Element 25 plans second manganese plant in Japan

Manganese miner Element 25 has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Nissan Chemical Corporation and NC Tokyo Bay Corporation to complete a Feasibility Study (FS) into a battery grade High Purity Manganese Sulphate Monohydrate (HPMSM) facility to be located in Chiba prefecture, Japan (pictured).

Manganese is becoming an increasingly important input into EV batteries as the technology shifts away from nickel-rich chemistries to high manganese and LMFP (manganese-doped LFP) cathodes.

Element 25 is increasing production at its Butcherbird Manganese Project in Western Australia to approximately 1.1Mtpa, and is also commercialising proprietary technology to produce battery-grade high-purity manganese sulphate monohydrate (HPMSM) for use in electric vehicle (EV) battery manufacturing.

The company plans to build its first HPMSM refinery in Louisiana, USA, to produce materials for the US EV market, in partnership with General Motors LLC (GM) and Stellantis N.V.

The company sees a number of synergies in co-locating E25’s low-emission technology and process in a second plant at NCTB in Japan.

Element 25 Managing Director Justin Brown said: “The synergies of co-location are significant for both parties and the utilisation of existing industrial land and facilities fits perfectly with our vision to have a minimal ESG impact.

“This is of course possible thanks to our unique flowsheet which virtually eliminates solid waste.

“Japan and Australia have a long history of trade and share common goals, and this would be a fantastic opportunity to continue and strengthen those ties into the future.”

NCTB already operates a sulphuric acid plant at the Chiba production facility which can supply acid to the proposed project.

NCTB also has substantial ancillary infrastructure, utilities and services that can be provided to the HPMSM project.

“The Louisiana refinery is planned as the first of several HPMSM facilities planned for development under E25’s ‘Design One Build Many’ commercialisation strategy which envisages a hub and spoke model, with ore supplied from E25’s Butcherbird Mine…to supply processing facilities in key regional markets.”

Further reading:
Element 25 progresses battery precursor project

Picture: Element 25