Lithium Power International Ltd: Settlement of Legal Proceedings and Application for a CEOL

Sydney - Lithium Power International Ltd. (ASX:LPI) (OTCMKTS:LTHHF) ("LPI" or "the Company") is pleased to advise that MSB, operator for the world-class Maricunga lithium project in Chile, agreed last week to cease legal proceedings, started early in 2018. These proceedings against the Chilean Government related to the issuing of a Special Lithium Operation Contract ("CEOL") covering its new mining coded concessions to an unrelated third-party.

Highlights

- After very constructive discussions with the Ministry of Mines of Chile during the last 3 months, the Maricunga joint venture company, Minera Salar Blanco S.A. ("MSB"), has agreed to end its legal proceedings against the Chilean Government.

- Application for a Special Lithium Operation Contract ("CEOL") over MSB's new code mining concessions will now be submitted in early August. This permit once approved and subject to the EIA approval, will be the final approval required to produce lithium under the present Chilean legislation.

- MSB expresses its full confidence and agreement with the new government's vision for the future of the Maricunga salar and confirms its intention to work closely with Chilean government, on the development of the Maricunga salar in the Atacama Region of Chile.

The decision to cease proceedings was taken after a positive response received through an official letter (the "Letter") from the Ministry of Mines of Chile (the "Ministry") on 28 June 2018. The Letter was received after meetings between MSB's management and the Ministry, that enabled MSB to allay its concerns over the CEOL licensing process, which was the original motivation in commencing legal action.

The Letter confirmed MSB's ability to now formally request a CEOL be granted over its new code mining concessions on the Maricunga salar for future exploitation. MSB intends to formally submit its CEOL application to the authorities in August.

This process is in addition to the Chilean Nuclear Commission (CCHEN) permit granted in the beginning of March this year for a period of 30 years over the company's old coded mining concessions. A CEOL is not required for the exploitation of these concessions.

Minera Salar Blanco's Chief Executive Officer, Cristobal García-Huidobro, said:

Minera Salar Blanco has full confidence in and is in agreement with the new government's vision for the future of the Maricunga salar. MSB confirms its intention to closely collaborate on the development of its Maricunga lithium project in the Atacama Region in Chile. This represents the initial step towards the future consolidation of the Maricunga salar, with MSB and LPI, as majority shareholder of MSB, taking the lead.

The project is entering its final stage of the pre-development process with its Environmental Impact Assessment is likely to be submitted to the evaluation authorities in the third quarter, after more than two years of preparation, and the Definitive Feasibility Report on the project to be finalised and scheduled for release by the end of December this year. In addition, MSB and its major shareholder, LPI, have had initial discussions with major Chilean and international institutions with the objective of finalising a letter of intent during the first half of 2019 for financing the project.

LPI 's Chairman, David Hannon, said:

This is a very positive development for MSB, since the next submission of the CEOL application over our new code mining concessions, coupled with the permits in place on our old code mining concessions, pave the way to the development of the Maricunga project. We look forward to advancing the overall Maricunga project development as we also finalise other operational and strategic initiatives for LPI.

About Lithium Power International Ltd:

Lithium Power International Ltd. (ASX:LPI) (FRA:24L) is a pure-play lithium explorer and developer, focusing on developing and fast-tracking to production the high-grade Maricunga lithium brine project in Chile.

LPI has a well known performing technical team with the experience to take the Maricunga project all the way through the development stages to production.

The regions that LPI is currently focussed on are:

1. Maricunga JV (Chile) – On 13th September 2016, Lithium Power announced the creation of a new JV to develop the world-class Maricunga lithium brine deposit in northern Chile.

2. Pilbara (Western Australia) – LPI has one granted exploration tenement and two pending exploration applications covering 203km2 in the Pilbara region of northern Western Australia. The largest granted exploration tenement is at Pilgangoora-Houston Creek is 2-3km west of the Pilbara Minerals (PLS.ASX) and Altura Mining (AJM.ASX) lithium deposits.

3. Greenbushes (Western Australia) – LPI has two granted exploration tenements covering 400km2 in the Greenbushes area of southern Western Australia. The tenements are adjacent to the world’s largest hard rock lithium mine owned & operated by Tianqi/Talison.

4. Centenario (Argentina) –Through its Argentinian subsidiary, Lithium Power holds a total of 6 granted tenements in the Centenario lithium brine salar within the Salta province of the Puna Plateau. In total, the 6 granted tenements cover an area of 61.52km2. In addition, there is 1 further tenement in the grant review stage.

With the exception of the Maricunga JV, all tenements are 100% owned by LPI or LPSA (including rights to the Centenario tenement which is the subject of review by the Argentinian mining authorities).

Source: Lithium Power International Ltd.



Contact:

David R Hannon - Chairman or Andrew Phillips - Company Secretary
Lithium Power International
E: info@lithiumpowerinternational.com
Ph: +61-2-9276-1245
www.lithiumpowerinternational.com
Twitter: @LithiumPowerLPI