European Metals Holdings Limited (ASX: EMH) has obtained positive results from a Lithium Chemical Plant (LCP) pilot programme, confirming the robustness of the Cinovec LCP process flowsheet and providing a strong foundation for the execution of the Cinovec Project.
Highlights
- Pilot programme has confirmed industrial viability of the LCP process flowsheet.
- Exceptionally clean battery grade lithium carbonate (>99.9%) produced with single-stage purification (bicarbonation) of crude lithium carbonate.
- Pilot programme crude lithium carbonate confirmed at 99.7% purity, greater than batterym grade (99.5%) in the carbonate precipitation step without any additional processing.
- Work to produce battery grade lithium hydroxide monohydrate is underway.
- The pilot programme processed ore fully-representative in all respects of the run-of-mine for the first seven years of mining planned at Cinovec, including average grade and expected rock-type mix from the bulk mining.
The confirmation of the exceptionally clean nature of the Cinovec Lithium Carbonate resulting from the pilot programme is further proof of the tremendous importance of the Cinovec Lithium Project for the whole of the EU,” Executive Chairman Keith Coughlan said.
“The Lithium Carbonate produced by the simplified flowsheet has the ability to be a major contributor to the EU’s lithium security. The Cinovec Project is well positioned to be a major supplier of battery grade lithium products to the strategically important European car industry to ensure that they are able to compete on the global stage.
“The pilot programme data is now being used to confirm design and engineering for the ongoing Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) being completed by DRA Global and which remains on-track for completion in the current quarter, and also for the post-DFS detailed design.
European Metals, in developing the Cinovec Lithium Project, is well positioned for the rising demand in battery materials in the EU.
“The Cinovec project is the largest hard rock lithium project in the EU and Europe as a whole and is centrally located on the Czech Republic’s border with Germany.”
Pilot Programme
The pilot programme, which took place at ALS Laboratories in Perth, WA, set out to confirm the LCP flowsheet which was the subject of the Company’s ASX announcement of 31 October 2022 “Simplified Extraction Process delivers exceptionally-clean battery-grade lithium product with improved economics” and to produce sufficient marketing samples for potential offtakers to test in their own laboratories.
The pilot programme has achieved these objectives without necessitating any further development of the LCP process flowsheet.
In doing so, the pilot programme has provided extensive data throughout all of the LCP process steps. This data contributes to the confirmation of design and engineering for both the ongoing Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) and the post-DFS execution of the Project.
Next Stage of Development of Cinovec
The DFS for battery-grade Lithium Carbonate remains on-track for completion in 4Q 2023. Subject to confirmation of the pilot programme work for battery grade Lithium Hydroxide, a decision on the battery grade end-product (carbonate vs hydroxide) for the Cinovec Project is expected to be made in early 2024. This will enable design engineering to proceed enabling the Project to come into production in the shortest possible time frame and includes engagement with long lead equipment OEMs to ensure that the timeline is expedited.
