Firebird Metals Ltd (ASX:FRB, OTC:FRBMF) managing director Peter Allen joins Jonathan Jackson in the Proactive studio to discuss a development agreement with Zhongji Sunward Technology Co, Ltd (Sunward), a leading Chinese producer of rotary tunnel kilns. This agreement involves co-funding the design of Firebird’s energy-saving calcining unit. The calcining technology, which is patent-pending, reportedly reduces energy usage by 80% and is intended to enhance Firebird's proposed Battery Grade High-Purity Manganese Sulphate Plant in Jinshi, Hunan Province, China. The agreement includes a 5% royalty payment to Firebird from Sunward on future sales revenue of the units, while allowing Firebird the right to partner with other manufacturers. Sunward will fund half the cost of a pilot plant for the calcining units, estimated at approximately US$200,000. They will also handle the engineering design and manufacturing. The pilot plant is expected to be completed within two months, with data from testing to inform the current project design. Allen stated that the agreement validated the company's work and highlighted the calibre of partners they were attracting in China. Firebird aims to use this collaboration to determine the commercial viability of its energy recycling system, which could significantly reduce operating costs in its manganese sulphate plant. Firebird remains focused on delivering energy-efficient improvements through its proprietary technologies, believing that the Energy-Saving Calcining Technology and 5th Generation Crystallization Technology will enable it to become a low-cost producer of high-purity manganese sulphate.
Firebird Metals and Sunward to develop energy-efficient calcining unit
