Galan Lithium has confirmed the Hombre Muerto West project in Argentina has achieved 1,000 tonnes of contained lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) inventory from its evaporation ponds as the company remains on track for first lithium chloride production next year.
Overall project completion sits at 33%, with the pond evaporation system currently 45% complete.
Approximately 600,000 square metres of evaporation area has been built to house the LCE-contained inventory and is reported to be sufficient to produce a lithium chloride volume of approximately 2,400tpa.
Key processing parameters – including raw brine well average flow rates, lithium grades and evaporation rates – are aligned with the Phase 1 definitive feasibility study, while capital expenditure sits at 33% of the Phase 1 budget.
Based on the rate of construction and the results achieved to date, the company said Hombre Muerto West project remains on track to start production in the first half of next year.
Flagship project
Galan managing director Juan Pablo Vargas de la Vega said he was proud of the company’s achievements at the flagship project.
“With more than one third of the project completion now achieved, we are well on the way towards our targeted start of production next year,” he said.
“We would like to acknowledge and thank the government of the Catamarca Province in Argentina for their continued support, evidenced by the recent agreement to commercialise lithium chloride concentrate from Hombre Muerto West.”
“We are excited about the opportunities this agreement now presents to Galan’s future.”
Expenditure reductions
Mr Vargas de la Vega said Galan’s engineering and procurement teams were working to identify opportunities for capital and operating expenditure reductions during Phase 1 of the project.
Their ideas have focused on selecting the minimum infrastructure required to commence production and include rental options for energy supply, size reductions of certain buildings and the use of independent smaller control systems for all facilities instead of one large central system.
