Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - October 19, 2023) - Consistent with its strategic objective to build Ontario's first vertically integrated lithium supply chain serving the North American EV battery market, Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. (TSX: AVL) (OTCQB: AVLNF) ("Avalon" or the "Company") has entered into an expanded partnership agreement with Metso Corporation ("Metso") to advance the construction of a full-service lithium processing facility in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The parties have also agreed to co-develop a Technology & Innovation Centre to be located on-site in Thunder Bay, accelerating an Industrial Park concept that will co-locate key supply chain partners.
Partnership Highlights:
Metso to provide testing and engineering equipment procurement and related services to develop and commercialize Avalon's Thunder Bay lithium processing facility.
Create a testing laboratory for research and development on lithium and clean technology solutions.
Avalon and Metso to cooperate on the recycling of used batteries and the refining of battery chemicals for recycle use.
The expanded partnership agreement follows a memorandum of understanding from July 2023 that enabled Metso and Avalon to develop an innovative, sustainable methodology to produce commercial lithium hydroxide from petalite mineral feeds.
"Avalon is proud to import world-leading innovation and processing technology solutions to help ensure that Canada leads the NetZero economy of the future. This agreement is the next step in leveraging Metso's market-leading expertise and technology to build a processing facility that will serve as a regional destination not just for Avalon's joint venture lithium deposit, but for other lithium projects across northwestern Ontario — thus unlocking the province's lithium resources for use in the expanding EV battery manufacturing base in Southern Ontario," said Zeeshan Syed, President of Avalon.
"The expanded scope of our partnership will create supply chain efficiencies and increase the value of previous investment commitments in the province of Ontario," Mr. Syed added.
Mikko Rantaharju, Vice President, Hydrometallurgy at Metso noted: "Metso is proud to partner with Avalon on their bold vision for Thunder Bay, and help co-create novel processing, training, recycling and research capacity. Metso has successfully worked with Avalon in this remarkable project to develop a sustainable process to produce battery grade lithium using our proprietary alkaline pressure leach process. This agreement marks yet another key milestone between the parties as we advance forward to build a wide scope of economic benefits for the future."
Innovative, Sustainable Processing
Through the R&D efforts undertaken by Avalon and Metso, the proprietary lithium hydroxide process represents a far more sustainable conversion method compared to conventional acid roasting. The process operates in an alkaline state and utilizes pressure leaching, which is unique for lithium conversion, eliminating the use of sulfuric acid, and with no production of sodium sulphate as a biproduct. Instead, a substance called Analcime — an inert solid aluminium silicate-is produced, as well as calcium carbonate. Importantly, both substances have commercial uses in industrial building applications and other industries. The method also reduces overall air emissions compared to conventional lithium processing.
In addition, this process is expected to be a safer for operating personnel, the environment and the community in general compared to the traditional acid roasting method which is used in jurisdictions with less stringent commitments to environmental safety and stewardship compared to North America.
The planned Thunder Bay processing facility and Avalon's upstream joint venture lithium project located near Kenora, ON are expected to create an estimated 500 full-time jobs. It will also enable broader development of northwestern Ontario's regional lithium assets by other producers seeking to utilize the proximity of Avalon's processing capacity. The facility is also expected to help foster new economic development opportunities for local and regional Indigenous communities.
The Company anticipates the Thunder Bay facility to commence commercial activity in 2028.
Technology & Innovation Centre (TIC)
Avalon and Metso are also planning to co-develop, along with regional educational institutions such as Lakehead University and Confederation College, a Technology & Innovation Centre on-site to conduct research and development in the areas of critical minerals and clean technologies, which will contribute to Canada's transition to a NetZero economy.
The TIC intends to house the following:
A bench-scale testing lab for research and development on lithium and clean technology.
An assaying lab for research analysis and daily assaying of production and performance.
A full demonstration plant for piloting, testing and verification of various lithium pegmatite minerals.
A training facility to support the full-scale commercial process, furthering the Sustainable Jobs Act announced in June of this year to create the NetZero workforce of the future.
Metso has further agreed to provide instructional training for testing, investigation, design, and engineering to maximize the recycling of waste product as well as determine new uses in other industrial applications. Overall, this initiative will support Avalon's commitment to minimizing environmental impacts and accelerate Canada's environmental leadership on the world stage.
About Avalon Advanced Materials Inc.
Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. is a Canadian mineral development company focused on vertically integrating the Ontario lithium supply chain. The Company, through its joint venture with Sibelco NV, is currently developing its Separation Rapids lithium deposit near Kenora, ON, while also continuing to advance the Lilypad and Snowbank lithium projects located near Fort Hope, ON. Avalon is also working to develop its Nechalacho rare earths and zirconium project located in the Northwest Territories. This deposit contains critical minerals for use in advanced technologies in the communications and defense industries among other sectors.
In addition to these upstream activities, Avalon is executing on a key initiative to develop Ontario's first midstream lithium hydroxide processing facility in Thunder Bay, ON, a vital link bridging the lithium resources of the north with downstream EV battery manufacturing customers and markets in the south. Social responsibility and environmental stewardship are corporate cornerstones. Avalon is listed on the (TSX: AVL) and (OTCQB: AVLNF).
About Metso Corporation (Finland)
Metso is a leader in providing sustainable technologies, end-to-end solutions and services for the aggregates, minerals processing and metals refining industries globally. With process and product expertise, Metso helps customers increase productivity, improve energy and water-use efficiency and raise their overall environmental performance.
For battery minerals, Metso provides sustainable technology and equipment for the entire production chain, from the mine to battery materials and black mass recycling with project scopes ranging from equipment packages to plant deliveries. Headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, Metso employs over 16,000 people in close to 50 countries with sales in 2022 of EUR 5.3 billion. The company is listed on the Nasdaq Helsinki.
For more information and media inquiries, Zeeshan Syed, President of Avalon, is available for comment at (647) 300-4706 or IR@AvalonAM.com.
安大略省多倫多--(Newsfile Corp.,2023年10月19日)——Avalon Advanced Materials Inc.(多倫多證券交易所股票代碼:AVL)(OTCQB:AVLNF)(“Avalon” 或 “公司”)已與美卓公司(“美卓”)簽訂了擴大合作協議,以推進在安大略省桑德貝建造提供全方位服務的鋰加工設施,這與其建立安大略省第一個垂直整合的鋰供應鏈的戰略目標一致。 雙方還同意在桑德貝共同開發一個技術與創新中心,以加快工業園的概念,該概念將與主要供應鏈合作伙伴同地辦公。
合作伙伴關係亮點:
美卓將提供測試和工程設備採購及相關服務,以開發和商業化Avalon的桑德貝鋰加工設施。
創建測試實驗室,用於鋰和清潔技術解決方案的研究和開發。
Avalon和美卓將在廢舊電池的回收和提煉用於回收用途的電池化學品方面進行合作。
擴大的合作伙伴協議是在2023年7月簽署諒解備忘錄之後達成的,該備忘錄使美卓和Avalon能夠開發出一種創新、可持續的方法,利用petalite礦物原料生產商用氫氧化鋰。
“Avalon很自豪能夠進口世界領先的創新和加工技術解決方案,以幫助確保加拿大引領未來的NetZero經濟。該協議是利用美卓市場領先的專業知識和技術建造加工設施的下一步,該設施不僅將成爲Avalon合資企業鋰礦牀的區域目的地,也是安大略省西北部其他鋰項目的區域目的地,從而釋放該省的鋰資源,用於安大略省南部不斷擴大的電動汽車電池製造基地。” Avalon總裁Zeeshan Syed說。
賽義德補充說:“我們擴大合作範圍將提高供應鏈效率,並增加安大略省先前投資承諾的價值。”
美卓溼法冶金副總裁Mikko Rantaharju指出:“美卓很榮幸能與Avalon合作,實現他們對雷灣的大膽願景,並幫助共同創造新的加工、培訓、回收和研究能力。在這個非凡的項目中,美卓成功地與Avalon合作,開發了一種可持續的工藝,使用我們專有的鹼性壓力浸出工藝生產電池級鋰。該協議標誌着雙方之間的又一個關鍵里程碑,因爲我們正在向前邁進,爲未來創造廣泛的經濟利益。”
創新、可持續的加工
通過Avalon和美卓的研發努力,與傳統的酸焙燒相比,專有的氫氧化鋰工藝是一種更具可持續性的轉化方法。該工藝在鹼性狀態下運行,利用壓力浸出,這是鋰轉化所獨有的,無需使用硫酸,也不會產生硫酸鈉作爲副產品。取而代之的是一種叫做 Analcime 的物質——一種惰性的固體硅酸鋁和碳酸鈣。重要的是,這兩種物質在工業建築應用和其他行業都有商業用途。與傳統的鋰處理相比,該方法還可以減少總體空氣排放。
此外,與傳統的酸焙方法相比,預計這一過程將對操作人員、環境和整個社區更加安全。與北美相比,傳統的酸焙方法用於環境安全和管理承諾不那麼嚴格的司法管轄區。
計劃中的桑德貝加工設施和位於安大略省凱諾拉附近的Avalon上游合資鋰項目預計將創造500個全職工作崗位。它還將使其他尋求利用Avalon加工能力附近的生產商更廣泛地開發安大略省西北部的區域鋰資產。預計該基金還將幫助爲當地和區域土著社區創造新的經濟發展機會。
該公司預計,桑德貝工廠將於2028年開始商業活動。
技術與創新中心 (TIC)
Avalon和美卓還計劃與萊克黑德大學和聯邦學院等地區教育機構共同開發一個技術與創新中心,在關鍵礦產和清潔技術領域進行研發,這將有助於加拿大向NetZero經濟的過渡。
TIC打算容納以下物品:
美卓還同意爲測試、調查、設計和工程提供教學培訓,以最大限度地提高廢物的回收利用率,並確定其他工業應用中的新用途。總體而言,該計劃將支持Avalon的承諾,即最大限度地減少對環境的影響,並加快加拿大在世界舞臺上的環境領導地位。
關於Avalon Advanced Materials公司
Avalon Advanced Materials Inc. 是一家加拿大礦業開發公司,專注於安大略省鋰供應鏈的垂直整合。該公司通過與Sibelco NV的合資企業,目前正在安大略省凱諾拉附近開發Separation Rapids鋰礦,同時還繼續推進位於安大略省霍普堡附近的Lilypad和Snowbank鋰項目。Avalon還在努力開發其位於西北地區的Nechalacho稀土和鋯項目。該礦牀含有關鍵礦物,用於通信和國防工業等領域的先進技術。
除了這些上游活動外,Avalon還在執行一項關鍵計劃,即在安大略省桑德貝開發安大略省首箇中遊氫氧化鋰加工設施,這是將北部的鋰資源與下游電動汽車電池製造客戶和南部市場聯繫起來的重要紐帶。社會責任和環境管理是企業的基石。Avalon在(多倫多證券交易所股票代碼:AVL)和(OTCQB:AVLNF)上市。
關於美卓公司(芬蘭)
美卓是爲全球骨料、礦物加工和金屬精煉行業提供可持續技術、端到端解決方案和服務的領導者。憑藉工藝和產品專業知識,美卓幫助客戶提高生產率、提高能源和用水效率並提高其整體環境績效。
對於電池礦物,美卓爲整個生產鏈提供可持續的技術和設備,從礦山到電池材料再到黑質回收,項目範圍從設備包到工廠交付。美卓總部位於芬蘭赫爾辛基,在近50個國家擁有16,000多名員工,2022年的銷售額爲53億歐元。該公司在赫爾辛基納斯達克上市。
欲了解更多信息和媒體查詢,Avalon總裁Zeeshan Syed可致電 (647) 300-4706 或 IR@AvalonAM.com 發表評論。