Strategic Partnership – The University of Atacama

Following President Boric’s formal presentation of the technique in Antofagasta on Friday 21 April, discussions with authorities officers because the announcement and having sought authorized recommendation in-country, the Board have been given reassurances that CTL’s belongings won’t require majority state participation.

The main focus of ‘majority state management’ is for belongings thought-about to be of strategic significance to the nation and due to this fact it’s understood to narrate primarily to the Atacama and Maricunga salars, on account of their lithium reserves, measurement and really excessive ranges of lithium focus. By comparability, CTL’s belongings are significantly smaller when in comparison with Salar de Atacama which has roughly 37% of the World’s lithium reserves. CTL´s belongings have decrease ranges of lithium focus and, whereas extremely financial for an organization similar to CTL, they don’t seem to be of the size that may very well be thought-about belongings of nationwide strategic significance.

Beneath the plans outlined by President Boric final week, personal corporations, similar to CTL, with exploration licences that advantage exploiting, could have the choice to ask state participation however won’t be compelled to take action. Non-public corporations growing non-strategic belongings even have the suitable to use for a CEOL (particular lithium operation contract). CTL has been holding discussions with state entities concerning their minority participation in our belongings as this may occasionally have advantages to the Firm within the growth of our tasks. These discussions will proceed. CTL have CEOL functions able to submit for each the Laguna Verde and Francisco Basin tasks however will delay submissions pending the result of those discussions.

The main focus of the technique outlined by the Authorities is on partnership relatively than nationalisation, with the goal of leveraging complementary expertise and useful resource in assist of growing the lithium trade in Chile. The proposals as outlined, together with public / personal partnership and the creation of a nationwide lithium firm, are broadly in-line with these anticipated, primarily based on prior discussions with authorities officers. The Board due to this fact welcomes these proposals, which it views as making a better diploma of certainty for the lithium trade in Chile and due to this fact an improved local weather for funding.

The Board additionally notes that CTL’s technique is already in line with the proposals as outlined, by way of accountable and sustainable lithium growth, and due to this fact the nationwide technique could supply the potential for additional alternative for CTL sooner or later. CTL is on the forefront of utilizing Direct Lithium Extraction (“DLE”) know-how in Chile which, when used with renewable energy and reinjection of 100% of the spent brine with minimal water utilization to provide lithium carbonate, permits lithium to be produced with minimal environmental affect. The Firm has additionally established early and lively engagement programmes with native communities, in addition to native and regional authorities, to assist wider participation and profit.

Aldo Boitano, Chief Govt of CleanTech Lithium, mentioned:

“The Authorities’s proposals search the accountable and sustainable growth of the lithium trade in Chile, for the advantage of the nation alongside that of personal enterprise. These goals are in-line with CTL’s technique. Based mostly on the recommendation and steerage we now have been given, we now have been reassured that CTL’s belongings won’t be topic to state management beneath these proposals, and actually we see the potential for important profit, by means of partnership alternatives and a extra sure funding local weather.

“CTL is in a brief path to manufacturing as we proceed to develop our lithium tasks primarily based on 2 profitable drilling campaigns in 2022, that resulted in over 2 million tonnes of LCE JORC compliant assets that are being upgraded with 3 additional drilling campaigns underway. Our DLE work has produced 1 kg battery grade lithium carbonate with our resin. We have now a DLE lab scale plant working in Copiapo and a bigger pilot plant due for commissioning Q3 this 12 months. Intensive hydrogeological work is being undertaken to assist the extraction and reinjection of brine in our basins. Because of this not solely are we on the trail of growing our tasks however, as a number one lithium growth firm in Chile, are able to take part probably in public-private partnerships to quick observe growth of state owned salars.”

Notes

CleanTech Lithium (AIM:CTL, Frankfurt:T2N, OTC:CTLHF) is an exploration and growth firm, advancing the following technology of sustainable lithium tasks in Chile. Proudly sustainable, dedicated to net-zero, our mission is to provide materials portions of battery grade, carbon-neutral lithium utilizing sustainable Direct Lithium Extraction know-how, powered by clear power, we plan to be the greenest lithium provider to the EV market.

CleanTech Lithium has three potential lithium tasks – Laguna Verde, Francisco Basin and Llamara – situated within the lithium triangle, the world’s centre for battery grade lithium manufacturing. The Laguna Verde and Francisco Basin tasks are located inside basins solely managed by the Firm, which affords important potential growth and operational benefits. Llamara is the Firm’s newest greenfield undertaking, which provides materials potential upside at a low preliminary price. All three tasks have direct entry to wonderful infrastructure and renewable energy.

CleanTech Lithium is dedicated to utilizing renewable energy for processing and decreasing the environmental affect of its lithium manufacturing by utilising Direct Lithium Extraction. Direct Lithium Extraction is a transformative know-how which removes lithium from brine, with greater recoveries and purities. The tactic provides brief growth lead occasions, low upfront capex, with no in depth web site development and no evaporation pond growth so there isn’t a water depletion from the aquifer or hurt to the native surroundings.

Click on right here to attach with CleanTech Lithium PLC (AIM:CTL, Frankfurt:T2N, OTC:CTLHF) to obtain an Investor Presentation

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