Electra achieves first plant-scale recycling of black mass in North America - Marks important milestone for North America’s EV battery supply chain
TORONTO, ON – (February 14, 2023) - Electra Battery Materials Corporation (NASDAQ: ELBM; TSX-V: ELBM) (“Electra”, or the “Company”) announced today that it has successfully completed the first plant-scale recycling of black mass material in North America and recovered critical metals, including nickel, cobalt, and manganese, needed for the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain using its proprietary hydrometallurgical process at its refinery north of Toronto.
“Initial results from our black mass trial are extremely encouraging,” said Trent Mell, CEO of Electra. “The results validate that our proprietary hydrometallurgical process is able to recover high-value elements from shredded lithium-ion batteries effectively and confirm that the commissioning work we have completed to date has made our refinery operational again after being idle for more than a decade.”
Mr. Mell added, “These preliminary results represent a significant milestone for the Company and the industry as we believe it marks the first hydrometallurgical plant-scale recycling of black mass in North America and the first recovery of a mixed hydroxide nickel and cobalt product. These results pave the way for us to extend our trial beyond the 75 tonnes we initially planned and maximize the cashflow opportunities generated through the sale of multiple products critical to the EV battery supply chain in North America. We have established relations with black mass producers in North America and abroad to support our continued efforts.”
Black mass is the industry term used to describe the material remaining once expired lithium-ion batteries are shredded and all casings removed. Black mass contains high-value elements, including nickel, cobalt, manganese, copper, lithium, and graphite, that once recovered, can be recycled to produce new lithium-ion batteries.
Established North American battery recyclers have focused on collecting and shredding of batteries with the resulting black mass material primarily treated by a pyrometallurgical smelting process that has a higher carbon footprint and lower metal recoveries than hydrometallurgical processes. Electra’s recoveries are believed to be the first successful production in a plant-scale setting using a hydrometallurgical process.
Recycling black mass will increasingly become a key feature of the EV battery supply chain given the strong demand for critical minerals and the looming supply deficit of metals such as nickel and cobalt. According to data from McKinsey & Company, available battery material for recycling is expected to grow by 20% per year through 2040.
Electra launched its black mass demonstration plant at the end of December 2022, and has processed material in a batch mode, successfully extracting nickel, cobalt, manganese, copper, lithium, and graphite.
As a result of preliminary results achieved thus far and interest expressed by potential commercial partners, Electra has decided to extend its black mass processing and recovering activities through June 2023, beyond the Company’s initial target of 75 tonnes. Engineering studies will be completed to assess capital costs for permanent recycling facility adjacent to Electra’s cobalt refinery, leveraging existing infrastructure, buildings, equipment, permits and personnel.
The total amount of material to be processed and recovered through June will be determined in the coming weeks. The Company has identified multiple sources of supply, and is in discussions on terms and conditions with vendors.
All of Electra’s recovered material will be sold to third-party companies for additional processing and re-use in a number of applications.
Refinery Project Update
Since its last update released in November, 2022, Electra has made continued progress on the commissioning and construction of its cobalt refinery project despite ongoing supply chain disruptions and delivery delays to critical pieces of equipment.
Through February 10, 2023, Electra’s progress can be measured by several key developments, including:
- Completed all testing of existing brownfield equipment.
- Completed 90 to 95 percent of all procurement.
- Completed 90 to 95 percent of detailed engineering.
- Completed approximately 90 percent of the erection of the solvent extraction plant.
- Completed construction of the cobalt sulfate loadout facility.
- Increased the project owners’ team to 31 personnel, which include tradespeople, engineers, operators, lab technicians, and office support staff.
While constructing its crystallization circuit, the final stage in the cobalt sulfate refining process, Electra took delivery of a falling film evaporator vessel that was damaged in transit. Custom-built for Electra, the vessel is used to vaporize water from the cobalt solution before it can be crystallized into cobalt sulfate. The evaporator vessel is valued at approximately US$600,000, and measures approximately 60 feet in length and five feet in diameter. While the equipment was deemed suitable for installation, a third-party inspection has determined that onsite repairs will be required before it can be commissioned.
Electra uses microchips throughout its refinery complex as part of the process control system to regulate equipment and integrate various circuits and systems together. Global supply shortages of microchips have resulted in delays to delivery of several process control system components. Although Electra has advanced the construction of its refinery project, it has been unable to progress fully on some work projects pending delivery of the process control components.
As a result of the impact of critical equipment being damaged enroute to the Company’s complex north of Toronto and ongoing supply chain disruptions, Electra has withdrawn its guidance issued on August 11, 2022, and November 9, 2022, for its fourth quarter ending December 31, 2022 along with any forward-looking statements previously made on the timing of the commissioning, capital spend and production of its cobalt sulfate refinery. All forward-looking statements previously disclosed are no longer applicable as a result.
In light of recent developments, Electra is completing a review of the refinery project scope, scheduling, and capital expenditures and expects to provide results in the coming weeks.
“Ongoing global supply chain disruptions, notably with microchips needed for monitoring equipment performance and the flow of cobalt solution through various vessels, coupled with the receipt of damaged equipment that is critical to the buildout of the crystallization circuit have created unexpected delays to the commissioning of our cobalt sulfate refinery timelines,” said Mr. Mell. “While we evaluate a number of options, including the procurement of equipment from alternative sources of supply, construction has progressed ahead of equipment deliveries. Site-level leadership is completing a baseline review of the project and the Company anticipates providing an update in conjunction with our year-end results to be issued before the end of March.”
Black mass material being processed at Electra’s refinery complex north of Toronto
Electra’s production of a nickel-cobalt hydroxide product marked the first in North America via a hydrometallurgical process
Damaged evaporator vessel delivered in transit to Electra’s refinery complex north of Toronto
About Electra Battery Materials
Electra is a processor of low-carbon, ethically-sourced battery materials. Currently commissioning North America’s only cobalt sulfate refinery, Electra is executing a multipronged strategy focused on onshoring the electric vehicle supply chain. Keys to its strategy are integrating black mass recycling and nickel sulfate production at Electra’s refinery located north of Toronto, advancing Iron Creek, its cobalt-copper exploration-stage project in the Idaho Cobalt Belt, and expanding cobalt sulfate processing into Bécancour, Quebec. For more information visit www.ElectraBMC.com.
Contact:
Joe Racanelli
Vice President, Investor Relations
info@ElectraBMC.com
1.416.900.3891
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