Bearing Provides Environmental Permitting Update
Vancouver, October 17, 2019 - Bearing Lithium Corp. (TSXV: BRZ) (OTCQB: BLILF) (FSE: B6K2) ("Bearing" or the "Company") announces that the Chilean Environmental Service has notified Minera Salar Blanco S.A. (MSB), the operating company for the Maricunga joint venture, it has extended the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) evaluation process for 60 days. Bearing Lithium holds an 18% interest in MSB, along with Lithium Power International (LPI-ASX) at 51% and a private Chilean company at 31%.
The Chilean regulations sets a timeframe of 120 business days for the final environmental evaluation of any project submitted in the country. It also grants the Environmental Service a one-time extension, at its own discretion during the process, if needed to complete the evaluation. The use of this extension by the Environmental Service is customary among large and/or complex projects in Chile and was expected by MSB, as the initial evaluation timeframe of 120 days was due yesterday, 15 October (Chile time).
This request by the Environmental Service for an extension is a result of no specific question or query, but rather to grant more time to review the comprehensive data that has already been provided by MSB. A resolution from the Environmental Service is expected in Q1/20.
Cristobal Garcia-Huidobro, MSB's CEO, commented: "We expect an approval for our EIA to be granted in Q1/20 at the completion of the Environmental Service's review process. This extension does not have any impact on the financial structuring process currently underway, nor does it impact the finalization of the joint venture with CODELCO, which is simultaneously being worked on."
About Bearing Lithium Corp.
Bearing Lithium Corp. is a lithium-focused mineral exploration and development company. Its primary asset is an 18% interest in the Maricunga Lithium Brine Project in Chile. The Maricunga Project represents one of the highest-grade lithium brine salars globally and the only pre-production project in Chile. Over US$30 million has been invested in the Maricunga Project to date and all expenditures through to the delivery of a Definitive Feasibility Study have been fully-funded by the earn-in joint-venture partner.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
Signed "Jeremy Poirier"
Jeremy Poirier, President and CEO
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Jeremy Poirier-- President and CEO Bearing Lithium - Telephone: 1-604-262-8835
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information
This press release includes certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating the future operating or financial performance of the Company, are forward-looking statements.
The words "expect", "target", "estimate", "may", "will" and other similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, the future prospects of the Maricunga Project. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are beyond Bearing's ability to predict or control and may cause Bearing's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any of its future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to; strategic, legal, planning and other risks, the impact of changes in, or to the enforcement of, laws, regulations and government practices, potential defects in title to the Maricunga Project that are not known as of the date hereof, the occurrence of unexpected financial obligations, fluctuations in the price of lithium and other commodities, fluctuations in the currency markets, changes in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments, risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins and flooding), risks related to operational matters and geotechnical issues, the success of future exploration and development activities, the occurrence of any labour unrest, the ability to accurately predict decommissioning and reclamation costs, the risk of budget and timing overruns, potential opposition to the Maricunga Project by local communities and the ability to secure construction financing. Such forward-looking statements are also based on a number of assumptions which may prove to be incorrect including changes in Maricunga Project parameters as plans continue to be evaluated as well as those factors disclosed in the Company's documents filed from time to time with the securities regulators in the Provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Bearing undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements contained herein whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.
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