Orocobre Limited Stock Market Press Releases and Company Profile
Borax Argentina Plant Upgrade at Tincalayu
Borax Argentina Plant Upgrade at Tincalayu

Brisbane, June 29, 2016 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Orocobre Limited (googlechartASX:ORE) (googlechartTSE:ORL) (googlechartOROCF:OTCMKTS) (Orocobre or the Company) wishes to advise on progress of production upgrade activities at the Borax Argentina borax decahydrate plant at Tincalayu.

- Plant modifications completed on time and materially on budget in April;

- Commissioning and ramp up commenced in May;

- Full production expected on schedule in September.

The Tincalayu plant upgrade was initiated to consolidate the production of decahydrate and pentahydrate in the same location, increase production rates and lower unit costs. The upgrade will also create options to export finished product directly from Tincalayu to international markets via Chilean ports. The plant modifications were completed in April on time and materially on budget, as per previous guidance.

Production rates to date have peaked at 97 tonnes per day (tpd) borax decahydrate equivalent. Full nameplate production of 100 tpd is expected to be achieved on schedule by September 2016.
Previously announced changes to the boric acid plant at Campo Quijano will be completed in June. These modifications will improve efficiencies and manufacturing throughput by 20% and make the plant more suitable for processing hydroboracite ores. The boric acid plant and borax anhydrous manufacturing will remain at Campo Quijano.

A production efficiency review of the Borax Argentina operations commenced in Q1 CY2016. This has already delivered significant performance improvements at the Sijes concentrator which produces boron mineral products (Hydroboracite and Colemanite), resulting in increased production and lower unit costs. Further efficiencies are expected to be realised as the review continues.

Tincalayu Expansion Study

A study commenced in Q2 CY2016 to evaluate a potential expansion of the Tincalayu refined borates operation from its current production capacity of 30,000 tpa to 100-120,000 tpa.

It is anticipated that the potential expansion will further enhance efficiencies in the production of refined borates at Tincalayu and contribute to an improved manufacturing unit costs. This study will consolidate the work already undertaken on a new gas pipeline, for which permitting is underway.

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About Orocobre Limited

Orocobre Limited (ASX:ORE)Orocobre Limited  is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange and Toronto Stock Exchange  (ASX:ORE) (TSE:ORL) (OTCMKTS:OROCF), and is building a substantial Argentine based industrial chemicals company through its portfolio of lithium, potash and boron assets. In partnership with Toyota Tsusho Corporation (TTC) and JEMSE, Orocobre has built and is now operating the world's first commercial, brine-based lithium operation constructed in approximately 20 years.

In 2018 Orocobre announced the Stage 2 Expansion of its flagship Olaroz Lithium Facility in Argentina. The Stage 2 Expansion will add 25,000 tpa of lithium carbonate production capacity, taking full production and capacity to 42,500 tpa of lithium carbonate for sale to industrial, technical and battery markets, positioning Orocobre as one of the world's largest and lowest cost lithium chemicals producers.

Additionally, Orocobre and Toyota Tsusho Corporation have commenced construction of the 10,000 tpa lithium hydroxide plant in Naraha, Japan. The construction of the Naraha Lithium Hydroxide Plant will further cement Orocobre's position as a global lithium chemicals producer operating at the bottom quartile of the lithium cost curve. This new hydroxide plant will be the first of its kind in Japan and will provide Orocobre product diversification suitable for different battery technologies and the potential for significant margin growth on our primary lithium carbonate being converted to battery grade lithium hydroxide.

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Contact

Richard Seville
Managing Director
T: +61-7-3871-3985
M: +61-419-916-338
E: rseville@orocobre.com

James Calaway
Chairman
M: +1-713-818-1457
E: jcalaway@orocobre.com



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