First Phosphate Corp. (CSE:PHOS) has highlighted the steps the company has taken towards a purified phosphoric acid (PPA) plant at the Port of Saguenay and the development of a North American lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery valley in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean Region of Quebec since first outlining this vision in 2022.
The company has completed an internal pre-feasibility study for its PPA plant and is in the process of evaluating engineering firms to commence a potential formal feasibility study.
It has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Port Saguenay Authority to secure industrial lands and deep-sea shipping access for the establishment of a PPA plant.
It has also signed a MOU with a division of Glencore Canada Corporation, NorFalco Sales, to secure a supply of sulfuric acid, a key component required for the production of PPA.
First Phosphate has successfully concentrated its phosphate ore into beneficiated phosphate concentrate at about 41% pure P205 (about 97% pure apatite) in pilot production and has developed a pilot plant to create feedstock to produce PPA. Additionally, the company has transformed its beneficiated phosphate concentrate into merchant-grade phosphoric acid and subsequently into food and battery-grade PPA at a pilot scale.
Agreements have been negotiated with various LPF production technology providers for downstream offtake for its PPA production, the company added.
It has also met with local leaders of all three local Innu communities (Essipit, Mastheuiatsh, Pessamit) to present the project and establish a dialogue.
The company noted that its business model has been validated by Arianne Phosphate’s announcement on January 30, 2024, that it has commenced work on a pre-feasibility study to construct a downstream purified phosphoric acid plant in the region.
“First Phosphate looks forward to working with all interested parties in generating awareness and support for, and building the infrastructure necessary to realize its vision of developing the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean Region of Quebec into the LFP battery valley of North America,” the company said in a statement.
Additional details on First Phosphate’s progress towards a PPA plant can be found here.
First Phosphate is a mineral development company fully dedicated to extracting and purifying phosphate for the production of cathode active material for the lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery industry.