First Phosphate Corp. (CSE:PHOS, OTCQB:FRSPF) said on Tuesday it is positioning itself as a supplier of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery materials to support the onshoring of American manufacturing.
The statement from the Quebec-based company comes as the US pushes to reduce reliance on China for critical technologies.
The company said demand for LFP batteries, which power factory automation, robotics, and grid-scale energy storage systems, is expected to surge as part of a broader transformation in industrial automation.
Phosphate-based batteries are considered safer, longer-lasting, and more scalable than other chemistries, according to First Phosphate.
"America stands at the cusp of a manufacturing revival driven by AI, robotics, and energy storage," said CEO John Passalacqua. "However, this future hinges on one critical factor: reliable, domestically sourced LFP battery material."
First Phosphate has assembled over 1,000 square kilometres of high-purity phosphate claims in Quebec and is building a vertically integrated supply chain to refine ore into battery-grade material. The company said its resources could support more than 350 GWh of annual LFP battery production.
The push comes amid escalating trade tensions between the US and China, which dominates the global LFP supply chain. Proposed US tariffs of up to 125% on Chinese imports, First Phosphate noted.
According to the company, the threat of Chinese export restrictions on LFP technology and rare earth materials have raised concerns about the vulnerability of US manufacturing growth.
First Phosphate said its phosphate ore, sourced from igneous rock, is among the purest globally and can be processed without the use of solvents or production of gypsum waste, a common byproduct in lower-grade phosphate processing.
The company has completed a series of development milestones, including a technical report, economic assessments, pilot plant testing, and feasibility studies for phosphoric acid and iron phosphate production. It also has offtake agreements in place and is working with partners across the phosphate, iron, and LFP battery sectors.