Modern Mining June 2018

MINING News

Capital cost estimate completed for lithium project

concentrate. Phase 3 contemplates 25 000 tonnes per year of lithium carbonate pro- duction in Walvis Bay, Namibia. Desert Lion’s project is located 120 km to the north-west of Windhoek, Namibia’s capital, and 30 km south-east of Karibib. 

processing of the historic run-of-mine stockpiles at the Rubicon and Helikon mines while Phase 2 will see large scale mining and concentrate production from in-situ material to produce a total of 250 000 to 300 000 tonnes per year of

Lithium developer and emerging lithium concentrate producer Desert Lion Energy Inc has completed the capital cost estimate for the Phase 1 flotation plant designed by Tulela Processing Solutions. The total estimated cost for the plant, capable of processing between 350 000 and 400 000 tonnes of feed per year, is estimated to be approximately C$7,0 million. “The Phase 1 flotation plant is a critical component of our execution strategy, allow- ing us to continue to generate cash and systematically de-risk the project. The low capital cost intensity of the Phase 1 flotation plant further demonstrates the jurisdictional and asset specific benefits of the Desert Lion Energy lithium project,” commented Tim Johnston, President and CEO of Desert Lion, which is listed on the TSX-V. The Phase 1 flotation plant will be used to process the fines from the historic run- of-mine stockpiles at the Rubicon and Helikon mines as part of a three-phase execution plan. Phase 1 envisages the

The Helikon 1 pit surrounded by historical lepidolite stockpiles and waste dumps (photo: Desert Lion).

June 2018  MODERN MINING  9