Lake Resources NL (ASX:LKE, OTCQB:LLKKF) welcomes positive results from its lithium processing demonstration plant at the Kachi Project in Catamarca Province in Argentina, where initial test-work on brine has delivered an “at spec” product.
The wet and dry commissioning process took place in September and October after the plant was completed, with final optimisation of the processes now nearing completion.
Technology partner Lilac Solutions’ executive vice president Bart Packer, who has been on-site at Kachi to oversee the final adjustments, said: “Initial operations of the demo plant have already delivered product at spec, with the demonstration plant achieving similar lithium recoveries that were achieved in the Oakland pilot plant test-work in California.
“Optimisation work continues on site; Lilac anticipate the first samples of lithium chloride will be shipped for conversion to lithium carbonate within two weeks.”
Impressive recovery rate
Lilac chief executive officer David Snydacker added that the plant had achieved 80% lithium recoveries just one month into the start of wet commissioning and even while the processes were being fine-tuned and completed.
“Cheers to our field operations team, which has been working 24/7 to achieve these results in partnership with Lake Resource’s fantastic team at Kachi.
“We are excited to expand our collaboration with the Lake team as we work to fast-track commercial-scale production of lithium carbonate,” he said.
Delighted
Lake chief executive officer David Dickson said the excellent outcome of initial work completed on Kachi brines “validates the many years of test work that took place in Lilac’s Oakland facility during COVID whilst access to site was impossible.”
“We look forward to seeing the test-work move into steady state and then for the process to be validated by Hatch so that work on the DFS can be completed.”
Meanwhile, Lake executive chairman Stu Crow said Lilac’s method of producing high-purity lithium would disrupt the battery materials supply industry as it was scalable, low-cost and delivered a consistent product quality with a significant environmental, social and governance (ESG) benefit.
“The news of successful demonstration plant results is timely as Lake Resources' full board is in Sydney to attend the IMARC conference this week to meet and host a strong delegation of representatives from Argentinian Federal and Provincial Governments and Departments, as well as continue discussions with international and domestic investment banks and financial market participants who have been assisting Lake in developing its strategy as the company moves toward financial investment decision (FID) in 2023,” he said.
Additionally, Lake intends to make several new executive and board appointments before the end of the year as it transitions from an exploration company toward development and production.
About Lake
Lake is a clean lithium developer utilising direct extraction technology for the production of sustainable, high-purity lithium from its flagship Kachi Project in Argentina’s Lithium Triangle, among three other projects covering 220,000 hectares.
This direct extraction technology delivers the solution needed for high-purity battery materials to avoid performance issues, as well as more sustainable, responsibly sourced materials with low-carbon footprint and significant ESG benefits.
The Kachi project is in a prime location among low-cost producers with a large lease holding of 74,000 hectares and expandable resource of 4.4 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent for 25 years of production at 50,000 tonnes per annum.