Watercycle Technologies, a University of Manchester spinout developing sustainable mineral recovery technologies, recently hosted a delegation from Bolivia’s state-owned lithium company, Yacimientos de Litio Bolivianos (YLB), at its Manchester headquarters and operational facilities in Runcorn.
The visit followed Watercycle’s selection by YLB earlier this year to trial its proprietary Direct Lithium Extraction and Crystallisation (DLEC™) technology on brines from the Uyuni and Pastos Grandes salt flats. The delegation, led by YLB’s Executive President Omar Alarcon, toured the Runcorn site to see the technology in operation and reviewed early results from pilot testing.
The visit also included a tour of Watercycle’s new Research and Development laboratories, and presentations from representatives of the Department for Business and Trade and the British Geological Survey. Discussions focused on the UK’s Critical Minerals Strategy and ongoing international collaboration in the sector.
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