Will build on learned processes to construct new facility in Ontario.

In a defining move toward reshaping North America's battery supply chain, Electra Battery Materials Corp. has taken its next significant step forward with the launch of a feasibility study for its state-of-the-art battery recycling refinery in Ontario. Building on the company's year-long black mass recycling trial, the Canada-based company aims to close the loop on critical mineral recovery and solidify its role as a leader in sustainable battery recycling.

Over the past year, Electra has built significant momentum through numerous successful milestones, such as completing North America's first plant-scale black mass recycling trial, validating its proprietary hydrometallurgical process for recovering critical metals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel, advancing the continent's first cobalt sulfate refinery, and delivering recycled nickel-cobalt products to customers as part of its push to establish a circular EV battery supply chain.

Central to these successes are the company's strategic partnerships and agreements that span the battery materials ecosystem. Collaborations with battery manufacturers, recyclers, and Indigenous groups have bolstered its capacity to source and refine critical minerals, while supply agreements have ensured a steady flow of materials for its operations.

Through joint ventures, supply agreements, and government support, Electra has built a robust framework to advance its battery materials strategy. These include its partnership with the Indigenous-owned Three Fires Group to recycle lithium-ion battery scrap, a long-term cobalt supply agreement with Eurasian Resources Group, collaboration with LG Energy Solution to support the EV battery supply chain, a memorandum of understanding with Rock Tech Lithium to refine recycled lithium, and a $20 million grant from the U.S. Department of Defense to support its cobalt refinery.

Building from these successes, Electra is now launching a feasibility study for its battery recycling refinery adjacent to its cobalt refinery in Ontario.

"Having developed a proprietary hydrometallurgical process, this feasibility study is a critical step in advancing towards a commercial recycling facility," said Electra Battery Materials Vice President of Project Development Mark Trevisiol. "It builds on the knowledge gained from our previous 40-tonne demonstration plant and allows us to optimize our processes for a scalable commercial operation."

Designed to strengthen North America's domestic supply chain, this proposed facility will refine black mass produced from a joint venture with the Indigenous-owned Aki Battery Recycling-a partnership with the Three Fires Group focused on processing lithium-ion battery scrap.

By leveraging the expertise gained during its year-long recycling trial and its proprietary hydrometallurgical process, Electra aims to scale its operations, reduce reliance on overseas refining, and deliver high-quality products like technical-grade lithium carbonate, nickel-cobalt mixed hydroxide precipitate, and graphite to the EV market.

"As a first mover in North American cobalt sulfate production, we are leveraging our expertise in the domestic refining of black mass and further solidifying our leadership in sustainable battery material solutions," said Trevisiol.

Electra's commitment to innovation is reflected in its incremental approach to enhancing its hydrometallurgical process, which minimizes risk and increases efficiency.

"At Electra, we are applying in-house innovation and technology in an incremental fashion to our existing hydrometallurgical process," said Electra Vice President of Metallurgy & Technology George Puvvada. "This approach is about leveraging a strong, established foundation and the expertise of our experienced team to minimize risk. By doing so, we enhance efficiency, create higher-value products, and reinforce our position at the forefront of the battery materials sector."

In addition to its ongoing efforts to refine and scale its recycling operations, Electra's strategy emphasizes reducing the environmental and geopolitical risks associated with sourcing critical minerals from overseas.

"Electra's core strategy is to reduce North America's reliance on critical minerals from China by building a reliable and resilient domestic supply chain," said Electro CEO Trent Mell. "Through our proprietary hydrometallurgical process, tailored to meet the needs of a growing recycling market, we have consistently demonstrated the capability to produce high-quality, saleable products, including technical-grade lithium carbonate, nickel-cobalt MHP, and graphite."

To support this initiative, Electra has engaged Green Li-ion to assist with engineering and feasibility studies. Green Li-ion, a U.S.-based company specializing in engineered services and recycling technology solutions, operates a black mass processing facility in Atoka, Oklahoma. Depending on the outcome of the feasibility study, Electra may move forward with purchasing processing equipment from Green Li-ion for its refinery site in Ontario.