Neometals Ltd (ASX: NMT)
Provided an update on the commercialisation of its lithium-ion battery (“LIB”) recycling technology in partnership with SMS group.
The Neometals and SMS 50:50 incorporated joint venture (“JV”), Primobius GmbH , is making strong commercialisation headway on multiple fronts, and the company is excited about making its mark on the battery value chain in 2021.
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| Neometals | ASX : NMT |
| Stage | Production + development |
| Metals | Titanium + Vanadium + lithium + nickel |
| Market cap | A$120 m @ 22 cents |
| Location | Western Australia |
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LITHIUM-ION BATTERY RECYCLING PRIMOBIUS JV UPDATE
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Neometals Ltd (ASX: NMT) (“Neometals” or “the Company”), is pleased to provide an
update on the commercialisation of its lithium-ion battery (“LIB”) recycling technology in partnership with SMS group (“SMS”).
The Neometals and SMS 50:50 incorporated joint venture (“JV”), Primobius GmbH (“Primobius”), is making strong commercialisation headway on multiple fronts and the company is excited about making its mark on the battery value chain in 2021.
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HIGHLIGHTS
Neometals and its JV partner, SMS group, making strong progress towards European lithium-ion battery recycling commercialisation
German showcase demonstration plant permitted for construction. Assembly underway and majority of equipment in country and/or on site
Battery feed secured from auto industry for demonstration trials and subsequent product evaluation
Evaluation programs being discussed with potential offtakers for several of the material streams generated during demonstration trials
New EU Battery regulations provide significant commercial tailwinds with sustainability, recycled content, circularity and ethical domestic sourcing in focus.
“Primobius has made strong progress towards developing Europe’s largest sustainable LIB recycling plant. Europe is becoming the largest LIB producer outside China as its auto industry transitions away from the internal combustion engine. We are looking
forward to showcasing our recycling solution in Europe and demonstrating our ability to safely and sustainably recover and produce high-purity critical battery materials from ever increasing volumes of production scrap and end-of-life batteries.
The EU battery regulations have been strengthened considerably with a focus on decarbonisation of electric vehicle supply chains and battery manufacturing. The regulatory landscape now encompasses the entire battery value chain which aligns with our high recovery, low CO2, hydrometallurgical recycling solution and our ability to deliver the scale required through our partnership with SMS group”.
– Neometals Managing Director Chris Reed
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Demonstration Plant and Trials
Primobius has completed the design and procurement phases of its recycling demonstration plant (“DP”) located within the SMS manufacturing centre in Hilchenbach, Germany.
Primobius recently received the necessary permits to commence construction
of the DP to process spent and scrap LIBs at a rate of 1t per day. All equipment other than a crystalliser is now located in Germany, and preparations are underway for installation at Hilchenbach.
The DP trial schedule sees commissioning and operation of the shredding and beneficiation circuit first, followed by the hydrometallurgical refining circuit commencing in Q2 2021. Scrap LIBs and partially processed ‘black mass’ has been secured from
potential partners e.g. in the automotive industry.
The DP will serve as a showcase where product outputs from the recycling process can be evaluated by potential customers, partners and off-takers. Specifically, the DP will provide an opportunity for carmakers, consumer electronics and battery manufacturers to verify Primobius’ capability to safely, sustainably and ethically dispose of hazardous LIBs and generate re-usable materials for the production of new sustainable batteries and satisfy all regulatory custody, carbon footprint, certification and stewardship obligations.
As it relates to product offtake, Primobius goes into its DP trial with confidence from pilot trial data that the key payables (nickel and cobalt sulphate) are higher purity than required by Chinese national specifications for cathode use. Each product generated
during DP trials, low and high value, will be used for evaluation trials with potential off-takers. Multiple dialogues are being progressed concurrently and Primobius has a strong understanding of which markets, and which potential purchasers, the various
recycled materials will suit (particularly as it relates to the key cathode chemicals to be produced).
For brevity, this summary has been redacted, to read the full news release, please click HERE
For further information, please contact:
Chris Reed
Managing Director
Neometals Ltd
T: +61 8 9322 1182
E: info@neometals.com.au
Jeremy Mcmanus
General Manager – Commercial and IR
Neometals Ltd
T: +61 8 9322 1182
E: jmcmanus@neometals.com.au
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About Neometals Ltd
Neometals innovatively develops opportunities in minerals and advanced materials essential for a sustainable future. With a focus on the energy storage megatrend, the strategy focuses on de-risking and developing long life projects with strong partners and integrating down the value chain to increase margins and return value to shareholders.
Neometals has four core projects with large partners that span the battery value chain:
Recycling and Resource Recovery: Lithium-ion Battery Recycling – a proprietary process for recovering cobalt and other valuable materials from spent and scrap lithium batteries. Pilot plant testing completed with plans well advanced to conduct demonstration scale trials with 50:50 JV partner SMS group, working towards a development decision in early 2022; and Vanadium Recovery – sole funding the evaluation of a potential 50:50 joint venture with Critical Metals Ltd to recover vanadium from processing by-products (“Slag”) from leading Scandinavian Steel maker SSAB.
Underpinned by a 10-year Slag supply agreement, a decision to develop sustainable European production of high-purity vanadium pentoxide is targeted for December 2022.
Downstream Advanced Materials: Lithium Refinery Project – evaluating the development of India’s first lithium refinery to supply the battery cathode industry with potential 50:50 JV partner Manikaran Power, underpinned by a binding life-of-mine annual offtake option for 57,000 tonnes per annum of Mt Marion 6% spodumene concentrate, working towards a development decision in 2022.
Upstream Industrial Minerals: Barrambie Titanium and Vanadium Project – one of the world’s highest-grade hard-rock titanium-vanadium deposits, working towards a development decision in mid-2021 with potential 50:50 JV partner IMUMR.
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