Century Lithium Corp. (TSX-V:LCE, OTCQX:CYDVF) said Wednesday it has cleared key regulatory hurdles for its Angel Island lithium project in Nevada, a step the company says should smooth the path to production.
The Vancouver-based company confirmed that Angel Island has been added to the FAST-41 Transparency Dashboard, a U.S. federal program designed to accelerate permitting for projects considered strategically important.
Inclusion gives the project additional oversight and coordination among government agencies, which can shorten timelines under the National Environmental Policy Act, the main federal permitting law for large industrial projects.
Bill Willoughby, Century Lithium’s chief executive, called the designation “a significant milestone,” adding that it demonstrates federal interest in securing domestic lithium supply.
Lithium is a critical ingredient in batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage, and demand has grown rapidly as the U.S. seeks to reduce reliance on overseas supply chains.
Alongside the federal recognition, Century Lithium has finished all required baseline environmental studies, covering biological, cultural, water, and land resources. Those studies are needed for the company’s upcoming Plan of Operations, which will formally start the federal review process.
In August, the company also raised $4.7 million through a LIFE offering to fund an updated feasibility study. That study will incorporate the latest data from the project and outline technical and economic details to guide the permitting process.
Angel Island, located in Esmeralda County, Nevada, is among the largest sedimentary lithium deposits in the U.S. Century Lithium aims to produce about 34,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate annually over a 40-year mine life.