In 2023, the corporate efficiently operated a battery supplies recycling demonstration plant in a batch course of at its refinery advanced in Ontario, processing greater than 40 tonnes of end-of-life battery scrap, often called “black mass,” and producing high-quality nickel, cobalt and lithium merchandise.
Electra’s demonstration program is believed to be the primary plant-scale recycling of black mass materials in North America in addition to the primary home manufacturing of nickel-cobalt combined hydroxide precipitate product.
The corporate mentioned it’s accelerating the following section of its recycling challenge to show on a steady foundation that the hydrometallurgical black mass course of is scalable, worthwhile, and may be carried out at different areas.
The Canadian authorities, by Nationwide Assets Canada’s Important Minerals Analysis, Improvement and Demonstration program, has dedicated funding of C$5 million ($3.6m) for the challenge, which shall be primarily based at Electra’s totally permitted property about 5 hours north of Toronto in Temiskaming Shores.
“In the present day’s funding announcement is a transparent sign from the federal government of Canada of its ongoing dedication to creating a powerful, sustainable EV provide chain,” Electra CEO Trent Mell mentioned in a information launch.
“Whereas recycling crucial minerals is a part of our enterprise technique, we additionally stay centered on the development of our cobalt sulfate refinery and stay up for updating the market with funding developments to restart building,” Mell mentioned.
“This funding will improve mineral and vitality safety, create good jobs and help financial alternatives — supporting our work to construct a cleaner Canada and a affluent, sustainable financial system that works for everybody,” mentioned Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada’s Minister of Vitality and Pure Assets.
The funding announcement was made in Sudbury, alongside an announcement of funding into the Mining Innovation Rehabilitation and Utilized Analysis Corp, which additionally bought C$5 million.