Aqua Metals Inc (NASDAQ:AQMS) has revealed plans to expedite revenue generation and expand production at its forthcoming commercial-scale AquaRefining facility in Nevada’s Tahoe-Reno Industrial Center.
The updated strategy prioritizes the production of battery-grade lithium carbonate, more than doubling initial output targets, according to the company.
Aqua Metals will also produce Mixed Hydroxide Precipitate (MHP), a high-value nickel and cobalt product, alongside copper and manganese at its Sierra ARC recycling campus.
The shift is aimed at accelerating commercialization, optimizing capital efficiency, and aligning with market demands.
“This plan is designed to accelerate commercialization while maintaining full compatibility with our long-term vision for battery-grade materials that close the loop domestically,” said Aqua Metals CEO Steve Cotton. “Our proven technology can already refine MHP into pure metals, but prioritizing a higher-throughput facility should allow us to increase the production of our highest margin material, battery grade lithium carbonate.”
Aqua Metals projects that its revised facility design could achieve an approximately three-year payback period, even at current lower metal prices.
The company has already demonstrated its ability to recover battery-grade lithium and high-purity nickel and cobalt from spent batteries and manufacturing scrap at its pilot facility. By focusing on lithium carbonate and MHP production, Aqua Metals aims to reduce capital requirements for completing the Sierra ARC while strengthening its position as a domestic supplier of low-carbon battery materials.
The strategy also includes modular expansion capabilities, allowing for future refining of battery-grade nickel and cobalt sulfates and lithium hydroxide as market conditions evolve.
The company said it is in active discussions with financial backers, feedstock suppliers, and offtake partners and expects to provide updates later in the first quarter of 2025.
Investors welcomed the update from Aqua Metals, sending its shares 16.5% higher to US$2.05 at midday on Tuesday.
- Updated with share price movement-