Lilac IX Direct Lithium Extraction Technology Secures First Commercial Environmental Permit in South America

Salar de Carachi Pampa in Catamarca Province

The approval for Lake Resources' Kachi Lithium Brine Project in Catamarca, Argentina marks Lilac's first commercial technology permit in South America and the first commercial-scale DLE approval with brine reinjection in the region.

OAKLAND, CA, UNITED STATES, September 29, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Lilac Solutions, a leader in direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology, today announced that the Catamarca Ministry of Mining has issued the Environmental Impact Declaration (Declaración de Impacto Ambiental, or “DIA”) for the Kachi Lithium Brine Project in Catamarca Province, Argentina. Kachi is being developed by Lake Resources in partnership with Lilac, using Lilac IX™ technology. Lilac holds a 20% equity stake in the project.

This DIA delivers three key outcomes for Kachi and for Lilac's technology:

• Industry first: The DIA positions Kachi as one of a very few fully permitted, large-scale lithium brine projects anywhere in the world, and the first commercial-scale DLE project in South America permitted for reinjection.

• Regulatory validation: The DIA confirms that Kachi's engineering design, including Lilac's ion exchange (IX) technology, fully complies with the environmental and social standards of Catamarca Province and Argentina, and validates that brine processed through Lilac IX remains safe for reinjection, a key benchmark for regulators and local communities throughout the review.

• Environmental performance: Lilac's process uses minimal land, delivers the lowest water consumption of any approved DLE project in Latin America, and returns more than 99% of the extracted brine directly to the reservoir, minimizing disruption to the local community and ecosystem.

Kachi sits on the Salar de Carachi Pampa in Catamarca Province and hosts a lithium resource estimated at 11.1 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE), per Lake Resources' June 2025 estimate. Phase 1 targets production of 25,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) LCE over a 25-year mine life. That is enough lithium to supply batteries for approximately 550,000 electric vehicles per year and 14 million vehicles over the life of the project. The project is designed to produce battery grade lithium carbonate on site, without the need for further refining or processing.

With the environmental permit secured, Kachi is advancing into the Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) phase, which includes further engineering planning and commercial activities.

Lilac is also in late-stage development of its first commercial facility on the Great Salt Lake in Utah. Phase 1 is designed to produce 5,000 tpa LCE, with a planned Phase 2 that will bring total production to 20,000 tpa LCE. Lilac was recently awarded a $100M DOE grant to support the Phase 1 project and is rapidly advancing toward final investment decision.

“The DIA is a defining milestone for Kachi and for Lilac's technology,” said Raef Sully, CEO of Lilac. “It's a strong validation of our ion exchange technology and our ability to meet the most rigorous environmental standards in the region. We're grateful to the Catamarca Ministry of Mining, the local communities, and our partners at Lake Resources for their collaboration throughout this process. As we move into FEED, this milestone strengthens the case for Lilac's technology across our broader project pipeline, including our first commercial facility at the Great Salt Lake.”

About Lilac Solutions
Lilac is a leading direct lithium extraction (DLE) provider with unique ion exchange technology, Lilac IX™, that unlocks brine resources worldwide to scale supply for global electrification. The technology delivers high lithium recovery with minimal water use and no evaporation ponds, providing a cost effective and lower impact alternative to competing extraction methods. Proven through multiple pilot and demonstration plants globally, Lilac IX is now advancing to commercial scale. Lilac is headquartered in Oakland, California, with manufacturing in Fernley, Nevada. Learn more at lilacsolutions.com.

Elizabeth Pond
VP of Communications & Brand, Lilac Solutions
press@lilacsolutions.com