In a strategic move to accelerate the development of its flagship Bandeira Lithium Project in Brazil, Lithium Ionic Corp. (TSXV: LTH; OTCQB: LTHCF; FSE: H3N) has partnered with RTEK International DMCC, a renowned expert in the lithium sector. This partnership aims to leverage RTEK’s extensive experience in lithium operations to optimize the project’s transition from feasibility to construction and operational readiness.
RTEK brings over 80 years of combined lithium expertise in chemical and metallurgical operations, process development, geology, and project execution. The company has a proven track record of accelerating project timelines, reducing capital intensity, and successfully launching lithium operations globally. This expertise will be crucial in unlocking the full potential of the Bandeira Project, which is rapidly emerging as one of the most promising lithium assets in Brazil’s Lithium Valley.
Blake Hylands, CEO of Lithium Ionic, highlighted the strategic importance of this partnership: “RTEK’s involvement strengthens our execution capabilities and brings valuable insights from proven successes in Brazil’s Lithium Valley.” The partnership is expected to enhance Lithium Ionic’s ability to optimize plant and mine design, reduce capital expenditures (CAPEX) and operational expenditures (OPEX), and compress the development timeline.
RTEK is led by a team of lithium industry veterans, including Brian Talbot, Nicholas Rowley, Noel O’Brien, and Rodrigo Roso. These experts have delivered results across the full mine lifecycle, from feasibility through to production. As part of the owner’s team, RTEK will conduct a detailed review of Lithium Ionic’s NI 43-101 Feasibility Study to identify opportunities for optimization. Beyond engineering management and construction planning, RTEK will develop a comprehensive operational strategy, focusing on process optimization, commissioning, and ramp-up activities to ensure best-in-class production performance.
Brian Talbot, Founder and Director of RTEK, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership: “We see excellent potential to accelerate the advancement of this project to production by applying proven strategies in design optimization, cost efficiency, and execution discipline.” Talbot’s background includes successfully transitioning Sigma Lithium’s Grota do Cirilo Project in Brazil from construction to production and driving operational improvements at Galaxy Resources’ Mt. Cattlin mine in Australia.
In addition to the RTEK partnership, Lithium Ionic has announced a leadership transition. Mike Westendorf, who joined the company in February 2024 as Vice President, Technical Services, has been appointed Chief Operating Officer (COO), replacing Paulo Misk. Westendorf brings over two decades of operational and technical experience in the mining industry, including leadership roles at Copper Mountain Mining Corp. His appointment is part of Lithium Ionic’s strategy to strengthen its project execution capabilities as it moves towards construction and production.
The Bandeira Project is situated in the northeastern part of Minas Gerais state, a region rapidly emerging as a world-class hard-rock lithium district. It is located near established lithium operations, including CBL’s Cachoeira lithium mine and Sigma Lithium Corp.’s Grota do Cirilo project. With a robust feasibility study outlining strong economics and bottom-quartile operating costs, the project is positioned to become a major lithium producer in Brazil.
The agreement with RTEK includes a mandate to progress detailed engineering, optimize operational design, and identify cost-saving opportunities. RTEK consultants will be integrated into Lithium Ionic’s owner’s team to drive project advancement. The partnership is structured to provide operational budget payments in cash and potential share compensation if specific operational milestones are achieved, subject to regulatory approvals.
This strategic partnership and leadership transition underscore Lithium Ionic’s commitment to leveraging world-class expertise to accelerate the Bandeira Project’s development.
