EXPLORATION & DEVELOPMENT

Lepidico unveils planned low carbon footprint lithium chemical business

Feasibility work completed and financing expected to be finalised during next year

This article is 4 years old. Images might not display.

It will produce an average of 4900t per annum of lithium hydroxide at an all-in sustaining cost of $3221/ after credits for output of caesium, rubidium, sulphate of potash, and amorphous silica bulk by-products. 

Collectively the by-products will account for 38% of total revenue.

Lepidico used an average lithium hydroxide price of $13,669/t over the life of the project for its modelling.

While mining and concentrating takes place in Namibia, the chemical conversion plant is to be built in Abu Dhabi because the United Arab Emirates city is the world's largest producer of sulphur, a key reagent in Lepidico's proprietary L-Max hydrometallurgical process.

The key attribute of L-Max is it being much less power intensive than the conventional chemical conversion of spodumene, meaning a modest carbon footprint versus the rest of the industry.

Lepidico is now focused on offtake and financing, expected to take about 12 months to complete.

Lepidico raised A$3.86 million in new equity earlier this month.

Shares in Lepidico were up 28.5% to 0.9c in morning trade, capitalising the company at $42 million.

 

 

 

 
 
 
 

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining News Intelligence team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining News Intelligence team.

editions

MiningNews.net Research Report 2025

The MNN Research Report 2025 provides insights into critical mining themes in Australia/Oceania, including top projects, C-suite priorities, risk, ESG performance and investor sentiment.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence: Investor Sentiment Report 2025

Exclusive insights into the plans, priorities and preferences of 130+ mining investors and top factors influencing investment decisions in 2025.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence World Risk Report 2024 (feat. MineHutte ratings)

A detailed analysis of mining investment risks across 117 jurisdictions globally, assessed across six risk categories and an industrywide survey.

editions

Mining Company ESG Index: Benchmarking the Future of Sustainable Mining

The Mining Company ESG Index report provides an in-depth evaluation of ESG performance of 61 of the world's largest mining companies. Using a robust framework, it assesses each company across 9 meticulously weighted indicators within 6 essential pillars.