A definitive feasibility study (DFS) for the Maricunga lithium brine project, in Chile, has estimated that a capital investment of $456-million would be required to develop a 20 000 t/y lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) project with a mine life of 20-years.
ASX-listed Lithium Power International on Tuesday reported that the project was estimated to have a net present value of $1.3-billion before tax, and an internal rate of return of 29.8%, with a pay-back period of three-and-a-half years.