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AIS Resources is on the verge of a massive stream of royalty income as its partners develop six projects in Argentina’s Lithium Triangle that could flip the global lithium shortage on its head.
Consumers and businesses alike are frustrated by the well-publicized lithium shortage that has slowed production of electric vehicles (EVs), computer processors, and countless other products. But the potential invasion of Taiwan by China did not play a role: lithium is the center of rechargeable energy, which has become the focal point of global trade, and there is not enough to be produced. The primary cause of this crisis is the absence of lithium – the most important resource in the challenge of electrifying the world’s energy sources.
The South American Lithium Triangle contains the solution. It hosts more than 50% of the world’s sustainable lithium brine and its salts contain about half of the world’s known lithium deposits. AIS Resources has selected six projects to partner with excellent potential in the heart of the Lithium Triangle: Argentina.
These projects span three fields, also known as “salt lakes”, where the world’s sustainable lithium is concentrated and extracted. These sites not only contain a large percentage of the world’s lithium supply, but have the potential to dramatically improve the global economy and help national governments meet the requirements of the Paris Climate Agreement.
Of the three countries that make up South America’s Lithium Triangle (Argentina, Bolivia and Chile), Argentina is uniquely positioned to deliver favorable results for mining companies and investors. The country takes a much more liberal approach to exploration – as long as environmental regulations are followed. This is particularly true in the Province of Salta. As a result, AIS Resources partners do not have to navigate the bureaucracy that so many other mining operations have been saddled with in the more state-controlled countries of Chile and Bolivia (where they could face nationalization).
Argentina: A major player in the world’s clean energy future
Argentina’s role in mitigating the global lithium shortage is even greater than at first glance. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine signaled that the post-World War II order is under threat. Along with China, Iran, North Korea and other rivals, an alternative to liberal democracy challenges the dominance of the West. One of the primary factors for the free world to maintain global supremacy is the control of precious minerals, including lithium. The United States and its allies enjoy a great bilateral relationship with Argentina – a relationship that amplifies the value of AIS projects in this region.
Outside of global geopolitics, AIS Resources’ mining sites emerge at a pivotal moment; Not only are electric vehicles becoming more popular, but the global chip shortage also threatens economic growth, as less lithium means less supply to gigafactories that build gigawatts of lithium battery power. In short, if the shortage of lithium continues, it will be more difficult to transition the world to sustainable energy sources, or even produce the number of smartphones, laptops and other devices that are necessary to maintain global economic growth. AIS Resources’ Argentina-based interests play a major role in ensuring a green future. AIS partners estimate that they will produce more than 50,000 MT of lithium carbonate annually using the green footprint EkoSolve™ direct lithium extraction process.
AIS Resources’ six lithium projects in Argentina
Candela II Project, Incahuasi Salar
• This 300 hectare mineral claim has been selected to Spey Resources (listed CSE: SPEY), who have drilled five HQ diameter exploration wells and will begin drilling up to eight production wells in Q1 2023. AIS currently retains a 20 % equity with a $6 million buyout for the balance if the NI43-101 resource estimate exceeds 45,000 MT of lithium metal equivalent.
• If more than 45,000 MT of lithium is produced, AIS receives $250,000 for each additional five MT if SPEY decides to buy AIS 20% interest. If AIS retains its 20% interest, then its share of the cost of the plan will be about $26 million and at 10,000 MT of production at $54,000 per ton – the levy value for exports set by the Argentine government – AIS will receive about $90 million a year in royalties.
Pocitos 1 & 2 Projects, Pocitos Salar
• These two projects are 800 hectares and 532 hectares, respectively
• They have opted for Spey Resources and Recharge Resources (listed CSE: RR)
• AIS retains a 7.5% royalty on lithium carbonate sales for both properties and has invested $1.5 million to explore the projects.
Pocitos 7 & 9 Projects, Pocitos Salar
• AIS retains a 20% interest in the 800 and 600 hectare project
• Currently opted for C29 Metals (listed ASX: C29)
• The total option fee is $430,000 for a nine-month exploration license, plus a total of $2.38 million for C29 to acquire 80% of the two properties.
Project Yareta III, Cauchari Salar
• Total land area is 1,525 hectares
• AIS is currently reviewing expressions of interest for options for the property
Geologists are impressed with the current state of the exploration sites
The geologists who were in charge of managing these sites were impressed with the results. Several major aquifers were located and the exploration was considered “rewarding” by the highly specialized team on site.
In addition to addressing the global lithium shortage, these projects represent much more than an exciting investment opportunity: they represent a brighter future for clean energy advocates, consumers, the high-tech economy, an industry of the revitalized self, the digital workforce and many more. industries and social demography.
Sustainable mining practices light the way
AIS plans to source all lithium from brine mining methods with direct lithium extraction (DLE) that does not disturb ground water and the lives of local indigenous people. Unlike some competitors, we only engage with projects that use the tried and tested EkoSolve method to secure lithium chloride and/or lithium carbonate. The whole purpose of the lithium revolution is to produce a more efficient battery technology that simultaneously reduces the carbon footprint of the global industry. Our vision aligns with this goal.
We use a technology called Direct Lithium Extraction, using solvent exchange with a unique continuous pass process that no one else has implemented commercially. The process only extracts lithium from the brine, taken from 300-400m below the surface, leaving the surrounding environment untouched. When the lithium is removed, the brine is returned to the desert adjacent to the salar. Although solvent exchange was invented in 1960, it was not applied to lithium extraction until 2018, when revolutionary developments to achieve more than 95% recovery were developed by the University of Melbourne in Australia in conjunction with Dr. Carlos Sorentino, Chief Technical Officer and President of Ekos Research. , and geologist Phil Thomas.
Less money spent, less time wasted than most projects
It usually takes between four and five years to extract lithium from these, from exploration to production. However, with an EkoSolve plant, construction is expected to take less than two years. For what? Because AIS partners will pre-build their 10,000 MT operational plants in Australia and ship them in containers for on-site assembly.
Since our plants recover 97% of the solvents used in the extraction process for each set of complete passages, the biggest expenses are significantly decreased during the processes of ion exchange media and adsorption. In addition, solvents do not cost much more than diesel.
Current projects of chemical process engineers find that as much as 95% of the available lithium is extracted from the brine, resulting in almost pure lithium chloride. Most other techniques typically result in only 60-80% lithium recovery at best. And because at least 97% of the solvents used to operate the process are recovered, the operating costs for these mining sites are a fraction of other systems. Capital expenditure is about half because the plant basically consists of processing columns and electric pumps with bagging and logistics equipment at the end.
Benefit the communities where we operate
Not only are AIS’s pumping and processing practices sustainable and providing jobs to local Argentines, the community has welcomed us with open arms. We provide jobs and economic development through mining camps, supplies and other necessary services while building access roads. We are grateful that they allowed us to operate in their beautiful and picturesque courtyards.
Lithium exploration began in 1972 and now advances in geohydrology and geophysics allow AIS Resources to modernize the industry. The public is just frustrated at the high price of lithium-powered vehicles and our six projects are well positioned to ensure that the lithium shortage is addressed. We envision a future where gas vehicles are obsolete and a charge lasts more than 1,000 miles.
Electrification of highways
Many people credit Tesla with starting the sustainability revolution. But that was then, and this is now. Today, all the world’s major car manufacturers are launching hybrid and electric vehicles, but they all share a common problem: there is still a lithium shortage, as there is a lack of long-lasting lithium batteries at competitive prices needed to produce enough vehicles to meet consumer demand. While many see this as a conundrum, the AIS actually sees a promising opportunity.
Not only are people desperate to transition away from fossil fuels, but they are doing so in a way that drives innovation. After all, nothing drives new and fresh ideas like adversity. The performance of lithium batteries will continue to improve, and their demand shows no signs of slowing down. As a result, AIS Resources was given a unique opportunity that it did not squander.
Long and short term benefits
Over time, the price of lithium increases. There is only a finite amount of it on Earth and no substitute for powering electric batteries has appeared to date – not one in the near future. The world will rely on lithium for the long term and AIS Resources is poised to benefit today and tomorrow.
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced more people online than ever before and pushed average chip consumption to new heights. Lithium salt mining is, without a doubt, one of the most important activities in the power of the new economy and AIS Resources is proud to play a major role in ending the lithium shortage.
Please note, this article will also appear in the twelfth edition of our quarterly publication.
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