European Metals Holdings evaluates processes at Cinovec

European Metals Holdings updated the market on the outcomes from a recently-completed engineering assessment of the flowsheet and subsequent testwork, which was aimed at demonstrating the ability to produce lithium hydroxide from Cinovec ore.

The AIM-traded firm said the move to develop a process for the production of lithium hydroxide from the Cinovec project was in response to market forces that continued to move Czech and European manufacturers towards the production of advanced technology batteries.

It said the engineering assessment and associated testwork were conducted on aspects of the hydrometallurgical portion of the flowsheet of the preliminary feasibility study, which was reported on 19 April 2017.

A series of tests were completed in recent months by Dorfner Anzaplan in Germany, looking initially at the direct production of lithium hydroxide from leach liquors, and subsequently testing a more traditional route of converting lithium carbonate through to lithium hydroxide.

European Metals Holdings said that while both process routes were successful in producing battery grade lithium hydroxide, assessment of the relevant process risks indicated that the more robust flowsheet involved the production of battery grade lithium carbonate followed by conversion to battery grade lithium hydroxide.

It said the data was now being used as the foundation for an update of the preliminary feasibility study, such that the final product from the process would be battery grade lithium hydroxide with the option to produce battery grade lithium carbonate should the market support both products.

“The clear majority of European battery producers are indicating a requirement for lithium input to be supplied as battery grade lithium hydroxide,” said European Metals Holdings managing director Keith Coughlan.

“The fact that EMH has now demonstrated the ability to produce this product from Cinovec ore is an exciting development that will enable the company to supply its final product into the European marketplace.”

Coughlan said that meeting the European battery market's requirements and expectations was foremost in the firm’s considerations.

“European Metals Holdings’ next step is a formal update of the 2017 preliminary feasibility study, the outcomes from which will be reported shortly.”