CleanTech Lithium has expressed interest in having Chile’s national mining entity, ENAMI, as a minority stakeholder in its two Chilean projects.
The company’s local arms, Atacama Salt Lakes and Laguna Negro Francisco, have put forth special operation contract (CEOL) applications for the Laguna Verde and Francisco Basin ventures.
These applications are notably the first CEOLs submitted in Chile since the unveiling of the National Lithium Strategy in April 2023. This decision follows dialogues with governmental figures and other concerned parties.
Within the application, CTL mentions its receptivity to include ENAMI in both projects, aligned with the typical joint venture terms the state company holds in Chile’s mining arena.
CleanTech Lithium’s CEO, Aldo Boitano, remarked, “Post the National Lithium Strategy’s introduction by the Ministers, the government emphasized the importance of forming public-private collaborations for the lithium sector’s expansion.
Considering our current advancements, we deem it fitting for CleanTech Lithium to apply for the operation permits for Laguna Verde and Francisco Basin.
Our intent is to welcome ENAMI as a minor partner under the new collaborative public-private strategy, seeing potential benefits for every stakeholder involved
Company Activity to date
The Company has carried out multiple drilling campaigns, resource evaluation work and project development at its two advanced projects; Laguna Verde and Francisco Basin, over the past two years. Investing upwards of US$16 million since January 2022 in Chile, the Company has produced JORC-compliant resource estimates of >2.7 million tonnes of LCE. With both projects based in the Atacama region, the Company is now looking to move from exploration to development and then production and an integral part of this is securing the commercial operating contracts. The Company aims to develop these Projects and play a role in ensuring the long-term environmental and social sustainability of the lithium industry in the country.
