Distributed on behalf of NOA Lithium Brines Inc.
As the world shifts toward clean energy, electrification, and artificial intelligence, critical minerals, like lithium, copper, nickel, cobalt, and rare earths, are seeing heavy demand. Lithium, for example, is projected to see demand grow by more than 353% between 2024 and 2040, according to a June 2026 report from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). “Clean technologies are also expected to account for a larger share of demand. Their share of lithium demand is projected to rise from 62% in 2024 to 87% in 2040,” they added. All of which creates substantial opportunity for lithium-related companies, such as NOA Lithium Brines (TSXV: NOAL), Albemarle (NYSE: ALB), EnerSys (NYSE: ENS), Sigma Lithium (NASDAQ: SGML) (TSXV: SGML), and Standard Lithium (NYSE: SLI) (TSXV: SLI).
In addition, as Allan Pedersen, research director at Wood Mackenzie, explains: “The lithium market is heading into a supply crunch much sooner than many industry players expect. Under ambitious climate scenarios, we see deficits emerging from 2028. The industry needs to act now, as governments progress policies toward Net Zero. The question isn't whether we need more lithium—it’s whether the industry can mobilize capital fast enough to meet demand while navigating an increasingly fragmented global trade environment.”
NOA Lithium Brines Inc. (TSXV: NOAL) Announces Strategic Arrangement with Hatch
NOA Lithium Brines Inc. announced that Hatch Ltd. and the Company have agreed to make a strategic arrangement in connection with the Company’s recently announced Pre-PFS Process Development Study for NOA’s flagship Rio Grande project in Salta Province, Argentina.
Under the Arrangement, Hatch, an arm’s length party, has agreed to receive common shares of the Company for services completed by Hatch for the Study, which shall equal the fees and costs associated with the Study, being approximately USD $100,000. The Study is intended to compare the Project’s baseline evaporation pond flowsheet against alternative process configurations incorporating direct lithium extraction testwork and concept-level process design.
NOA’s Chief Executive Officer, Gabriel Rubacha states: “We are very pleased to welcome Hatch as an investor in NOA. Aligning a portion of the Study’s cost with an investment by Hatch reinforces their confidence in the Rio Grande project and in our development pathway. This arrangement supports our goal of advancing key technical workstreams toward the PFS while maintaining disciplined capital allocation. The Study will help us evaluate process alternatives – including DLE- based flowsheets – and strengthen the technical foundation for a robust PFS.”
Hatch’s Managing Director - Minerals, Conrad Blake states: “Hatch is pleased to support NOA’s continued advancement of the Rio Grande Project. We see significant value in disciplined, data- driven process development work at this stage, and we believe the Study can help clarify technology options and improve decision-making as NOA progresses toward a PFS. Our involvement reflects our confidence in the project and its team, and our commitment to supporting responsible development of critical minerals projects.”
Terms of the Arrangement
Pursuant to the Arrangement, Hatch will be issued common shares of the Company for services rendered for the Study, with a value of approximately USD $100,000, and at a price per common share that will be determined by the volume weighted average price of the common shares of NOA as listed on the TSX Venture Exchange based on a 5 day VWAP prior to the date of issuance. The common shares issued to Hatch will be subject to statutory hold periods and resale restrictions in accordance with applicable securities laws and stock exchange policies.
Completion of the Arrangement remains subject to customary conditions, including receipt of all required corporate and regulatory approvals, including approval of the TSX Venture Exchange.
About the Pre-PFS Process Development Study
As previously announced, NOA engaged Hatch to lead the Study for its Rio Grande project. The objective of the Study is to compare the current evaporation pond flowsheet against alternative flowsheets incorporating DLE testwork and basic/concept-level process design, with findings intended to inform the development and execution of NOA’s PFS.
Other related developments from around the markets include:
Albemarle a global leader in providing essential elements for mobility, energy, connectivity and health, today announced its results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026. Net sales of $1.4 billion, up 33% due to higher volumes and pricing in Energy Storage (volumes +14%, price +51%) and Specialties (volumes +7%, price +2%). Net income of $319 million, or $2.34 per diluted share attributable to common shareholders; Adjusted income of $2.95 per diluted share attributable to common shareholders. Adjusted EBITDA(a) of $664 million; up 148% due primarily to higher volumes and pricing in Energy Storage and Specialties and on-going cost and productivity improvements. Adjusted EBITDA expanded in both Energy Storage (+196%) and Specialties (+30%). Cash from operating activities of $346 million and free cash flow of $248 million(a). Capital expenditures of $99 million; maintaining full-year capital expenditure forecast of $550 million to $600 million. Delivered $40 million in cost and productivity improvements, on track to achieve full-year target of $100 million to $150 million.
EnerSys, a global leader in stored energy solutions for industrial applications, introduced the DataSafe Noir™ lithium-based energy storage system engineered to control how power behaves under real-world and dynamic load conditions. The system is available immediately. As data centers increase in density, complexity, and reliance on dynamic AI-driven workloads, the challenge is no longer just selecting a battery. It is managing how power systems perform under stress. Decisions based on chemistry, runtime, and cost alone do not address the system-level risk introduced by highly variable, real-time power demand. The DataSafe Noir™ energy storage system is designed to deliver predictable, controlled system performance under load, including highly dynamic AI-driven demand profiles, enabling operators to manage risk more effectively, deploy infrastructure with greater confidence, and make faster, more informed decisions. The platform is engineered as an integrated system, supporting consistent deployment and defined operating performance in high-density environments. Compared to publicly available specifications for leading lithium systems, DataSafe Noir™ energy systems deliver more than 2x output power and over 1.7x greater energy and capacity, enabling more compact deployments and improved utilization of data center floor space.
Sigma Lithium, the largest producer of lithium oxide concentrate in the Americas¹ and dedicated to industrializing socially and environmentally sustainable lithium materials to supply global producers of batteries for energy security, demonstrated the Company’s excellence in environmental performance in a filing with one year of data collected by external experts with measurements demonstrating low levels of dust, vibrations and noise generated by its operations. The solid data series externally collected by experts provides transparent, objective evidence of Sigma Lithium’s environmental track record and directly refutes baseless and unproven claims against the Company made in local Brazilian courts, currently under appeal within jurisdiction of rule of law at the State Courts in Minas Gerais (Tribunal de Justiça de Minas Gerais). The data points are below the stringent legal limits in Brazil, as well as the established standards of the Brazilian Technical Standards Association and Brazil’s National Environmental Council.
Smackover Lithium, a partnership between Standard Lithium Ltd. and Equinor, through subsidiaries of Equinor ASA, announced that it has entered into an engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning agreement with S&B Engineers and Constructors for the Central Processing Facility for the South West Arkansas Project. S&B is an integrated EPC company with proven industrial construction expertise and a strong U.S. and regional presence. S&B will be supported by Hatch Ltd. (“Hatch”), a global engineering, project delivery and professional services firm with extensive experience in mineral resource projects, and specific experience designing and commissioning lithium projects. Hatch will provide design engineering and commissioning support to S&B as a subcontractor. S&B will deliver EPCC services including detailed engineering design, procurement, installation and construction, testing, startup and commissioning for the CPF. This includes receipt of brine (from wellfield), pre-treatment, direct lithium extraction, purification and concentration of the lithium chloride, conversion to a battery-quality lithium carbonate with final product crystallization, drying, micronizing, bagging and handling facilities, and all associated utilities. The CPF will be located on the Project’s 118-acre plot located in Lafayette County, AR.
Legal Disclaimer / Except for the historical information presented herein, matters discussed in this article contains forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Winning Media is not registered with any financial or securities regulatory authority and does not provide nor claims to provide investment advice or recommendations to readers of this release. For making specific investment decisions, readers should seek their own advice. Winning Media is only compensated for its services in the form of cash-based compensation. Pursuant to an agreement Winning Media has been paid three thousand five hundred dollars for advertising and marketing services for NOA Lithium Brines by NOA Lithium Brines. We own ZERO shares of NOA Lithium Brines. Please click here for full disclaimer.
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