Nemaska Lithium Receives Canadian Patent for its Lithium Hydroxide and Lithium Carbonate Process

The electrolysis technology developed by Nemaska Lithium to convert lithium sulphate into lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate, has been successfully lab scale tested, demonstrated in pilot plant testing as well as at supplier facilities over the past four years. In the past, electrolysis based technologies have been commercially used in multiple industries and have demonstrated that they can be very efficient and very reliable.

"Our patent portfolio encompasses a number of unique processes that we have developed throughout the technology chain," commented Jean-Francois Magnan, Technical Manager at Nemaska Lithium. "In addition to developing the overall process, we have done a lot of work on the impurity removal systems which allow us to produce one the purest lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate products without the costly polishing steps that our competitors require. This ensures that we will produce lithium compound products at low costs and at very high purity. I believe these two critical factors will enable to capture a significant share of the growing lithium compounds market."

Nemaska Lithium has developed proprietary environmentally friendly processes to produce a very high purity, low cost lithium hydroxide and lithium carbonate using membrane electrolysis technologies. The main benefits of these processes include:

• low and predictable operating costs, C$2,693/t (*US$2,154/t) for lithium hydroxide monohydrate and C$3,441/t (*US$2,753/t) for lithium carbonate FOB Shawinigan per the feasibility study filed in May 2016
• virtually eliminates costly reagents such as soda ash thus eliminating sodium sulfate by-product which has no market value and is environmentally harmful
• significant reduction of green-house gas emissions (GHG)

These processes will enable Nemaska Lithium to have excellent control on cost and quality of its final lithium products, for the benefit of its customers.

*Exchange rate per 2016 Updated Feasibility Study $1.00 CAD = $0.80 US

About Nemaska Lithium

Nemaska Lithium intends to become a lithium hydroxide supplier and lithium carbonate supplier to the emerging lithium battery market that is largely driven by electric vehicles, cell phones, tablets and other consumer products. The spodumene concentrate produced at Nemaska Lithium's Whabouchi mine will be shipped to the Corporation's lithium compounds processing plant to be built in Shawinigan, Quebec. This plant will transform spodumene concentrate into high purity lithium hydroxide and carbonate using the proprietary methods developed by the Corporation, and for which patent applications have been filed.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

The statements herein that are not historical facts are forward‐looking statements. These statements address future events and conditions and so involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ from those currently projected. The Corporation does not assume the obligation to update any forward‐looking statement.



Contact

Nemaska Lithium Inc.
Mr. Guy Bourassa, President and Chief Executive Officer
418 704-6038
info@nemaskalithium.com

Mrs. Wanda Cutler, Investor Relations
416 303-6460
wanda.cutler@nemaskalithium.com

Mr. Victor Cantore, Investor Relations
514 831-3809
victor.cantore@nemaskalithium.com
www.nemaskalithium.com