Dec 20 2010
Canada Lithium Corp. (TSX: CLQ; U.S. OTC: CLQMF) announced today the results of its National Instrument 43-101-compliant Feasibility Study for the development of a mine and lithium carbonate processing facility at its Quebec Lithium Project near Val d'Or, Quebec.
Initial construction is planned to commence in mid-2011, commissioning is currently scheduled to be under way by the end of 2012, with full production expected in 2013, subject to financing and final permitting.
Feasibility Study Highlights:
The Quebec Lithium operation, which will consist of an open-pit mine and processing plant, is expected to produce over 20,000 tonnes (44 million pounds) per year of battery-grade lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) at the new plant site near Val d'Or, Quebec. The component sections of the FS (accuracy of +/-15%) have been prepared by a number of leading Canadian-based consultants, including SGS Lakefield (SGS), Genivar Inc., Technology Management Group Inc., BBA Inc. and Golder Associates.
"This Feasibility Study indicates the Quebec Lithium hard-rock operation can compete financially with the South American lithium brine operations," said Peter Secker, Canada Lithium President and CEO. "Our competitive advantages are that we have good infrastructure, access to relatively cheap power and a clean ore. Canada Lithium will be producing a very pure, 99.5% - 99.9% battery-grade lithium carbonate and we can develop this project on a faster timeline than most proposed brine or hard-rock projects."
Other highlights:
- Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources of approximately 46.7Mt at 1.19% Li2O and an additional Inferred Mineral Resource of approximately 57.6Mt at 1.18% Li2O, as previously disclosed in October 2010
- Initial development covers a production period of 14.8 years, mining and processing approximately one million tonnes per year
- The plant would produce high-quality, battery-grade product of 99.5% - 99.9% Li2CO3
- The project has excellent existing road, rail and power infrastructure and lies within a 5-hour drive to the Port of Montreal, that can access European and Asian markets and a 14-hour drive to Detroit, the emerging North American centre for electric vehicle and battery manufacturers
Following the positive outcome of the FS announced today, Canada Lithium will commence detailed design engineering with a development schedule based on commencement of construction activities on site in May 2011 and planned plant commissioning before the end of 2012.
Economic modelling at a preliminary Scoping Study level (+/-35%) indicates that the project has the potential to produce an additional 40,000/50,000 tonnes per year of a 6.5% spodumene product that could be saleable to the North American and European glass, foundry and ceramics markets. When the potential revenue from this material is used as a co-product credit, unit operating costs are expected to be lowered to US$0.97/lb (US$2,140/t), demonstrating what is believed to be a comparable operating cost structure to the South American carbonate brine producers. Additional financial and resource modelling is being undertaken to further develop this strategy.
Project Introduction
The Quebec Lithium Project, owned 100% by Canada Lithium Corp., is located in the north-east quadrant of Lacorne Township, approximately 60 km north of Val d'Or, Quebec. Access to the site is by paved road from Val d'Or, a mining-friendly community that has over 75 years of mining history and a population of some 35,000 people. The city hosts an airport and significant support infrastructure. Quebec is one of the top-rated mining jurisdictions in the world and electricity costs, a key input in mining operations, are among the lowest in North America.
Canada Lithium's Quebec property hosts one of the larger known lithium deposits in North America. The property consists of 19 contiguous claims covering 643 hectares. The spodumene mineralisation is hosted within a number of steeply dipping pegmatite dykes ranging between 10 and 50 metres in width over a strike length of up to 1,500 metres.
In April 2010, the Company released a 43-101 Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) for development of the Quebec Lithium mine and processing plant producing 19,300 tonnes per year of lithium carbonate at an operating cost of US$2,850/t, estimated capital cost of C$166.0 million and a mine life of 14.8 years. Since completing the PFS, the C$/US$ exchange rate has moved unfavourably; in addition, there have been some changes to the grinding and hydrometallurgical flow sheets based on the results from the metallurgical pilot plant testwork. The overall capital costs have, therefore, been slightly impacted.
An updated mineral resource estimate was prepared by Michelle Stone, P.Geo., a geologist with Canada Lithium Corp. and released Oct. 28, 2010. The technical report detailing the estimate has been posted on SEDAR.
Mining Operations
The mine is planned as an open-pit operation using conventional drill/blast, truck/shovel mining methods. Mining operations will be carried out with a fleet of hydraulic excavators/front-end loaders and mine-haul trucks and an ancillary fleet of dozers, graders and water trucks. The stripping ratio is approximately 3.6:1. The Stage 1 mining plan indicates a total of 15.4Mt of ore to be treated over an initial 14.8-year mine operating life. The proven and probable mineral reserves are based on a 92% ore recovery and a dilution of 11% at 0% Li2O.
An additional 3.24Mt of Inferred material, at a grade of 1.28% Li2O would be mined within the pit shell. This material would be stockpiled during the mining operation and its economic viability reviewed. This material has not been included in the economic model.
The Measured, Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource and Proven and Probable Mineral Reserve estimates in this press release were prepared in accordance with the CIM "Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves" adopted by the CIM Council on Dec. 11, 2005, and the CIM "Estimation of Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves Best Practice Guidelines," adopted by CIM Council on Nov. 23, 2003, in compliance with NI 43-101 guidelines, using inverse distance squared.
Metallurgical Processing
Metallurgical pilot plant testwork for the FS was performed at SGS on samples from the Quebec Lithium deposit. This work resulted in the production of marketing samples for delivery to North American, European and Asian end users at a purity of >99.9% Li2CO3. Based on this testwork, the process flow sheets and engineering design concepts were developed by BBA from the SGS data. The proposed processing design comprises conventional crushing, grinding and flotation to produce a 6.5% Li2O spodumene concentrate. The flotation circuit is followed by a hydrometallurgical treatment process comprising a rotary conversion kiln, leaching circuit, a series of precipitation tanks, ion exchange (IX) washing/filtration circuits and a packaging system to produce a >99.5% battery-grade Li2CO3 product. Overall process plant lithium recovery of >67% is anticipated to be achieved. In addition, a sodium sulphate circuit has been integrated into the current process flow sheet.
Open-pit Mining Capital Costs
Mining capital equipment costs are based on BBA's recent work on a number of open-pit mining projects in northern Quebec and budgetary quotations from equipment suppliers. The open-pit mining capital costs are based on a fleet of one 10m3 hydraulic excavator, one front end loader, up to four 90-ton haul trucks at full production, plus an ancillary mobile fleet. Pre-stripping has been capitalised until the first ore production. The capital cost of the open-pit mine is estimated to be US$12.2 million (with an accuracy of +/- 15%).
Process Plant Capital Costs
The capital cost estimate prepared for the metallurgical processing facility is based on an on-site processing plant comprising all new equipment, producing battery-grade lithium carbonate. The plant would be capable of processing 2,950 tonnes per day of ore (dry basis). The total cost to design, procure and construct the plant facilities and associated infrastructure is US$151.1 million (with an accuracy of +/-15%).
These processing plant capital cost estimates were determined using BBA's in-house database and budget/tender price proposals for the larger components of new equipment.
Infrastructure, Owner's Costs and Sustaining Capital
The capital cost estimates for infrastructure; Tailings Management Facility (TMF) construction; Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Management (EPCM) fees; Canada Lithium owner's costs and general administration costs were determined by independent consultants and Canada Lithium personnel.
In addition, there are working capital requirements of US$12.0 million.
Operating Cost Estimate
The operating costs (+/-15% accuracy) are for a plant processing approximately 1.0Mt per year (2,950 tonnes per day) of ore, with an average annual production of >20,000 tonnes of battery-grade 99.5% - 99.9% Li2CO3. The estimated operating cost for the mine, primary and secondary processing facilities are presented below.
The average operating cost estimates of approximately US$51/t mined (approximately US$2,600/t Li2CO3) are based on the use of natural gas for the fuel source in the spodumene conversion kiln. During the first two years of operations the kiln will operate on propane gas and operating costs will be marginally higher. Negotiations with a supplier are under way regarding the natural gas supplies, and sufficient capital funds have been included in the sustaining capital cost estimates for the capital cost of the gas line.
Cash Flow Analysis
For the Stage 1 development, cash flows are based on a 100% equity basis and the base-case economic analysis indicates a pre-tax Net Present Value (NPV), discounted at 8%, of US$270.0 million, at a US$2.67/lb (US$5,875/t) price for lithium carbonate (99.5%), as reported by Roskill Information Services in a study on lithium carbonate pricing done for the Quebec Lithium Project. The projected pre-tax Internal Rate of Return (IRR) is 24% (a C$/US$ exchange rate of 1:1 has been used for the 2011 and 2012 construction phase of the project and 1.1:1 over the remaining life of the mine).
Life-of-Mine revenue for Stage 1 is estimated at US$1.78 billion, with earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) of approximately US$1.0 billion. Initial capital costs are estimated to be US$202.0 million. In addition, there is estimated to be sustaining capital costs of US$47.0 million. The project is projected to have a simple payback period of four years.
Project Timetable
Canada Lithium believes commissioning could begin by Q4, 2012, based on the following milestones and subject to final economic analysis, engineering reviews, government approvals, board approvals and general market conditions:
- Q1, 2011: Financing, Initiation of Engineering and Design
- Q2, 2011: Obtain government approvals
- Q2, 2011: Construction Start-up
- Q4, 2012: Process Plant Commissioning
- Q4, 2013: Achieve design production
Community and Environment
In August 2009, the Company appointed Genivar Inc. of Amos, Quebec, to undertake an Environmental Study for the proposed mine development. In September 2010, the Mining License application for the mine was submitted to the relevant government authorities. At the same time, submission of detailed environmental documentation also commenced.
As part of the environmental program, the local communities are being involved in the project development process. The first public meetings were held in January 2010. A second round of 32 meetings was held in October/November 2010, inclusive of two meetings with the local Anishnabe First Nations. A number of additional meetings will be held over the coming months as the project development stages commence. As part of the Environmental Management Plan, the Company may be required to lodge an Environmental Bond of up to C$4.0 million with the relevant Quebec government departments, during the construction phase of the project. These costs are included in the project capital costs.
Qualified Persons
The Feasibility Study Report was integrated and prepared by Technology Management Group Inc. under the supervision of Peter Woodhouse, P.Eng., a registered professional engineer in the Province of Ontario, and independent Qualified Person under the standards set forth by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Woodhouse has read and approved the contents of this news release.
Mitch Lavery, P.Geo., is the Qualified Person for the Quebec Lithium Project in accordance with NI 43-101. Mr. Lavery has read and approved the contents of this news release.