And the high capex clay duds keep rolling out.

Century Lithium will be using their own patented chloride leeching process instead of sulfuric acid like T.P. If this project gets funded you can pretty much guarantee Big Sandy will too (higher grade, best AZ lithium project, Native American partners). Personally I think it would just be cheaper to build more modules at Prairie and have Ivan be the U.S dropshipper. Video killed the radio star, DLE brine killed the clay star.

https://centurylithium.com/news/2024/century-lithium-announces-positive-feasibility-study-for-the-clayton-valley-lithium-project-nevada

- FEASIBILITY STUDY HIGHLIGHTS Large-Scale Nevada-based Lithium Project: three-phase production plan will generate a life-of-mine average of 34,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) of battery-quality lithium carbonate (Li2CO3)

- Innovative Approach in Processing: patent-pending chloride leaching process combined with Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE), the Feasibility Study is supported by 2+ years of testing at the Company’s Pilot Plant

- Mineral Resource Estimate: Measured and Indicated resources totaling 1,207.33 million tonnes (Mt) at an average grade of 957 parts per million (ppm) lithium (Li) containing 1.155 Mt of Li or 6.148 Mt of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE)

- Long 40-Year Mine Life: Proven and Probable Mineral Reserve Estimate totaling 287.65 Mt at an average grade of 1,149 ppm Li containing 0.330 Mt of lithium or 1.759 Mt of LCE

- Initial Project: Phase 1 Capital Cost $1.537 billion for production capacity of 13,000 tpa LCE

- Designed for Expansion: Phase 2 $0.651 billion for 28,000 tpa LCE, and Phase 3 $1.336 billion for 41,000 tpa LCE; Project expansions are capitalized with Project cash flow

- Low Operating Cost: average operating cost $8,223/t of Li2CO3 produced, or $2,766/t after sales of surplus sodium hydroxide (NaOH)

- After-tax IRR of 17.1% at $24,000/t Li2CO3: $3.01 billion after-tax net present value (NPV) at 8% discount rate and a 17.1% after-tax internal rate of return (IRR), using price assumptions of $24,000/t for Li2CO3 and $600/dry metric tonne (dmt) for NaOH