** Shares of lithium producer LTHM.N rise 8.8% premarket
to $12.28, its strongest level since Feb
** Peer E3 Metals Corp ETMC.V says it and LTHM agreed to
an updated development plan to advance ETMC's direct lithium
extraction tech urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nFWN2GW0X8
** Updated plan prioritizes completing Stage 1 as soon as
possible, after which the process is expected to be demonstrated
in a pilot plant
** Stock up 32% this year by its last close
(Reporting by Ambar Warrick in Bengaluru)
((Ambar.Warrick@thomsonreuters.com; +91-80-6182-2837; Reuters
Messaging: ambar.warrick.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net;
Twitter: @AmbarWarrick))