Highlights
– Venture is advancing nicely and stays on observe
– Engineering milestones embody plant format, tools packages, datasheets, scopes of labor, and specs
– Procurement precedence one packages for quotes about 60% full
– Early contractor engagement and strategic danger project
– Environmental work is progressing with no show-stoppers recognized to this point
– Robust engagement from Federal, Provincial and Native Authorities
– Becancour Lithium Refinery nicely aligned with Provincial technique
– Mature native authorities help and venture understanding
Procurement
Procurement actions embody sending technical specs to suppliers for detailed quotations to construct the capex estimation. For precedence one mechanical tools, 9 packages have been issued, with seven presents obtained and evaluations at present underway. 5 precedence one electrical tools provide packages can be issued for inquiry throughout the subsequent week. The purpose is to guage all precedence one packages by the tip of September.
Because of potential lead instances for electrical transformers, the tenderer listing can be expanded to cut back these lead instances.
Engineering
The most important engineering actions embody finalizing the plant format and making ready documentation for tools packages, resembling datasheets, scopes of labor, and specs. Key duties additionally contain creating the primary energy distribution single line diagram and offering clarifications throughout the tender interval. Moreover, proposals obtained are being totally reviewed to make sure they meet venture necessities. Efficient dealing with of course of effluent and website runoff is one other essential focus space. The event of the bundle register, materials take-offs (MTOs), and complete tools lists are ongoing, guaranteeing all essential elements and particulars are precisely documented and arranged for the venture’s profitable execution.
Plant Structure
The primary launch of the plant format has been printed, with a number of options nonetheless below growth. These embody new plant areas such because the boiler plant and course of effluent therapy. Structural framing of buildings and HVAC techniques are in progress, together with civil works encompassing drainage, highway pavements, car paths, sedimentation ponds, and automotive parking. The situation and variety of plant change rooms is being optimised.
Efforts are being made to reinforce spodumene and residue storage, specializing in supplies dealing with and capability. Moreover, the routing of main pipe and cable racks is being deliberate. The format on-site is being designed with consideration of seemingly environmental constraints to make sure compliance and sustainability. These developments purpose to reinforce the general effectivity and effectiveness of the venture.
Environmental Work
The crew is actively concerned in area inventories to develop information of the biodiversity current on website. 4 area campaigns have been carried-out to survey the presence of short-eared owls, breeding birds, fish and fish habitat, and wetlands. Primarily based on preliminary outcomes, no species in danger nor species of concern as listed below the Canadian Species at Threat Act (SARA) have been recognized to this point. The venture crew can also be engaged in actions to optimize the location format and scale back encroachment on wetlands recognized on the property. Surveys are anticipated to be accomplished throughout the Canadian Summer time. Area stock outcomes can be used to help environmental allowing actions and discussions with the Regulators to make sure website format and the design of the economic facility are developed in full compliance with the environmental regulatory framework.
A Part I examine to know earlier makes use of of the location is progressing and no potential environmental legal responsibility has been recognized primarily based on preliminary outcomes. The Part I Research is predicted to be accomplished by the tip of July. Over the approaching months, the crew is predicted to provoke the preparation of allowing paperwork to make sure the Venture follows formal approval strains.
Priorities
The best priorities for the subsequent few months embody finalising the environmental allowing and approvals program, which entails finishing the preliminary area survey, briefing with the Ministry, finalising the Part 1 Report, and making ready the primary software. Engineering work essential for the environmental allow software can also be a prime precedence, specializing in civil design, up to date plant format, and water administration technique. In parallel, tools procurement will contain preliminary engineering, securing vendor proposals, and establishing schedules. Confirming the therapy of course of effluent and website runoff is essential for environmental compliance.
Moreover, commencing civil and structural engineering work is crucial to keep up venture momentum.
Finalising the plant format will guarantee all elements are appropriately positioned and built-in. Lastly, execution part planning can be progressed, contingent on the month-to-month funds, to make sure that all actions are appropriately funded and scheduled for environment friendly venture development.
Authorities and Neighborhood Engagement
A visit by key management members to Japanese Canada. The delegation, led by CEO Alex Hanly and together with Chairman Iggy Tan, Board Administrators Patrick Scallan and Dr. Jingyuan Liu, and Canadian Director, Victoria Vargas, engaged with authorities stakeholders, group companions, and business friends. The conferences in Montreal, Becancour, Quebec Metropolis, and Ottawa bolstered the Firm’s technique to deal with the Lithium Conversion Hole in North America and offered updates on our engineering progress and industrial discussions.
Ministry of Economics, Innovation, and Vitality
A gathering was held in Quebec Metropolis with the Honourable Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon, Minister of Economics, Innovation, and Vitality. This follows the Firm’s preliminary presentation of the Firm’s distinctive technique in November 2023 in Dubai. As soon as once more, Minister Fitzgibbon expressed enthusiasm for our engineering progress, the acquisition of the Choice settlement throughout the Becancour Industrial Park, and the Hydro-Quebec software for an estimated 22.5MW power allocation for our Becancour Lithium Refinery.
Lithium Universe emphasised Quebec’s strategic advantages, together with hydroelectric energy, proximity to the James Bay area, and logistic benefits with port entry to the transatlantic area. The Minister reiterated his help for our imaginative and prescient of remodeling Quebec into the Centre of Lithium Conversion for the transatlantic area.
The Firm is impressed with the forward-thinking provincial authorities of Quebec and the progress of the Strategic Innovation Zone below the pragmatic steering of Minister Fitzgibbon.
Becancour Lithium Refinery Website
In February 2024, the Firm efficiently executed an possibility settlement to amass a refinery website strategically situated throughout the Becancour Waterfront Industrial Park (BWIP). The location in Becancour, near Trois-Rivieres, lies between Montreal and Quebec Metropolis and is close to main highways and railways. The Port of Becancour helps year-round operations with deep-water entry. The location presents low-cost hydroelectric energy, sturdy infrastructure, and complete water and waste amenities, perfect for the proposed Lithium Refinery.
The Firm as soon as once more met with key executives from the BWIP in Becancour. The assembly centered on the Firm’s progress in website analysis actions and included a presentation on the method design, that includes footage from a reference lithium carbonate refinery. The port was confirmed to have the capability to handle 50,000-ton bulk shipments, exceeding the Firm’s preliminary necessities. The Firm had the chance to examine Lot 22, encompassing an space of 27-hectare, and think about the proximity to infrastructure and fast tiein to current BWIP utilities. The SPIPB crew offered an summary of deliberate expansions and facility upgrades to the onsite infrastructure, positioning Becancour as a frontrunner in providing prime industrial actual property in Quebec.
The Firm can be trying to start numerous group initiatives to combine the economic website into the broader group.
Municipality of Becancour
The Firm met with the Mayoress of Becancour to debate the Firm’s targets to contribute to the native economic system by offering lots of of employment alternatives and serving to to understand its financial potential.
LU7 reaffirmed its dedication to the Becancour and wider Trois-Rivieres area, pledging to help numerous social, group, and environmental initiatives within the coming years. The Mayoress expressed enthusiasm for the Firm’s plans throughout the SPIPB, recognizing the event of a confirmed and dependable design with internationally aligned course of outputs.
Provincial Authorities – Quebec
The Firm additionally met with key delegates in Montreal from Investissement Quebec (IQ), the Ministry of Pure Sources and Forests (MRNF), Vitality Transition Valley Innovation Zone, and the Ministry of the Atmosphere, the Battle Towards Local weather Change, Wildlife and Parks. The provincial authorities has recognized a lithium conversion hole throughout the provide chain, essential for servicing the anticipated improve in spodumene provide from the James Bay area within the coming years. Quebec is a North American chief in attracting international direct funding, sustainable growth, and supporting battery metals initiatives. The province has a powerful historical past of supporting lithium battery provide chain growth, with important provincial and federal authorities incentives.
Current authorities help contains the Basic Motors (GM) and Korea-based POSCO Chemical substances’ US$1 billion cathode lively materials (CAM) manufacturing facility, the Ford/EcoPro BM US$800 million cathode manufacturing facility, and Northvolt’s US$7 billion EV Battery Facility at Saint-Basile-le-Grand. This creates a beneficial regulatory surroundings for the Firm’s venture, guaranteeing sturdy help all through the cycle.
Canadian Federal Authorities – Ottawa
The Firm met with numerous federal authorities stakeholders from Spend money on Canada (IIC), Pure Sources Canada (NRCAN), Innovation, Science and Financial Growth (ISED), and Export Growth Canada (EDC). Given the shortage of refining capability in Canada, LU7’s lithium carbonate plant is an progressive venture, as there are not any present working or deliberate amenities of this type throughout the nation. Constructing lithium conversion capability alongside spodumene mines will allow Canada to turn into wholly self-sufficient within the lithium chemical provide chain.
Hatch – Montreal
The Firm and its engineering companion, Hatch, held a productive assembly on the Montreal workplace to align their shared tradition and fast-track growth imaginative and prescient. They bolstered the philosophy of “similar course of, similar tools, similar provider,” which minimizes technical dangers, ensures high quality, and reduces prices. The operational environments in Australia and Canada share many similarities, facilitating the combination of abilities into Quebec.
Hatch’s management in constructing lithium conversion amenities and tackling difficult initiatives validates the choice to companion with them. By this collaboration, the Firm acknowledges Hatch’s experience because the premier lithium refinery engineering skilled.
Lithium Universe Chairman, Iggy Tan mentioned, “The venture is on observe, finalizing plant format, issuing capex specs, progressing provider quotes, with easy workplace transition, and no environmental points, guaranteeing readiness for capex price estimate. The reception from federal, provincial and native authorities delegates has left a really constructive impression on the LU7 Board of Administrators. The area has made sturdy commitments since releasing the Vital Minerals Methods 4 years in the past and we’ve seen that within the important investments made throughout the battery provide chain and pragmatic discussions held with key authorities executives. We sit up for advancing the Firm’s Becancour Lithium Refinery to contribute in making Quebec the lithium conversion centre throughout the Transatlantic area.”
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About Lithium Universe Ltd:
Lithium Universe Ltd (ASX:LU7) (OTCMKTS:ESMAF), headed by business path blazer, Iggy Tan, and the Lithium Universe crew has a confirmed observe report of fast-tracking lithium initiatives, demonstrated by the profitable growth of the Mt Cattlin spodumene venture for Galaxy Sources Restricted.
As a substitute of exploring for the sake of exploration, Lithium Universe’s mission is to rapidly receive a useful resource and assemble a spodumene-producing mine in Quebec, Canada. Not like many different Lithium exploration corporations, Lithium Universe possesses the important experience and abilities to develop and assemble worthwhile initiatives.
Supply:
Lithium Universe Ltd