- Lepidico (LPD) has been granted an accessory works permit to develop the Karibib Lithium Operations, located in Namibia
- The project is now fully permitted and construction work is on track to commence in the September quarter
- This follows the recent completion of a FEED study under a contract with ASX-lister Lycopodium who’s also undertaking stage 2 contract works
- In terms of its Abu Dhabi chemical plant, Lepidico says permitting is advancing well and production of by-product samples is underway over at its Peth-based demo plant
- Company shares have been trading steady at 3.8 cents
Lepidico (LPD) has been granted an accessory works permit to develop the Karibib Lithium Operations which is located within Mining Licence 204 in Namibia.
When seeking the permit, the application included the waste management areas designed by engineering consulting company, Knight Piésold, and various site ancillaries designed by ASX-listed Lycopodium (LYL).
Now the project is fully permitted, construction work is expected to begin in the September 2022 quarter.
Despite some COVID-related setbacks over the last few months, a front-end engineering design (FEED) study was successfully completed in January under an engineering, procurement and construction management (EPCM) contract with Lycopodium.
This work fell under the first stage of the contract with stage 2 EPCM works on schedule to be completed in June.
Positively, the Lepidico Board has concluded the $1.2 million of stage 2 EPCM works will be funded from existing working capital in parallel with the completion of the FEED works for the chemical conversion plant which is located in Abu Dhabi.
As for Lepidico’s phase one chemical conversion plant in Abu Dhabi, permitting is reportedly advancing well and benefitting from a prescribed approvals process.
“The project is also supported by key local stakeholders in both Abu Dhabi and Namibia where there is a fundamental alignment of interests, testament to the project’s excellent environmental and social credentials,” Managing Director Joe Walsh said.
In terms of its Perth-based demonstration plant, the company said it has completed the refinement of high purity lithium hydroxide and assays are pending. Production of by-products has now started and product samples will be despatched to customers when assays become available.
Company shares were trading steady at 3.8 cents at 12:11 pm AEDT.