Emp Metals Reports Preliminary Economic Assessment ON Viewfield Lithium Brine Project with Pre-Tax NPV of US$1.49B, IRR of 55% and Payback of 2.1 Years
Tel: 604-689-7422 208A - 980 West 1st Street, North Vancouver, BC V7P 3N4
EMP METALS REPORTS PRELIMINARY ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT ON
VIEWFIELD LITHIUM BRINE PROJECT WITH PRE-TAX NPV OF US$1.49B,
IRR OF 55% AND PAYBACK OF 2.1 YEARS
Vancouver, British Columbia, January 9, 2024 – EMP Metals Corp. (CSE: EMPS) (OTCQB: EMPPF)
(“EMP Metals” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the highlights of Hub City Lithium
Corp.’s (“HCL”) preliminary economic assessment (the “PEA”) on the Viewfield Lithium Brine
Project, Saskatchewan. The PEA outlines the estimated production of battery-quality lithium
carbonate equivalent (“lithium carbonate” or “LCE”) over a 23-year period, which represents an
estimated a pre-tax internal rate of return (“IRR”) of 55% and a pre-tax net present value (“NPV”)
of $1.49 billion USD, at an 8% discount rate.
Preliminary Economic Assessment Highlights
• Pre-tax $1.49 billion USD NPV, at an 8% discount rate;
• Pre-tax IRR of 55% which represents a payout duration of 2.1 years;
• Total capital expenditures (“CAPEX”) of $571 million USD inclusive of both direct and
indirect capital costs, including $52 million USD in contingency;
• All-in operating costs (“OPEX”) of $3,319 USD per tonne LCE, $40 million USD annually,
including all direct and indirect costs;
• 23-year project-life producing a total of 282,090 tonnes of battery-grade lithium
carbonate, an average of 12,175 tonnes LCE per year;
• Weighted average lithium concentrations of 128 mg/L from 7 target zones over the
project life (range of 84 mg/L to 259 mg/L);
• PEA encompasses approximately 11,000 net hectares, or 14% of Hub City Lithium’s
lands in Southern Saskatchewan
Preliminary Economic Assessment Results
Values
Production (LCE) 12,175 tonnes/year
Project Life 23.2 years
Total Capital Cost $571 million USD
Average Annual Operating Costs $40 million USD
Average Selling Price (LCE) $20,000/tonne USD
Pre-Tax Net Present Value (8% discount) $1.493 billion USD
After-Tax Net Present Value (8% discount) $1.066 billion USD
Pre-Tax Net Present Value (10% discount) $1.213 billion USD
After-Tax Net Present Value (10% discount) $0.859 billion USD
Cash Operating Costs $3,319 / tonne USD
Pre-Tax Internal Rate of Return 55%
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After-Tax Internal Rate of Return 45%
Payback Period (Pre-Tax) 2.1 years
Payback Period (After-Tax) 2.4 years
Profitability Index (PI8% Before-Tax) 3.2
Profitability Index (PI8% After-Tax) 2.3
Rob Gamley, EMP CEO, commented, “We are very pleased with the results of this Preliminary
Economic Assessment. With payback in approximately two years, a 23 -year project life and a
pre-tax IRR of 55% , our Viewfield project is clearly a world class Lithium asset. The PEA study
underpins a significant property value and highlights the benefits of excellent brine
concentrations, low operating costs and close proximity to local infrastructure in one of the best
mining jurisdictions in the world. The outstanding metrics demonstrated in the PEA represe nts
a highly attractive scenario for EMP shareholders and supports the remarkable potential of this
project as we quickly move to a commercial pilot.”
Project Development
The PEA encompasses 11,000 net hectares of land at Viewfield project area, representing 46% of
Hub City Lithium’s Viewfield land holdings and only 14% of Hub City Lithium’s total land holdings
in Southern Saskatchewan.
The development plan employed in the PEA has been broken into three distinct units:
1. Wellfield: includes all production wellbores, disposal wellbores and pipeline networks.
2. Direct Lithium Extraction (“DLE”): includes infrastructure related to pre-filtration and
DLE operations. Koch Technology Solutions (“KTS”) was the DLE technical partner
selected for the PEA.
3. Concentration, Refining and Conversion (“CRC”): includes all infrastructure downstream
of DLE required to refine and convert lithium chloride eluent into battery grade LCE.
Saltworks Technologies (“Saltworks”) was the CRC technical provider selected for the
PEA.
Based on production testing and fluid analysis conducted by HCL in 2023 in the Viewfield project
area, in addition to publicly available lithium testing throughout the area, it is expected to see
lithium grades of 84 mg/L to 259 mg/L in the seven target members of the Duperow within the
PEA lands. Over the life of the project, an average weighted concentration of 128 mg/L has been
estimated.
Exploitation of the resource will occur in two production stages via multi-leg, horizontal
wellbores. All project capital (minus end-of life capex) is allocated at the beginning of the project,
with production estimated to commence in Q1 2027.
Tel: 604-689-7422 208A - 980 West 1st Street, North Vancouver, BC V7P 3N4
• Stage 1: Wymark C, D and E (Years 1-7)
o These zones are the shallowest and highest concentration (160 mg/L to 259 mg/L)
zones and will be produced first through to depletion
o Average LCE output during Stage 1 is 18,850 tonnes per year with average OPEX
of $2,332 per tonne USD
• Stage 2: Wymark A, B and Saskatoon A, B (Years 8 onward)
o These zones are lower concentration (84 mg/l to 145 mg/L) and will be exploited
after depletion of Wymark C, D and E
o Average LCE output during Stage 2 is 10,200 tonnes per year with average OPEX
of $4,166 per tonne USD
Note: A recovery factor of 50% of Total Lithium in Place was estimated for the PEA
A total of 36 multi-leg production wells will be drilled to exploit 7 target members of the
Duperow, in addition to 30 vertical disposal wells to dispose of spent brine and process water. A
network of underground pipelines will be constructed to transport the large water volumes from
the wellheads to a DLE site for extraction and concentration to lithium chloride, and from there
the eluent will be transported via pipelines to a CRC site for refining and conversion into battery-
grade LCE. A total of five DLE sites and two CRC sites will process a daily average of 62,000 m3/day
of brine, resulting in an average output of 12,175 tonnes per year of battery-grade LCE.
Capital Costs
The anticipated capital costs are:
Capital Costs Description
Costs
(MM USD)
Wellfield Infrastructure
Wellbores, associated
equipment and pipelines $138.9
DLE and Surface Equip Infrastructure
(Koch) Pre-filtration and DLE $147.9
CRC and Surface Equip Infrastructure
(Saltworks)
Concentration, Refining and
Conversion $232.5
Contingency
Applied to direct capital
costs $51.9
Total $571.2
Operating Costs
The anticipated operating costs are:
Tel: 604-689-7422 208A - 980 West 1st Street, North Vancouver, BC V7P 3N4
Description
Total Annual
Costs
(MM USD)
Cost Per
Tonne LCE
(USD)
Wellfield
Electrical, field personnel, repair
and maintenance, lease rentals
and tax, etc. $13.6 $1,115
DLE and Surface Equip
(Koch)
Pre-filtration, electrical, gas,
water, LSS media, field
personnel, etc. $8.6 $711
CRC and Surface Equip
(Saltworks)
Chemicals, electrical, gas, field
personnel, repair and
maintenance, etc. $18.2 $1,493
Total $40.4 $3,319
Sensitivity Analysis
The economic sensitivities are as follows:
LCE Price (USD/Tonne)
After-Tax
NPV 8%
(USD Million)
After-Tax
IRR
Base ($20,000) $1,066 45%
Base -20% ($16,000) $728 34%
Base +20% ($24,000) $1,403 56%
Lithium Pricing and Production
A detailed future pricing study for lithium carbonate was not completed for this PEA. A constant
price of $20,000 USD per tonne of battery-grade lithium carbonate was chosen by reviewing
publicly available pricing data and peer released economic assessments of similar lithium
resources. Certain industry peers have used a constant price of $25,000 USD per tonne LCE in
PEAs released over the last 12-months, however in-light of current global pricing for lithium, Hub
City Lithium selected a base case of $20,000 per tonne with price sensitivities included at +/-20%.
Taxes and Royalties
The PEA outlines the taxes based on both the Canadian Federal Government and the Province of
Saskatchewan. The Saskatchewan corporate income tax rate is 12 percent. The basic Canadian
Federal Corporate tax rate is 38% of the Company’s income and 28% after federal tax abatement.
After all tax holidays, the Company’s net federal tax rate is 15 Percent, with a total combined tax
rate of 27 percent.
Tel: 604-689-7422 208A - 980 West 1st Street, North Vancouver, BC V7P 3N4
The majority of the Viewfield project area is on Crown land and is subject to Crown royalties.
Within the Province of Saskatchewan, the Crown royalty rate is estimated at 3%, with a one-year
royalty holiday for each facility hub. The balance of the Viewfield project area is subject to
freehold royalties which commercial terms vary based on individual lease agreements.
Mineral Resource Estimate Incorporated into PEA
The following sets forth the total inferred resource incorporated into the PEA:
• Viewfield Phase 1 Total inferred resource net to Hub City Lithium is 692,288 tonnes LCE
• Concentrations in the 7 target zones of the Duperow range from 84 mg/L to 259 mg/L,
with a weighted concentration of 128 mg/L
• Wymark D tested 259 mg/L, the highest recorded concentration to date in Canada
Viewfield Project Area - Q1 2024 Field Pilot
Subsequent to the press release dated December 5, 2023, Hub City Lithium has completed its
Treatability Study (“Study”) with Koch Technology Solutions, whereby 1,000 litres of feed brine
from the Viewfield project area was tested for compatibility with KTS DLE technology. The Study
was done in preparation for a DLE field pilot (one of the first in Canada) on the Hub City Lithium
well that previously tested 258 mg/L of Lithium. The pilot, scheduled to begin in Q1 2024, will
treat Viewfield brine and convert it into a highly concentrated lithium chloride eluent. It’s
expected to run for 3 to 4 months and will operate 24/7, processing approximately 6,500 - 9,000
litres of feed brine per day.
Quality Assurance and Qualified Persons
The Preliminary Economic Assessment was prepared by Sproule Associates Limited. (“Sproule”)
with the assistance of the contractors outlined below. All contractors completing the report are
Qualified Persons as defined by NI 43-101 and are independent of the Company. The National
Instrument 43-101 PEA report will be filed on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) within 45 days.
Sproule Associates Limited: Sproule is a global energy consulting and advisory firm that helps
companies, investors and governments minimize risk and optimize business decisions. Ms.
Meghan Klein (“Klein”), P.Eng., is the Sr. Manager Engineering at Sproule and a Qualified Person
for the PEA.
Red Tree Exploration Inc. (“Red Tree Exploration”): Red Tree Exploration is an independent
Geological consulting company with experience in oil and gas, lithium and helium evaluations.
Mr. Trevor Else (“Else”), P.Geo., is a Qualified Person for the PEA and the President of Red Tree
Exploration.
Tel: 604-689-7422 208A - 980 West 1st Street, North Vancouver, BC V7P 3N4
Koch Technology Solutions: Koch Technology Solutions is a technology licensing business, a part
of Koch Engineered Solutions. KTS creates value for its customers across a growing portfolio of
technologies including the polyester value chain, the refining industry and lithium extraction
fields. Mr. Marc Egbers (“Egbers”), is a Qualified Person for the PEA and the Director of Li-Pro™
Direct Lithium Extraction Commercial Solutions with KTS.
Saltworks Technologies: Saltworks is a team of engineers, scientists and builders focused on the
innovation, construction and delivery of full-scale systems to treat industrial wastewater and
refine lithium into a battery-grade product. Mr. Ben Sparrow (“Sparrow”), P.Eng., is a Qualified
Person for the PEA and CEO of Saltworks.
Each of Klein, Else, Egbers and Sparrow are independent Qualified Persons in accordance with NI
43-101 and have reviewed and approved the technical contents of this news release.
PEA Cautionary Note
The PEA is preliminary in nature and includes inferred resources that are considered too
speculative to have the economic considerations applied to them that would enable them to be
categorized as mineral reserves and there is no certainty the estimates presented in the PEA will
be realized.
About EMP Metals
EMP Metals is a Canadian-based lithium exploration and development company focused on large
scale resources using direct lithium extraction (“DLE”). EMP Metals, in partnership with ROK
Resources Inc., currently holds 196,000 net (79,300 hectares) acres of Subsurface Dispositions
and strategic wellbores in Southern Saskatchewan. For more information, please go to the
Company’s website at www.empmetals.com
For more information, please contact:
Rob Gamley, President & CEO Paul Schubach, COO
[email protected] [email protected]
Phone: 1-604-689-7422 Phone: 1-306-519-8341
Abbreviations
Li2CO3 Lithium Carbonate
H2O Water
Na Sodium
Ca Calcium
Cl Chlorine
Tel: 604-689-7422 208A - 980 West 1st Street, North Vancouver, BC V7P 3N4
SO4 Sulphate
Fe Iron
Al Aluminum
Cu Copper
Ni Nickel
Wt% Weight Percentage
Wppm Weight Parts per Million
Mg/l Milligrams per Litre
EDITDA Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, and Depreciation
M3 Cubic Meter
Forward-Looking Statements
Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on
assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current
estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance.
EMP Metals cautions that all forward -looking statements are inherently uncertain, and that
actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond
EMP Metals’ control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relat ing
to EMP Metals' limited operating history, ability to obtain sufficient financing to carry out its
exploration and development objectives on its mineral properties, obtaining the necessary
permits to carry out its activities and the need to comply with environmental and governmental
regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially
from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward -
looking information. Except as req uired under applicable securities legislation, EMP Metals
undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.
Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (“CSE”) nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that
term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of
this news release.