A Worley sponsored article (dated 01/11/21) via Mining...

A Worley sponsored article (dated 01/11/21) via Mining Technology's website is titled "Lithium’s Independence Day looms as DLE technology progresses"

Their final point extracted below was quite interesting:

On the verge of transformation

For those chasing lithium self-sufficiency, DLE is a viable technology for producers and governments to achieve lithium self-sufficiency.

However, research centres and lithium producers will need the right partner to help them ‘bridge the gap’ by assessing technology readiness, then guiding these solutions through front-end loading processes.

“Those who work out how to make DLE technology work for them and find sustainable options may leapfrog ahead and become a large player in a growing industry,” says Cuttriss.

“Managing the risks of new technology isn’t about good luck. Focused front-end-loading on the engineering of technology lowers the risk of implementation.

Adding more definition and planning at the engineering stage helps miners to make better decisions as a technology is scaled up from concept to a solution that can be industrially applied.

But regardless of the extraction technique or location, favorable market conditions will arise for lithium producers who can demonstrate low carbon, sustainable operations.”