Lithium South Announces PEA Estimate US$934 Million Dollar NPV with an IRR of 31.6% and a 2.5 year Payback for HMN Lithium Project
- After-tax NPV of US$934 million and an IRR of 31.6% showcase strong economic potential for the HMN Lithium Project.
- PEA based on a 25-year mine life and a production rate of 15,600 tonnes of lithium carbonate per year.
- Processing utilizes proven solar evaporation technology, ensuring efficient production.
- Resource estimate prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and CIM Standards, highlighting the project's technical robustness.
- Capital costs updated with current supplier quotations, ensuring accurate CAPEX estimates.
- The project is located at the Salar del Hombre Muerto in Argentina, with environmental permitting in place.
- Assumption of a lithium price of $US20,000/tonne for the study, based on market analysis and benchmarking exercises.
- Processing methodology aligned with regional brine characteristics, ensuring efficient extraction rates and cost-effectiveness.
- None.
PEA HIGHLIGHTS
- After tax NPV of
US with an IRR of$934 million 31.6% - PEA based on a mine life of 25 years with a 2.5 year payback
- PEA based on a production rate of 15,600 tonnes of lithium carbonate technical grade per year
- Processing based on simple and proven solar evaporation technology
Company President and CEO, Adrian F. C. Hobkirk is quoted, "We are very pleased that Lithium South has advanced the HMN Lithium Project to a PEA based on 15,600 tonnes per year lithium carbonate technical grade production. The PEA results highlight attractive economics associated with the project, including a short payback and exceptional Internal Rate of Return. We look forward to taking the HMN Lithium Project to the next stage of development as quickly as possible."
Resource Estimate
The resource estimate for this PEA was prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 and CIM Standards, and uses best practice methods specific to brine resources, including a reliance on core drilling and sampling methods that yield depth-specific chemistry and effective (drainable) porosity measurements. The technical report filed on November 6, 2023, is titled, Updated Mineral Resource Estimate – Hombre Muerto North Project, NI 43-101 Technical Report Catamarca and
Capital costs (CAPEX) have been updated with quotations from current suppliers working in project construction and development in the Puna region of
Project Location and Environmental Permitting
The HMN Lithium Project is located at the northern portion of the Salar del Hombre Muerto, at the boundary zone of the Catamarca and Salta provinces, 170 km southeast of the city of Salta. The project area comprises a collection of properties or concessions acquired under purchase options from the existing owner. The properties are held as "minas" (full mining licenses not subject to further area reduction requirements) by a wholly owned Argentine subsidiary of the Company. The HMN Lithium Project comprises six properties distributed over the Salar for a total of 3,237 hectares. All properties are subject to a mining license for borates. The area of the property is not subject to any known environmental liabilities.
Lithium Pricing
A lithium price of
The assumption of
Processing
The PEA models process eco-system covers the following units:
The brine chemistry is similar to other brines in the region, which allows the brine to be processed using similar processing technology as existing producers. The nominal extraction rate of the design is 179 liters per second. After an initial preconcentration, lime is added to the brine, which removes a large part of magnesium as magnesium hydroxide and the sulfate as gypsum. When the low magnesium and calcium brine is concentrated to about
Increased Lithium Recovery
The report has an updated lithium recovery process for the HMN Lithium Project brine, which uses industry proven evaporation. An adjustment in the processing sequence will reduce lithium loss as brine entrainments in harvested salts, in the magnesium hydroxide, and in calcium sulfate solids, obtaining a lithium recovery of approximately
About Lithium South
Lithium South owns
Qualified Person Statements
Peter Ehren is an independent Lithium Consultant. He has more than two decades of experience in the industry. He started his interest in the lithium business during his master's thesis at Technical University of the Delft where he investigated for BHP Minerals the recovery of lithium from geothermal brine (Salton Sea), applying a Direct Lithium Extraction ("DLE") technology. After his thesis he worked for SQM as a process engineer and R&D manager till 2007. Since 2007 he started to work as independent consultant in the lithium, boron and potassium industry. He is a world expert in solar evaporation systems, phase chemistry and process developments. Additionally, his experience covers product applications, OPEX and CAPEX estimation, process simulations, engineering, R&D and product development. He has worked in lithium basins and production facilities worldwide. He is a Chartered Professional (AusIMM) and QP for NI 43-101 and JORC.
Dr. Mark King, Ph.D., F.G.C., P.Geo., of Groundwater Insight, Inc., is the QP for resource estimation components of the PEA., as such term is defined by NI 43-101. Dr. King has extensive experience in salar environments and has been a QP on numerous lithium brine projects, ranging from early exploration to production. Dr. King is independent from the Company and has reviewed and approved the technical information mentioned in this press release.
Richard Goodwin, P.Eng., Project Manager for JDS Energy and Mining, Inc., is independent of Lithium South and a QP as defined under Canadian National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Goodwin is a mining engineer and study manager with over 30 years of experience managing mining operation and projects in various commodities such as base metals, precious metals, PGMs, and diamonds in various domestic and international locations. Mr. Goodwin is responsible for the PEA results, participated directly in the production of this press release, and directly related information in this press release, and approves of the technical and scientific disclosure contained herein.
On behalf of the Board of Directors of Lithium South Development Corp.
Adrian F. C. Hobkirk
President and Chief Executive Officer
Investors / Shareholders call 1-855-415-8100 / website: www.lithiumsouth.com
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The TSX Venture Exchange has not reviewed the content of this news release and therefore does not accept responsibility or liability for the adequacy or accuracy of the contents of this news release.
This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 21E of the United States Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Except for statements of historical fact relating to the Company, certain information contained herein constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based upon opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward- looking statements. We seek safe harbor.
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SOURCE Lithium South Development Corporation
FAQ
What is the after-tax NPV and IRR of the HMN Lithium Project based on the PEA results?
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What lithium price was assumed for the study?