Highlights
– Venture is advancing nicely and stays on monitor
– Engineering milestones embrace plant format, tools packages, datasheets, scopes of labor, and specs
– Procurement precedence one packages for quotes about 60% full
– Early contractor engagement and strategic threat project
– Environmental work is progressing with no show-stoppers recognized to this point
– Sturdy engagement from Federal, Provincial and Native Authorities
– Becancour Lithium Refinery nicely aligned with Provincial technique
– Mature native authorities help and undertaking understanding
Procurement
Procurement actions embrace sending technical specs to suppliers for detailed quotations to construct the capex estimation. For precedence one mechanical tools, 9 packages have been issued, with seven presents acquired and evaluations presently underway. 5 precedence one electrical tools provide packages will likely be issued for inquiry inside the subsequent week. The purpose is to guage all precedence one packages by the top of September.
On account of potential lead occasions for electrical transformers, the tenderer record will likely be expanded to cut back these lead occasions.
Engineering
The most important engineering actions embrace finalizing the plant format and getting ready documentation for tools packages, resembling datasheets, scopes of labor, and specs. Key duties additionally contain creating the primary energy distribution single line diagram and offering clarifications throughout the tender interval. Moreover, proposals acquired are being completely reviewed to make sure they meet undertaking necessities. Efficient dealing with of course of effluent and website runoff is one other vital focus space. The event of the package deal register, materials take-offs (MTOs), and complete tools lists are ongoing, guaranteeing all essential parts and particulars are precisely documented and arranged for the undertaking’s profitable execution.
Plant Format
The primary launch of the plant format has been printed, with a number of options nonetheless underneath growth. These embrace new plant areas such because the boiler plant and course of effluent remedy. Structural framing of buildings and HVAC programs are in progress, together with civil works encompassing drainage, highway pavements, automobile paths, sedimentation ponds, and automobile parking. The placement and variety of plant swap rooms is being optimised.
Efforts are being made to reinforce spodumene and residue storage, specializing in supplies dealing with and capability. Moreover, the routing of main pipe and cable racks is being deliberate. The format on-site is being designed with consideration of possible environmental constraints to make sure compliance and sustainability. These developments goal to reinforce the general effectivity and effectiveness of the undertaking.
Environmental Work
The group is actively concerned in subject inventories to develop data of the biodiversity current on website. 4 subject campaigns have been carried-out to survey the presence of short-eared owls, breeding birds, fish and fish habitat, and wetlands. Primarily based on preliminary outcomes, no species in danger nor species of concern as listed underneath the Canadian Species at Danger Act (SARA) have been recognized thus far. The undertaking group can be engaged in actions to optimize the location format and cut back encroachment on wetlands recognized on the property. Surveys are anticipated to be accomplished throughout the Canadian Summer season. Discipline stock outcomes will likely be used to help environmental allowing actions and discussions with the Regulators to make sure website format and the design of the economic facility are developed in full compliance with the environmental regulatory framework.
A Section I research to grasp earlier makes use of of the location is progressing and no potential environmental legal responsibility has been recognized based mostly on preliminary outcomes. The Section I Research is predicted to be accomplished by the top of July. Over the approaching months, the group is predicted to provoke the preparation of allowing paperwork to make sure the Venture follows formal approval traces.
Priorities
The best priorities for the subsequent few months embrace finalising the environmental allowing and approvals program, which entails finishing the preliminary subject survey, briefing with the Ministry, finalising the Section 1 Report, and getting ready the primary software. Engineering work essential for the environmental allow software can be a prime precedence, specializing in civil design, up to date plant format, and water administration technique. In parallel, tools procurement will contain preliminary engineering, securing vendor proposals, and establishing schedules. Confirming the remedy of course of effluent and website runoff is essential for environmental compliance.
Moreover, commencing civil and structural engineering work is important to keep up undertaking momentum.
Finalising the plant format will guarantee all parts are appropriately positioned and built-in. Lastly, execution part planning will likely be progressed, contingent on the month-to-month finances, to make sure that all actions are appropriately funded and scheduled for environment friendly undertaking development.
Authorities and Neighborhood Engagement
A visit by key management members to Jap Canada. The delegation, led by CEO Alex Hanly and together with Chairman Iggy Tan, Board Administrators Patrick Scallan and Dr. Jingyuan Liu, and Canadian Director, Victoria Vargas, engaged with authorities stakeholders, neighborhood companions, and trade friends. The conferences in Montreal, Becancour, Quebec Metropolis, and Ottawa strengthened the Firm’s technique to deal with the Lithium Conversion Hole in North America and supplied updates on our engineering progress and business discussions.
Ministry of Economics, Innovation, and Vitality
A gathering was held in Quebec Metropolis with the Honourable Minister Pierre Fitzgibbon, Minister of Economics, Innovation, and Vitality. This follows the Firm’s preliminary presentation of the Firm’s distinctive technique in November 2023 in Dubai. As soon as once more, Minister Fitzgibbon expressed enthusiasm for our engineering progress, the acquisition of the Possibility settlement inside the Becancour Industrial Park, and the Hydro-Quebec software for an estimated 22.5MW vitality allocation for our Becancour Lithium Refinery.
Lithium Universe emphasised Quebec’s strategic advantages, together with hydroelectric energy, proximity to the James Bay area, and logistic benefits with port entry to the transatlantic area. The Minister reiterated his help for our imaginative and prescient of remodeling Quebec into the Centre of Lithium Conversion for the transatlantic area.
The Firm is impressed with the forward-thinking provincial authorities of Quebec and the progress of the Strategic Innovation Zone underneath the pragmatic steering of Minister Fitzgibbon.
Becancour Lithium Refinery Website
In February 2024, the Firm efficiently executed an possibility settlement to accumulate a refinery website strategically situated inside the Becancour Waterfront Industrial Park (BWIP). The positioning in Becancour, near Trois-Rivieres, lies between Montreal and Quebec Metropolis and is close to main highways and railways. The Port of Becancour helps year-round operations with deep-water entry. The positioning presents low-cost hydroelectric energy, sturdy infrastructure, and complete water and waste services, ultimate for the proposed Lithium Refinery.
The Firm as soon as once more met with key executives from the BWIP in Becancour. The assembly centered on the Firm’s progress in website analysis actions and included a presentation on the method design, that includes footage from a reference lithium carbonate refinery. The port was confirmed to have the capability to handle 50,000-ton bulk shipments, exceeding the Firm’s preliminary necessities. The Firm had the chance to examine Lot 22, encompassing an space of 27-hectare, and consider the proximity to infrastructure and rapid tiein to present BWIP utilities. The SPIPB group supplied an summary of deliberate expansions and facility upgrades to the onsite infrastructure, positioning Becancour as a pacesetter in providing prime industrial actual property in Quebec.
The Firm will likely be seeking to begin varied neighborhood initiatives to combine the economic website into the broader neighborhood.
Municipality of Becancour
The Firm met with the Mayoress of Becancour to debate the Firm’s aims to contribute to the native economic system by offering tons of of employment alternatives and serving to to comprehend its financial potential.
LU7 reaffirmed its dedication to the Becancour and wider Trois-Rivieres area, pledging to help varied social, neighborhood, and environmental initiatives within the coming years. The Mayoress expressed enthusiasm for the Firm’s plans inside the SPIPB, recognizing the event of a confirmed and dependable design with internationally aligned course of outputs.
Provincial Authorities – Quebec
The Firm additionally met with key delegates in Montreal from Investissement Quebec (IQ), the Ministry of Pure Assets and Forests (MRNF), Vitality Transition Valley Innovation Zone, and the Ministry of the Setting, the Struggle In opposition to Local weather Change, Wildlife and Parks. The provincial authorities has recognized a lithium conversion hole inside the provide chain, essential for servicing the anticipated enhance in spodumene provide from the James Bay area within the coming years. Quebec is a North American chief in attracting overseas direct funding, sustainable growth, and supporting battery metals initiatives. The province has a robust historical past of supporting lithium battery provide chain growth, with vital provincial and federal authorities incentives.
Latest authorities help consists of the Basic Motors (GM) and Korea-based POSCO Chemical substances’ US$1 billion cathode lively materials (CAM) manufacturing facility, the Ford/EcoPro BM US$800 million cathode manufacturing facility, and Northvolt’s US$7 billion EV Battery Facility at Saint-Basile-le-Grand. This creates a beneficial regulatory setting for the Firm’s undertaking, guaranteeing sturdy help all through the cycle.
Canadian Federal Authorities – Ottawa
The Firm met with varied federal authorities stakeholders from Spend money on Canada (IIC), Pure Assets Canada (NRCAN), Innovation, Science and Financial Improvement (ISED), and Export Improvement Canada (EDC). Given the shortage of refining capability in Canada, LU7’s lithium carbonate plant is an progressive undertaking, as there aren’t any present working or deliberate services of this type inside the nation. Constructing lithium conversion capability alongside spodumene mines will allow Canada to turn into wholly self-sufficient within the lithium chemical provide chain.
Hatch – Montreal
The Firm and its engineering accomplice, Hatch, held a productive assembly on the Montreal workplace to align their shared tradition and fast-track growth imaginative and prescient. They strengthened the philosophy of “similar course of, similar tools, similar provider,” which minimizes technical dangers, ensures high quality, and reduces prices. The operational environments in Australia and Canada share many similarities, facilitating the combination of expertise into Quebec.
Hatch’s management in constructing lithium conversion services and tackling difficult initiatives validates the choice to accomplice with them. By means of this collaboration, the Firm acknowledges Hatch’s experience because the premier lithium refinery engineering skilled.
Lithium Universe Chairman, Iggy Tan mentioned, “The undertaking is on monitor, finalizing plant format, issuing capex specs, progressing provider quotes, with clean workplace transition, and no environmental points, guaranteeing readiness for capex price estimate. The reception from federal, provincial and native authorities delegates has left a really optimistic impression on the LU7 Board of Administrators. The area has made robust commitments since releasing the Crucial Minerals Methods 4 years in the past and we’ve seen that within the vital investments made inside the battery provide chain and pragmatic discussions held with key authorities executives. We look ahead to advancing the Firm’s Becancour Lithium Refinery to contribute in making Quebec the lithium conversion centre inside the Transatlantic area.”
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About Lithium Universe Ltd:
Lithium Universe Ltd (ASX:LU7) (OTCMKTS:ESMAF), headed by trade path blazer, Iggy Tan, and the Lithium Universe group has a confirmed monitor report of fast-tracking lithium initiatives, demonstrated by the profitable growth of the Mt Cattlin spodumene undertaking for Galaxy Assets Restricted.
As an alternative of exploring for the sake of exploration, Lithium Universe’s mission is to shortly receive a useful resource and assemble a spodumene-producing mine in Quebec, Canada. In contrast to many different Lithium exploration corporations, Lithium Universe possesses the important experience and expertise to develop and assemble worthwhile initiatives.
Supply:
Lithium Universe Ltd