CENTURY LITHIUM ACHIEVES HIGH RECOVERY OF RARE EARTH AND CRITICAL ELEMENTS FROM PRIMARY LEACH SOLUTIONS
None
The most recent news release dated December 2, 2025, reports that Century Lithium Corp. has achieved high recovery of rare earth elements (REEs) and critical metals from primary lithium leach solutions at its Angel Island project. Ion-exchange test work demonstrated greater than 97% recovery of identified REEs and critical metals (excluding cesium) without negatively impacting the core lithium recovery process. Todd Fayram, Senior Vice President, Metallurgy, stated that these results validate secondary-value opportunities, potentially strengthening Angel Island's economics and aligning the company with North American critical-minerals supply chain initiatives.
This news is a positive, but routine, technical update. The successful recovery of REEs and critical metals as by-products could enhance the overall economics of the Angel Island project by providing additional revenue streams. This aligns with the company's broader strategy to optimize its processes and unlock further value from its project, as previously mentioned in the November 24, 2025 update regarding feasibility study optimization.
However, the impact is not considered "material - game changer" at this stage because: - It pertains to by-product recovery, not the primary lithium production, which is the core business. - The project is still in the feasibility and permitting stages, and these are test results, not yet implemented commercial operations. - The economic benefits are "potential" and need to be integrated into an updated feasibility study to determine their actual financial impact. - The company's primary challenge remains securing significant project financing for construction and moving from feasibility to production.
The news is consistent with the company's ongoing technical de-risking and optimization efforts. It provides further validation of their processing technology and highlights potential for improved project economics, which is a good incremental step.
Century Lithium Corp. is an advanced-stage lithium company focused on the development of its 100%-owned Angel Island Lithium Project (formerly Clayton Valley) in Esmeralda County, Nevada, USA. The project is strategically located within a prominent lithium-producing region. Angel Island is recognized as one of the largest sedimentary lithium deposits in the United States, positioning the company to contribute to the domestic critical minerals supply chain.
The company is developing a proprietary, patent-pending process that combines chloride leaching with direct lithium extraction (DLE) to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate. This process is designed to be innovative and sustainable, utilizing salt to generate reagents for leaching and pH control. The company has a Lithium Extraction Facility (Demonstration Plant) in Nevada, which has successfully produced high-purity lithium carbonate (99.87% Li2CO3) and, more recently, lithium hydroxide samples (+99.5% purity).
Key project developments include: * Optimization Study: A study in February 2025 suggested a potential capital expenditure (CAPEX) reduction of up to 25% from the initial $1.581 billion for Phase 1. * Permitting: The project is in the permitting stage for a three-phase feasibility-level production plan, with an estimated mine life of 40 years and average annual production of 34,000 tonnes of lithium carbonate per year. It has achieved FAST-41 Transparency Status (August 2025), a federal initiative designed to streamline the environmental review and permitting process for critical infrastructure projects, signalling strong government interest in domestic lithium supply. All required baseline environmental studies have been completed and submitted to the BLM (October 2025). * By-product Value: The company has identified and is testing the recovery of valuable by-products. A non-binding MOU with Orica Specialty Mining Chemicals (January 2025) outlines a potential multi-year offtake agreement for surplus sodium hydroxide, a by-product of the lithium extraction process, which could significantly lower operating costs. The most recent news (December 2025) highlights successful high recovery (>97%) of rare earth and critical elements from leach solutions, indicating further secondary revenue potential. * Product Diversification: Beyond lithium carbonate, the company successfully produced lithium hydroxide samples (October 2025), expanding its potential market reach.