Century Lithium<\/a> owns 100% of the Clayton Valley Lithium Project which totals over 5,585 acres in west central Nevada, USA.<\/p>\n
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It boasts its location in Esmeralda County, immediately east of Albemarle\u2019s Silver Peak mine \u2013 North America\u2019s only lithium brine operation.<\/p>\n
Highlights of the project include:
\n\u2022\u00a0 Shallow surface mine
\n\u2022\u00a0 Large-scale Nevada-based lithium project
\n\u2022\u00a0 Innovative approach in processing: using sustainable chloride-based leaching and DLE
\n\u2022\u00a0 Long 40-year mine life
\n\u2022\u00a0 Designed for expansion
\n\u2022\u00a0 17.1% internal rate of return (IRR) after tax
\n\u2022\u00a0 Low operating cost ($2,766\/t)
\n\u2022\u00a0 Positive economics: After-tax IRR of 17.1% and $3.01 billion NPV-8%<\/p>\n
Exposed at the surface, the lithium resource is sheltered from erosion by Angel Island.<\/p>\n
A large depository of lithium claystone benefits the project\u2019s favourable characteristics and location. This claystone is easily minable and amenable to modern processing.<\/p>\n
With a long mine life of over 40 years, Century Lithium\u2019s project is currently the third most advanced stage lithium project in Nevada.<\/p>\n
Because of this, Century Lithium has a very favourable positioning in leveraging the current strong demand for lithium in the US, through its advancement of domestic lithium production.<\/p>\n
Feasibility Study highlights<\/h3>\n
Presenting the study, Bill Willoughby, President and CEO of Century Lithium, commented: \u201cCentury Lithium is proud to present our Feasibility Study. It indicates the Clayton Valley Lithium Project has robust economics, made possible with our unique chlor-alkali and DLE processes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOur process technology was developed by way of many trials and successes at our Pilot Plant in Amargosa Valley. As one of the few lithium-focused plants in North America, we continue to operate safely and recently passed two years of testing.\u201d<\/p>\n
He concluded: \u201cThe data generated to date supports the Feasibility Study, and we continue to test various conditions and ideas to improve our process flow sheet.\u201d<\/p>\n
The results, supported by over two years of testing at the company\u2019s pilot plant, found that the three-phase production plan will generate a life-of-mine average of 34,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of battery-quality lithium carbonate (Li2CO3).<\/p>\n
An average lithium recovery of 78% was used in the study based on the data collected over two years of operations at Century Lithium\u2019s pilot plant.<\/p>\n
The results indicated:<\/p>\n
\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 Feed material grades averaged 1,100 ppm
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 Leach solution samples varied from 200 to 320 ppm Li
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 Lithium extractions averaged 88% and varied from 80 to 95%
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 DLE lithium recoveries were typically above 90%
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 10% of the lithium in solution is retained in the moisture remaining in the tailings<\/p>\n
Extraction rates do not account for losses downstream and are only indicative of the potential overall recovery.<\/p>\n
Work at the Pilot Plant continues to focus on reducing losses of lithium to tailings. A small loss of lithium from processing the DLE product solutions into Li2CO3, and the recycling of process solutions to the DLE and leach areas is anticipated.<\/p>\n
Clayton Valley future production plan<\/h3>\n
The Clayton Valley Project\u2019s production plan comprises three equal phases of production rate increases. Phase 1 and Phase 2 production rates are maintained for five years each, and Phase 3 is maintained for 30 years.<\/p>\n
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This approach was selected to reduce capital exposure and risk by dividing the Project\u2019s production schedule into realistic phases of construction and equipment installation.<\/p>\n
Phase 1 includes all work required to implement the Initial Project Plan, including all necessary mining and processing infrastructure. The Phase 2 cost estimate focuses on an expansion within the footprint of Phase 1.<\/p>\n
Phase 3 development includes an additional processing plant and facilities not built in the previous phases and allows for a fourth phase of expansion.<\/p>\n
Recommendations for project advancement<\/h3>\n
Century Lithium has completed multiple environmental studies in advance of permitting and is examining ways to optimise power requirements and incorporate alternative energy solutions.<\/p>\n
The Feasibility Study\u2019s recommendations include continuing the permitting process, engaging with governmental agencies and other parties, and proceeding with detailed engineering to further advance the Clayton Valley Project.<\/p>\n
Therefore, the company has contacted the U.S. Department of Energy\u2019s (DOE) Loan Programs Office (LPO) and plans to initiate the pre-application process under the Title Seven Clean Energy Financing program when the Feasibility Study report is complete.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Century Lithium recently completed a Feasibility Study on its Clayton Valley Lithium Project and is currently in the permitting stage.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":48992,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24502],"tags":[24530,24206],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
The Clayton Valley Lithium Project: Positive Feasibility Study results highlight project\u2019s importance<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n