Galan appoints an exploration manager - and he’s a hydrogeology legend

With its lithium projects towards development, Galan has taken steps to bolster its exploration expertise with the appointment of Alvaro Henríquez as exploration manager.

Henríquez is a Chilean based hydrogeologist with over 20 years’ applied geology and hydrogeology experience in the mining industry who has led many exploration and production operations across Chile, Argentina, Australia and the US.

His experience includes 11 years at SQM where he served as the hydrogeology superintendent responsible for the operational management of the Salar de Atacama lithium and potash brine reservoir evolution forecast for supporting short, medium and long-term mining plans.

He was also responsible for the design, execution, and supervision of hydrogeological exploration campaigns, as well as the conceptual and numerical hydrogeological modelling.

More recently, Henríquez was a consultant with WSP/Golder Chile where he led the water services group and was significantly involved in supporting the exploration plan and resource evaluation at Galan Lithium’s (ASX:GLN) flagship Hombre Muerto West lithium project in Argentina.

“The value of Alvaro’s vast exploration and operational hydrogeology experience cannot be overestimated,” managing director JP Vargas de la Vega said.

“He is an invaluable addition to the Galan team as we continue to advance our lithium project portfolio towards development and operation.

“Alvaro’s decision to join Galan on this journey to becoming a significant South American lithium producer also represents a further endorsement of the technical and commercial integrity of our world-class projects.”

Development progress

Henríquez’s appointment follows the completion of a series of tests which form an integral part of the HMW project’s definitive feasibility study that confirmed high lithium grades, porosity and brine flow rates.

The results from the initial well test substantially de-risk the planned development and indicate the project’s potential to produce lithium brines efficiently and economically.

Delivery of the DFS is expected before the end of the year.

This article was developed in collaboration with Galan Lithium, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.