- 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
"Avalon is proud to import world-leading innovation and processing technology solutions to help ensure that
"The expanded scope of our partnership will create supply chain efficiencies and increase the value of previous investment commitments in the province of
Mikko Rantaharju, Vice President, Hydrometallurgy at Metso noted: "Metso is proud to partner with Avalon on their bold vision for
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
The planned
The Company anticipates the
Avalon and Metso are also planning to co-develop, along with regional educational institutions such as
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
In addition to these upstream activities, Avalon is executing on a key initiative to develop
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
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Forward-Looking Information
This release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, information with respect to the development of the Company's material lithium projects, including the construction of the Company's lithium processing facility', expected capital expenditures, operations outlook, procurement and related services to develop and commercialize the proposed processing facility, successful use and implementation of novel battery recycling technology, including anticipated environmental and cost benefits, expected benefits from the facility the transition to a green economy, job creation, successful development of a lithium supply chain, governmental support, sustainable processing practices, environmental benefits, requirements for additional capital, the Company's capital allocation, development of a technology and innovation centre and its expected benefits, and government regulation of mining operations. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "add" or "additional", "advancing", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "appears", "believes", "can be", "conceptual", "confidence", "continue", "convert" or "conversion", "deliver", "demonstrating", "estimates", "encouraging", "expand" or "expanding" or "expansion", "expect" or "expectations", "forecasts", "forward", "goal", "improves", "increase", "intends", "justification", "plans", "potential" or "potentially", "promise", "prospective", "prioritize", "reflects", "robust", "scheduled", "suggesting", "support", "top-tier", "updating", "upside", "will be" or "will consider", "work towards", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", or "will be taken", "occur", or "be achieved".
Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including risks associated with the ability to raise sufficient capital to construct the Company's proposed processing facility, receipt of all required regulatory approvals and permits for the development and construction of the Company's processing facility, success of Metso's novel battery technology, mineral exploration and development operations such as: environmental hazards and economic factors as they affect the cost and success of the Company's capital expenditures, the ability of the Company to obtain required permits and approvals, the ability of the Company to obtain financing, uncertainty in the estimation of mineral resources, uncertainty with respect to the ability to successfully construct and develop the Company's lithium processing facility, the price of lithium, no operating history, no operating revenue and negative cash flow, land title risk, the market price of the Company's securities, the economic feasibility of the Company's mineral resources and the Company's commercial viability, inflation and uncertain global economic conditions, uncertain geo-political shifts and risks, successful collaboration with indigenous communities, future pandemics and other health crises, dependence on management and other highly skilled personnel, title to the Company's mineral properties, the ongoing war in
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