Nemaska Lithium Delivers Second Shipment of Battery Grade Lithium Hydroxide from Whabouchi Concentrate and Releases Product Purity Specifications
QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - Jan 8, 2018) - Nemaska Lithium Inc. ("Nemaska Lithium" or the "Corporation") (TSX:NMX)(OTCQX:NMKEF)(FRANKFURT:N0T) is pleased to announce that it has produced and has made available for pick-up by its customer, another 2 tonnes of battery grade lithium hydroxide solution, made from Whabouchi spodumene concentrate. To date, the Corporation has delivered 3 tonnes of lithium hydroxide solution produced from its Whabouchi spodumene concentrate.
An independent laboratory, the Centre National en Électrochimie et en Technologies Environnementales (CNETE), has confirmed that the lithium hydroxide solution produced by Nemaska Lithium to date comply to the following specifications:
| Market LiOH Specs* -Span of Max values | Nemaska Lithium LiOH Specs | |
| LiOH, wt% | 54.8 - 56.5 | |
| Ca, mg/kg | 10 - 100 | < 1 |
| Na, mg/kg | 20 - 500 | < 20 |
| K, mg/kg | 10 - 250 | < 10 |
| Mg, mg/kg | 10 | < 1 |
| Fe, mg/kg | 5 - 21 | < 5 |
| Al, mg/kg | 10 | < 1 |
| CO2, wt% | 0.035 - 0.35 | < 0.2 |
| Cl, mg/kg | 15 - 100 | < 10 |
| SO4, mg/kg | 50 - 300 | < 150 |
| Cr, mg/kg | 5 - 100 | < 1 |
| Cu, mg/kg | 1 - 5 | < 1 |
| Ni, mg/kg | 1 - 10 | < 1 |
| Si, mg/kg | 20 - 30 | < 10 |
| Zn, mg/kg | 10 | < 1 |
| Sol. Acid, mg/kg | 40 - 1000 | < 50 |
| * Data from publicly available company product list. |
"Cathode producers are primarily concerned with the impurity levels in the lithium hydroxide they receive from suppliers, as these impurities impact the overall performance of the battery. Our lithium hydroxide compares very favourably to that of our peers in the industry and is well within the acceptable specification limits of cathode producers globally. Following discussions with multiple cathode makers, I believe ours is one of the best lithium hydroxide products available today," said Guy Bourassa, President and CEO of Nemaska Lithium.
In addition, Nemaska Lithium is pleased to report that it has received an installment payment of C$4.6M from Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) for having achieved the second milestone in the development of the Phase 1 Lithium Hydroxide Plant.
About Nemaska Lithium
Nemaska Lithium's vision is to "Facilitate access to green energy through its products and processes, for the benefit of humanity". It intends to become a lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate supplier to the emerging lithium battery market that is largely driven by electric vehicles, energy storage, cell phones, tablets and other consumer products. The Corporation is developing in Québec, Canada, one of the most important spodumene lithium hard rock deposit in the world, both in volume and grade. The spodumene concentrate produced at Nemaska Lithium's Whabouchi mine will be shipped to the Corporation's lithium compounds processing plant to be built in Shawinigan, Quebec. This plant will transform spodumene concentrate into high purity lithium hydroxide and carbonate using the proprietary methods developed by the Corporation, and for which the Corporation holds nine issued patents and several patent applications that are pending in different countries, covering different aspects and improvements of its proprietary technology for preparing high purity lithium hydroxide and carbonate, in an eco-friendly fashion.
Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information
All statements, other than statements of historical fact, constitute "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of certain securities laws and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the date of this press release. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release include, without limitation, those related to the above "About Nemaska Lithium" paragraph which essentially describe the Corporation's outlook, constitute ''forward-looking information'' or ''forward-looking statements'' within the meaning of certain securities laws, and are based on expectations, estimates and projections as of the time of this press release. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Corporation as of the time of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. These estimates and assumptions may prove to be incorrect.
Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can directly or indirectly affect, and could cause, actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's expectations and plans relating to the future. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and those made in our other filings with the securities regulators of Canada including, but not limited to, the cautionary statements made in the "Risk Factors" section of the Corporation's Annual Information Form dated October 5, 2017 and the "Risk Exposure and Management" section of the Corporation's quarterly Management Discussion & Analysis. The Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or to explain any material difference between subsequent actual events and such forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law.
Further information regarding Nemaska Lithium is available in the SEDAR database (www.sedar.com) and on the Corporation's website at: www.nemaskalithium.com.
Contact
Nemaska Lithium Inc.
Mr. Victor Cantore
Investor Relations
514 831-3809
victor.cantore@nemaskalithium.com
Nemaska Lithium Inc.
Ms. Wanda Cutler
Investor Relations
416 303-6460
wanda.cutler@nemaskalithium.com
www.nemaskalithium.com