American Battery Technology Company (ABTC) has initiated the commissioning phase of its lithium hydroxide (LiOH) pilot plant, marking a significant step in the production of battery-grade Lithium Hydroxide sourced from Nevada’s Claystone deposit.
The lithium solution, derived from ABTC’s pilot plant and refined from the claystone resource of the Tonopah Lithium Flats Project, will boost its business. ABTC’s Tonopah Flats Lithium Project boasts over 10,000 acres of lithium-bearing claystone, positioned as one of the largest lithium resources in the United States.
Ryan Melsert, CEO of ABTC, expressed enthusiasm, stating, “We have already generated thousands of liters of lithium solution from our claystone feedstock material, demonstrating our selective lithium liberation technologies.”
The commissioning of the pilot plant enables ABTC to showcase its technologies for extracting lithium from unconventional resources seamlessly. This move aims to generate substantial amounts of battery-grade lithium hydroxide for customer evaluation. The construction and operation of the pilot demonstration plant received backing from a $4.5 million grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
Prospective customers, including automotive OEMs, battery manufacturers, and cathode manufacturers, will conduct rigorous testing and validation of the lithium hydroxide produced at the pilot plant. More than a dozen prospective strategic customers have already toured the facility, with ABTC currently exploring long-term offtake opportunities for its battery-grade lithium hydroxide.
Traditionally, lithium products are sourced from conventional resources, such as hard rock spodumene and lithium-rich brines. However, the U.S. lacks significant developed conventional resources. ABTC’s Tonopah Flats Lithium Project aims to address this gap, positioning itself as a key player in the U.S. lithium market.
ABTC plans to further develop its technology by constructing a 30,000-tonne lithium hydroxide per year refinery directly at its TFLP property. In October 2022, ABTC secured an additional grant from the U.S. DOE, worth $115 million, to support the construction of this commercial refinery. Engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) for the refinery will be handled by Black & Veatch.
Simultaneously, ABTC is advancing its technologies for battery recycling operations. The company has amassed a significant inventory of recycled battery metal products at its commercial-scale recycling facility in Storey County, Nevada. ABTC’s recycling process combines strategic de-manufacturing with targeted chemical extraction to recover battery materials efficiently and sustainably.
GreentechLead.com News Desk