Li-Metal Corp. announced that it has engaged Hatch Ltd. ("Hatch"), a leading global engineering, project management and professional services firm, to undertake a Concept Study ("Study") for Li-Metal's commercial scale metallic lithium production facility. Earlier this year, Li-Metal completed the construction of its lithium metal pilot production plant located 25 kilometres northeast of Toronto.

In addition to the lithium metal pilot production plant and corporate offices, the Toronto facility houses Li-Metal's advanced anode materials lab, which develops and tests customized next-generation battery anode materials. This Study will focus on developing the Company's full-scale commercial lithium metal production facility. Hatch brings extensivelithium and battery metals industry expertise to Li-Metal's commercial metallic lithium production facility project.

Hatch is a globally recognized leader in engineering and project implementation with a strong track record of providing innovative solutions to complex technologies and projects. Li-Metal will be working closely with Hatch's experienced lithium team and subject matter specialists. This Study will focus on the developing the full-scale commercial lithium metal production facility.

Lithium metal is a highly valuable material for several industries, and a key input for next-generation lithium metal batteries that are expected to have significantly increased performance compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries utilizing graphite anodes. Currently, lithium metal production is concentrated in China, with conventional processes using lithium chloride. These processes are not viewed to be environmentally sustainable, typically producing 5 tonnes of chlorine gas emissions for every tonne of lithium metal.

To meet growing demand for domestic lithium metal production, Li-Metal has developed and is commercializing a lithium metal technology to support a cleaner and improved production process that utilizes lithium carbonate as feedstock and does not produce harmful toxic by-products. Earlier this year, Li-Metal completed the construction of its lithium metal pilot production plant located 25 kilometres northeast of Toronto. In addition to the lithium metal pilot production plant and corporate offices the Toronto facility houses Li-Metal's advanced anode material lab which is developing and testing customized next-generation battery anode materials.