Here we can disuss DLE related information.From the latest Orior...

Here we can disuss DLE related information.

From the latest Orior Capital report on LKE:

"A shift away from evaporation ponds to DLE
Evaporation ponds are essentially a 1st Century technology that was used by the Romans to produce salt. They are slow to establish, and to expand, have low recoveries, and have come under environmental scrutiny, especially in Chile. The lithium industry is now at the forefront of a‘technology-upgrading’ that will see far greater use of DLE. Surely, the best way for companies operating on the Salar de Atacama to improve lithium recoveries and address environmental concerns would be to invest in DLE processes.

A need to diversify supply
Today, lithium is mainly produced either via inefficient evaporation ponds in South America or from Australian hard rock sources that are processed in China. Neither is ideal from the perspective of awestern world automaker. Developing DLE projects in South America, as well as in the US and Europe, will create more diversified supply chains.


A combination of factors including lithium being a critical mineral in the bid to decarbonize; production capacity needing to increase eight-fold over the next decade to meet current demand estimates; and the growing relationship between sustainability and financing, all suggest the ESG credentials of lithium extraction methods will be subjected to closer scrutiny in the coming years by customers, regulators, and local communities. Only projects that adhere to strict environmental standards are likely to proceed. Lithium extraction from salt brines is already facing opposition in Chile.
According to Fitch Solutions, extraction from the lithium triangle salt flats has been highly water-intensive, requiring about 2m litres of water per tonne of lithium extracted.Fitch believes this presents a risk of water shortages forfuture agricultural needs in an area already regarded as one of the driest on Earth. Further, the risk of pollution of local water supplies may result in rising opposition to new lithium operations. Indigenous communities in the lithium triangle have voiced opposition to lithium extraction. The only realistic option to achieve both the growth in supply required, and sustainability, is to use direct lithium extraction. DLE is expected to become the primary method of lithium extraction over the next few years.At some stage, lithium producers currently using evaporation ponds are likely to come under pressure to upgrade facilities and use some form of DLE.

It’s already happening

• In March 2021, BMW secured a €285m lithium chemicals purchase agreement with Livent, with BMW citing Livent’s “unique technology” for producing lithium. Livent operates what is currently theonly commercial hybrid direct extraction operation in the western hemisphere.

• Also in March 2021, Schlumberger announced the development of a lithium extraction pilot plant in Clayton Valley, Nevada, USA through a new venture called NeoLith Energy. NeoLith uses a DLE process. Last week, Schlumberger said it would collaborate with Panasonic Energy of NorthAmerica, with Panasonic providing guidance to validate and optimize material for battery-grade consumption. The NeoLith pilot plant is located some 200 miles from Panasonic’s battery manufacturing operation, Panasonic Energy of North America, in Sparks, Nevada.
• In May 2021, Mitsui announced an MOU with Lithium Power International that will include collaboration on future DLE based projects.
• Also in May 2021, Eramet and Électricité de Strasbourg announced they had successfully extracted lithium from geothermal brine during pilot-scale tests in early-2021 at the Rittershoffen geothermal power plant in northern Alsace, France. Eramet used a DLE process developed as part of its Centenario Lithium project in Argentina.
• Last week, Albemarle was reported to be introducing a way of extracting more lithium from its brine resources, lifting yields from 50-55% to 80-85%. The project has a budget of under US$200m, and is expected to take 18 months to implement. Although details are scant at this stage, this is expected to be another DLE based process.
• Jade Cove Partners, a superb resource for direct extraction technologies in lithium, is now tracking 70 DLE technology solutions in development and operation around the world."