Host International Academics - University Atacama

Copiapó, January 25, 2024: In a joint effort to address global challenges and local issues associated with lithium, CleanTech Lithium has hosted a leading international seminar entitled "Lithium: Global Challenges, Local Issues, Decarbonization, Sustainability and Participation". The event, which took place on January 18th and 19th at the Universidad de Atacama, brought together renowned international academics and industry leaders to explore the crucial role lithium plays in global decarbonization and the transition to a green economy.

In a context where decarbonization has become an inescapable priority to mitigate the effects of climate change, lithium emerges as an essential component in the transition to cleaner energy sources. The seminar focused not only on understanding the importance of lithium globally, but also on collaboratively addressing the local complexities associated with its extraction, which is a priority for the Chilean government.

An essential part of the event saw the visit of international academics to the CleanTech Lithium R&D Centre in Copiapó where the Company's DLE Pilot Plant is being commissioned (see figure 1). This direct encounter allowed participants to immerse themselves in the Company's approach to​ lithium extraction, highlighting the importance of public-private partnerships to address the complex challenges facing the industry.

Marcela Sepúlveda, Community Relations Manager, CleanTech Lithium, commented: "Collaboration between academia, industry and government is essential to developing sustainable solutions in lithium extraction and its integration into the global supply chain. The presence of international academics at our DLE pilot plant is a testament to our commitment to innovation and transparency in our operations."

Mauricio Lorca, Research Associate at the Universidad de Atacama, mentioned: "Having these spaces for dialogue and listening are extremely valuable. And in that sense, the presence of CleanTech Lithium was very well evaluated. Having this willingness to build dialogue is obviously a step in the right direction."

Figure 1: CleanTech Lithium hosts international academics from the University de Atacama

The seminar stands as a forum for the exchange of ideas and experiences, fostering collaboration between different stakeholders to address the present and future challenges associated with lithium. CleanTech Lithium, together with the Universidad de Atacama, is proud to lead this effort towards a more sustainable and equitable future.

Figure 2: Sabine Macaya (second from left), Operations Manager at CTL, participates in a panel discussion about the lithium industry and the collaboration between academia, industry and the government in Chile.

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