Electra Launches Battery Materials Recycling Demonstration Plant at its Ontario Refinery Complex
22 December 2022 - 11:00PM
Business Wire
Electra Battery Materials Corporation (NASDAQ: ELBM; TSX-V:
ELBM) (“Electra”) today announced the launch of a demonstration
plant designed to recover and recycle high-value elements found in
lithium-ion batteries, including nickel, cobalt, lithium, copper,
and graphite at its refinery complex north of Toronto.
“The launch of our black mass recycling demonstration plant caps
a year filled with a number of significant achievements for
Electra,” said Trent Mell, Electra’s CEO. “With the outlook for
electric vehicle adoption in North America becoming increasingly
bullish as a result of the recent passage of the U.S. Inflation
Reduction Act and the considerable investments made by automotive
companies to electrify their fleet, the need for a domestic supply
of battery-grade materials supply whether through primary refining
or recycling processes becomes critical.”
Mr. Mell added, “Pending completion of the demonstration plant
and a review of project economics, success would pave the way
towards commercialization and the buildout of a 5,000 tonne per
annum black mass processing facility within our battery materials
park in Ontario using existing infrastructure, personnel, and lab
facility. Combined with our planned production of cobalt, nickel,
and manganese sulfates, commercialization of our black mass
recycling capabilities will diversify our cash flow and customer
base.”
“Consistent with our timelines, our project team has done an
excellent job in preparing what will be the first of its kind
facility in North America to recover critical metals contained in
end-of-life electric vehicle and other lithium-ion batteries,” said
Mark Trevisiol, Electra’s Vice President of Project Development.
“The launch of the black mass demonstration plant is indicative of
Electra’s metallurgical expertise and potential of our refinery
complex to address North America’s requirement for battery-grade
materials.”
Electra will process up to 75 tonnes of black mass material in a
batch mode using its proprietary hydrometallurgical process in the
demonstration plant. Electra expects to complete the demonstration
plant in Q1 2023 and will provide regular updates. Pending the
successful completion of the demonstration plant, Electra will
assess whether to continue processing black mass throughout 2023
with material supplied by its business partners or from third
parties.
In advance of the launch of the black mass demonstration plant,
Electra completed process development and engineering on recycling
black mass material. Electra previously sourced black mass samples
from suppliers in North America, Europe, and Asia, studied the feed
characteristics, and developed a hydrometallurgical process to
recover contained lithium, nickel, cobalt, manganese, copper, and
graphite. The test work was conducted using the facilities of SGS
Labs in Lakefield, Ontario and engineering was completed using the
combined resources of Electra technical personnel, process design
engineers of Hatch Associates, and mechanical and electrical
engineering support by Bestech.
Electra’s battery recycling strategy is the second of a phased
development plan for an integrated battery materials park in
Ontario that will recycle lithium batteries, produce cobalt,
nickel, and manganese sulfates from primary feeds and before
supplying the battery-grade material to third-party cathode
precursor manufacturers. In 2023, Electra will commission North
America’s only cobalt sulfate refinery that will have an initial
production capacity of 5,000 tonnes of contained cobalt per
annum.
Electra’s proprietary hydrometallurgical process has a low
carbon footprint and produces stable non-acid generating residue,
thereby reducing environmental impacts while meeting or exceeding
water discharge effluent criteria as stipulated by both federal and
provincial regulations.
About Electra Battery Materials
Electra is a processor of low-carbon, ethically-sourced battery
materials. Currently commissioning North America’s only cobalt
sulfate refinery, Electra is executing a multipronged strategy
focused on onshoring the electric vehicle supply chain. Keys to its
strategy are integrating black mass recycling and nickel sulfate
production at Electra’s refinery located north of Toronto,
advancing Iron Creek, its cobalt-copper exploration-stage project
in the Idaho Cobalt Belt, and expanding cobalt sulfate processing
into Bécancour, Quebec. For more information visit
www.ElectraBMC.com.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture
Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of
this release.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements and
forward-looking information (together, “forward-looking
statements”) within the meaning of applicable securities laws and
the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
All statements, other than statements of historical facts, are
forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements
can be identified by the use of terminology such as “plans”,
“expects', “estimates”, “intends”, “anticipates”, “believes” or
variations of such words, or statements that certain actions,
events or results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might”, “occur” or “be
achieved”. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties
and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, and
opportunities to differ materially from those implied by such
forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results
to differ materially from these forward-looking statements are set
forth in the management discussion and analysis and other
disclosures of risk factors for Electra Battery Materials
Corporation, filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although Electra
Battery Materials Corporation believes that the information and
assumptions used in preparing the forward-looking statements are
reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these
statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release,
and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the
disclosed times frames or at all. Except where required by
applicable law, Electra Battery Materials Corporation disclaims any
intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking
statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.
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version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20221222005069/en/
Joe Racanelli Vice President, Investor Relations
info@ElectraBMC.com 1.416.900.3891
Electra Battery Materials (NASDAQ:ELBM)
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