NextSource Materials Inc. (TSX:NEXT, OTCQB:NSRCF) said its senior management team hosted a site visit this week for its first commercial-scale Battery Anode Facility (BAF) in Abu Dhabi.
Delegates toured the secured industrial building, reviewed the phased development plan, and discussed timelines for installation, commissioning, and initial production of active anode material for lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles, the company said.
“We were delighted to welcome potential funding partners to our Abu Dhabi property to witness the scale and readiness of our secured facility,” said Hanré Rossouw, CEO of NextSource. “The engagement and interest we continue to receive from both local and global investors underscores the strategic significance of establishing a major anode facility in the UAE.”
NextSource said the UAE BAF is a key part of its vertical integration strategy and would make the company the largest anode producer outside Asia. The 30,000-tonne-per-annum facility is designed to meet its binding multi-year offtake agreement with Japan’s Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, which will complete final processing of the anode active material for EV battery manufacturers in North America.
The UAE site was chosen for its strategic advantages, including proximity to deep-water ports, domestic raw-material sources, and end markets, along with an expedited permitting environment and world-class infrastructure, the company said.
According to NextSource, the project is progressing with front-end engineering and design alongside global engineering firm Stantec, and shipment of BAF processing equipment has begun. The company is in discussions on final-stage financing with parties from the site-visit delegation.
NextSource said, once funding and permits are secured, installation of the remaining plant equipment will begin, with commissioning targeted for the end of 2026 and initial production expected in the fourth quarter of 2026.