NOA Lithium Brines Reveals Promising Economic Prospects for Rio Grande Project

NOA Lithium Brines Inc. has announced encouraging Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) results for its Rio Grande Project in Argentina. Conducted by Hatch Limited, the assessment indicates the project's potential as a leading lithium operation, driven by strong economic figures. The project anticipates producing up to 40,000 tonnes per annum of lithium carbonate in two phases. The first phase's pre-tax net present value (NPV) stands at $2.065 billion, with a subsequent expansion potentially raising it to $3.776 billion.

The anticipated internal rate of return is 27.3% pre-tax, with a payback period of 3.3 years. Operating expenses are projected at $5,897 per tonne, with initial capital expenditure estimated at $706.2 million. A lithium chloride production alternative may cut these costs significantly. The project benefits from average lithium concentrations over 520 mg/l, indicating robustness against potential market fluctuations, ensuring strong future prospects.