RE: 0 buys4 Apr 2023 17:08
During 2022, the Company has focused on the market for the extraction of Lithium with particular emphasis on the Bolivian market.
In August of 2022, the Company began discussions with interested parties regarding the potential deployment of the iTDE System in Bolivia to provide direct Lithium extraction.
Any initial deployment of the technology will require the Company to be ready to enter the next phase of its development, the Operational Pilot Deployment Phase. During 2022, negotiations to secure funding to accelerate the possible cooperation were inconclusive and no final agreement was reached on any cooperation. Notwithstanding this, the Company has agreed to test its iTDE System by processing up to six samples of natural brines delivered from various salt-lakes in Bolivia. The first 2 near-surface samples with a grade average of 211 mg/l yielded lithium are expected to be tested on the new controlled pilot system currently under construction.
In November 2022, the Company entered into discussion with a separate company regarding the potential testing of certain quantities of leached liquor derived from mined lithium containing ore. At the end of 2022, this discussion is still in its earliest stage.
The Company plans to deploy its iTDE System units with customers that have the necessary facilities to accommodate such units. The usual manner in which the Company plans to deploy its iTDE Systems is under a tolling arrangement whereby the tolling fee will cover the ongoing costs for maintenance of the extraction process and upside for the Company. During the life of the lithium source, the Company will maintain and monitor the equipment ensuring any recalibrations and additions to the equipment are made to maintain efficiency and extractive power. This is critical as the nature and composition of any particular ore may change over time, even from the same deposit, and this can potentially affect the extraction process requiring adjustments to configuration where necessary.
The Company plans to establish an operations subsidiary (“NCX International”) that can work with partners to construct the processing plant that would incorporate the iTDE system processing capabilities. Initial discussions have centered around the formation of a joint venture between the mining company and NCX International that would work to finance and construct the processing plants required to handle extraction using the iTDE System.