NOA Lithium Provides Update on 2026 Exploration Campaign and Provides Corporate Updates
NOA’s Rio Grande pumping tests exceeded PEA flow assumptions, advancing the PFS timeline.
NOA Lithium Brines Inc. (NOAL) reported encouraging initial pumping test results from well RT-RG26-PW002 at its Rio Grande Project in an update on September 24, 2026. Initial hydraulic testing achieved pumping rates of approximately 25 litres per second (L/s), with a recommended operating rate of ~20 L/s. This operating rate exceeds the 15 L/s assumption used in the October 2025 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA). The well maintains an efficiency of approximately 86%, indicating effective aquifer utilization. A 48-hour continuous pumping test is currently underway to further evaluate aquifer performance. Brine samples have been submitted for laboratory analysis, with results expected in the coming weeks.
The company issued 2,427,938 common shares in Q3 2026 to service providers Hatch Ltd. and Tricone Inc. for technical and exploration consulting services. Share issuance prices ranged from C$0.202 to C$0.25 per share. The drilling program continues to support the refinement of hydrogeological and resource models ahead of the targeted Preliminary Feasibility Study (PFS) by year-end 2026.
NOA Lithium Brines Inc. (NOAL) reported that pumping test results are technically positive, validating the hydrogeological assumptions underpinning the Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA). Achieving flow rates above the 15 L/s baseline reduces execution risk for the upcoming Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS).
This update follows the May 2026 drilling mobilization and the June 2026 engagement of Hatch for process development. The market likely anticipated strong flow rates given the high-grade resource definition.
The issuance of shares for services is a standard operational practice for pre-revenue explorers but adds incremental dilution to the existing overhang. The news does not introduce new financial milestones, strategic partnerships, or changes to the capital structure that would materially alter the company's valuation trajectory.
NOA Lithium Brines Inc. (NOAL) is a pre-revenue exploration and development company focused on lithium brine assets located in the Lithium Triangle of Salta, Argentina. The company holds over 140,000 hectares across three salars: Rio Grande, Arizaro, and Salinas Grandes.
The flagship Rio Grande Project hosts an estimated 4.7 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) with an average lithium concentration of 525 mg/L. The project is currently in the pre-feasibility stage, having completed a PEA in October 2025 that outlined a scalable 40,000 tpa production facility with strong economic metrics, including a pre-tax NPV of $2.065B at 20,000 tpa.
The Salinas Grandes project was fully written off in Q1 2026 due to a lack of foreseeable exploration plans.