Electra Battery Materials Corporation (TSX-V:ELBM, OTCQX:ELBMF) has announced the final approval of the updated Closure Plan for its Canadian hydrometallurgical facility.
The company said the Closure Plan for the refinery expansion and recommissioning was approved on March 4, 2022, and is an important milestone that keeps the project on track for commissioning in December 2022.
Electra said it has been working within the existing refinery footprint to recommission electrical, mechanical, and instrumentation equipment.
“This approval enables Electra to accelerate new construction and industrial activities at site,” the company said in a statement. “The pouring of concrete pads for the solvent extraction plant is expected to begin within the next few weeks, with the building shell completed by early summer.”
READ: Electra Battery Materials applauds Canadian government funding of battery materials park study
Under the Mining Act, all land affected by development activity for processing facilities in the province must be rehabilitated after operations have ceased, the company said.
A closure plan outlines how the affected land will be rehabilitated and the costs associated with doing so. A closure plan must be developed and approved by the government before certain aspects of development can take place.
Electra's business strategy is to produce sufficient battery material to supply 1.5 million electric vehicles (EVs) on an annual basis.
The company's cobalt sulfate refinery is on schedule to commence commissioning in the fourth quarter of 2022. In mid-2022, the company will perform bulk sample testing of black mass from recycled lithium batteries, based on extensive test work conducted over an 18-month period.
Commercialization of the battery recycling plant is expected in 2023.
In February, Electra announced the launch of a battery materials park study in partnership with Glencore, Talon Metals, the Government of Canada, and the Government of Ontario. The group is collaborating on engineering, permitting, socio-economic, and cost studies associated with the construction of a nickel sulfate plant as well as a battery precursor cathode active materials (PCAM) plant adjacent to Electra's cobalt refinery and recycling plant.
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