TSX-V-listed American Lithium has started the environmental work required for a prefeasibility study (PFS) on the Falchani lithium project in Peru, with the initiation of an environmental impact assessment (EIA) with SRK Peru.

The EIA process will be run in parallel with work to update the company’s existing preliminary economic assessment on Falchani and the company believes that both of these steps will position it to fast-track a PFS on the project.

The SRKled EIA will provide all environmental work needed to complete a PFS on the Falchani project, including enabling any additional drilling required.

Key elements include that EDASI SAC, a Lima-headquartered environmental services company, has been contracted to immediately start detailed hydrological/hydrogeological studies at Falchani, focusing on the upper 150 m below the surface to investigate water table parameters.

Moreover, permits have been submitted to relevant authorities for biological/hydrobiological monitoring studies and required cultural/archaeological work for the EIA.

It is anticipated that the EIA will also enable any additional drilling required for the PFS to occur during fall this year.

In the interim, and in parallel with the above EIA work, American Lithium says it remains focused on launching planned infill and extension drilling in and around the Falchani deposit as soon as possible.

It says that it continues to work closely with its communities to keep approvals current as it awaits final regulatory permits for this exploration/development drill programme.

American Lithium currently anticipates that infill/extension drilling will start once the hydrological/hydrogeological studies have been completed over next few weeks.

The existing Falchani PEA will be updated by year-end for anticipated resource reclassification/extension following above drilling and to include potential by-product production.

“We are very pleased to be able to commence the next phase of work at Falchani and specifically to formally begin prefeasibility work with the launch of environmental and hydrological work with SRK and EDASI.

“At the same time, and subject to final permits, the imminent launch of the hydrological work at Falchani should enable us to segue nicely into our planned infill and extension drilling at Falchani/Tres Hermanas which will drive resource reclassification and expansion in an updated PEA on Falchani.

“We believe, the EIA work being undertaken combined with the work we are doing to update the existing PEA on Falchani, will further demonstrate the quality and scale of this high purity lithium deposit and will position the company to fast-track a PFS on Falchani,” acclaims CEO Simon Clarke.