Outotec provides filtration technology for the lithium processing pilot plant in Bolivia

OUTOTEC OYJ PRESS RELEASE MAY 8, 2012 AT 10:30 AM

Outotec provides filtration technology for the lithium processing pilot plant in Bolivia

Outotec has agreed with the Bolivian authorities managing the use of the country's evaporite resources and Corporación Minera de Bolivia (COMIBOL) on the technology delivery for the lithium processing pilot plant. The value of the deliveries with this scope is typically a few million Euros.

Outotec will provide filters, auxiliary equipment, spare parts and start-up services to the pilot plant to be built in the Salar de Uyuni area of Bolivia. Elevated over 3,600 meters above mean sea level, Salar de Uyuni is the largest salt flat of the world and estimated to contain even more than half of the world's lithium reserves. Lithium and its compounds have several industrial applications, including heat-resistant glass and ceramics, high strength-to-weight alloys used in aircraft, lithium batteries and lithium-ion batteries.

The first stage of the project to commercialize the vast lithium reserves of Bolivia is to build the pilot plant for conducting a feasibility study on a large-sized industrial plant. Outotec's equipment deliveries are scheduled to be completed during 2012.

"This is one of the world's most important lithium projects, and already in this pilot plant stage extremely interesting for us. Bolivia is a country with rich mineral resources, and Outotec has technologies to offer for their sustainable exploitation", states Pertti Korhonen, CEO of Outotec.

For further information please contact:

OUTOTEC

Jari Rosendal, President - Non-ferrous Solutions business area
tel. +358 20 529 2700

Eila Paatela, Director - Corporate Communications
tel. +358 20 529 2004, +358 400 817 198

e-mails firstname.lastname@outotec.com

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