Further Comment: Chile’s National Li Strategy

CleanTech Lithium PLC

24 April 2023

 

24 April 2023

CleanTech Lithium PLC

("CleanTech Lithium", "CTL" or the "Company")

Company's Clarification of Comments by Chile's President Gabriel Boric on Chile's National Lithium Strategy  

The Board of CleanTech Lithium PLC (AIM: CTL, Frankfurt: T2N, OTC: CTLHF), an exploration and development company advancing the next generation of sustainable lithium projects in Chile, is pleased to provide further clarification on how the Company might be affected by Chile's recently announced National Lithium Strategy.

Following President Boric's formal presentation of the strategy in Antofagasta on Friday 21 April, discussions with government officials since the announcement and having sought legal advice in-country, the Board have been given reassurances that CTL's assets will not require majority state participation.

The focus of 'majority state control' is for assets considered to be of strategic importance to the country and therefore it is understood to relate primarily to the Atacama and Maricunga salars, due to their lithium reserves, size and very high levels of lithium concentration. By comparison, CTL's assets are considerably smaller when compared to Salar de Atacama which has approximately 37% of the World's lithium reserves. CTL´s assets have lower levels of lithium concentration and, while highly economic for a company such as CTL, they are not of the scale that could be considered assets of national strategic importance.

Under the plans outlined by President Boric last week, private companies, such as CTL, with exploration licences that merit exploiting, will have the option to invite state participation but will not be compelled to do so. Private companies developing non-strategic assets also have the right to apply for a CEOL (special lithium operation contract). CTL has been holding discussions with state entities regarding their minority participation in our assets as this may have benefits to the Company in the development of our projects. These discussions will continue. CTL have CEOL applications ready to submit for both the Laguna Verde and Francisco Basin projects but will delay submissions pending the outcome of these discussions.

The focus of the strategy outlined by the Government is on partnership rather than nationalisation, with the aim of leveraging complementary skills and resource in support of developing the lithium industry in Chile.  The proposals as outlined, including public / private partnership and the creation of a national lithium company, are broadly in-line with those expected, based on prior discussions with government officials. The Board therefore welcomes these proposals, which it views as creating a greater degree of certainty for the lithium industry in Chile and therefore an improved climate for investment.  

The Board also notes that CTL's strategy is already in keeping with the proposals as outlined, in terms of responsible and sustainable lithium development, and therefore the national strategy may offer the potential for further opportunity for CTL in the future. CTL is at the forefront of using Direct Lithium Extraction ("DLE") technology in Chile which, when used with renewable power and reinjection of 100% of the spent brine with minimal water usage to produce lithium carbonate, allows lithium to be produced with minimum environmental impact.  The Company has also established early and active engagement programmes with local communities, as well as local and regional authorities, to support wider participation and benefit.

Aldo Boitano, Chief Executive of CleanTech Lithium, said:

"The Government's proposals seek the responsible and sustainable development of the lithium industry in Chile, for the benefit of the country alongside that of private enterprise. These aims are in-line with CTL's strategy.  Based on the advice and guidance we have been given, we have been reassured that CTL's assets will not be subject to state control under these proposals, and in fact we see the potential for significant benefit, through partnership opportunities and a more certain investment climate.

"CTL is in a short path to production as we continue to develop our lithium projects based on 2 successful drilling campaigns in 2022, that resulted in over 2 million tonnes of LCE JORC compliant resources which are being upgraded with 3 further drilling campaigns underway. Our DLE work has produced 1 kg battery grade lithium carbonate with our resin.  We have a DLE lab scale plant operating in Copiapo and a larger pilot plant due for commissioning Q3 this year. Extensive hydrogeological work is being undertaken to support the extraction and reinjection of brine in our basins. This means that not only are we on the path of developing our projects but, as a leading lithium development company in Chile, are in a position to participate potentially in public-private partnerships to fast track development of state owned salars."  

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For further information contact:
CleanTech Lithium PLC
Aldo Boitano/Gordon Stein	Jersey office: [phone] Chile office: [phone]
	Or via Celicourt
Celicourt Communications	[phone]
Felicity Winkles/Philip Dennis/Ali AlQahtani	[e-mail]
Dr. Reuter Investor Relations Dr. Eva Reuter Harbor Access - North America Jonathan Paterson/Lisa Micali Porter Novelli - Chile Florencia Cummins Beaumont Cornish Limited (Nominated Adviser) Roland Cornish/Asia Szusciak	[phone] [phone] [phone] [e-mail] [phone]
Fox-Davies Capital Limited (Joint Broker) Daniel Fox-Davies Canaccord Genuity Limited (Joint Broker) James Asensio Gordon Hamilton	[phone] [e-mail] [phone]

Notes

CleanTech Lithium (AIM:CTL, Frankfurt:T2N, OTC:CTLHF) is an exploration and development company, advancing the next generation of sustainable lithium projects in Chile.  Proudly sustainable, committed to net-zero, our mission is to produce material quantities of battery grade, carbon-neutral lithium using sustainable Direct Lithium Extraction technology, powered by clean energy, we plan to be the greenest lithium supplier to the EV market.

CleanTech Lithium has three prospective lithium projects - Laguna Verde, Francisco Basin and Llamara - located in the lithium triangle, the world's centre for battery grade lithium production. The Laguna Verde and Francisco Basin projects are situated within basins entirely controlled by the Company, which affords significant potential development and operational advantages. Llamara is the Company's latest greenfield project, which offers material potential upside at a low initial cost. All three projects have direct access to excellent infrastructure and renewable power.  

CleanTech Lithium is committed to using renewable power for processing and reducing the environmental impact of its lithium production by utilising Direct Lithium Extraction. Direct Lithium Extraction is a transformative technology which removes lithium from brine, with higher recoveries and purities. The method offers short development lead times, low upfront capex, with no extensive site construction and no evaporation pond development so there is no water depletion from the aquifer or harm to the local environment.

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