Volt Proprietary DLE Process
CALGARY, Alberta, Feb. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Volt Lithium Corp. (TSXV: VLT | OTCQB: VLTLF) ("Volt" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the achievement of another critical milestone on the path to commercializing its proprietary and proven next-generation Direct Lithium Extraction ("DLE") technology for processing oilfield brines at the Company's permanent Demonstration Plant in Calgary (the "Demonstration Plant"). As a result of continued DLE technology process improvements, led by Volt's scientific and engineering teams, the Company has achieved a 64% reduction in full-cycle DLE operating costs to process brine from its Rainbow Lake, Alberta project at Volt's Demonstration Plant. This reduction builds on the Company's past success streamlining the DLE process and driving down costs in order to support robust margins for Volt's production of lithium carbonate, even within a volatile price environment for lithium.
"Volt is well on our way to become the low-cost commercial producer of battery-grade lithium from oilfield brines in North America," commented Alex Wylie, Volt's President & CEO. "The Volt engineering and technical teams continue to improve operational processes for our proprietary DLE technology that we believe will truly drive commercial success for the Company. As demand for high-quality lithium continues to grow, Volt's latest achievement positions us to help meet the world's expanding need for this critical mineral, and to do so in an environmentally sustainable and lower-impact manner."
DLE Operational Improvements
Volt continues to accelerate process improvements related to its proprietary DLE technology at the Company's Demonstration Plant. The associated operating cost reductions are highlighted in the table below, showing continuous improvement over three key periods in Volt's ongoing advancement of its DLE technology, including: 1) May 2023 pilot operations; 2) December 2023 Demonstration Plant operations for the Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA"); and 3) Year to Date 2024 process improvements achieved at the Demonstration Plant by the Company's scientific and engineering teams. Brine used in each of the periods was sourced from the 15-1-111-06W6M well (the "Feedstock Well") producing from the Keg River formation at Rainbow Lake, and had an initial lithium concentration of 34 mg/L.
The operating costs in Table 1 below reflect Volt's costs to produce a marketable lithium carbonate of approximately 90% purity at the Company's field operations. This saleable, 90% purity lithium carbonate product can then be further refined into battery-grade lithium by an existing third party refiner.
Table 1: Progression of Operating Cost Reductions for Volt's DLE Technology
| 34 mg/L | |
| May 2023 Pilot | Dec 2023 PEA | Feb 2024 Current | Reduction May 2023 Pilot to Current |
| $/tonne LCE | $/tonne LCE | $/tonne LCE | % change |
Operating Costs1,2 | | | | |
Pre-Treatment and Filtration | 1,880 | 1,165 | 914 | (51%) |
DLE3 | 5,121 | 1,905 | 1,051 | (79%) |
Concentration and Crystallization | 258 | 290 | 312 | 21% |
Other4 | 798 | 1,209 | 608 | (24%) |
Total | 8,0575 | 4,5696 | 2,885 | (64%) |
1 Based on a commercial operating unit processing 60,000 bbls/d of brine. Represents commercial grade lithium.
2 All amounts in the above table are in USD.
3 Reduction in cost due to the following: 1) process improvements which significantly reduced the reagents required, 2) increasing the concentration of the lithium in the eluate from 65 parts per million ("ppm") to 1,190ppm and 3) membrane replacements costs being capitalized.
4 Other operating costs include manpower, maintenance materials and external services.
5 As per press release dated May 24, 2023 the Company reported OPEX of $8,627 CAD per tonne LCE at 50 ppm.
6 This is the estimated equivalent cost using PEA assumptions but based on a lower Li concentration (34 mg/L).
In addition to driving meaningful cost reductions, the impact of Volt's technological advancements has also resulted in significantly improved lithium extraction results, which rose from 90% in the May 2023 Pilot to 98% in the recent February 2024 testing at the Demonstration Plant.
Given Volt's DLE process is able to successfully remove 99% of impurities from the brine before processing, and achieve a 98% lithium extraction rate, the Company can cost-effectively generate a high-quality eluate of 90% lithium carbonate. This 90% lithium carbonate is a product that can be sold to existing third-party refiners for further processing into a 99.5% battery-grade lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide. A schematic outlining Volt's proprietary DLE process and ultimate production of battery grade lithium carbonate is shown below.
Figure 1: Volt Proprietary DLE Process
Option Grant
The Company also announces the grant of an aggregate of 1,200,000 incentive stock options (the "Options") to certain consultants (the "Option Recipients") to purchase common shares (the "Shares") in the capital of the Company pursuant to Volt's stock option plan (the "Option Plan"). The Options, which vest in equal tranches every six months over an 18-month period, are exercisable at a price of $0.20 per Share for a period of four years from the date of grant, and expire on February 14, 2028.
These grants represent compensation to the Option Recipients for their respective service to the Company and as an incentive mechanism to foster and align the interest of such persons in the long-term success of Volt.
Qualified Person's Statement
Scientific and technical information contained in this press release has been reviewed and approved by Doug Ashton, P.Eng, and Meghan Klein, P.Eng of Sproule Associates Limited, each of whom are qualified persons within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"). Mr. Ashton and Ms. Klein consent to the inclusion of the data in the form and context in which it appears.
About Volt
Volt is a lithium development and technology company aiming to be North America's first commercial producer of lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonates from oilfield brine. Our strategy is to generate value for shareholders by leveraging management's hydrocarbon experience and existing infrastructure to extract lithium deposits from existing wells, thereby reducing capital costs, lowering risks and supporting the world's clean energy transition. With four differentiating pillars, and a proprietary Direct Lithium Extraction ("DLE") technology and process, Volt's innovative approach to development is focused on allowing the highest lithium recoveries with lowest costs, positioning us well for future commercialization. We are committed to operating efficiently and with transparency across all areas of the business staying sharply focused on creating long-term, sustainable shareholder value. Investors and/or other interested parties may sign up for updates about the Company's continued progress on its website:
Contact Information
For Investor Relations inquiries or further information, please contact:
Alex Wylie, President & CEO
awylie@voltlithium.com
M: +1.403.830.5811
Forward Looking Statements
This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "plan", "forecast", "may", "would", "could", "schedule" and similar words or expressions, identify forward-looking statements or information. Statements, other than statements of historical fact, may constitute forward looking information and include, without limitation, statements about the qualification of the FT Units as "flow-through shares" under the Tax Act, which is subject to the risks set out in the Prospectus Supplement; the use of proceeds from the Offering and the Concurrent Private Placement; the ability of the Company to incur qualified Canadian Exploration Expenses with the gross proceeds of the sale of the FT Units; the conduct of the Company's preliminary economic assessment for the Rainbow Lake project; the Company's continued exploration of its mineral properties; and general business and economic conditions. With respect to the forward-looking information contained in this news release, the Company has made numerous assumptions. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable, these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies and may prove to be incorrect. Additionally, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information contained herein including those known risk factors outlined in the Company's amended and restated annual information form and the Shelf. All forward-looking information herein is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement, and the Company disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking information or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as required by law.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
Volt 專有 DLE 工藝
艾伯塔省卡爾加里,2024年2月21日(GLOBE NEWSWIRE)——Volt Lithium Corp.(TSXV:VLT | OTCQB:VLTLF)(“Volt” 或 “公司”)欣然宣佈,在該公司位於卡爾加里的永久示範廠將其專有且經過驗證的下一代直接鋰提取(“DLE”)技術商業化的道路上又取得了又一個關鍵的里程碑(“示範”)植物”)。在Volt的科學和工程團隊的領導下,通過持續的DE技術工藝改進,該公司在Volt示範工廠處理來自艾伯塔省彩虹湖項目的鹽水的全週期DE運營成本降低了64%。此次削減建立在該公司過去成功簡化DE流程和降低成本的基礎上,即使在鋰價格波動的環境中,Volt的碳酸鋰生產也能保持強勁的利潤。
Volt總裁兼首席執行官亞歷克斯·威利評論說:“Volt即將成爲北美油田鹽水電池級鋰的低成本商業生產商。”“Volt工程和技術團隊繼續改善我們專有的DE技術的運營流程,我們相信這將真正推動公司的商業成功。隨着對高質量鋰的需求持續增長,Volt的最新成就使我們能夠幫助滿足世界對這種關鍵礦物不斷增長的需求,並以環境可持續和低影響的方式實現這一目標。”
DLE 運營改進
Volt繼續在公司的示範工廠加快與其專有DE技術相關的工藝改進。下表重點介紹了相關的運營成本降低,顯示了Volt持續推進其DE技術的三個關鍵時期的持續改進,包括:1) 2023年5月的試點運營;2) 2023年12月初步經濟評估(“PEA”)示範工廠的運營;以及3)公司科學和工程團隊在2024年迄今爲止在示範工廠實現的流程改進。每個時期使用的鹽水都來自彩虹湖小桶河地層生產的 15-1-111-06W6M 井(“原料井”),其初始鋰濃度爲 34 mg/L。
下表1中的運營成本反映了Volt在公司現場業務中生產純度約爲90%的可銷售碳酸鋰的成本。然後,現有的第三方精煉廠可以將這種可銷售、純度爲90%的碳酸鋰產品進一步精製成電池級鋰。
表 1:Volt 的 DLE 技術降低運營成本的進展情況
| 34 毫克/升 | |
| 2023 年 5 月試點 | 2023 年 12 月美國經濟 | 2024 年 2 月當前 | 減少 2023 年 5 月試點至當前 |
| 美元/噸 LCE | 美元/噸 LCE | 美元/噸 LCE | % 變化 |
運營成本1,2 | | | | |
預處理和過濾 | 1,880 | 1,165 | 914 | (51%) |
空閒3 | 5,121 | 1,905 | 1,051 | (79%) |
濃縮和結晶 | 258 | 290 | 312 | 21% |
其他4 | 798 | 1,209 | 608 | (24%) |
總計 | 8,0575 | 4,5696 | 2,885 | (64%) |
1 基於一個處理 60,000 桶/日鹽水的商業操作單元。代表商用級鋰。
2 上表中的所有金額均以美元爲單位。
3 成本降低歸因於以下幾點:1) 工藝改進顯著減少了所需的試劑;2) 將洗脫液中的鋰濃度從百萬分之65(“ppm”)提高到1,190ppm;3)將膜置換成本資本化。
4 其他運營成本包括人力、維護材料和外部服務。
5 根據2023年5月24日的新聞稿,該公司報告的運營支出爲每噸LCE8,627加元,爲50 ppm。
6 這是根據PEA假設得出的等效成本,但基於較低的鋰濃度(34 mg/L)。
除了推動大幅降低成本外,Volt技術進步的影響還顯著改善了鋰開採結果,從2023年5月試點的90%上升到最近2024年2月在示範工廠進行測試的98%。
鑑於Volt的DE工藝能夠在加工前成功去除鹽水中99%的雜質,並實現98%的鋰提取率,該公司可以經濟高效地生產出90%的碳酸鋰的高質量洗脫液。這種 90% 的碳酸鋰可以出售給現有的第三方煉油廠,進一步加工成 99.5% 的電池級碳酸鋰或氫氧化鋰。概述了Volt專有的DE工藝和電池級碳酸鋰的最終產量的示意圖如下所示。
圖 1:Volt 專有 DLE 工藝
期權授予
公司還宣佈,根據Volt的股票期權計劃(“期權計劃”),向某些顧問(“期權接受者”)總共授予1200,000份激勵性股票期權(“期權”),用於購買公司資本中的普通股(“股份”)。期權在18個月內每六個月以等額比例授予,自授予之日起四年內可按每股0.20美元的價格行使,期限爲2028年2月14日。
這些補助金是對期權接受者各自爲公司提供的服務的補償,也是促進和協調這些人對Volt長期成功的利益的激勵機制。
合格人士聲明
本新聞稿中包含的科學和技術信息已由P.Eng的道格·阿什頓和Sproule Associates Limited的P.Eng和P.Eng的Meghan Klein審查和批准,他們都是National Instrument 43-101所指的合格人員— 礦產項目披露標準 (“NI 43-101”)。阿什頓先生和克萊因女士同意以數據出現的形式和背景納入數據。
關於 Volt
Volt是一家鋰開發和技術公司,旨在成爲北美第一家利用油田鹽水生產氫氧化鋰和碳酸鋰的商業生產商。我們的戰略是利用管理層的碳氫化合物經驗和現有基礎設施從現有油井中開採鋰礦牀,從而降低資本成本,降低風險並支持世界的清潔能源轉型,從而爲股東創造價值。憑藉四大差異化支柱以及專有的直接鋰提取(“DLE”)技術和工藝,Volt的創新開發方法側重於以最低的成本實現最高的鋰回收率,爲我們未來的商業化做好準備。我們致力於高效運營,並在所有業務領域保持透明度,始終專注於創造長期、可持續的股東價值。投資者和/或其他利益相關方可以在其網站上註冊以獲取有關公司持續進展的最新信息:
聯繫信息
如需投資者關係諮詢或了解更多信息,請聯繫:
Alex Wylie,總裁兼首席執行官
awylie@voltlithium.com
M: +1.403.830.5811
前瞻性陳述
本新聞稿包括適用的加拿大證券法所指的某些 “前瞻性陳述” 和 “前瞻性信息”。在本新聞稿中使用 “預期”、“相信”、“估計”、“期望”、“目標”、“計劃”、“預測”、“可能”、“將”、“可以”、“時間表” 以及類似的詞語或表達方式來標識前瞻性陳述或信息。除歷史事實陳述外,陳述可能構成前瞻性信息,包括但不限於關於英國《稅法》規定的英國《稅法》下的 “流通股” 資格的陳述,該股受招股說明書補充文件中規定的風險的約束;發行和並行私募所得收益的使用;公司用出售英國《金融時報》單位的總收益承擔合格的加拿大勘探費用的能力;公司的初步經濟評估Rainbow Lake項目;公司繼續勘探其礦產;以及總體業務和經濟狀況。關於本新聞稿中包含的前瞻性信息,公司做出了許多假設。儘管公司認爲這些假設是合理的,但這些假設本質上會受到重大不確定性和突發事件的影響,可能被證明是不正確的。此外,還有一些已知和未知的風險因素可能導致公司的實際業績、業績或成就與本文包含的前瞻性信息(包括公司修訂和重述的年度信息表和書架中概述的已知風險因素)所表達或暗示的任何未來業績、業績或成就存在重大差異。此處的所有前瞻性信息均受本警示聲明的全部限制,除非法律要求,否則公司不承擔任何義務修改或更新任何此類前瞻性信息,也沒有義務公開宣佈對其中包含的任何前瞻性信息進行任何修訂以反映未來業績、事件或發展的結果。
多倫多證券交易所風險投資交易所及其監管服務提供商(該術語在多倫多證券交易所風險投資交易所的政策中定義)均不對本新聞稿的充分性或準確性承擔責任。