Fundamentals, page-188

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Environmental study begins on two lithium projects for US $ 1,100 mills.

Saturday, September 15, 2018

Two important lithium projects began yesterday their phase of environmental study before the authorities. These are initiatives announced by Albemarle and Minera Salar Blanco.
In the case of the North American firm, the Environmental Impact Study (EIA) of the Mejillones Lithium Carbonate plant, valued at approximately US $ 583 million, will be located in the Antofagasta Region.
It is a project that has an estimated production capacity of 42,500 tons of lithium carbonate per year. To achieve production, they will need approximately 130,000 m {+3} of brine coming from the Salar de Atacama, which will be originated from the improvement in the efficiency of the recovery process that has driven the company, from 83.5% to 88%. ,5%.
It is estimated that up to 1,400 workers will be needed for the construction process, while 320 will be in operation.
In the case of Minera Salar Blanco, the company controlled by Australian capitals, began the study of the site located in the Salar de Maricunga, which seeks to get fully into the national lithium industry, through a project that estimated to produce up to 20 thousand tons of lithium per year and about 58 thousand tons of potassium chloride.
Regarding the estimated amount of investment for the execution of the works and activities of the project, the figure corresponds to US $ 527 million. A useful life of the site is expected for about 24 years and for its construction, a workforce of up to 1,200 people will be required.
ALBEMARLE SEEKS TO PROCESS A LARGER AMOUNT OF LITHIUM CARBONATE, WHILE SALAR BLANCO WILL BE THE FIRST TO EXPLODE THE SALAR DE MARICUNGA.