Electra, Glencore, and Talon partnering with Ontario on battery materials park study

TORONTO — Electra Battery Materials Corporation has launched a battery materials park study in partnership with the Government of Ontario, Glencore plc and Talon Metals.

The groups will work together on engineering, permitting, socio-economic and cost studies associated with the construction of a nickel sulfate plant as well as a battery precursor cathode active materials (PCAM) plant adjacent to Electra’s cobalt refinery and recycling plant.

The end goal of this project is to establish North America’s first integrated, localized and sustainable battery materials park for the electric vehicle market.

The Ontario government will fund a $700,000 study along with the three participating companies, with the provincial government contributing $250,000, matched by a $250,000 investment from Electra and $100,000 each from Glencore plc and Talon Metals

The study aims to facilitate construction of North America’s first battery grade nickel sulfate facility, prioritizing domestic, low carbon raw materials.

The study will also target construction of North American manufacturing capacity with the intention of yielding carbon footprint advantages through integration with refining operations.

Electra says it is in discussion with several PCAM manufacturers and plans to partner with a producer for this last piece of the battery materials park.

The groups anticipate that battery materials produced at this site will have a low carbon footprint, due to reliance on renewable hydroelectric power and proximity to feed materials and end markets.

Electra also says it is pursuing a four-phased approach to build the battery materials park, with a battery grade cobalt sulfate refinery to be commissioned in December 2022 and a battery recycling circuit scheduled for 2023, followed by battery grade nickel sulfate and PCAM by mid-decade.