Lithium nimmt Fahrt auf
Western Lithium
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA and TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Dec. 17, 2015) - Western Lithium USA Corporation ("Western Lithium", the "Company") (TSX:WLC)(OTCQX:WLCDF) will host a conference call with new CEO Tom Hodgson and the Company's management on Monday December 21st at 11AM ET. The Company is also pleased to provide an update on the progress of its' three projects, and to discuss its plans for the coming year:
Cauchari-Olaroz lithium project ("Cauchari-Olaroz"), the third largest1 known lithium brine resource in the world, located in Jujuy province, Argentina, in which the Company continues to advance a potential joint venture with POSCO that could be the catalyst for near term production on the project and make Western Lithium the next lithium producer;
Kings Valley lithium project, in which the Company continues towards a Feasibility Study and permitting, with the objective of becoming a mid-term domestic source of lithium supply in Nevada, USA;
Hectatone organoclay business, in which the Company's business objective for 2016 is to commence commercial production and become cash flow positive.
Cauchari-Olaroz Lithium Project, Jujuy Province, Argentina
As previously reported by Lithium Americas Corp., prior to the merger close with Western Lithium, in a press release dated August 27, 2015, a Heads of Agreement ("HOA") was executed with POSCO regarding the commercialization of the Company's Cauchari-Olaroz lithium project. POSCO and Western Lithium's intention to develop a commercial project at the Cauchari-Olaroz follows on the successful results from the operation during 2015 of POSCO's large-scale lithium extraction demonstration plant.
POSCO, South Korea's largest steel company, has stated its intent to enter the lithium business as it pursues high growth opportunities within the advanced metals and materials industries. The HOA, legally non-binding and non-exclusive, provides the basic framework and conditions to establish a Joint Venture Company that will produce lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide. Both parties are now in the process of completing final technical, financial and legal due diligence. The current negotiating framework includes the potential for initial production of lithium products in early 2017. Further details on business terms such as capital investment, operating costs, product mix, economic ownership and financing responsibilities are expected to be finalized in early 2016.
In the HOA, the parties have stated that POSCO will contribute to the joint venture its proprietary lithium extraction technologies for the production of lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide, while Western Lithium will contribute lithium-rich brine from its Cauchari-Olaroz project. The parties contemplate that the first stage of the plant would produce up to 2,500 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent ("LCE") per annum, with the project ramping up to 20,000 tonnes of LCE per annum.
Commenting on the status of negotiations, the Company's CEO, Tom Hodgson, stated: "Our objective for the commencement of Cauchari-Olaroz's production coincides with the timing of a major positive transformation in Argentina, which now has a new government that we believe will seek to attract global investment capital. Our discussions with POSCO are advancing during a time of positive global market conditions for lithium, and positive political and economic changes for Argentina. It is prudent that we carefully plan our path to production as we make long-term decisions and commitments to our joint business plan. We now expect to have a new Co-operation Agreement announced early in 2016 that will further define the parameters for commercialization of Cauchari-Olaroz. The lithium market needs new sources of supply and we are excited to rapidly advance our project and to play an important role in the new energy storage economy."
Kings Valley Lithium Project, Nevada, USA
The Company is also pleased to provide an update for the ongoing large-scale lithium extraction testing programs underway in Germany using the Company's proprietary patented process. The campaign commenced on November 10th and is expected to run until mid-December.
A test program has been completed to establish the handling characteristics of the calcined feed and leached tailings. Nearly 40 tons of near surface oxidized clay were granulated and calcined, and are being processed at the Company's lithium demonstration plant to produce lithium carbonate and potassium and sodium sulphates. The processing campaigns have been designed to provide operating criteria for a commercial scale facility.
In the New Year, the Company is planning to run approximately 50 to 100 tons of representative unoxidized clay, which is intended to serve as the final testing program to support design criteria for a Definitive Feasibility Study. This final campaign is expected to conclude the demonstration plant operations so that detailed project engineering can commence in parallel with project permitting and further engineering around a lithium hydroxide conversion circuit.
Hectatone Organoclay Business, Nevada, USA
Hectatone has recently completed a business plan for 2016, focused on achieving a level of sales required to become cash flow positive by the end of 2016.
Important milestones and progress achieved by Hectatone in 2015 will further contribute to 2016 results and include:
Sale of first organophilic clay into the drilling industry in Q1 2015, which was used in drilling operations in South America;
Achieving certified supplier status with nine leading oilfield service companies, including two major companies;
Sales of Hectabind™ animal feed additive to markets in S. Korea, China, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and Mexico which began in Q3 2015;
Hectasorb™ organophilic bentonite granules manufactured at pilot scale have received positive results from a North American customer for use in geosynthetic clay liner applications. Samples will be submitted to customers in Q1, 2016. Additionally, Hectasorb™ samples have been submitted to a European customer to confirm performance in the application of recycling engine radiator coolant fluids and aircraft de-icing fluids;
Hectaflow™ lab manufactured samples tested by a European customer as a rheology additive in solvent borne unsaturated, epoxy, and vinyl polyester resins coatings completed in Q4 2015 with positive results. Pilot scale manufacturing was completed in Q4 2015 and production samples will be submitted by early 2016.
During 2016, Hectatone is targeting four market segments for the commercialization of its organophilic clay products. Hectatone will seek to expand its business beyond oilfield and develop new products that target opportunities in markets to include Coating & Building Product Applications, Animal Feed Industry, and Environmental Application Products. The Company intends to leverage the declining cost environment for raw materials, manufacturing supplies and transportation to produce high quality cost competitive products that meets market needs.
Hectatone President Frank Wright commented, "Hectatone's new plant is a world-class production facility with an annual practical capacity of 24,000 tons per year. Hectatone has achieved several foundational milestones in its first year of operation. The company has achieved certified vendor status for its standard organophilic bentonite product, Hectatone™ B91, with several oilfield service companies including two of the majors."
wünsche Euch Allen einen schönen 4.Advent! 
Guten Morgen! 
aber geht alles eben langsam seinen Weg. Ich hatte mal Alkane Resources vorgestellt, die bereits eine kleine Goldmine betreiben, und mit dem Cashflow ihr Flagschiff, das Dubbo Zirkonium Projekt (DZP) nach vorne bringen wollen, dabei handelt es sich um ein Zirkonium, Hafnium, Niobium und Seltene Erden (HREE) Projekt, für welches seit 10 Jahren an einer Demo Plant die Separation optimiert wird.
hi, in der Tat eine laaaaaaange Flaute schon.......man kann langsam Odyseuss verstehen als sie keinen Wind in den Segeln hatten
