Only three or four major lthium brine projects will get up over...

Only three or four major lthium brine projects will get up over the next three to four years and Maricunga is one of them.  The 20k a year NPV is a cracker and near the best for this plant configuration - remember also it is in $US dollars.  The Salt Removal plant has knocked up the capex and opex but the bonus is that feedstock to the lithium carbonate plant will be a lot better quality and there are water savings from the Salt removal process.  This should lessen the chance of problems producing battery grade LCE down the track.  The first mover advantage at Maricunga cannot be understated.  I dont see there being another separate evaporation pond project permitted at Maricunga.

In terms of any potential buyout, the obvious targets are MSB and Bearing.  Bearing because it has little money and MSB because it is Martin Borda's private entity.  LPI through the MSB JV has driven the project for the last two and half years and will bring it home regardless.