Electra Battery Materials Corporation (TSX-V:ELBM, NASDAQ:ELBM) said it has started commissioning its black mass recycling demonstration plant at its battery materials park located north of Toronto.
The announcement follows the successful installation of material feed handling and lime delivery systems, two key circuits in Electra's hydrometallurgical process designed to recycle end-of-life lithium-ion battery materials. Electra has installed material feed handling equipment in advance of black mass recycling at its refinery.
"Automakers are looking for a closed-loop supply chain for their batteries and Electra's recycling process presents a compelling solution to move to a circular model for recycling end-of-life batteries and battery manufacturing scrap," Trent Mell, CEO of Electra Battery Materials said in a statement.
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"Consistent with our strategy, integrating battery materials recycling to our cobalt sulfate production activities at our refinery will not only serve as an important differentiator but will allow us to generate incremental cash flow while strengthening our relationships with various stakeholders that make up the North American EV supply chain," he added.
Electra is also currently retrofitting its existing cobalt sulfate refinery located in Temiskaming Shores, Ontario to accommodate its proprietary hydrometallurgical process designed to treat black mass, a byproduct generated from the recycling of end-of-life EV and other lithium-ion batteries. Under the parameters of the black mass demonstration, Electra plans to process up to 75 tonnes of material in a batch mode. Using its lab-tested process, Electra anticipates the recovery of high-value elements found in lithium-ion batteries, including nickel, cobalt, lithium, manganese, copper, and graphite.
In preparation for the black mass demonstration plant, Electra completed process development and engineering on recycling black mass material, the company said.
"Pending completion of the demonstration plant and a review of project economics, success could pave the way towards the buildout of a 5,000 tonne per annum black mass processing facility within our battery materials park in Ontario using existing infrastructure, personnel, and lab facility. Additional capacity would be added through the construction of additional modules as the market for recycled battery material expands," added CEO Mell.
Electra also anticipates the full commissioning of all equipment and circuits of the black mass recycling demonstration in the fall of 2022 with the full commissioning of the cobalt sulfate refinery expected in the spring of 2023.
Electra's proprietary hydrometallurgical process has a low carbon footprint and produces stable non-acid generating tailings, thereby reducing environmental impacts while meeting or exceeding water discharge effluent criteria as stipulated by both federal and provincial regulations.
Electra is a processor of low-carbon, ethically-sourced battery materials. Currently commissioning North America's only cobalt sulfate refinery, Electra is executing a multi-pronged strategy focused on onshoring the electric vehicle (EV) supply chain.
Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com