Anson Resources progresses planned bromine/lithium production plant at Paradox project

Anson Resources Ltd (ASX:ASN) has made further progress towards development of a planned bromine/lithium production plant at its Paradox Brine Project in Utah, USA. Land and cultural surveys have been submitted and accepted by the Utah State Government while spring environmental surveys have also been completed. These surveys are part of the work required for preparation of a Plan of Operations (PoO) to be submitted to the USA Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Shares have been as much as 18% higher to 2.6 cents intra-day. Executive chairman and CEO Bruce Richardson said: “The Paradox Brine Project remains the main focus of Anson’s activities. “The progress that has been made with the land and cultural surveys at the proposed site of the production plant is also very pleasing as was the completion of the spring environmental surveys over the claims included in the project. “Despite the preliminary economic assessment (PEA) only recently being completed, Anson was able to quickly mobilise its consultants to conduct the required survey.” The PoO once approved, will permit Anson to conduct the re-entry programs and the production well development. Industrial lease application Completion of the land and cultural surveys is the final step in the application process for an industrial lease and follows the completion of the public consultation and Utah Resource Development Coordinating Committee (RDCC) processes. The proposed site is on a State of Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA) lease and covers an area of 35 acres and is close to power, natural gas, road and rail infrastructure. Negotiations have commenced with SITLA regarding annual lease fees and is expected to be completed within the next few weeks. Engineering study underway In addition, Anson has appointed the local supplier of electricity to begin an engineering study for the supply of power to the proposed production plant. Richardson said: “One of the great advantages of working in the USA is the excellent existing infrastructure. “The agreement by the local electricity supply company to conduct an engineering study indicates that there is no impediment to the supply of power for the project, a major input requirement for the production process. “The initial visit to the proposed site by representatives of the electricity provider was made within days of submitting an application, an indication of the importance attached to this project. "The engineering study will be conducted over the next month." Negotiations with gas suppliers The company has also started discussions with gas suppliers for the project. Richardson said: “Discussions with potential gas suppliers have also progressed with one oil and gas producer reportingly burning up to 300,000 cubic feet a day of gas. “This provides an opportunity for Anson to make use of the gas that would otherwise be wasted and for the government to increase its royalty revenue and reduce emissions.” Re-entry program planned Anson plans to continue with its re-entry program to increase bromine and lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) estimated tonnages in the JORC indicated and inferred categories. The tonnages of lithium and bromine contained in the brine within clastic zones 17,19, 29 and 33 in the central and western part of the claims (where Anson is yet to conduct re-entry programs) are classified as an exploration target and were not included in Anson’s Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) calculation. The PEA covered: Stage 1: 15,000 tonnes per annum commercial sodium bromide (NaBr) plant; and Stage 2: 24 tonnes per annum lithium carbonate pilot plant. The completion of this further re-entry program will enable Anson to extend its PEA to Stage 3 of its Project, expansion of the NaBr plant and a commercial lithium carbonate plant. Anson plans to carry out a one or two well re-entry program in the western area, upon the completion and approval of the PoO, to convert the exploration targets into JORC resource.