Infinity Lithium Corporation Ltd (ASX:INF) says the Regional Government of Extremadura has approved a decree-law to require lithium mineral resource projects to incorporate downstream lithium mineral processing in the Spanish region.
Specifically, the Regional Minister for Ecological Transition and Sustainability has declared that the exploitation of lithium mineral resources, whether existing or potential, is of general interest, meaning there is a prerequisite to align the benefits of extracting mineral resources to metallurgical and mineral processing in Extremadura.
Furthermore, the granting of lithium mining concessions will be conditional upon compliance with the obligation that the metallurgical and mineral processing must be carried out in the region, with the benefits of the mineral resources to flow to the local area.
The company said its 75%-owned San José Lithium Project is a fully integrated lithium mineral extraction and processing project designed to comply with the articles of the decree-law.
Progressive vision
Extremadura New Energies CEO Ramón Jiménez said: “San José is a world class and large-scale integrated lithium project built on the foundations of a very significant hard rock lithium resource.
“The progressive vision of the government ensures the feedstock at San José is aligned to the strategic interests of the region through an integrated facility that has become the blueprint for all lithium projects in Extremadura.”
Considered to be the second-largest lithium JORC resource in Europe, Infinity Lithium’s San José project is focused on the production of battery grade lithium chemicals from a mica feedstock.
Road map
The regional government’s announcement follows the Spanish government‘s approval of a road map for the sustainable management of mineral raw materials in the country, which reinforces the country's move towards strategic autonomy in the consumption of critical raw materials, while promoting strategic and sustainable raw material extraction at the same time.
The decree has reinforced lithium as a product of regional interest and integrated lithium operations as regional interest business projects, which in effect prioritises permitting, recognising them as public utility projects, and allowing access to employment grants. Infinity Lithium said all of its project permits and permit applications are captured under the decree.
The company’s move to an underground mineral extraction project, alignment of the project to the vast renewable energy potential in the city of Cáceres and the adoption of the sulphate roast conversion process, are all in direct response to local stakeholder engagement.