LONDON: CleanTech Lithium PLC, a lithium exploration and development company, has announced the successful commencement of operations at its pilot plant in Chile. The plant, which is part of the Laguna Verde project, has begun producing lithium chloride eluate through the Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) process.

Key Milestones Achieved:

• Operational Success: The DLE pilot plant’s commissioning phase is complete, and it is now fully operational.
• Production Underway: The plant has achieved its first production of purified lithium chloride eluate, utilizing brine fed into DLE columns.
• Capacity and Concentration: With a design capacity of 1 tonne per month of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE), the plant features a reverse osmosis unit to concentrate the eluate.
• North American Partnership: The concentrated eluate will be sent to North America in batches for conversion into battery-grade lithium carbonate, with Conductive Energy handling the conversion process.
• Strategic Planning: The plant’s operation will inform the ongoing Pre-feasibility study (PFS) and contribute to process optimization and product verification.
• Industry Impact: The pilot plant positions CleanTech Lithium PLC among the few companies capable of producing significant quantities of battery-grade product at pilot scale.
• Future Collaborations: Product samples will be shared with potential strategic partners, including major auto and battery manufacturers, to facilitate off-take agreements.

This development marks a significant step for CleanTech Lithium PLC in its efforts to contribute to the growing demand for lithium, essential for battery production in the clean energy sector.

Commenting, Aldo Boitano, Chief Executive Officer, of CleanTech Lithium PLC, said: “I am very pleased to inform the market that our pilot plant has commenced operation with the first volume of lithium chloride eluate produced. Batches of concentrated eluate will be shipped to North America to be converted into battery grade lithium carbonate by a third-party processor.

This pilot plant plans to produce significant quantities of battery grade product for evaluation by potential strategic partners, making CTL one of the few companies in the sector to produce pilot scale volumes of battery grade product. The pilot plant positions CTL as a leader in the sector and in Chile, with first eluate production representing a significant milestone for the Company.”

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