REG - CleanTech Lithium - Pilot-Scale Lithium Carbonate Production

Cleantech LithiumAnnouncement

21/11/2024 07:00

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RNS Number : 0456N  CleanTech Lithium PLC  21 November 2024

21 November 2024

CleanTech Lithium PLC ("CleanTech Lithium" or the "Company")

Major Milestone Achieved: Pilot-Scale Lithium Carbonate Production

 

CleanTech Lithium PLC (AIM: CTL), an exploration and development company
advancing sustainable lithium projects in Chile, is pleased to announce the
downstream conversion process is successfully producing pilot scale samples of
lithium carbonate. CTL is a leader in Chile in producing lithium carbonate
using Direct Lithium Extraction ("DLE") at the pilot scale, marking a major
milestone for the Company. The samples will be sent to a laboratory to confirm
the grade and impurity profile, which is expected to be battery-grade and
prepared for strategic partner qualification.

Image 1: CTL Director Gordon Stein and CEO of Conductive Energy Haafiz Hasham

with first Lithium Carbonate produced from Conversion Process

The Company shipped four tanks with a total of 88m(3) of concentrated eluate
from its DLE pilot plant in Copiapó, Chile, to the facilities of Conductive
Energy in Chicago, USA, for conversion into lithium carbonate.  The first
tank with 20m(3) of eluate is currently being processed and produced the first
50kg of lithium carbonate on November 19(th).  The full tank will be
processed over the next week and is expected to produce approximately 150kg of
battery grade lithium carbonate.

To mark the commencement of production a site visit to the conversion facility
was held showcasing the innovative process. The conversion process utilises
forward osmosis at the concentration stage rather than the conventional
 evaporator helping to reduce water consumption and energy use before
solution purification and then carbonation into the final product.

Conversations with potential strategic partners interested in testing the
product have begun. After laboratory analysis, the Company will be aiming to
send samples of battery-grade lithium carbonate to such partners initially in
the several kilograms to tens of kilograms, to start the product qualification
process.

 

Highlights:

·    CTL has produced pilot scale lithium carbonate from Laguna Verde
brine following successful commencement of the downstream conversion process

·    CTL is a leader in Chile producing lithium carbonate at the pilot
scale using sustainable DLE  which, with spent brine reinjection, prevents
aquifer depletion and through innovative downstream processing, minimises
water and energy consumption

·    Lithium carbonate product will be sent to a laboratory in North
America to be verified as battery-grade (>99.5%)

·    A site visit to Conductive Energy's conversion facility took place on
Tuesday 19(th) November to mark the commencement of production from what is
the largest pilot plant in operation in North-East USA.

·    Conversations with strategic partners have started and samples will
be available for product qualification

 

Steve Kesler, Executive Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer,
CleanTech Lithium PLC, said:

"CleanTech Lithium has reached an important milestone by commencing pilot
scale lithium carbonate production using a sustainable and innovative DLE
based process. As a leader in the DLE sector in Chile with a focus on
efficiency and sustainability, this accomplishment marks a significant step
forward. Years of hard work have led to this important milestone, and it sets
the stage for future development with a commitment to supporting the
transition to electric vehicles and clean energy. Thank you to the partners
involved and we look forward to enter the next phase of development."

 

Haafiz Hasham, Chief Executive Officer, Conductive Energy, said:

"The successful conversion to lithium carbonate in partnership with CleanTech
Lithium and Forward Water Technologies represents a significant milestone for
all the companies involved. This achievement highlights our commitment to
developing innovative, efficient, and sustainable processes that meet the
growing global demand for lithium, a critical component in green energy
solutions. We are excited to continue advancing Direct Lithium Extraction,
which we believe represents the future of battery-grade lithium production."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image 2: Site visit at Conductive Energy's facilities was held on 19(th)
November

to see the conversion process to lithium carbonate

 

Image 3: Filter press used in the conversion process to separate precipitated

Li(2)CO(3) from solution. White powder is lithium carbonate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image 4: Two tanks of concentrated eluate arrive on site in Chicago, USA

 

 

Image 5: Industrial Forward Osmosis unit

 

 

 

 

 

**ENDS**

The information communicated within this announcement is deemed to constitute
inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No
596/2014 which is part of UK law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal)
Act 2018. Upon publication of this announcement, this inside information is
now considered to be in the public domain. The person who arranged for the
release of this announcement on behalf of the Company was Gordon Stein,
Director and CFO.

 

 For further information contact:

 CleanTech Lithium PLC
 Steve Kesler/Gordon Stein/Nick Baxter          Jersey office: +44 (0) 1534 668 321

                                                Chile office: +562-32239222
                                                Or via Celicourt
 Celicourt Communications                       +44 (0) 20 7770 6424

 Felicity Winkles/Philip Dennis/Ali AlQahtani   cleantech@celicourt.uk (mailto:cleantech@celicourt.uk)
 Beaumont Cornish Limited (Nominated Adviser)   +44 (0) 20 7628 3396

 Roland Cornish/Asia Szusciak
 Fox-Davies Capital Limited (Joint Broker)      +44 (0) 20 3884 8450

 Daniel Fox-Davies                              daniel@fox-davies.com (mailto:daniel@fox-davies.com)
 Canaccord Genuity (Joint Broker)               +44 (0) 20 7523 4680

 James Asensio

 

Beaumont Cornish Limited ("Beaumont Cornish") is the Company's Nominated
Adviser and is authorised and regulated by the FCA. Beaumont Cornish's
responsibilities as the Company's Nominated Adviser, including a
responsibility to advise and guide the Company on its responsibilities under
the AIM Rules for Companies and AIM Rules for Nominated Advisers, are owed
solely to the London Stock Exchange. Beaumont Cornish is not acting for and
will not be responsible to any other persons for providing protections
afforded to customers of Beaumont Cornish nor for advising them in relation to
the proposed arrangements described in this announcement or any matter
referred to in it.

 

Notes

CleanTech Lithium (AIM:CTL, Frankfurt:T2N, OTCQX:CTLHF) is an exploration and
development company advancing lithium projects in Chile for the clean energy
transition. Committed to net-zero, CleanTech Lithium's mission is to become a
new supplier of battery grade lithium using Direct Lithium Extraction
technology powered by renewable energy.

CleanTech Lithium has two key lithium projects in Chile, Laguna Verde and
Viento Andino, and exploration stage projects in Llamara and Arenas Blancas
(Salar de Atacama), located in the lithium triangle, a leading centre for
battery grade lithium production. The two most advanced projects: Laguna Verde
and Viento Andino are situated within basins controlled by the Company,
which affords significant potential development and operational advantages.
All four projects have good access to existing infrastructure.

CleanTech Lithium is committed to utilising Direct Lithium Extraction with
reinjection of spent brine resulting in no aquifer depletion. Direct Lithium
Extraction is a transformative technology which removes lithium from brine
with higher recoveries, short development lead times and no extensive
evaporation pond construction. www.ctlithium.com (http://www.ctlithium.com/)

 

**ENDS**

 

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