While ASX-listed Lake Resources is going with a field-untested DLE technology developed by US-based Lilac Solutions, with trials to begin soon, Anson has elected to try something more proven.

 

China's Sunresin claims to have commercialised four plants so far, and says it has six more under construction or contract in China and South America with a total production capacity of 73,000 tonnes per annum.

 

Anson executive chair Bruce Richardson said his company had examined four SLE technologies, and had selected Sunresin after initially engaging in 2019.

 

Anson has conducted several rounds of tests using Sunresin's patented direct DLE process at a pilot plant in China since 2020, delivering a lithium recovery rate of 91.5%, verified by an independent laboratory in Salt Lake City, USA.

 

It looped in Sunresin to its engineering plans with Worley last November, and engineering and design work to the DFS level has been completed, giving the pair confidence to sign the MoU.

 

Together with the imminent release of a definitive feasibility study, Richardson the pair would be in a position to negotiate agreements for construction of a full-scale commercial DLE plant capable of producing a battery-grade lithium carbonate.

 

The parties will each meet their own costs as they finalise the deal.

 

Anson's Paradox project is targeting brines from Utah's Paradox Basin. 

 

On Monday it increased its resources to 788,300 tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent and 3.25Mt of bromine, and it believes it can grow significantly with new productive zones being proved up. 

 

Robertson said Sunresin's tech was "the most attractive" for Paradox's goal of delivering the "cleanest lithium carbonate" in the US.

 

The process does not require pre-treatment and uses water to wash the lithium from resin.

 

Sunresin claims to have the longest recovery lifespan of bulk industry-grade lithium extracting resin, reducing costs.

"With our proven technologies and know-how and having the EPC experience to build industrial-scale DLE plants that are now in full-scale commercial production, Sunresin is well-placed to help Anson to accelerate its build," Sunresin director Gary Zhang said.

 

Its plants range in size from 600tpa to 25,000tpa and are capable of producing either lithium carbonate or lithium hydroxide. 

 

The four operating plants have a combined capacity of 19,000tpa.

 

Anson is looking at a 10,000tpa plant.

 

Anson shares jumped 31% this morning to A27.5c, valuing it at $283 million.

 

It was as low as 7.6c over the past year, and is now trading at its highest levels in 12 months.

 

Anson started the quarter with $5.7 million cash.