plant’s focus from research and development to demonstration. This shift will allow for dedicated testing with potential strategic partners and end-users while also lowering ongoing operating costs.
Meanwhile, the facility continues to convert a backlog of lithium solutions into battery-grade lithium carbonate.
Century Lithium highlighted that its progress is supported by its recent non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Orica Specialty Mining Chemicals, outlining plans for a potential offtake agreement for sodium hydroxide, a by-product of the lithium extraction process. The ability to market sodium hydroxide enhances the project's cost-efficiency, it noted.
Engineering efforts remain centered on refining the mining, leaching, filtration, DLE, and lithium carbonate processing aspects of the project. Data generated at the Pilot Plant will inform full-scale construction designs, with the goal of further reducing projected costs.