- Sustainable supply supports the Company’s planned 50,000 tpa LCE production facility
- Fresh water discovery is key competitive advantage compared to other lithium brine salars in the region
The preliminary Study, initiated eight months ago, indicates that the fresh water aquifer located within the Tolillar Salar mining tenements can sustainably support 5,109,279 m3/year (583 m3/hour) of fresh water withdrawals, without affecting the fresh water reserves in this sector of the basin. Sustainable exploitation of the fresh water aquifer requires that the net outflows (“Exploitation”) are greater than the net inflows (“Recharge”).
The Study refers to only one of three fresh water targets the Company plans to investigate on its Tolillar property.
Much of the Lithium Triangle surrounding Tolillar Salar is classified as a high-altitude desert, with near-zero absolute humidity, making the general area drier than the Sahara Desert and one of the driest places on earth. Since abundant fresh water is rarely found in the Lithium Triangle, and it is a necessity for the production of lithium chemicals, the discovery of an industrial scale supply is a tremendous competitive advantage for the Company.
According to the Study completed by industry expert, Conhidro SRL, Alpha enjoys the advantage of controlling a very large aquifer that can deliver large amounts of fresh water at high rates, and importantly, the Company does not have to compete with any other regional producers for that fresh water.
Technically, the most important considerations with fresh water sources for the purposes of lithium production are:
- The existence and size of a fresh water aquifer
- The desired rate of fresh water Exploitation
- The proven rate of fresh water Recharge
- Competitive drainage of the aquifer by other operators
- The distance between the production facility and the aquifer
As outlined in the Study, Alpha’s fresh water aquifer in Tolillar has the following estimated considerations:
- The Company has drilled four fresh water wells, two aquifer monitoring wells and the broader basin is estimated to have an areal extent of 444 km2 (171 square miles)
- Water usage of a 50,000 tpa LCE plant, for example, is expected to require no more than 500 m3/hour, without recycling or optimizing water usage
- Rate of Recharge of Alpha’s fresh water aquifer is estimated at 583 m3/hour (5,109,270 m3/year)
- There are no competitive drainage issues within the Tolillar aquifer, as the aquifer exists on the Tolillar Salar, the entirety of which is owned 100% by Alpha, and all of which is contained under Alpha’s mining tenements
- The pilot plant, which is currently under construction, and the proposed 50,000 tpa lithium chemicals production facility (see
January 9, 2023 news release) are located on the Tolillar Salar, and a very convenient distance to the fresh water aquifer
All operations and assets of the Company are in
Since initiating the first steps of an exploration program in 2020,
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF ALPHA LITHIUM CORPORATION
“Brad Nichol”
President, CEO and Director
For more information:
Alpha Lithium Investor Relations
Tel: +1 844 592 6337
relations@alphalithium.com
www.alphalithium.com
About
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this news release are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations include the results of further brine process testing and exploration and other risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by applicable law.
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