- Industry-disrupting technology breakthrough vaults IBAT to
global pacesetter position
- Modular plant brings lithium production online in
record-setting time
- Proprietary technology has been verified to extract more than
97% of available lithium from brine using no chemicals and with a
water recovery rate of up to 98% via a closed-loop recycling system
based on third-party review of Smackover extraction operations
- Founded by the inventor of the first lithium absorbent and
designer of the world's first DLE plant in 1998
VANCOUVER, BC and HOUSTON, July 11,
2024 /CNW/ -- International Battery Metals
Ltd. (CSE: IBAT), today announced it has commenced
operations of its commercial proprietary modular direct lithium
extraction (DLE) plant in Utah –
an industry landmark representing the first lithium produced from
the only modular DLE operation in the world and the first
commercial DLE operation in North
America.
The commercial facility outside Salt
Lake City, Utah, is co-located at the operations of US
Magnesium LLC (US Mag) and is extracting lithium from a
byproduct magnesium chloride/ lithium chloride brine derived from
historic magnesium production. IBAT's modular DLE system, currently
situated on about one-acre, is in production and providing lithium
chloride to U.S. Mag. The next step for IBAT is to expand
production by installing additional columns on the same DLE modular
platform with a target of significantly increasing capacity.
"This achievement is momentous for IBAT and a harbinger for an
industry-transformation to significantly boost lithium production
on a more cost-effective and sustainable basis, clearing a path for
supplies of lower-priced, high-quality lithium for EV batteries and
large-scale grid backup battery installations," said John Burba, founder and chief technology officer
of IBAT. "This kicks off a U.S. lithium production renaissance and
creates the potential for a sea change in global lithium
supplies."
This milestone is a culmination of over four decades of John's
work in lithium extraction, including the invention of the first
lithium absorbent, used in the world's first DLE plant at Hombre
Muerto in Argentina for FMC
Technologies, which has been in continuous production since
1998.
This breakthrough is expected to reshape the lithium industry
due to several advantageous of IBAT's patented technology:
- Speed to market: The modular design can bring lithium to
market in approximately 18 months, from the time construction is
initiated at a fabrication facility to the time of production
onsite, compared to several years' time (5-7 years) for a
conventional stick-built DLE plant at a location.
- Low cost: Expected to be among the lowest capex and opex
in the industry.
- Scalable, agile and brine agnostic: The modular system's
small footprint can be installed at a variety of lithium brine
resources around the world, including formations with active or
inactive oil and gas operations. The system is easily scalable by
adding modules for expansion.
- High-quality lithium: IBAT's DLE technology selectively
extracts lithium ions via absorption with a proprietary crystal
structure, resulting in a lithium-chloride solution with the
requisite feedstock purity to produce battery-grade lithium. The
technology has been independently verified by SLR and Mehos
Consulting to extract more than 97% of available lithium from
Smackover brine.
- Sustainability: IBAT's proprietary absorbent does not
require chemicals in the extraction process. The technology
extracts lithium from brine sources and returns the
lithium-depleted brine back to its source. Due to the plant's
advanced water recovery rate of up to 98% of water recycled, IBAT's
technology is highly protective of sensitive water resources, based
on Smackover brine testing by SLR and Mehos.
At the Utah operation,
upon acceptance testing IBAT will receive royalties from US Mag
from lithium sales as well as payments for equipment rental based
on lithium prices and performance.
This operational milestone follows the recent appointment of
incoming IBAT CEO Iris Jancik, who
starts in her new role mid-August to lead the company's commercial
expansion. To build out its operations, IBAT is in discussions with
large industrial companies, including automakers, as well as oil
and gas majors and brine-resource owners.
About International Battery Metals Ltd.
IBAT is an advanced technology company focused on the
development of environmentally responsible methods of extracting
lithium compounds from brine. IBAT has developed a patented modular
direct lithium extraction (DLE) plant which allows for rapid
deployment to a resource holders production site. IBAT is
working with resource holders of oilfield brines, brine aquifers,
and industrial customers with brine by-products. IBAT believes
the modular design of its DLE plant provides significant initial
costs savings to customers and the proprietary DLE technology
lowers operating costs by selectively extracting lithium from the
brine while efficiently removing contaminants.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
John Burba, CTO
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adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This news release may contain assumptions, estimates, and other
forward-looking statements regarding future events. Such
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and are subject to factors, many of which are beyond the Company's
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the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there
be any sale of securities in any state in the United States in which such offer,
solicitation or sale would be unlawful. The securities referred to
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with respect to certain of the plans and objectives of the Company,
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commencement of production, and the production capacity of IBAT's
initial DLE plant deployment with US Mag, expectations about the
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SOURCE International Battery Metals Ltd.