Issue link: http://resourceworld.uberflip.com/i/113113
December 12, the company announced that it had been given final project approval from the Jujuy government. Under its feasibility study, the project will have a two-stage production profile, with each stage expected to sustain 20,000 tpy lithium carbonate and 40,000 tpy potash. Mine life is estimated at 40 years. Negotiations with strategic partners relating to project financing are underway with Lithium Americas aiming to start project construction in 2013. Both Mitsubishi Corp. and Magna International are investors in Lithium Americas and both and have off take agreements with the company. Lithium Exploration Group [LEXGOTCBB] is focused on the 100%-optioned Valleyview lithium project in northwest Alberta, part of the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin. The company is in proof-of-concept stage, testing and refining the performance of its ultrasonic generator. Using a patented process to induce cavitation, the technology is designed to flash evaporate brine without 10 www.resourceworld.com the need for large volumes of natural gas or electricity. On January 31, the company announced that recent problems affecting the generator were identified and will be rectified. It will also influence the design and assembly planning for future units. Lomiko Metals Inc. [LMR-TSXV] owns eight out of nine claims at the Salar de Aguas Calientes lithium brine property in Chile. The other claim is held by SQM, the region���s primary producer of lithium. Mesa Exploration Corp. [MSA-TSXV] is primarily focused on developing a suite of potash projects in Utah and one in Arizona. This includes the Green Energy mineral brine project in Utah, which contains lithium values of up to 0.9% LiCO3. Nemaska Lithium Inc. [NMX-TSXV; NMKEF-OTCQX] is advancing its whollyowned Whabouchi lithium deposit located in Qu��bec���s James Bay region. The project has an estimated mine life of 18 years, with total measured and indicated resources at just under 19.4 million tonnes for 1.49% Li2O contained. Total production from Whabouchi is expected to reach 366,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium hydroxide and 177,000 tonnes battery-grade lithium carbonate. On February 7, the company confirmed it will proceed with building its $25-million Phase I lithium hydroxide and carbonate processing plant in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Qu��bec. Nameplate capacity is 500 tpy, with commissioning expected in December 2013. Nemaska also wholly owns the Sirmac lithium project, located around 125 km south of Whabouchi. New World Resource Corp. [NW-TSXV; NWU-Frankfurt] holds the Pastos Grandes lithium brine project in the Sud Lipez province, Bolivia. A chemical analysis has shown that the salar contains 1,033 ppm lithium; 378 ppm boron; and 7,766 ppm potassium. In April 2012, the company announced that a letter of intent for the proposed sale of the project to Li3 Energy Inc. [LIEG-OTCBB] had expired. North Arrow Minerals Inc. [NARTSXV] has two lithium properties, both located in northern Canada. The Phoenix Project is about 340 km northeast of MARCH 2013