Explorer and developer CleanTech Lithium has announced the appointment of Australian national Tony Esplin as CEO designate. His appointment comes as the company sets its sights on an ASX listing in 2025 and continues to advance its lithium project in Chile.

Esplin, 58, will join CleanTech Lithium with immediate effect on a part-time consultancy basis before transitioning into the full-time CEO role and board directorship once the company successfully lists on the ASX.

With over 30 years of experience in the mining sector, Esplin brings a wealth of knowledge to CleanTech Lithium. His background includes senior roles at major international mining companies, including Newmont, one of the world’s largest gold producers. He has also held leadership positions in Latin America, where he lived and worked for over 12 years and became fluent in Spanish. Esplin’s most recent role was as COO at Discovery Silver Corporation, a TSX-listed company focused on silver exploration in Mexico. There, he played a key role in developing project finance options and managing investor relations. Prior to that, he was executive MD at Barrick Niugini, overseeing all aspects of Barrick Gold’s operations in Papua New Guinea.

Esplin’s fluency in Spanish and familiarity with the Latin American business environment will assist CleanTech in building and maintaining strong relationships with the Chilean government, regulatory bodies and especially the local communities whose continuing support will be critical to the company’s success.

The appointment of Esplin follows a comprehensive search for the right candidate to guide CleanTech Lithium through a critical phase of its growth. “This concludes a relatively long process to identify the right candidate for this important role, and we were very encouraged at the quality of the candidates who were keen to take up the reins at CleanTech Lithium,” said executive chairperson and interim CEO Steve Kesler.

“Tony’s experiences of leading challenging international gold and base metal projects of scale through development into production, especially in Latin America, will be invaluable as the company moves our Laguna Verde project forward towards the commercial production of battery grade lithium from 2027 onwards,” he added.

Regarding the ASX listing, CleanTech Lithium has decided that an early first-quarter 2025 listing will be best for the company, considering various time constraints, including Australian summer holidays.

CleanTech Lithium noted that the revised timeline meant the company would have produced substantial amounts of battery grade lithium carbonate for potential strategic partners to start product qualification, would have submitted the special lithium operating contract application for the Laguna Verde project and would be nearing completion of the Laguna Verde prefeasibility study.

“This will ensure the timing of the proposed listing is optimal to deliver the highest possible value to investors. It will also allow Mr Esplin to get up to speed on the company’s position and plans and then actively participate in the ASX listing.”

A scoping study was published in January 2023 where results highlighted the robust economics for 20 000 t/y over a 30-year period with low operating costs and calculated net cash flows of $6.3-billion. This is said to be among the largest Joint Ore Resources Committee or National Instrument 43-101 lithium resource estimates in Chile outside the Salar de Atacama.

Estimated construction cost for the project is $450-million.

Esplin said he was excited to join CleanTech Lithium and was looking forward to the opportunity to work in Latin America again. "It is well known that the lithium market is going through a challenging time, but all analysts agree that the lithium price will recover in due course to meet the growing international demand for EVs and other forms of battery storage. In the meantime, CleanTech Lithium has placed itself very nicely to be the next major mover in the lithium sector in Chile, through the use of direct lithium extraction (DLE) and by adopting more sustainable methods of extracting lithium for a market keen to see more 'green lithium' supply," he commented.

“I am impressed at the results I have seen from the company’s DLE pilot plant and downstream processing, as well as the innovative community relations programmes where the company has entered into alliances with local communities and universities. I look forward to working with the board, management and staff to deliver a successful project at Laguna Verde. Whilst that project will be our major focus for the time being, we also have other assets in Chile which we can progress over time, adding real upside to our company’s value proposition for investors."