Catamarca grants EIA to another lithium project

Lake Resources obtained Environmental Impact Declaration (EIA) approval for Kachi, its lithium project located in Catamarca. The authorization was issued by the provincial Mining Ministry following public consultation and evaluations by local agencies.

The permit corresponds to the production stage and establishes commitments that must be met prior to commercial production startup. As part of the agreement, the company will contribute US$1 million to Catamarca's Mining Royalties Fiduciary Fund, with disbursements scheduled between October 2026 and June 2027. Funds will be allocated to provincial infrastructure works benefiting local communities.

With environmental authorization, Kachi will enter the Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) phase. This stage will build on the Definitive Feasibility Study, its addendum, and work conducted with Hatch and Lilac Solutions. The objective is to finalize civil, structural, mechanical, and electrical designs for the first phase, which contemplates production capacity of 25,000 tonnes annually of lithium carbonate equivalent.

Engineering will also include procurement of long-lead equipment, definition of agreements with strategic suppliers, and planning of initial construction. Additionally, the company will assess construction logistics, modular assembly, and measures to mitigate operational risks. Technical information will support financing discussions with financial institutions, export credit agencies, potential offtakers, and strategic partners.

Kachi will utilize direct lithium extraction technology developed by Lilac Solutions. According to Lake Resources, the system would allow return of over 99% of processed brine to the aquifer. In parallel, the company will advance with submission of the project to the Regime for Incentivizing Large-Scale Investments (RIGI).