Infinity Lithium Corporation has taken another step forward with its proposed San José lithium project in Spain after the Cáceres Local Government deemed the operation compatible with local urban legislative requirements.
The project sits near the town of Cáceres in the region of Extremadura and boasts one of Europe's leading JORC-compliant hard-rock lithium deposits, with a total indicated and inferred resource base of 111 million tonnes at 0.61 per cent lithium oxide.
According to Infinity Lithium’s subsidiary, Extremadura New Energies, the local government recently determined that the project did not breach any requirements under its local urban laws and regulations.
Management says the favourable urban compatibility report will be included in a final exploitation concession submission, with plans for a “PREMIA” project application. If granted, it would recognise San José as a regional project of public interest.
Extremadura New Energies chief executive officer Ramon Jiménez said: “The recent advancements in permitting and grant funding, through multiple levels of government, provides positive endorsement for both the Project and the rapid advancement of the battery value chain in Spain.”
Extremadura is proposing a fully-integrated mining and downstream processing project to produce battery-grade LHM from a lithium mica feedstock. Another Infinity subsidiary, Infinity Greentech, recently confirmed improvements in recoveries and the successful production of battery-grade lithium hydroxide through the application of its “Li-Stream RPK” process.
Management says its lithium conversion process has confirmed more than 90 per cent recoveries from run-of-mine (ROM) to lithium products. It has also established the production of battery-grade lithium hydroxide through the direct processing of ROM from San José.
The company plans to mine lithium ore and also refine it into lithium chemicals suitable for European battery makers. It has been working closely with local authorities and newly-elected officials to advance its lithium project, which will use renewable electricity sources to reduce its environmental impact.
San José was originally intended to be an open-pit mine. However, after consultation with regional authorities, the project has been redesigned as an underground mining operation that will lessen its impact on the surrounding region.
Infinity says its underground deposit will be accessed through a tunnel at the beneficiation plant and will deliver no visual, audible or vibration-based effects to the people of Cáceres.
The company has worked hard to meet the environmental and compatibility expectations of the local community, while still delivering an operation with the potential to add significant economic stimulus to the Extremadura region.
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By Michael Philipps
