Name of the Project
Caucharí-Olaroz lithium project.

Location
The project is located in Jujuy province, Argentina.

Project Owner/s
Caucharí-Olaroz is 100%-owned by Minera Exar, a 50:50 joint venture between Lithium Americas and Ganfeng Lithium.

Project Description
The project aims to produce 40 000 t/y of battery-quality lithium carbonate.

This includes a conventional, commercially proven brine processing technology optimised from the salar in partnership with Ganfeng Lithium to produce battery-quality lithium carbonate, which can be used to meet the specifications of battery material producers in the manufacturing of cathode, and electrolyte for lithium-ion batteries.

The project has a 40-year mine life.

Potential Job Creation
Minera Exar has more than 250 employees and about 500 contractors at the project.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The project has a base case after-tax net present value, at a 10% discount rate, of $1.33-billion.

Capital Expenditure
The project is estimated at $565-million.

Planned Start/End Date
First production is targeted for early 2021.

Construction on the project is under way and is expected to be completed by the end of 2020, with first production expected in early 2021. Full production is expected in 2022.

Latest Developments
Construction of the evaporation ponds started in the first quarter of 2018 and is about 60% completed. Brine from production wells started filling ponds in the fourth quarter of 2018.

The liming purification process at the ponds is expected to start in the second quarter of 2020.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
Too early to state.

Contact Details for Project Information
Lithium Americas, tel +1778656 5820 or email info@lithiumamericas.com.