Highlights Of The Program

2 days business program:

Learn from real-world case studies by industry leaders.

SHOWCASING INNOVATION:

Discover the latest technology and techniques from across the industry.

leaders talk:

Hear from top-level experts about how to stay ahead in a fast-changing industry.

MULTIPLE STREAMS:

A business program that is multi-disciplinary, giving you a broad view of the industry.

SMART TECHNOLOGIES:

Explore the latest smart and AI-driven solutions, and see how they can be used in your business.

roundtable discussion:

Join talks with industry peers. Share ideas, make connections, and find new partners.

Program 2026

DAY 1 :

MONDAY, 21 September, 2026

08:00 - 08:50

REGISTRATION AND MORNING REFRESHMENTS

08:50 - 09:00

OPENING ADDRESS

09:00 - 09:25

THE DLE JOURNEY IN ARGENTINA, FROM CURRENT PROJECTS TO FUTURE GROWTH

Azul Maria Gimenez Moreno

Magmatic

Tracing the history of DLE in Argentina, reviewing current projects and technologies, and assessing expected production growth
Evaluating evaporation ponds and DLE across costs, efficiency, product quality, and environmental impacts
Outlining commercial DLE technologies and their advantages, disadvantages, and applications in Argentina
Exploring next-generation solutions such as membranes, electrochemical methods, and biotechnologies to reshape competitiveness

09:25 - 09:30

Q&A SESSION ON THE FUTURE OF DLE PROJECTS AND GROWTH IN ARGENTINA

09:30 - 09:55

FINANCING THE FUTURE: PROJECT FINANCE STRUCTURES FOR DLE IN ARGENTINA

Rosario Galardi

Vinson & Elkins

Reviewing how Argentina's RIGI framework is reshaping lithium investment incentives and financing structures
Appraising the bankability of DLE projects by addressing technology-specific, market-specific, and country-specific financing risks
Structuring contracts to manage regulatory, permitting, and community engagement challenges across jurisdictions
Defining offtake strategies and revenue models to navigate lithium price volatility and lender expectations

09:55 - 10:00

Q&A SESSION ON BANKABILITY AND RISK IN ARGENTINA LITHIUM PROJECTS

10:00 - 10:30

SPEED NETWORKING SESSION

Exchange business cards and get connected in short one-to-one meetings
Start the conversation to arrange a more formal meeting later on in the conference
Share your professional background and discuss your biggest business issues - don't forget your business cards!

10:30 - 11:00

MORNING COFFEE BREAK IN THE EXHIBIT AREA

11:00 - 11:30

PANEL DISCUSSION ON FUTURE LITHIUM DEMAND AND MARKET TRENDS: PAVING THE PATH FOR DIRECT LITHIUM EXTRACTION SUCCESS

Considering DLE adoption across the Lithium Triangle while addressing key commercialisation challenges
Analysing lithium demand drivers, geopolitics, diversification, localisation, and global battery value chain development trends
Upstream supply importance and role of AI and digital modelling in accelerating battery scale-up
Assessing the value of robust geophysical programs in lithium brine exploration and future prospecting
Evaluating evolving lithium financing models through strategic partnerships, equity stakes, and multilateral co-financing

Jose Ojeda | Magneto Metallurgy

Andrea Gardella | Alcance Solutions

Luke Hu | Electroder

Ana Curcio | Proingeo

Gonzalo Waldman | Bridgeon

11:30 - 11:55

DIRECT LITHIUM EXTRACTION TAILORED TECHNOLOGIES FOR HIGHER YIELD AND PURITY

Andres Pereira

DuPont

Mapping integrated DLE process pathways combining sorbents, ion exchange, and membrane technologies
Detailing divalent ion removal approaches supporting consistent high-purity lithium product output
Describing efficient dewatering steps enabling higher lithium concentration and improved sorbent productivity
Sharing sequencing and data-backed design insights to reduce complexity and accelerate commercialisation

11:55 - 12:00

Q&A SESSION ON IMPROVING DLE YIELD AND PURITY FOR COMMERCIAL READINESS

12:00 - 12:30

RESERVED PRESENTATION

12:30 - 13:30

NETWORKING LUNCH & VISITING THE DIRECT LITHIUM EXTRACTION EXHIBITION

13:30 - 13:55

LITHIUM SEPARATION FROM MONOVALENT CATIONS USING SUPPORTED LIQUID MEMBRANES

Mauro Dal-Cin

National Resources Canada

Addressing the challenges with conventional evaporation and solvent extraction methods for Canadian brine resources
Developing new extractants and supported liquid membranes at the National Research Council of Canada
Analysing results from shake-out solvent extraction, flat-sheet SLM, and hollow-fibre SLM using synthetic brine
Advancing separation efficiency with SLM technologies to support future lithium production

13:55 - 14:00

Q&A SESSION ON ADVANCING LITHIUM SEPARATION TECHNOLOGIES

14:00 - 14:25

COMPETING FOR LITHIUM: POLICY, COSTS, AND FISCAL DESIGN SHAPING GLOBAL SUPPLY

Nassam Estibill Zalaquett

Wood Mackenzie

Examining evolving global dynamics and investment strategies driving competition for lithium, with insights into future market trends
Achieving cost efficiency across extraction and refining stages, thereby emphasising emerging advantages in the lithium value chain
Analysing the influence of government policies and fiscal frameworks on market growth, investor confidence, and global supply diversification

14:25 - 14:30

Q&A SESSION ON LITHIUM POLICY, COSTS, AND FISCAL DESIGN

14:30 - 14:55

REAL-TIME CHEMICAL MONITORING FOR OPTIMISING LITHIUM EXTRACTION AND PRODUCTION

Leonel Aguilar Llontop

Watergenics

Exploring ionic imbalances affecting recovery rates, operating costs, and lithium product quality
Shifting from reactive control to proactive operations through real-time chemical monitoring
Enabling faster decisions and greater process stability using continuous in situ measurements
Applying spectroscopy and AI to optimise reagent, energy, and water use across lithium processing routes

14:55 - 15:00

Q&A SESSION ON CHEMICAL DATA-DRIVEN OPTIMISATION IN LITHIUM PRODUCTION

15:00 - 15:20

AFTERNOON COFFEE BREAK IN THE EXHIBIT AREA

15:20 - 15:45

LITHIUM AND OTHER CRITICAL MINERALS EXTRACTION FROM BRINE UTILISING HYDRODYNAMIC CAVITATION

Ronald Lincz

Avonlea

Presenting a scalable extraction process for lithium and critical minerals, outlining its core operational principles
Highlighting third-party verified results from pilot tests and their significance for commercial readiness
Outlining the design approach for the upcoming commercial extraction facility as the next step towards deployment

15:45 - 15:50

Q&A SESSION ON ADVANCED BRINE PROCESSING TECHNOLOGIES

15:50 - 16:15

LiEX: A NEW DLE PROCESS BASED ON A PROVEN ADSORPTION PLATFORM

Craig Brown

Chemionex Inc.

Presenting a streamlined single-column adsorption process, enhancing lithium recovery efficiency
Demonstrating over 99% lithium recovery across a broad range of brine concentrations
Delivering high-purity eluates through water elution while achieving exceptional impurity separation
Reducing equipment requirements and operational complexity through an optimised process design

16:15 - 16:20

Q&A SESSION ON LiEX DLE PROCESS AND ADSORPTION PLATFORM INNOVATION

16:20 - 16:45

CLIMATE RISKS ACROSS THE LITHIUM VALUE CHAIN: FROM BRINE TO BATTERY

Gabriela Calderón Jiles

Kyklos

Examining key physical and transitional climate risks affecting lithium production and processing across the value chain
Assessing climate scenario impacts on project viability, financing conditions, and long-term supply reliability
Integrating climate risk analysis into project planning while strengthening investment and development decision-making

16:45 - 16:50

Q&A SESSION ON CLIMATE RISKS ACROSS THE LITHIUM VALUE CHAIN

16:50 - 17:15

DEVELOPMENT OF DLE TECHNOLOGY USING MANGANESE-BASED ADSORBENTS

Masashi Maki

Sumitomo Metal Mining

Overview of how lithium manganese oxide adsorbents are synthesized via hydrometallurgy
Insights into achieving high lithium selectivity in complex brines with impurities present
Explanation of multi-column systems enabling over 90 percent lithium recovery rates
Implementing strategies to reduce reagent costs and water use through in-house production and recycling

17:15 - 17:20

Q&A SESSION ON ADVANCES IN LITHIUM EXTRACTION FROM COMPLEX BRINES

17:20 - 18:20

NETWORKING DRINKS RECEPTION

DAY 2 :

TUESDAY, 22 September, 2026

08:00 - 08:30

MORNING REFRESHMENTS

08:30 - 08:40

OPENING ADDRESS

08:40 - 09:05

THE DISTRIBUTION OF LITHIUM-RICH BRINES IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA, SET IN A GLOBAL CONTEXT

Peter Mullin

ETNR LLC

Providing an overview of Central and South American basins with documented lithium-enriched brines in subsurface settings beyond salars
Comparing regional brine grades and geological settings with global examples to highlight similarities and differences
Identifying gaps in existing data while outlining key parameters that guide the discovery of promising basins

09:05 - 09:10

Q&A SESSION ON LITHIUM-RICH BRINES IN CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA

09:10 - 09:35

DLE IN REQUIREMENTS THE CHILEAN LEGAL CONTEXT

Rony Zimerman

Lembeye

Covering Chile’s current lithium processing landscape and the growing role of DLE across the sector
Outlining the National Lithium Strategy and its role in elevating DLE as a strategic regulatory priority
Mapping DLE requirements included in recently approved CEOL lithium extraction authorizations
Assessing policy developments under the Kast administration and the likely regulatory path ahead

09:35 - 09:40

Q&A SESSION ON CHILE’S LITHIUM POLICY TRANSITION

09:40 - 10:05

COMMON PRODUCTION BOTTLENECKS OF LITHIUM PRODUCTS AND WAYS TO OVERCOME THEM

Oscar Angulo

Partickle

Presenting common flow challenges such as blockages, segregation, attrition, and dust emissions in product processing
Examining flow properties of lithium carbonate, hydroxide, sulphate, and raw materials and their impacts on production
Analysing the effects of flow behaviour on equipment performance, including silos, conveyors, samplers, and packing systems
Addressing handling challenges while meeting strict requirements to minimise ferrous contamination in lithium products

10:05 - 10:10

Q&A SESSION ON IMPROVING FLOW AND HANDLING OF LITHIUM PRODUCTS

10:10 - 10:30

MORNING COFFEE BREAK IN THE EXHIBIT AREA

10:30 - 11:00

PANEL DISCUSSION ON SUSTAINABLE LITHIUM EXTRACTION: NAVIGATING THE COMMERCIAL CHALLENGES AND ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS

Presenting a vision for a sustainable South American lithium industry and the transformations required over the next two decades
Comparing chemical usage ratios and energy costs per tonne across different DLE lithium extraction technologies
Outlining viable water stewardship strategies to reduce hydrological impacts while sustaining lithium production in Salar de Atacama
Unlocking earth observation and satellite insights to optimise mining exploration, operations, and monitoring

Ayaz Alam | Universidad de Santiago de Chile

Ernesto Calvo | Universidad de Buenos Aires

Ashmi Kuvera | Columbia University

Jaime Ortega | University of Chile

11:00 - 11:25

FREE, PRIOR, AND INFORMED CONSENT (FPIC) OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES IN LITHIUM MINING

Michael Rattagan

Dentons

Defining federal, provincial, and international standards shaping FPIC practices across South America
Presenting Argentine case studies highlighting judicial disputes and evolving community participation
Comparing Chilean and Argentine frameworks, identifying lessons for inclusive mining development

11:25 - 11:30

Q&A SESSION ON COMMUNITY RIGHTS AND REGULATIONS IN LITHIUM MINING

11:30 - 11:55

VALUE ENGINEERING IN DLE: VALUE PROPOSITION, BEST PRACTICES, AND EMERGING INNOVATIONS

Raghu Damodaran

Kaleidoscope Energy

Advancing DLE project efficiency by applying value engineering to reduce costs and technical risks
Leveraging O&G digital technologies to enhance reliability, operational insights, and extraction performance
Applying modular and scalable design approaches to accelerate deployment and strengthen overall economics
Integrating cross-industry innovation to support bankability and lower long-term lithium production costs

11:55 - 12:00

Q&A SESSION ON DRIVING GREATER VALUE IN DLE PROJECT DEVELOPMENT

12:00 - 12:25

DESIGNING INTEGRATED DLE SYSTEMS FROM CONCEPT TO INDUSTRIAL SCALE

Azul Moreno

Aquatech

Identifying key challenges in industrial DLE projects beyond extraction, including water balance and energy use
Addressing system reliability, process integration, and interface management required for stable large-scale operations
Drawing on insights from the integrated PEARL™ platform and real project experience to support sustainable lithium production

12:25 - 12:30

Q&A SESSION ON OPERATIONALISING INDUSTRIAL DLE PROJECTS

12:30 - 13:30

NETWORKING LUNCH & VISITING THE DIRECT LITHIUM EXTRACTION EXHIBITION

13:30 - 13:55

TECHNOLOGY DELIVERING 20,000 TPA DLE ASSETS FOR $100M

John Worth

Geo40

Improving ion exchange kinetics, significantly reducing capital costs for scalable DLE deployment
Simplifying lithium conversion, enabling cleaner and more concentrated LiCl eluate processing
Overcoming brine complexity, addressing high magnesium and calcium challenges in South American resources

13:55 - 14:00

Q&A SESSION ON COST-EFFICIENT DLE TECHNOLOGY AND BRINE PROCESSING

14:00 - 14:25

TOYOBO MC's OARO MEMBRANE FOR ENHANCED LITHIUM CONCENTRATION APPLICATIONS

Nobuyuki Masumoto

Toyobo MC Corporation

Deploying chlorine-resistant cellulose triacetate hollow fibre membrane technology for ultra-high brine concentration and lithium recovery
Examining the role of osmotically assisted reverse osmosis in reducing energy demand, lowering emissions, and supporting water management
Outlining commercial project applications, process integration pathways, and optimisation strategies to strengthen DLE performance and economics

14:25 - 14:30

Q&A SESSION ON ENERGY-EFFICIENT LITHIUM RECOVERY SYSTEMS

14:30 - 14:55

INNOVATION IN WELL MATERIALS FOR BRINE EXTRACTION

Julian Fernandez

GWE Tubomin

Advancing steel gravel pre-packed screens with a case study from the Cauchari salt flat in Argentina
Deploying PVC gravel pre-packed screens, with operational benefits demonstrated from the Atacama salt flat in Chile
Developing new drop pipe systems with quick couplings to enable safer installation, as demonstrated by a case study from a copper mine
Providing solutions for inclined wells, demonstrating enhanced reliability through a case study from a copper mine in Chile

14:55 - 15:00

Q&A SESSION ON ADVANCING WELL MATERIALS AND DESIGN SOLUTIONS

15:00 - 15:15

FEEDBACK AND RAFFLE DRAW

15:15 - 15:30

CLOSING REMARKS

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