CleanTech Lithium PLC announced the completion of the first stage of production at its Chile-based pilot plant for direct lithium extraction on Monday.
The Chile-focused lithium exploration and development company’s pilot plant produced an initial volume of 88 cubic metres of concentrated eluate over an operating period of 384 hours. The sample will be shipped to its partner Conductive Energy’s facilities in the US city of Chicago for conversion into battery-grade lithium carbonate.
Conductive Energy completed test work on a small sample of concentrated eluate from the plant in May 2024. The tests showed a 99.75% lithium carbonate purity, confirming that the process produces battery-grade lithium.
CleanTech Lithium continues to be a leader in the exploration and development of DLE-based projects in Chile, and this pilot will provide test samples of lithium carbonate to potential offtake partners seeking product qualification.
Executive Chair & Interim Chief Executive Officer Steve Kelser said: ‘We are very pleased by these results as it shows we can produce battery-grade lithium with low impurities from our Laguna Verde brine project. Working with our partners on the downstream process, Forward Water and Conductive Energy, we can now demonstrate the entire DLE process from brine to final lithium product.’
CleanTech Lithium shares closed up 19% at 25.30 pence in London on Monday afternoon.
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