CleanTech Lithium (CTL) , a Chile-focused lithium explorer, noted its recently hosted seminar "Lithium: Global Challenges, Local Issues, Decarbonization, Sustainability and Participation", which brought together international academics and industry leaders to explore the crucial role of lithium in global decarbonisation and the transition to a green economy.
CleanTech Lithium hosted the seminar at the University of Atacama in Chile on January 18th and 19th. An essential part of the event was the visit of international academics to CleanTech's R&D centre in Copiapó where its DLE pilot plant is being commissioned. The setting allowed participants to experience firsthand CleanTech's sustainable approach to lithium extraction, while highlighting the importance of public-private partnerships to address complex challenges facing the industry.
"Collaboration between academia, industry and government is essential to developing sustainable solutions in lithium extraction and its integration into the global supply chain. The presence of international academics at our DLE pilot plant is a testament to our commitment to innovation and transparency in our operations." commented Marcela Sepúlveda, Community Relations Manager for CleanTech Lithium.
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CleanTech Lithium continues to reinforce its ESG approach, hosting a major seminar on the crucial role of lithium in the world's transition to sustainable energy. The seminar fostered collaboration between stakeholders, industry leaders, and researchers to address the present and future challenges facing the lithium extraction industry. The event highlighted local complexities associated with lithium extraction, in the context of Chile being one of the top producers.
CleanTech appropriately hosted the event at its DLE pilot plant in Copiapó. CleanTech is a pioneer of DLE technology in Chile, committed to using 100% renewable energy in its lithium extraction and processing. DLE is a more modern and sustainable method of extracting lithium with significant environmental and cost benefits. In contrast to older methods, DLE has a much smaller geographical footprint, enabling cheaper and more efficient production while reducing aquifer depletion.
DLE offers substantial advantages in extraction efficiency, capacity scaling, timing, and environmental permitting. With the ability to potentially double lithium yield from brine projects, elevating it from the conventional 40-60% range to 70-90%+, DLE introduces sustainability benefits that align with the preferences of ESG-oriented investors. Notably, these include a remarkable 20-fold reduction in land usage from the lack of evaporation ponds.
CleanTech ordered its DLE pilot plant from Sunresin in Q1 2023, which is currently being commissioned. The plant is designed to produce up to 1 tonne per month of LCE in concentrated lithium eluate, which will be processed to battery-grade lithium carbonate at an existing 3rd party facility. CleanTech is also advancing a pre-feasibility study (PFS) at its flagship Laguna Verde project, which will incorporate results from test work over 6 months using a lab-scale multivalve DLE system.
CleanTech's approach is aligned with Chile's National Lithium Strategy, which mandates the use of DLE. CleanTech also places an emphasis on community engagement and wellbeing, having recently announced an alliance with the Colla territorial communities for the first co-created mining model for lithium extraction in Chile.
Investors interested in sustainable lithium mining utilising DLE technology should CleanTech Lithium.