Article

Altamin Limited, a mineral exploration company with a focus on base and critical metals, has announced a significant advancement in its operations with the receipt of a €3.62 million grant from the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security. This funding is earmarked for the ambitious BRAIN project, which seeks to innovate the extraction of critical raw materials—specifically commercial-grade sulphate of potash, lithium, and boron—leveraging geothermal energy at Altamin's Lazio project, situated approximately 30 kilometers north of Rome.

The BRAIN project's total eligible expenditure has been approved at €2.825 million, allowing for a comprehensive testing of a new process aimed at scaling up production in an environmentally sustainable manner. In alignment with EU sustainability goals and Italian environmental regulations, the project includes rigorous studies such as a full environmental impact assessment and a lifecycle assessment.

CEO Geraint Harris expressed optimism regarding this partnership, emphasizing its potential to bolster Italy's leadership in brine separation technologies. He acknowledged the diligent work of the Altamin team in securing this non-dilutive funding, which is crucial for fostering technological development and knowledge dissemination. This initiative not only aims to enhance the extraction of raw materials but also supports the broader objectives of the EU's Critical Raw Materials Act, potentially paving the way for increased self-sufficiency in critical raw materials across Europe.