Objective Capital's Rare Earths, Speciality & Strategic Metals
Investment Summit 2012
Ironmongers' Hall, City of London
13-14 March 2012
Speaker: Luis Saenz, Li3 Energy
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South American lithium
1. RARE EARTHS, SPECIALITY
& STRATEGIC METALS
INVESTMENT SUMMIT
South American lithium
Luis Saenz – CEO, Li3 Energy
IRONMONGERS’ HALL, CITY OF LONDON TUESDAY-WEDNESDAY, 13-14 MARCH 2012
www.ObjectiveCapitalConferences.com
2. “Advancing the Development of
Lithium & other Strategic
Minerals”
Objective Capital
Rare Earths, Specialty & Strategic Minerals
Investment Summit
London - Edinburg
March 2012
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3. Disclaimer:
Some of the statements contained herein may be forward-looking
statements which involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties.
Without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization and
resources, exploration results, financing, and future plans and
objectives of the Company are forward looking statements that involve
various degrees of risk. The following are important factors that could
cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those
expressed or implied by such forward looking statements: The
Company’s ability to identify appropriate corporate acquisition and/or
joint venture opportunities in the lithium mining sector and to establish
the technical and managerial infrastructure to take advantage of, and to
successfully participate in such opportunities, changes in the world wide
price of mineral commodities including lithium, general market
conditions, risks inherent in mineral exploration, risks associated with
development, construction and mining operations, the uncertainty of
future profitability and the uncertainty of access to additional capital.
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4. Conference Topics:
Key Discussion Points:
Li3’s Corporate Mandate.
Li3 Overview.
Maricunga $8M Exploration & Development Plan.
Chilean Lithium Mining Law Developments.
POSCO – Pilot/Demonstration Plant.
R3 Fusion – Global Lithium Exclusivity.
New World Resource Corp.
2012 Milestone Goals.
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5. Today’s Lithium Environment:
Li3’s mandate for success:
Key Discussion Points: Last year Li3 stated it would…
Assemble the most experienced Management
Team, Technical Team, Advisory Board & Board of
Directors in the Industry.
To compete on a global scale, identify and acquire
the lowest cost assets in South America.
Identify and secure Strategic Partners capable of
deploying both financial and intellectual capital
necessary to develop and commercialize acquired
lithium assets.
Speed to market.
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6. Li3 Overview:
Address the growing demand for green technologies and alternative energy sources by
providing low cost lithium, potassium nitrate, and other strategic minerals used in multiple
markets to global clients seeking to secure supplies while easing dependence on fossil fuels.
An exploration stage industrial minerals mining company, listed on the OTCBB.
Future mid-tier supplier next to SQM, FMC, Talison.
Proven Team, High Profile Board & Mineral Advisory Board.
Worldwide demand for Lithium is forcasted to increase, driven primarily by
increased use of EV.
Closed Maricunga acquisition May 2011 - 60% ownership.
Ranked Top 11th Lithium Salar (signumBOX) - May 2011.
NI 43 -101 Property of Merit (Hains Technology Associates) - May 2011.
Executed Strategic Alliance (POSCO Canada Ltd.) - August 2011.
Restructured Board of Directors - October 2011.
Launched $8MM Phase One of $18MM Exploration and Development Program –
September 2011.
Executed Strategic Agreement (R3 Fusion) – January 2012.
LOI to acquire all the lithium assets of New World Resource Corp. – January 2012.
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7. Maricunga Project Highlights:
1,438 hectares in a world class mining region - situated at 3,760 m.a.s.l.
Highest potential to be exploited in the short term.
Historical work on the Salar de Maricunga calculated
a non NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource of
224,300 tonnes Li and 3,274,000 tonnes potash (KCl).
Initial drilling estimated assay values of 1.1g/L lithium,
7.93 g/L potassium, 1.81 q/L boron and 6.6 g/L
magnesium.
Previous studies indicate Maricunga would have a
production cost lower than Salar de Hombre Muerto
and slightly higher than Salar de Atacama due to net
evaporation.
Close to strategic mining epicenters (Copiapo & El
Salvador).
Infrastructure (road, port and power) in place to
support development and operative throughout the
year.
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9. Maricunga Historical Resource:
Historical work has been performed on the 8,000 hectare Salar de
Maricunga by CORFO (State Agency of the Republic of Chile) in the
1980’s.
CORFO performed a sampling program and calculated the following
non NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource at the Salar:
- 224,300 tonnes of Li; or
- 600,000 tonnes of Recoverable Li2CO3
(utilizing a 50% recovery factor); or
- 30,000 tonnes per year of Lithium
Carbonate for 20 years
- 3,274,000 tonnes of KCl (potash); or
- 2,300,000 tonnes of KCl (utilizing a 70%
recovery factor); or
- 115,000 tonnes per year of KCl for 20 years
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10. Maricunga Operational Update:
$8M Phase One Exploration & Development Plan
Completed as Planned:
Key Points: Sonic & Reverse Circulation Well Drilling
Boart Longyear:
Carried out sonic drilling for the collection of undisturbed samples from continuous core for
porosity determinations and brine samples for laboratory chemical analyses.
Six sonic boreholes for a total of 900m were drilled and completed to a depth of 150m each.
Rock Drilling S.A.:
Carried out reverse circulation well drilling with isolated brine sampling.
A total of 884 meters of 6-inch monitoring wells were drilled, and a total of 300 meters of 17-
inch production wells were drilled.
Drilling Summary:
A total of 431 samples were taken during the drilling and were submitted to the University of
Antofagasta in Antofagasta, Chile for analysis.
The preliminary laboratory analysis of the 431 Maricunga brine samples, demonstrated the
following values and characteristics:
MARICUNGA Ratios
K Li Mg Ca SO4
(ppm) K/Li Mg/Li SO4/Li
Average 7,490 1,033 6,903 10,438 598 7.2 6.7 0.6
Maximum 12,224 1,708 12,583 26,333 2,466 7.2 7.4 1.4
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11. Maricunga Operational Update:
Additional Updates:
Environmental Baseline for Salar and base Camp sites completed.
Preliminary information from GHD indicates no issues, proposal is being
reviewed.
Anion Balance and TDS QA/QC checks show good quality and
repeatability.
Internal Hydrogeological Model to be completed by February 24th.
R3 Fusion Lab Demonstration for conventional process to be completed
by week of February 28th.
300 Core Samples to be completed by March 15th.
University of Antofagasta Lab Process Demo for conventional process to
be completed by March 15th.
Li3 QP Don Hains to complete NI 43-101 Compliant Resource Report by
March/April 2012.
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12. Chilean Lithium Mining Law
Developments:
Office of Competitiveness (Ministry of Economy) announced 10 new
initiatives, including:
Re-launching the Chilean Lithium Industry.
Unlocking its restrictions and implementing mechanisms to improve competitiveness
within the industry, promote further investment and protect the country’s global market
share.
Vice Minister of Mining outlined the basis to allow the exploitation of lithium
with the objective of maintaining Chile’s leading lithium producer status:
Conduct an auction for lithium production quotas and licenses (Special Lithium
Operations Contracts – CEOL’s).
530K tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent, valid for 20 years and a 7% annual
royalty on revenues.
Additional details on auction to be released late Q1 or early Q2 2012, first CEOL to be
issued late in 2012.
Li3 Energy created an “action group” formed by
management, Board, shareholders, and outside consultants to monitor the
process and developments.
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13. Li3’s First Commercial Deal
Validation:
Strategic Alliance with one of the world’s largest steel manufactures,
Poised for active partnering with substantial follow on possibilities:
– (NYSE:PKS)
August 11: Executed “SPA” with POSCO Canada Ltd:
$18MM investment commitment.
$8MM invested to fund exploration at Maricunga (9% stakeholder).
$10MM investment upon achieving milestones in March/April 2012.
Why this Strategic Alliance is important for Li3:
Global Fortune 500 Leader.
Long-term partnership to develop a lithium business that brings together
financial, intellectual and technical capital.
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14. Li3’s Second Commercial Deal
Further Validation:
Executed Memorandum of Understanding for Pilot/Demonstration Plant:
– (NYSE:PKS)
March 2012: Executed non-binding “MOU” with POSCO:
Design, build and operate demo plant for recovery of lithium and other products at its sole expense.
Non-dilutive.
Li3 to provide technical support.
Site to mutually determined, preferably Maricunga.
Lithium recovered will be for testing purposes only.
Efforts to obtain necessary permits in 2012, targeted to be operational in 4th quarter 2012.
Technology may be used by POSCO on other Li3 projects.
Li3 and POSCO will negotiate an off-take agreement for percentage of future lithium at market rate.
Why this Strategic Alliance is important for Li3:
Developed Advanced Process Technologies for lithium extraction.
Possibly improves lithium recovery yields and shortens time to production.
Further demonstrates a committed long-term partnership to develop a lithium
business that brings together financial, intellectual and technical capital.
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15. Li3’s First Technology Deal
Strategic Value Add:
Agreement to explore use of intensified evaporation technology,
poised for active partnering with substantial follow on possibilities:
R&D MOU signed June’11:
Positive laboratory results 4th QTR 2011.
Jan’ 2012 - Signed macro agreement with higher
Li3 commitment and global lithium exclusivity.
Why this Partnership is important for Li3:
Time savings.
Reduced evaporation ponds.
Improved processes.
Water, water, water….
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16. New World Resource Corp:
On January 2012, Li3 signed a letter of intent to acquire all of the lithium assets
of New World Resource Corp. (TSX.V: NW) (“New World”), a Canadian mineral
exploration company.
The lithium assets of New World include rights to 100% of the Pastos Grandes project
and New World’s 19% interest in Perfect Lithium, a developmental stage company
formed to fund the improvement of lithium powders used in rechargeable batteries.
In consideration for the sale of its lithium assets, which is subject to due
diligence, New World would receive 22.5% of Li3’s outstanding equity.
As part of the transaction, Li3 would become a British Columbia Corporation.
Potential Benefits:
Upon sucessfull closing of Pastos Grandes, Li3 plans to develop a similar exploration
program, applying new evaporative and advanced processing technologies currently
being evaluated and tested at Maricunga.
Li3 could gain existing New World institutional shareholder base interested in lithium
mining projects in South America.
Pastos Grandes Salar would allow to geographically diversify political risk.
Gaining a second Salar, which is believed to hold brine of relatively high quality for
lithium and potassium recovery.
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17. Pastos Grandes Overview:
New World Resource Corp., through its wholly owned subsidiary New
World Bolivia S.A. (“New World” or “NW”), has several Joint Venture
agreements in the Pastos Grandes Project.
New World’s total position at Pastos Grandes is 7,512 hectares.
Located in the Sud Lipez province, in
Potosi, Bolivia, and situated on an elevation
of approximately 4,200 m.a.s.l.
The Pastos Grandes Salar is located in a
basin surrounded by mountainous terrain
with rivers and thermal springs.
Pastos Grandes is accessible via good
gravel road and dirt roads, with services
available from the town of Uyuni, located 100
miles northeast.
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18. Pastos Grandes Project
Exploration Program:
On August 24, 2011, New World announced mid program results
from its 1,500 meter work program, the highlights of the drill program
include:
High lithium content in the drill holes:
Max depth to date is 83m.
1,395 ppm Li and 7,495 K at 42m depth.
Mg/Li ratios, ranging from 2.0 - 3.3.
Expansion and construction of onsite laboratory,
offices and accomodations are completed.
Drill program is over 50% complete and will
resume once environmental conditions improve.
The second phase of the program includes
hydrological tests, initial brine chemistry and
evaporation tests.
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19. Li3 Milestones and Benchmarks:
Progress & Timelines: Q3 2011 – Q4 2012
• Permits for Drilling Program • Environmental Impact Study
• Seismic Survey & Modeling
• Core Sample Drilling
• Preliminary Economic Assessment
• Well Drilling
• Lab Process Simulation
• Sample Analysis
• Pilot Plant Testing
COMPLETED • R3 Technology Lab Demonstration
3rd Quarter 2011 4th Quarter 2011 1st Quarter 2012 2nd Quarter 2012 3rd Quarter 2012 4th Quarter 2012
• NI 43-101 Compliant Resource Report • Feasibility Study
• POSCO Second Funding Tranche
• Li2CO3 produced from Pilot Plant
Property Acquisition and Improvements
*Note: Timeline is subject to change.
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20. The Li3 Way Forward:
Position Li3 as Global Leader in Lithium and other Minerals:
Substantially de-risked the Maricunga Asset:
Completion of the Exploration & Development Program on Plan.
Accelerated Development Plan allowed Li3 to catch peer group from a technical project
development standpoint.
Executed in 4 months with $8M what peer group took on average 2 years to complete and spent
$50M.
Pilot/Demonstration facility clarifies POSCO relationship and future funding
needs.
Attaining Geography and Political diversification:
Own, control and commercialize the strongest lithium assets in the world; Leverage Li3 – POSCO
political capital (Chile & Bolivia).
Paradigm shift - Advanced Process Technologies that will Revolutionize the
industry substantially increase lithium recovery and accelerate commercialization
process times that significantly improve ROI.
Lowest cost producer in the world.
Strongest management team, board, strategic partners and advisory board.
Command higher valuation against peer group as result.
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