Li3 CEO to Present at the 4th Annual Lithium Supply & Markets Conference

Speaker on Topic of 'Role of Strategic Alliances'

SANTIAGO, CHILE -- (Marketwire) -- 01/19/12 -- Li3 Energy, Inc., (OTCBB: LIEG) ('Li3', 'Li3 Energy' or the 'Company'), a US-listed and South American based global exploration and development company in the lithium and minerals sector, is pleased to announce that Luis Saenz, Li3's Chief Executive Officer, will be a speaker and presenting at the 4th Annual Lithium Supply & Markets Conference held in Buenos Aires Argentina January 23rd - 25th 2012. Some of the topics likely to be covered this year include:

• The status of emerging producers, both brine and hard rock


• New lithium material technologies and impact on demand for cathode, anode and electrolyte compositions


• Graphite availability and its impact on lithium battery development


• Non-battery lithium supply/demand


• Strategic alliances and their role in lithium raw material supply


• Standards for reporting lithium brine resources/reserves


• Supply/demand forecasts


• The role of by-products (potash, boron, etc.) in lithium brine production economics

Luis Saenz, Li3's CEO, stated: 'These are very exciting times for Li3, as we continue to make excellent progress advancing our $8MM Phase One Exploration and Development Plan and site work at our flagship Maricunga project. We are both honored and humbled to be a part of this conference, allowing us to showcase Li3's accomplishments and 2012 goals on an international stage.'

Li3 plans to provide a copy of the presentation on its website the day of the presentation at www.li3energy.com.


About Li3 Energy, Inc.

Li3 Energy, Inc. is an exploration and developmental stage public company in the lithium mining and energy sector. Li3 aims to acquire, develop and commercialize a significant portfolio of lithium brine deposits in the Americas. With its controlling interest in its Maricunga project, Li3's goals are to; a) support the global implementation of clean and green energy initiatives; b) meet growing lithium market demand and; c) become a mid-tier, low cost supplier of lithium, potassium nitrate, iodine and other strategic minerals, serving global clients in the energy, fertilizer and specialty chemical industries. Additional information regarding the company can be found in our recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ('SEC') as well as the information maintained on our website www.li3energy.com.


Forward-Looking Statements

Any statements contained herein which are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements identified by or containing words like 'believes,' 'expects,' 'anticipates,' 'intends,' 'estimates,' 'projects,' 'potential,' 'target,' 'goal,' 'plans,' 'objective,' 'should', or similar expressions. The Company gives no assurances the assumptions upon which such forward-looking statements are based will prove correct. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, and are based on information currently available to us. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed herein due to many factors, including, without limitation: initial exploration results; satisfaction of conditions precedent to POSCAN's additional investment; the Company's ability to raise additional capital for exploration; development and commercialization of the Company's projects; future findings and economic assessment reports; issuance of necessary government consents; the Company's ability to identify appropriate corporate acquisition or joint venture opportunities in the lithium mining sector and to establish appropriate technical and managerial infrastructure; political stability in countries in which we operate; and lithium prices. For further information about risks faced by the Company, and its Maricunga Project, see the 'Risk Factors' in the Form S-1/A, filed with the SEC on January 10th, 2012 and in subsequent filings with the SEC. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement contained herein to reflect events or circumstances which arise after the date of this release.



Contact:

Li3 Energy, Inc.
Luis Saenz, CEO
Marchant Pereira 150 Oficina 803
Providencia, Santiago - Chile
Email Contact

Investor Relations
The InVentures Group Inc.
Marc S. Lubow
Managing Partner
(904) 645 - 9549
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