Australian company Lake Resources announced on Tuesday the submission of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for phase 1 of the Kachi lithium project, located in the Argentine northwest region. The assessment was submitted to the Catamarca Ministry of Mining and, as stated, "marks an important milestone for the project as it represents the culmination of extensive fieldwork and community engagement achieved over the past three years”.
By Panorama Minero
According to the company's estimates, the development plan for Kachi is designed to minimize freshwater consumption and maintain the hydrogeological system as close as possible to baseline conditions, with consumption lower than 2.5% of the average annual natural groundwater replenishment to the basin.
The Production EIA, submitted in accordance with Lake's operational timeline, is a legal requirement under Argentina's mining and environmental regulations and is intended to demonstrate that due attention has been given to the potential impact of mining operations on the environment and the local community.
The evaluation was prepared by Knight Piésold, a global engineering consulting firm, in accordance with General Environmental Law No. 25,675, National Law No. 24,585 on Environmental Protection for Mining Activity in Argentina (Annex III), the Nation's Mining Code (Title 13, Section 2), SAA Provision No. 74/2010, and MM Resolution No. 1014/2023.
The EIA is based on the production scenario presented in the Definitive Feasibility Study presented last December, under an operation in which lithium brine is extracted through production wells, pumped to the Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) plant for recovery, and then reinjected into the subsurface through injection wells. The ion exchange process, developed by their partner Lilac Solutions, "requires a fraction of the water needed for production from evaporation ponds," being an alternative technology to that conventionally used in brine operations.
Lake has also incorporated a zero liquid discharge unit that further reduces freshwater consumption by approximately 75%. "The injection of spent brine allows Lake to design a system that maximizes lithium recovery while maintaining the hydrogeological system as close as possible to baseline conditions during operations," they stated. They also anticipate lower solid waste production compared to traditional evaporation ponds and hard rock projects.
Following the submission, Lake Resources CEO David Dickson commented, "The timely submission of the EIA underscores our commitment to conducting operations in a manner that prioritizes environmental care and fosters collaboration with our neighboring communities. Kachi is a testament to our adoption of a prudent and innovative approach to lithium brine extraction, aiming for sustainable and responsible lithium production. We look forward to bringing future employment and economic growth to Catamarca Province, thus contributing to the global energy transition."
