"Expansion of Mangrove Lithium facility in North America"
Mangrove Lithium, a leading player in the lithium industry, has announced plans for a significant expansion of its operations in North America. The new refinery facility, set to be 20 times larger than Mangrove's current production site in Delta, British Columbia, will have an annual production capacity of 20,000 tonnes of battery-grade lithium. This capacity is sufficient to supply around 500,000 electric vehicles (EVs) per year.
The location for the new refinery has not yet been announced, but the company's existing smaller facility, currently under construction in Delta, is expected to commence operations by late 2025. The details regarding the construction timeline for the larger refinery have not been disclosed.
Mangrove's refining technology, known as the Clear-Li™ process, is innovative and eco-efficient. It converts lithium chloride or lithium sulfate from diverse feedstocks into high purity lithium hydroxide or carbonate using fewer chemicals, producing less waste, and eliminating capital-intensive steps typical of traditional refining. This yields high purity battery-grade lithium at lower production costs and with no waste generation.
Unlike the current plant, the new refinery will also allow for the processing of spodumene concentrate, extending Mangrove’s operations further upstream by adding spodumene concentrate processing. This move aims to strengthen North America’s lithium supply chain and reduce reliance on imports, especially from China.
Mangrove has signed letters of intent with U.S. battery factories to secure demand for the planned annual production of the new refinery. The company's strategic expansion is a major step in reshoring lithium refining capabilities in North America with advanced, lower-emission technology designed to lower costs and eliminate wastes.
The expansion of Mangrove Lithium's operations includes a foray into the renewable-energy industry, as the new refinery facility will process spodumene concentrate. With an annual production capacity of 20,000 tonnes, this real-estate investment will significantly contribute to North America's battery-grade lithium supply. Finance for this business venture seems assured, as Mangrove has secured letters of intent with U.S. battery factories. The company's commitment to investing in advanced, lower-emission technology for lithium refining promises to reduce waste and lower costs, thereby reducing reliance on imports, particularly from China.
