Bolivia - Lithium JV23 Oct 2022 20:46
Clontarf advanced its negotiations with international Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) processing experts, and has agreed in principle on a Joint Venture to test brines in medium-sized Bolivian salt-lakes. Our priority has been to maximise throughput without relying on extensive evaporation ponds. At the same time, the rising battery market now requires over 99.5% Lithium content, with minimal impurities, especially Magnesium. It has been a long process, but we now anticipate that high recoveries may be possible with these specifications at a reasonable cost. Nonetheless only full-scale production will confirm performance.
There is rising market and investor interest in DLE, both in Bolivia and elsewhere, due to surging demand for battery-grade lithium salts, both in EVs, grid storage and other 'Green Transition' requirements. If laboratory test-work results are satisfactory, we understand that Australian and other funding is available to build an on-site pilot plant to production test the Direct Lithium Extraction process.