Zijin Mining offered to acquire 100% of the equity interest in Canada-based Neo Lithium Corp for RMB 5 billion in October 2021, and closed the deal on January 26, 2022.

Zijin Mining plans to reduce the carbon emissions of the 3Q Project by using more clean energy in the project.

According to the project’s Feasibility Study, Phase 1 is designed to produce 20,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium carbonate per annum, with its commissioning scheduled at the end of 2023. In this project, lithium will mainly be extracted through precipitation. The production process and flows will be optimized for higher lithium recovery and production volume. To expand production, intensive work will be done on technological research, preparation of plans for technical upgrade and expansion, and licensing, in order to reach new production targets as soon as possible.

The 3Q salar is situated in the well-known “Lithium Triangle” in South America, and is one of the largest and highest-grade projects of its kind. Spread across an area of 353 square kilometers, the project’s mining license covers the entire surface and brine of the salar. Its resources are abundant, high in grade, and low in impurities, with favorable conditions for development. In addition, it holds good potential for further discoveries and production expansion.