ASX-listed Lithium Universe has decided on the perfect location for its 16,000-tonne per annum lithium carbonate refinery to service its Eastern Canadian lithium processing hub after assessing more than 20 prospective sites.
The key decision comes after the company appointed heavyweight engineering firm, Hatch, to undertake a comprehensive study for the design and location of the refinery in the Canadian State of Quebec.
Management says the ideal location for the refinery is between Quebec City and Montreal, within the Bécancour Industrial Park. Discussions with the park’s management have begun for the refinery that is a key component of the company's Québec Lithium Processing Hub initiative.
Lithium Universe tasked the engineering study to help define the process and non-process infrastructure requirements for a 16,000 tonnes per annum lithium carbonate refinery, in addition to the definitive estimated capital and operating costs. The design will include the use of conventional kiln conversion of spodumene, sulphuric acid sulphation and leaching, impurity removal and final purification to battery-grade quality lithium carbonate – similar to the Jiangsu Lithium Carbonate Plant.
A key boardroom asset for Lithium Universe is the fact it has assembled a strong team of lithium experts to assist in the execution of its strategy. Notably, chairman Iggy Tan and non-executive director Dr Jingyuan Liu previously worked with Hatch on the design, construction and commissioning of the Jiangsu plant.
More than 20 sites were considered for the new plant, with a focus on the availability of flat land, access to infrastructure such as rail, road and port facilities, and access to a labour supply for construction operation and maintenance. Also, part of the decision-making process was the consideration of First Nations interest and access to power, water and geological and geographic suitability.
Four sites were shortlisted, with the Becancour Industrial Park deemed the most favourable.
Lithium Universe chairman Iggy Tan said: “The comprehensive location study carried out by Hatch for our battery grade lithium carbonate refinery has guided our decision-making process leading us to focus on a suitable location. Establishing a sophisticated chemical refinery in the James Bay region is not viable. However, setting up a concentrator near an orebody is feasible. We can transport the Spodumene concentrate to a regional facility such as the Becancour Industrial Park where it can be converted into battery-grade lithium carbonate.”
Mr Tan was one of the first Australian mining executives to identify the significant opportunity within the emerging lithium-ion battery sector when he spearheaded Galaxy Resources. His previous experience working within the lithium industry dates back to the early 1990s when he briefly managed the Greenbushes lithium mine and commissioned the first lithium carbonate plant for Gwalia Consolidated.
Only recently ASX-listed, Lithium Universe is focussed on the exploration and associated development of its Apollo lithium project in Canada’s renowned James Bay area. The operation in the province of Quebec covers about 240 square kilometres and includes 466 claims. The site is considered a greenfield project with limited historical exploration. Quebec’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests has identified a total of 17 outcrops on the property as being dominantly pegmatite-hosted.
Apollo was staked early last year by a private owner and is on the same trend as and adjacent to ground owned by Patriot Battery Metals and Winsome Resources – both of which have hit thick, shallow and high-grade coarse spodumene mineralisation during drilling.
Patriot’s Corvette deposit holds an inferred resource of 109.2 million tonnes at 1.42 per cent lithium oxide and 160 parts per million tantalum oxide. Drilling at the site has returned some impressive hits including 156m at 2.12 per cent lithium oxide.
Winsome has its Adina deposit about 20km east of Apollo, where it has returned best drill results of 107m grading 1.34 per cent lithium oxide from just 2.3m.
Lithium Universe is strategically positioning itself as a leader in lithium project development, with an extremely rapid timeline from resource acquisition to constructing a spodumene-producing mine in Québec.
The company has strategic access to significant lithium prospects within premier mining regions in Canada and Australia and is strengthening its foundation for growth in the global lithium market.
Is your ASX-listed company doing something interesting? Contact: matt.birney@businessnews.com.au
By Steve Butler
