Name of the Project
Zinnwald lithium project.

Location
South-east Germany.

Project Owner/s
Bacanora Lithium.

Project Description
A feasibility study has confirmed the positive economics and favourable operating costs for the Zinnwald project.

The project has total proven and probable reserves of about 31.20-million tonnes grading 3 004 parts per million (ppm), containing 94 000 t of contained lithium.

Measured and indicated mineral resources are estimated at 35.51-million tonnes grading 3 519 ppm, containing about 125 000 t of lithium.

The study envisages the production of 5 112t/y of battery-grade lithium fluoride (or about 7 285t/y lithium carbonate equivalent) – a high-value, downstream product used in the manufacture of lithium battery electrolytes for the European electric vehicle industry.

The process plant design comprises a preconcentration stage to produce an initial concentrate prior to roasting.

The integrated plant has been designed to initially process 522 000 t/y of ore a year. The plant will scale up to process up to 600 000 t/y of ore over the life of the mine.

The plant design also includes a circuit to produce up to 32 000 t/y of potassium sulphate/sulphate of potash by-product through a series of evaporation and precipitation stages.

The feasibility study forecasts a 30-year mine life.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The feasibility study estimates a pretax net present value, at an 8% discount rate, of €428-million and an internal rate of return of 27.4.

Capital Expenditure
The capital cost of the project is estimated at €158.9-million and includes mining, a processing plant, infrastructure, tailings management and general administration costs, as well as the requisite contingencies.

Planned Start/End Date
Not stated.

Latest Developments
Subject to approvals, project financing and general lithium market conditions, Bacanora Lithium will continue to progress the development of the Zinnwald lithium project. The detailed design engineering phase of the project is currently scheduled to start in the first half of 2020.

During this stage, a definitive schedule for the project development will be completed and presented to the Bacanora board for final approval.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
UVR-FIA, IBU-Tec, K-UTEC and Ercosplan (metallurgical testwork and process design); KÖPPERN Aufbereitungstechnik (beneficiation process); CEMTEC Cement & Mining Technology (pyrometallurgy); and AMPROMA (hydrometallurgy).

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Bacanora Lithium, email info@bacanoralithium.com.