ECAs, the Kachi Lithium Brine project and environmental concerns

(Proactive Investors, London, 16 March 2021) Australia's Lake Resources NL has refreshed its Argentine Kachi Lithium Brine Project prefeasibility with a net present value now at US$1.58 billion and is also assessing the potential increase of lithium carbonate production at the project as demand continues to rise from battery makers for high purity lithium carbonate. The Kachi project remains highly scalable and the company is working towards an expansion, which would make it globally significant in terms of high purity lithium carbonate production, and well-positioned to supply the expected deficit in battery-grade product over the next few years. Lake Resources NL's Kachi project is a large lease holding of 70,000 hectares with an expandable resource of 4.4 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent of which only 20% is used for 25 years of production at 25,500 tonnes per annum. Joint financial advisors have been appointed to structure and arrange project finance, with a focus on export credit agencies for the development of the Kachi Project. While the race is on to find a steady source of lithium, a key component in rechargeable electric car batteries. the Guardian has recently noted that the lithium 'white gold' rush threatens environmental damage on an industrial scale.