E3 LITHIUM LTD. (TSXV: ETL) (FSE: OW3) (OTCQX: EEMMF), “E3
Lithium” or the “Company,” Alberta’s leading lithium developer and
extraction technology innovator, today outlined the Key Performance
Indicators (KPIs) for its Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) field
pilot plant, which remains on track to commence operations in Q3
2023.
E3 Lithium’s field pilot plant will be located east of Olds,
Alberta, at the first well completed during its 2022 inaugural
drill program. That program, which included sampling from three
wells, confirmed reservoir characteristics and average lithium
concentrations of 75 mg/L in the Leduc Reservoir.
The field pilot is designed to test and validate DLE technology
in real-world operating conditions to develop the design and cost
estimates for E3 Lithium’s first commercial facility. Outlined
below are a set of parameters, or KPIs, for the field pilot
plant.
Pilot KPIs: E3 Lithium will measure the success of the
field pilot plant against the KPIs below.
Success Criteria
Key Performance Indicator
(KPI)
Description
Lithium recovery
≥ 80%
Mass of lithium recovered from the mass of
lithium in the feed
Lithium grade in the lithium product
stream
≥ 25%
Concentration of lithium relative to other
impurities (Na+K+Ca+Mg+Mn+Sr+B)
≥ 600 mg/L
Concentration of lithium in the lithium
product stream
Flow rate ratio
≥ 3
Brine flow rate divided by the system
volumetric capacity
Lithium Recovery: The basis for including ≥ 80% lithium
recovery is that it enables E3 Lithium to maximize the value of
each unit of brine brought to surface.
Lithium Concentrate Quality: The quality of the product
stream, or concentrate, containing lithium ≥ 600 mg/L with low
impurities (≥ than 25% lithium in the product stream) outlines a
high lithium to impurity ratio that enables simplified and
conventional downstream refining into battery quality lithium
hydroxide.
Flow Rate: The flow rate ratio is a measure of the rate
at which the lithium can be extracted from the brine within a fixed
capacity. The higher the ratio, the smaller the DLE commercial
plant required, which is a proxy for the capital costs of this
system.
DLE Technology
Along with testing its DLE technology to demonstrate commercial
viability, E3 Lithium will also be testing third-party technology
at its field pilot plant this summer and fall. Based on the results
of testing, commercial readiness and economics, the Company will
decide which technology to pursue for its first commercial
facility. Choosing the appropriate technology path for the first
plant will enable E3 Lithium to get to commercial operations as
quickly as possible and reduce its project technology risk while
controlling the cost and quality of the process and end
product.
Each of the KPIs outlined above will be compared relative to
each other. For example, a higher recovery may offset lower lithium
in the product stream. E3 Lithium believes that achieving these
KPIs will facilitate a design basis for the Pre-Feasibility Study
and provide a viable commercial operation. The Company is working
through the full process design for a Pre-Feasibility Study and the
fulsome project economics will be outlined, taking into account the
DLE results, along with the other process factors, to produce a
final battery quality lithium hydroxide.
“Achieving the KPIs we have outlined for our field pilot will
provide us, our investors and stakeholders confidence in our
ability to commercialize our vast, world-class resource,” said
Chris Doornbos, President and CEO of E3 Lithium. “We look forward
to proving the producibility and economics of our project and
setting ourselves firmly on the path from development to
commercialization.”
Pilot Progress Update
E3 Lithium began receiving pilot equipment to site in early June
in advance of mechanical construction, planned for late June/early
July. Once mechanical and electrical construction is complete, the
Company will move into commissioning set to begin later in
July.
Join us at our Webinar
E3 Lithium invites investors and interested parties to join our
webinar on Wednesday, June 14, 2023 for an update.
Date: Wednesday, June 14, 2023 Time: 2:00 - 3:00
PM MT Link to Zoom Meeting ID: 845 9666 4625
Passcode: 675888
Management Changes
Chris Ward, VP, Clearwater Project and officer of the Company,
has left E3 Lithium to pursue other opportunities. E3 Lithium
thanks Chris for his contributions to the Company's success. Kevin
Carroll, Chief Development Officer, will take over leadership of E3
Lithium's project development.
E3 Lithium Extends Agreement with
Native Ads Inc.
Company has extended its agreement with Native Ads Inc. to
execute a comprehensive digital media marketing campaign for the
Company. This programmatic digital advertising campaign will run
for up to 12 months where 75% of the costs will be directly
allocated to the cost-per-click impression costs of media
placements and distribution and 25% will be allocated for content
creation, web development, advertising creative development, search
engine optimization, and strategic digital advertising
consulting.
E3 Lithium Engages Independent Trading
Group (ITG) as Market Maker
Subject to regulatory approval, effective June 15, 2023, E3
Lithium has engaged the services of Independent Trading Group
("ITG") to provide market-making services in accordance with TSX
Venture Exchange TSXV policies. ITG will trade shares of the
Company on the TSXV, OTCQX and all other trading venues with the
objective of maintaining a reasonable market and improving the
liquidity of the Company's common shares.
Under the agreement, ITG will receive compensation of CAD$7,000
per month, payable monthly in advance. The agreement is for an
initial term of three months and will renew for additional
one-month terms unless terminated. The agreement may be terminated
by either party with 30 days' notice. There are no performance
factors contained in the agreement and ITG will not receive shares
or options as compensation. ITG and the Company are unrelated and
unaffiliated entities and at the time of the agreement, neither ITG
nor its principals have an interest, directly or indirectly, in the
securities of the Company.
About E3 Lithium
E3 Lithium is a development company with a total of 16.0 million
tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) Measured and Indicated
and 0.9 million tonnes LCE Inferred mineral resources1 in Alberta.
As outlined in E3’s Preliminary Economic Assessment, the Clearwater
Lithium Project has an NPV8% of USD 1.1 Billion with a 32% IRR
pre-tax and USD 820 Million with a 27% IRR after-tax1. E3 Lithium’s
goal is to produce high purity, battery grade lithium products to
power the growing electrical revolution. With a significant lithium
resource and innovative technology solutions, E3 Lithium has the
potential to deliver lithium to market from one of the best
jurisdictions in the world.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Chris Doornbos, President & CEO E3 Lithium Ltd.
1: The Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for the Clearwater
Lithium Project NI 43-101 technical report is amended Sept 17,
2021. The mineral resource NI 43-101 Technical Report for the North
Rocky Property, effective October 27, 2017, identified 0.9Mt LCE
(inferred). The mineral resource NI 43-101 Technical Report for the
Bashaw District Project, effective March 21, 2023, identified
16.0Mt LCE (measured & indicated). All reports are available on
the E3 Lithium’s website (e3lithium.ca/technical-reports) and SEDAR
(www.sedar.com).
Forward-Looking and Cautionary Statements
This news release includes certain forward-looking statements as
well as management’s objectives, strategies, beliefs and
intentions. Forward looking statements are frequently identified by
such words as “may”, “will”, “plan”, “expect”, “anticipate”,
“estimate”, “intend” and similar words referring to future events
and results. Forward-looking statements are based on the current
opinions and expectations of management. All forward-looking
information is inherently uncertain and subject to a variety of
assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including the speculative
nature of mineral exploration and development, fluctuating
commodity prices, the effectiveness and feasibility of emerging
lithium extraction technologies which have not yet been tested or
proven on a commercial scale or on the Company’s brine, competitive
risks and the availability of financing, as described in more
detail in our recent securities filings available at www.sedar.com.
Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected
in the forward-looking statements and we caution against placing
undue reliance thereon. We assume no obligation to revise or update
these forward-looking statements except as required by applicable
law.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230614600424/en/
E3 Lithium - Investor and Media
Relations Greg Foofat Manager, Investor Relations
investor@e3lithium.ca 587-324-2775
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