Lithium recoveries increase at Cinovec

Perth-based European Metals has achieved lithium leach recoveries of up to 95pc from metallurgical testing at its Cinovec lithium project in the Czech Republic.

Increased recoveries from the roast-leaching process will lower costs and ensure that Cinovec is in the bottom half of the production cost curve, the company said.

Cinovec is Europe's largest lithium resource and the fourth-largest hard rock lithium resource in the world. It totals 309mn t, grading 0.39pc lithium oxide and 0.04pc tin for 7.0mn t of lithium carbonate equivalent and 263,000t of tin. The probable ore reserve is 34.5mn t, sufficient to cover 20 years of production at 20,800 t/yr of lithium carbonate.

The next stage in the project will be a completed definitive feasibility study along with pilot scale testing.

An increase in roasting temperatures is expected to increase lithium recovery rates. Higher recoveries and lower costs will enhance the economics of the project, managing director Keith Coughlan said.